Sustainable groundwater use could be answer to Africa’s water issues
Tapping into groundwater can help communities in Africa diversify their water supply and strengthen their drought defenses, according to a new study.
Science & Technology
Mindfulness therapy reduces opioid misuse and chronic pain in primary care, according to new research
Results from a new clinical trial demonstrate that an eight-week mindfulness-based therapy decreased opioid use and misuse while reducing chronic pain symptoms, with effects lasting as long as nine months.
Stonehenge served as an ancient solar calendar
New analysis has identified how the design of Stonehenge may have represented a calendar, helping people track a solar year of 365.25 days calibrated by the alignment of the solstices. Although it had long been thought to be a calendar, pinpointing how…
Deciphering algorithms used by ants and the Internet
Scientists found that ants and other natural systems use optimization algorithms similar to those used by engineered systems, including the Internet. These algorithms invest incrementally more resources as long as signs are encouraging but pull back qu…
Did rapid spin delay 2017 collapse of merged neutron stars into black hole?
Continuing X-ray observations by Chandra of the kilonova from the merger of two neutron stars to form a black hole hint at new processes. Initially, a gamma-ray burst and subsequent X-ray emissions told of a jet of material produced by the merger, but …
COVID in a cat
A study has confirmed what is believed to be the first published account of the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in a house cat. The viral sequence was a close match to strains circulating in the Philadelphia area at the same time, underscoring the virus’s …
Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domains may result in escape variants resistant to therapeutics and vaccines
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is continuously evolving and structural changes to the virus may impact the efficacy of antibody therapies and vaccines. A study describes the structural and functional landscape of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike …
Investigating the effects of critical illness in early childhood on neurocognitive outcomes
Approximately 23,700 children in the U.S. undergo invasive mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure annually. Although most survive, little is known if they have worse long-term neurocognitive function than children who do not undergo such …