Science & Technology
Science coverage of climate change can change minds
Science reporting on climate change does lead Americans to adopt more accurate beliefs and support government action on the issue — but these gains are fragile, a new study suggests.
A rare discovery of long-term memory in wild frog-eating bats
Frog-eating bats trained by researchers to associate a phone ringtone with a tasty treat were able to remember what they learned for up to four years in the wild, new research has found.
Nanoparticles control flow of light like road signs direct traffic
Physicists have developed tiny translucent slides capable of producing two very different images by manipulating the direction in which light travels through them.
New model helps identify mutations that drive cancer
Scientists built a computer model that can rapidly scan the entire genome of cancer cells and identify mutations that occur more frequently than expected, suggesting that they are driving tumor growth.
Who benefits from brain training and why?
If you are skilled at playing puzzles on your smartphone or tablet, what does it say about how fast you learn new puzzles, or, more broadly, how well you can focus, say, in school or at work? Or, in the language of psychologists, does ‘near transfer’ p…
Fifth of global food-related emissions due to transport
Food transport constitutes 19 percent of food emissions, equivalent to 6 percent of emissions from all sources. High-income countries are responsible for nearly half of these emissions, leading researchers to conclude that among the rich, eating locall…
Scientists develop antimicrobial, plant-based food wrap designed to replace plastic
Aiming to produce environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic food wrap and containers, a scientist has developed a biodegradable, plant-based coating that can be sprayed on foods, guarding against pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms and transp…
A small lowering of the groundwater level can destroy house foundations
A new thesis shows that wooden pile foundations show visible damage after only a year if the groundwater level lowers. This can cause settlements of buildings in a matter of a few years.
Gene discovery indicates motor neuron diseases caused by abnormal lipid processing in cells
A new genetic discovery adds weight to a theory that motor neuron degenerative diseases are caused by abnormal lipid (fat) processing pathways inside brain cells. This theory will help pave the way to new diagnostic approaches and treatments for this g…
Scientists conceptualize a species ‘stock market’ to put a price tag on actions posing risks to biodiversity
Species have intrinsic value, but also provide ecosystem services of major economic value, for example, bees that pollinate our crops. However, as such values are hard to translate into figures, currently, they remain easy to dismiss altogether. In a n…
Evolutionary biology: The greening ashore
A team has been studying the current state of research on the plant colonization of land that occurred some 500 million years ago.
Single brain scan can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease
A single MRI scan of the brain could be enough to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research.
New effective combination therapy for pediatric T-acute leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer affecting children. The T-ALL form of leukemia that emerges from early T lineage cells has a poorer prognosis than B-lineage ALL. The prognosis for relapsed T-ALL is very poor and new therapi…