Science & Technology
New study finds early warning signs prior to 2002 Antarctic ice shelf collapse
In 2002, an area of ice about the size of Rhode Island dramatically broke away from Antarctica as the Larsen B ice shelf collapsed. A new study of the conditions that led to the collapse may reveal warning signs to watch for future Antarctic ice shelf …
Humans are leaving behind a ‘frozen signature’ of microbes on Mount Everest
Thanks to technological advances in microbial DNA analysis, researchers have discovered that mountaineers’ boots aren’t the only things leaving footprints on the world’s tallest mountain. When someone sneezes on Everest, their germs can last for centur…
New test quickly identifies patients whose postoperative pain can be effectively treated by hypnosis
Hypnosis is an effective treatment for pain for many individuals but determining which patients will benefit most can be challenging. Hypnotizability testing requires special training and in-person evaluation rarely available in the clinical setting. N…
Innovative approach opens the door to COVID nanobody therapies
The relatively simple and low-cost procedure could empower laboratories in low-resource areas to generate nanobodies against SARS-CoV-2, as well as other viruses.
Air pollution impairs successful mating of flies
A research team demonstrates that increased levels of ozone resulting from anthropogenic air pollution can degrade insect sex pheromones, which are crucial mating signals, and thus prevent successful reproduction. The oxidizing effect of ozone causes t…
Solving the Alzheimer’s disease puzzle: One piece at a time
Researchers have uncovered a novel regulatory mechanism in the brain that is essential for making the right kinds of proteins that promote healthy brain function, and its malfunctioning may be an early contributor of the development of Alzheimer’s dise…
Game-changing high-performance semiconductor material could help slash heat emissions
Researchers have engineered a material with the potential to dramatically cut the amount of heat power plants release into the atmosphere.
COVID-19 pandemic has long-lasting effects on adolescent mental health and substance use
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a long-lasting impact on adolescent mental health and substance use, according to a new population-based study based on survey responses from a sample of over 64,000 13- to 18-year-olds assessed prior to and up to two year…
Spatial patterns in distribution of galaxies
In an unlikely pairing, a chemist and an astrophysicist applied the tools of statistical mechanics to find similarities in spatial patterns across length scales.
New model provides improved air-quality predictions in fire-prone areas
Globally, wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive, generating a significant amount of smoke that can be transported thousands of miles, driving the need for more accurate air pollution forecasts. Researchers have now developed a deep learn…
Global maternal Strep B vaccination program could save millions and prevent thousands of deaths worldwide
A global maternal immunization program for group B Streptococcus — strep B — would save millions in healthcare costs by reducing death and disability, but without tiered pricing, equitable access would likely not be achieved. Several vaccines are cur…
Mirror-image molecules can modify signaling in neurons
With the aid of some sea slugs, chemists have discovered that one of the smallest conceivable tweaks to a biomolecule can elicit one of the grandest conceivable consequences: directing the activation of neurons. The team has shown that the orientation …