Science & Technology
Advanced melanoma survival improves significantly when immunotherapy is given before targeted therapy
A clinical trial showed a remarkable 20 percent advantage in the two-year overall survival rate for people with advanced melanoma who first received immunotherapy (72 percent survival rate) versus those who initially got targeted therapies (52 percent …
3D printing can now manufacture customized sensors for robots, pacemakers, and more
A newly-developed 3D printing technique could be used to cost-effectively produce customized electronic ‘machines’ the size of insects which enable advanced applications in robotics, medical devices and others. The breakthrough could be a potential gam…
Physicists take self-assembly to new level by mimicking biology
A team of physicists has created a new way to self-assemble particles — an advance that offers new promise for building complex and innovative materials at the microscopic level.
Dead fish breathes new life into the evolutionary origin of fins and limbs
A trove of fossils in China, unearthed in rock dating back some 436 million years, have revealed for the first time that the mysterious galeaspids, a jawless freshwater fish, possessed paired fins.
Water fleas as ‘canaries in a coal mine’ offer key to managing chemical pollution
Water fleas, or Daphnia, could provide an important ‘early warning system’ for chemical pollution in our lakes and rivers.
Breaks in ‘junk’ DNA give scientists new insight into neurological disorders
‘Junk’ DNA could unlock new treatments for neurological disorders as scientists discover its breaks and repairs affect our protection against neurological disease.
An emergency department-based ICU improves survival without raising costs, study finds
The model of an ICU housed within an emergency department has been found to both decrease mortality rates and ICU admission rates for ED patients. A new study finds that the ED-ICU model achieves both of those measures without raising costs. Researcher…
Immune function remodeled by mitochondrial shape
A new study focused on the immune system’s Th17 cells suggests that the shape and function of their mitochondria (the powerhouse of cells) is important in autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.
‘Triple eyes’ on a catalytic reaction
There are various microscopies to monitor chemical processes on such surfaces — they use, for example, ultraviolet light, X-rays or electrons. But no single method alone provides a complete picture. This is why research teams have developed a novel ap…
More reasons to go solar when gearing up for a greener drive
With electric vehicles sales soaring worldwide, potential buyers are not just weighing up the price tag, but also the logistics and expense of charging the planet-friendly cars. A new study shows households with solar panels and batteries will be the b…
Teachers’ turnover intentions, burnout and poor work climate are interlinked
The risk of burnout and poor experienced teacher-working environment fit is increased among teachers with persistent turnover intentions. However, positive experiences in the workplace seem to protect against cynicism and exhaustion, according to a new…
Land use: Greater differentiation in evaluating climate protection measures
Researchers have developed a new method that makes it possible to assess the direct effects of human land use on the carbon cycle from Earth observation data.
Revealing the genome of the common ancestor of all mammals
An international team has reconstructed the genome organization of the earliest common ancestor of all mammals. The reconstructed ancestral genome could help in understanding the evolution of mammals and in conservation of modern animals. The earliest …
Scalable and fully coupled quantum-inspired processor solves optimization problems
Annealing processors are more energy efficient and quicker at solving mathematical optimization problems than PCs. Researchers at Tokyo University of Science have now developed a new approach to realizing scalable fully coupled annealing processors. Th…
Electronic health record tool can help children achieve healthy weight
An electronic health record (EHR) program to help primary care doctors address child obesity is an effective tool to promote positive body mass index (BMI) trends, especially among young children with obesity, according to a new study.
No environmental justice, no positive peace — and vice versa
Peace and environmental sustainability — two lofty but vital goals for all countries — are known to be intrinsically related, according to new research. However, researchers still tend to investigate them separately, and, when they are viewed togethe…
New zika vaccine shows promise in animal models
Researchers have developed a Zika vaccine technology that is highly effective and safe in preclinical mouse models.