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• Ancient micrometeoroids carried specks of stardust, water to asteroid 4 Vesta
• Giving GDP a needed ecological companion
• Volcanic activity and changes in Earth's mantle were key to rise of atmospheric oxygen
• Unexpected uncertainty can breed paranoia
• Computer modelling predicts where vaccines are needed most
• Lab makes 4D printing more practical
• Antihistamines and similar drugs could slow down Huntington's disease
• Predicting unpredictable reactions
• Study tracks decades of life cycle changes in nonwoody plants
• Armor on butterfly wings protects against heavy rain
• Water vapor in the atmosphere may be prime renewable energy source
• Improved MRI scans could aid in development of arthritis treatments
• Presence of airborne dust could signify increased habitability of distant planets
• Paper-based device provides low-power, long-term method for analyzing sweat
• Down to the bone: Understanding how bone-dissolving cells are generated
• Study reveals birth defects likely caused by flame retardant
• Parasitic fungi keep harmful blue-green algae in check
• Machine learning predicts nanoparticles' structure and dynamics
• New hints of volcanism under the heart of northern Europe
• Oregon timber harvests don't appear to affect rare salamander, study finds
• How effective are language learning apps?
• Researchers put a price tag on alcohol use
• Human presence weakens social relationships of giraffes
• Entire Roman city revealed without any digging
• Boys' poor reading skills might help explain higher education gender gap
• 'Playing hard to get' really works; here's why
• Making nanoparticle analysis quicker and more affordable
• Milkweed, only food source for monarch caterpillars, ubiquitously contaminated
• Radiocarbon dating pins date for construction of Uyghur complex to the year 777
• Research team builds better rock models
• Physicists study mirror nuclei for precision theory test
• Ultra-sensitive device for detecting magnetic fields
• Engineers put tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses on a single chip
• Monkeys appreciate lifelike animation
• Forgot where you parked the car? Research suggests memory is a game of all or nothing
• Artificial brains may need sleep too
• 3D-printable material that mimics biological tissues
• Ancient asteroid impacts created the ingredients of life on Earth and Mars

Ancient micrometeoroids carried specks of stardust, water to asteroid 4 Vesta Posted: 09 Jun 2020 01:19 PM PDT Researchers have studied presolar materials that landed on a planet-like body. Their findings may help solve the mystery: where did all the water on Earth come from?

Giving GDP a needed ecological companion Posted: 09 Jun 2020 11:45 AM PDT Gross ecosystem product (GEP) summarizes the economic value of nature's contributions to humans.

Volcanic activity and changes in Earth's mantle were key to rise of atmospheric oxygen Posted: 09 Jun 2020 11:44 AM PDT Evidence from rocks billions of years old suggest that volcanoes played a key role in the rise of oxygen in the atmosphere of the early Earth.

Unexpected uncertainty can breed paranoia Posted: 09 Jun 2020 11:44 AM PDT In times of unexpected uncertainty, such as the sudden appearance of a global pandemic, people may be more prone to paranoia, new researchers.

Computer modelling predicts where vaccines are needed most Posted: 09 Jun 2020 10:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed a model that can estimate regional disease burden and the impact of vaccination, even in the absence of robust surveillance data, a new study reveals.

Lab makes 4D printing more practical Posted: 09 Jun 2020 10:00 AM PDT Soft robots and biomedical implants that reconfigure themselves upon demand are closer to reality with a method to print shapeshifting materials.

Antihistamines and similar drugs could slow down Huntington's disease Posted: 09 Jun 2020 09:29 AM PDT Scientists have described a potential new therapeutic strategy for slowing down early-stage Huntington's disease.

Predicting unpredictable reactions Posted: 09 Jun 2020 09:29 AM PDT New research advances the field of computational catalysis by paving the way for the simulation of realistic catalysts under reaction conditions.

Study tracks decades of life cycle changes in nonwoody plants Posted: 09 Jun 2020 09:29 AM PDT For 25 years, Carol Augspurger visited a patch of ancient woods near Urbana, Illinois to look at the same 25 one-square-meter plots of earth she first demarcated for study in 1993. Her 600,000+ observations revealed that herbaceous plants are shifting their schedules in response to climate change, with distinct patterns for early- and late-spring-emerging plants.

Armor on butterfly wings protects against heavy rain Posted: 09 Jun 2020 09:29 AM PDT An analysis of high-speed raindrops hitting biological surfaces such as feathers, plant leaves and insect wings reveals how these highly water-repelling veneers reduce the water's impact.

Water vapor in the atmosphere may be prime renewable energy source Posted: 09 Jun 2020 09:29 AM PDT A new study finds that water vapor in the atmosphere may serve as a potential renewable energy source in the future.

Improved MRI scans could aid in development of arthritis treatments Posted: 09 Jun 2020 09:29 AM PDT An algorithm which analyses MRI images and automatically detects small changes in knee joints over time could be used in the development of new treatments for arthritis.

Presence of airborne dust could signify increased habitability of distant planets Posted: 09 Jun 2020 08:11 AM PDT Scientists have expanded our understanding of potentially habitable planets orbiting distant stars by including a critical climate component -- the presence of airborne dust.

Paper-based device provides low-power, long-term method for analyzing sweat Posted: 09 Jun 2020 08:11 AM PDT Researchers have constructed a paper-based device as a model of wearables that can collect, transport and analyze sweat in next-generation wearable technology. Using a process known as capillary action, akin to water transport in plants, the device uses evaporation to wick fluid that mimics the features of human sweat to a sensor for up to 10 days or longer.

Down to the bone: Understanding how bone-dissolving cells are generated Posted: 09 Jun 2020 08:10 AM PDT Bone-dissolving cells called osteoclasts are derived from a type of immune cells called macrophages. They are necessary for the maintenance and renewal of bones. But the intracellular mechanisms through which macrophages convert to osteoclasts are not fully understood. Recently, scientists have uncovered the role of a protein called Cpeb4 in this process. Their findings suggest potential therapeutic targets for bone and joint diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis.

Study reveals birth defects likely caused by flame retardant Posted: 09 Jun 2020 08:10 AM PDT A new study has shown that exposure to a now-banned flame retardant can alter the genetic code in sperm, leading to major health defects in children of exposed parents.

Parasitic fungi keep harmful blue-green algae in check Posted: 09 Jun 2020 08:10 AM PDT When a lake is covered with green scums during a warm summer, cyanobacteria -- often called blue-green algae -- are usually involved. Mass development of cyanobacteria is bad for water quality. But cyanobacteria can become sick, when for instance infected by fungal parasites. Researchers found out that these infections do not only kill cyanobacteria, they also make them easier to consume for their natural predators. Fungal parasites thus help to slow down the growth of blue-green algae.

Machine learning predicts nanoparticles' structure and dynamics Posted: 09 Jun 2020 07:43 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that new distance-based machine learning methods are capable of predicting structures and atomic dynamics of nanoparticles reliably. The new methods are significantly faster than traditional simulation methods used for nanoparticle research and will facilitate more efficient explorations of particle-particle reactions and particles' functionality in their environment.

New hints of volcanism under the heart of northern Europe Posted: 09 Jun 2020 06:51 AM PDT Scientists have discovered new evidence for active volcanism next door to some of the most densely populated areas of Europe. The study 'crowd-sourced' GPS monitoring data from antennae across western Europe to track subtle movements in the Earth's surface, thought to be caused by a rising subsurface mantle plume.

Oregon timber harvests don't appear to affect rare salamander, study finds Posted: 09 Jun 2020 06:50 AM PDT The Oregon slender salamander only exists on the western slopes of the Cascades, where it lives most of the year underground or burrowed in woody debris on the forest floor.

How effective are language learning apps? Posted: 09 Jun 2020 06:50 AM PDT Researchers recently conducted a study focusing on Babbel, a popular subscription-based language learning app and e-learning platform, to see if it really worked at teaching a new language.

Researchers put a price tag on alcohol use Posted: 09 Jun 2020 06:50 AM PDT Alcohol use disorders are associated with high social welfare and health care costs -- but what causes them? A new new study looks at the magnitude and reasons behind the economic burden alcohol use disorders have on society.

Human presence weakens social relationships of giraffes Posted: 09 Jun 2020 06:50 AM PDT Living close to human settlements disturbs the social networks of giraffes. They have weaker bonds with other giraffes and fewer interactions with other members of the species, an international study has shown.

Entire Roman city revealed without any digging Posted: 08 Jun 2020 04:25 PM PDT For the first time, archaeologists have succeeded in mapping a complete Roman city, Falerii Novi in Italy, using advanced ground penetrating radar (GPR), allowing them to reveal astonishing details while it remains deep underground. The technology could revolutionize our understanding of ancient settlements.

Boys' poor reading skills might help explain higher education gender gap Posted: 08 Jun 2020 04:25 PM PDT Researchers found boys' poor reading skills in adolescence, combined with the social attitudes about women attending college, can help explain why fewer men than women enroll in higher education or other types of post-high school education.

'Playing hard to get' really works; here's why Posted: 08 Jun 2020 04:25 PM PDT Researchers examined the effects of playing hard to get, a mating strategy that is likely to instill a certain degree of uncertainty. In a new study they show that making the chase harder increases a potential mate's desirability.

Making nanoparticle analysis quicker and more affordable Posted: 08 Jun 2020 01:34 PM PDT Scientists introduce an open-source method to simplify nanoparticle analysis using scanning electron microscope images.

Milkweed, only food source for monarch caterpillars, ubiquitously contaminated Posted: 08 Jun 2020 01:34 PM PDT New evidence identifies 64 pesticide residues in milkweed, the main food for monarch butterflies in the west. Milkweed samples from all of the locations studied in California's Central Valley were contaminated with pesticides, sometimes at levels harmful to monarchs and other insects. 32% of the samples contained pesticide levels known to be lethal to monarchs, according to a new study.

Radiocarbon dating pins date for construction of Uyghur complex to the year 777 Posted: 08 Jun 2020 01:34 PM PDT Dating archaeological objects precisely is difficult, even when using techniques such as radiocarbon dating. Using a recently developed method, based on the presence of sudden spikes in carbon-14 concentration, scientists have pinned the date for the construction of an eighth-century complex in southern Siberia to a specific year. This allows archaeologists to finally understand the purpose for building the complex -- and why it was never used.

Research team builds better rock models Posted: 08 Jun 2020 01:34 PM PDT Once you crush, cut or fracture a rock, there are no do-overs. It's a fact that means geoscientists have to be particularly careful about which rock samples they can sacrifice to physics experiments versus which ones should stay on the shelf. A team of geoscience researchers is working to change that with a new method for creating digital replicas of rock samples that is more accurate and simpler to use than other techniques.

Physicists study mirror nuclei for precision theory test Posted: 08 Jun 2020 01:34 PM PDT A precision measurement of helium and hydrogen mirror isotopes reveals new questions in understanding of nuclear structure.

Ultra-sensitive device for detecting magnetic fields Posted: 08 Jun 2020 01:34 PM PDT The new magnetic sensor is inexpensive to make, works on minimal power and is 20 times more sensitive than many traditional sensors.

Engineers put tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses on a single chip Posted: 08 Jun 2020 10:25 AM PDT Engineers have designed a 'brain-on-a-chip,' smaller than a piece of confetti, that is made from tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses known as memristors -- silicon-based components that mimic the information-transmitting synapses in the human brain.

Monkeys appreciate lifelike animation Posted: 08 Jun 2020 10:24 AM PDT Monkeys can overcome their aversion to animated monkeys through a more realistic avatar, according to new research.

Forgot where you parked the car? Research suggests memory is a game of all or nothing Posted: 08 Jun 2020 08:47 AM PDT An online study, involving more than 400 participants aged 18-35, reveals that memories for specific locations are either totally forgotten or, if they are remembered, it's with as much precision as when they were first learnt.

Artificial brains may need sleep too Posted: 08 Jun 2020 06:30 AM PDT Neural networks that become unstable after continuous periods of self-learning will return to stability after exposed to sleep like states, according to a study of simulated spiking neural networks, suggesting that even artificial brains need to nap occasionally.

3D-printable material that mimics biological tissues Posted: 08 Jun 2020 06:29 AM PDT Researchers have 3D printed a complex, porous lattice structure using liquid crystal elastomers creating devices that can mimic cartilage and other biological tissues.

Ancient asteroid impacts created the ingredients of life on Earth and Mars Posted: 08 Jun 2020 06:29 AM PDT A new study reveals that asteroid impact sites in the ocean may possess a crucial link in explaining the formation of the essential molecules for life. The study discovered the emergence of amino acids that serve as the building blocks for proteins - demonstrating the role of meteorites in bringing life's molecules to earth, and potentially Mars.

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