Science & Technology
Chances of eliminating HIV infection increased by novel dual gene-editing approach
Gene-editing therapy aimed at two targets — HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, and CCR5, the co-receptor that helps the virus get into cells — can effectively eliminate HIV infection, new research shows. The study combines a dual gene-editing strateg…
‘Golden’ fossils reveal origins of exceptional preservation
A recent study found that many of the fossils from Germany’s Posidonia shale do not get their gleam from pyrite, commonly known as fool’s gold, which was long thought to be the source of the shine. Instead, the golden hue is from a mix of minerals that…
Air pollution may increase risk of dementia, complicated by genetics
Researchers describe how exposure to ambient air pollution, such as car exhaust and power plant emissions — is associated with a measurably greater risk of developing dementia over time.
Deep neural network provides robust detection of disease biomarkers in real time
A lab has developed a deep neural network that improves the accuracy of their unique devices for detecting pathogen biomarkers.
A touch-responsive fabric armband — for flexible keyboards, wearable sketchpads
It’s time to roll up your sleeves for the next advance in wearable technology — a fabric armband that’s actually a touch pad. Researchers say they have devised a way to make playing video games, sketching cartoons and signing documents easier. Their p…
What would the Earth look like to an alien civilization located light years away?
What would the Earth look like to an alien civilization located light years away? A team of researchers has used crowd-sourced data to simulate radio leakage from mobile towers and predict what an alien civilization might detect from various nearby sta…
Stress increases Alzheimer’s risk in female mice but not males
Stress causes the levels of Alzheimer’s proteins to rise in females’ brains but not males’ brains, according to a new study. This difference may contribute to women’s greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Upcycling method turns textile trash to functional coatings
In an effort to make textiles more sustainable, a new method allows researchers to break old clothing down chemically and reuse polyester compounds to create fire resistant, anti-bacterial or wrinkle-free coatings that could then be applied to clothes …
Joyful music could be a game changer for virtual reality headaches
Listening to music could reduce the dizziness, nausea and headaches virtual reality users might experience after using digital devices, research suggests. Cybersickness — a type of motion sickness from virtual reality experiences such as computer game…
Self-folding origami machines powered by chemical reaction
Scientists have harnessed chemical reactions to make microscale origami machines self-fold — freeing them from the liquids in which they usually function, so they can operate in dry environments and at room temperature.
Scientists present evidence for a billion-years arms race between viruses and their hosts
Researchers have proposed a new evolutionary model for the origin of a kingdom of viruses called Bamfordvirae, suggesting a billion-years evolutionary arms race between two groups within this kingdom and their hosts.
A stormy, active sun may have kickstarted life on Earth
The first building blocks of life on Earth may have formed thanks to eruptions from our Sun, a new study finds. A series of chemical experiments show how solar particles, colliding with gases in Earth’s early atmosphere, can form amino acids and carbox…
Fossil find in California shakes up the natural history of cycad plants
According to researchers, a new analysis of an 80-million-year-old permineralized pollen cone found in the Campanian Holz Shale formation located in Silverado Canyon, California, offers a more accurate cycad natural history — one where the plants dive…