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Other Sciences news
Economy, education cuts taking heavy toll on state's college students, new study shows
The ongoing economic crisis and continuing state budget cuts to higher education have had a devastating impact on students at California's public colleges and universities, resulting in "alarmingly high levels of stress," according to a new report from the Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles at UCLA.
The ongoing economic crisis and continuing state budget cuts to higher education have had a devastating impact on students at California's public colleges and universities, resulting in "alarmingly high levels of stress," according to a new report from the Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles at UCLA.
When should a nation let the past be past?
South African lawyer Paul Van Zyl has helped nations all over the world overcome legacies of genocide and mass murder, in which "it's impossible to fully reveal the truth about every disappearance, every human rights violation."
South African lawyer Paul Van Zyl has helped nations all over the world overcome legacies of genocide and mass murder, in which "it's impossible to fully reveal the truth about every disappearance, every human rights violation."
Marketer optimism rises to highest level in two years
Top marketing executives at U.S. firms are more optimistic about the U.S. economy and their own companies, with company performance indicators such as revenue, profits and new jobs climbing across the board.
Top marketing executives at U.S. firms are more optimistic about the U.S. economy and their own companies, with company performance indicators such as revenue, profits and new jobs climbing across the board.
Trevor Pinch links app usage to personality types
(PhysOrg.com) -- What "appitype" are you? The Appthusiast? The Live Wire? The Appcentric?
(PhysOrg.com) -- What "appitype" are you? The Appthusiast? The Live Wire? The Appcentric?
Why do we laugh when someone falls over?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Why is it funny when people fall over? What are jokes for? A session for teenagers at Cambridge University today will come up with some answers.
(PhysOrg.com) -- Why is it funny when people fall over? What are jokes for? A session for teenagers at Cambridge University today will come up with some answers.
U.S. public's knowledge of science still has a long way to go
Amid concerns about the lagging math and science performance of American children, American adults are actually scoring higher than they did 20 years ago on a widely used index of civic scientific literacy, according to a University of Michigan researcher.
Amid concerns about the lagging math and science performance of American children, American adults are actually scoring higher than they did 20 years ago on a widely used index of civic scientific literacy, according to a University of Michigan researcher.
Practice more important than age in learning to use computer mouse
Children as young as 5 years old can learn how to use a computer mouse, new research suggests.
Children as young as 5 years old can learn how to use a computer mouse, new research suggests.
A billion tons of biomass a viable goal, but at high price, new research shows
A new study from the University of Illinois concludes that very high biomass prices would be needed in order to meet the ambitious goal of replacing 30 percent of petroleum consumption in the U.S. with biofuels by 2030.
A new study from the University of Illinois concludes that very high biomass prices would be needed in order to meet the ambitious goal of replacing 30 percent of petroleum consumption in the U.S. with biofuels by 2030.
Study identifies risks for quitting college
College students who consider dropping out are particularly sensitive to a handful of critical events including depression and loss of financial aid, according to a study led by Michigan State University scholars.
College students who consider dropping out are particularly sensitive to a handful of critical events including depression and loss of financial aid, according to a study led by Michigan State University scholars.
New dinosaur dating technique paper released
Antonio Simonetti, a research associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, is the coauthor of an important new paper describing a novel method for age dating dinosaur fossils.
Antonio Simonetti, a research associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, is the coauthor of an important new paper describing a novel method for age dating dinosaur fossils.
Who's the boss? Americans respond faster to those with high social status
Who do you look at in a group photo? If you're like most adults, you'll look at yourself first — unless your boss is also in the picture.
Who do you look at in a group photo? If you're like most adults, you'll look at yourself first — unless your boss is also in the picture.
Periodic table of shapes to give a new dimension to maths (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Mathematicians are creating their own version of the periodic table that will provide a vast directory of all the possible shapes in the universe across three, four and five dimensions, linking shapes together in the same way as the periodic table links groups of chemical elements.
(PhysOrg.com) -- Mathematicians are creating their own version of the periodic table that will provide a vast directory of all the possible shapes in the universe across three, four and five dimensions, linking shapes together in the same way as the periodic table links groups of chemical elements.
To escape blame, be a victim, not a hero, new study finds
Great works and praiseworthy behavior may bring respect and admiration, but these won't help us to escape blame when we do something wrong, says a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland and Harvard University. To do that, the researchers say, one needs to be a victim not a hero!
Great works and praiseworthy behavior may bring respect and admiration, but these won't help us to escape blame when we do something wrong, says a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland and Harvard University. To do that, the researchers say, one needs to be a victim not a hero!
Iceman Oetzi gets a new face for 20th anniversary
Iceman Oetzi, whose mummified body was famously found frozen in the Italian Alps in 1991, will get a new face for the 20th anniversary of his discovery.
Iceman Oetzi, whose mummified body was famously found frozen in the Italian Alps in 1991, will get a new face for the 20th anniversary of his discovery.
Mio-Pliocene faunal exchanges and African biogeography: The record of fossil bovids
New fossil discoveries have provided a glimpse into the biogeographic configuration of Africa over the last seven million years.
New fossil discoveries have provided a glimpse into the biogeographic configuration of Africa over the last seven million years.
Biological anthropologists question claims for human ancestry
"Too simple" and "not so fast" suggest biological anthropologists from the George Washington University and New York University about the origins of human ancestry. In the upcoming issue of the journal Nature, the anthropologists question the claims that several prominent fossil discoveries made in the last decade are our human ancestors. Instead, the authors offer a more nuanced explanation of the fossils' place in the Tree of Life. They conclude that instead of being our ancestors the fossils more likely belong to extinct distant cousins.
"Too simple" and "not so fast" suggest biological anthropologists from the George Washington University and New York University about the origins of human ancestry. In the upcoming issue of the journal Nature, the anthropologists question the claims that several prominent fossil discoveries made in the last decade are our human ancestors. Instead, the authors offer a more nuanced explanation of the fossils' place in the Tree of Life. They conclude that instead of being our ancestors the fossils more likely belong to extinct distant cousins.
Nanotechnology news
Versatility of a new material makes for more efficient solar cells
(PhysOrg.com) -- A Colorado State University professor has successfully turned a mineral compound into a material that can pass current through a nanoparticle network – an important discovery into more efficient, inexpensive solar cell materials.
(PhysOrg.com) -- A Colorado State University professor has successfully turned a mineral compound into a material that can pass current through a nanoparticle network – an important discovery into more efficient, inexpensive solar cell materials.
Tuning the collective properties of artificial nanoparticle supercrystals
Precise ordering in two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) superlattices formed by the self-assembly of individual nanocrystals (NCs) allows for control of the magnetic, optical, and electronic coupling between the individual NCs. This control can lead to useful collective properties such as vibrational coherence, reversible metal-to-insulator transitions, enhanced conductivity, spin-dependent electron transport, enhanced ferro- and ferrimagnetism, tunable magnetotransport, and efficient charge transport. These properties have many potential applications in solar cells, field-effect transistors, light-emitting devices, photodetectors, and photoconductors.
Precise ordering in two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) superlattices formed by the self-assembly of individual nanocrystals (NCs) allows for control of the magnetic, optical, and electronic coupling between the individual NCs. This control can lead to useful collective properties such as vibrational coherence, reversible metal-to-insulator transitions, enhanced conductivity, spin-dependent electron transport, enhanced ferro- and ferrimagnetism, tunable magnetotransport, and efficient charge transport. These properties have many potential applications in solar cells, field-effect transistors, light-emitting devices, photodetectors, and photoconductors.
Carbon nanotube transistors could lead to inexpensive, flexible electronics
(PhysOrg.com) -- Recently, researchers have been developing carbon nanotube-based thin-film transistors (TFTs) in the hopes of creating high-performance, flexible, transparent devices, such as e-paper and RFID tags. However, one of the biggest challenges holding back the transistors’ performance is a trade-off between the properties of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes that make up the transistors. In a new study, researchers have developed a new way of fabricating nanotube networks that partly overcomes this problem, and show that the nanotube networks could be used to make transistors as well as flexible integrated circuits (ICs).
(PhysOrg.com) -- Recently, researchers have been developing carbon nanotube-based thin-film transistors (TFTs) in the hopes of creating high-performance, flexible, transparent devices, such as e-paper and RFID tags. However, one of the biggest challenges holding back the transistors’ performance is a trade-off between the properties of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes that make up the transistors. In a new study, researchers have developed a new way of fabricating nanotube networks that partly overcomes this problem, and show that the nanotube networks could be used to make transistors as well as flexible integrated circuits (ICs).
Physics news
The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment: On track to completion
Berkeley Lab physicists and engineers are among the leaders of the unique Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, where Chinese and American scientists, with colleagues from Russia, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic, have come together to investigate a peculiar phenomenon related to so-called neutrino mixing. Kam-Biu Luk of Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division is Daya Bay’s scientific co-spokesperson, with Yifang Wang of Beijing’s Institute of High Energy Physics. Bill Edwards of the Lab’s Physics Division is the U.S. Project and Operations Manager.
Berkeley Lab physicists and engineers are among the leaders of the unique Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, where Chinese and American scientists, with colleagues from Russia, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic, have come together to investigate a peculiar phenomenon related to so-called neutrino mixing. Kam-Biu Luk of Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division is Daya Bay’s scientific co-spokesperson, with Yifang Wang of Beijing’s Institute of High Energy Physics. Bill Edwards of the Lab’s Physics Division is the U.S. Project and Operations Manager.
Space & Earth news
China rice laced with heavy metals: report
Up to 10 percent of rice grown in China is contaminated with harmful heavy metals but little has been done to highlight the possible public health risks, a report said.
Up to 10 percent of rice grown in China is contaminated with harmful heavy metals but little has been done to highlight the possible public health risks, a report said.
Researchers link algae to harmful estrogen-like compound in water
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, researchers have found that blue-green algae may be responsible for producing an estrogen-like compound in the environment which could disrupt the normal activity of reproductive hormones and adversely affect fish, plants and human health. Previously, human activities were thought solely responsible for producing these impacts.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, researchers have found that blue-green algae may be responsible for producing an estrogen-like compound in the environment which could disrupt the normal activity of reproductive hormones and adversely affect fish, plants and human health. Previously, human activities were thought solely responsible for producing these impacts.
Inhaling 'Red Mud Disaster' dust may not be as harmful to health as feared
Scientists in Hungary are reporting that the potential health effects of last October's Red Mud Disaster, one of the worst environmental accidents in Europe, may be less dangerous than previously feared. Their study, reported in ACS's journal Environmental Science & Technology, concludes that the dust from the mud may be no more harmful than particles of ordinary urban air pollution.
Scientists in Hungary are reporting that the potential health effects of last October's Red Mud Disaster, one of the worst environmental accidents in Europe, may be less dangerous than previously feared. Their study, reported in ACS's journal Environmental Science & Technology, concludes that the dust from the mud may be no more harmful than particles of ordinary urban air pollution.
Thawing permafrost likely will accelerate global warming
Up to two-thirds of Earth's permafrost likely will disappear by 2200 as a result of warming temperatures, unleashing vast quantities of carbon into the atmosphere, says a new study by the University of Colorado Boulder's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences.
Up to two-thirds of Earth's permafrost likely will disappear by 2200 as a result of warming temperatures, unleashing vast quantities of carbon into the atmosphere, says a new study by the University of Colorado Boulder's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences.
2 Russians cosmonauts end spacewalk
(AP) -- Two Russian cosmonauts on Wednesday conducted a five-hour-long spacewalk outside the International Space Station to install equipment for experiments on sensing earthquakes and lightning.
(AP) -- Two Russian cosmonauts on Wednesday conducted a five-hour-long spacewalk outside the International Space Station to install equipment for experiments on sensing earthquakes and lightning.
NASA satellite sees Tropical Storm Bingiza hugging the western Madagascar coastline
Infrared satellite data from NASA is showing some strong thunderstorms over west-central Madagascar today as Tropical Storm Bingiza continues to hug the western coast of the island nation.
Infrared satellite data from NASA is showing some strong thunderstorms over west-central Madagascar today as Tropical Storm Bingiza continues to hug the western coast of the island nation.
NASA sees tropical cyclone double-trouble for Australia
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image today of tropical cyclones affecting Australia in the western and northern areas of the country. Newly formed Tropical Storm Carlos is bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to Darwin and the Northern Territory, while Tropical Storm Dianne is bringing rains and winds to Western Australia.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image today of tropical cyclones affecting Australia in the western and northern areas of the country. Newly formed Tropical Storm Carlos is bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to Darwin and the Northern Territory, while Tropical Storm Dianne is bringing rains and winds to Western Australia.
Violent storms on alien planets
Hundreds of planets have now been detected outside our solar system. So far, very little is known about the physical conditions on these fascinating objects. Kevin Heng from the Institute for Astronomy at ETH Zurich is attempting to close this gap with sophisticated model stimulations.
Hundreds of planets have now been detected outside our solar system. So far, very little is known about the physical conditions on these fascinating objects. Kevin Heng from the Institute for Astronomy at ETH Zurich is attempting to close this gap with sophisticated model stimulations.
Payload for international space station launched
A European Space Agency rocket blasted off Wednesday bearing a 20-tonne supply ship destined for a rendezvous with the manned International Space Station.
A European Space Agency rocket blasted off Wednesday bearing a 20-tonne supply ship destined for a rendezvous with the manned International Space Station.
Insects continue to threaten forests across Colorado
(PhysOrg.com) -- Although the mountain pine beetle epidemic has largely run its course in north-central Colorado, insect and disease activity continued to stress the state’s forests in 2010.
(PhysOrg.com) -- Although the mountain pine beetle epidemic has largely run its course in north-central Colorado, insect and disease activity continued to stress the state’s forests in 2010.
Gum trees fire up history revision
(PhysOrg.com) -- Australian bushfires appeared 50 million years earlier than previously thought and probably contributed to transforming the landscape from rainforest into the country’s dry eucalypt forests of today, according to the authors of a new study from The Australian National University.
(PhysOrg.com) -- Australian bushfires appeared 50 million years earlier than previously thought and probably contributed to transforming the landscape from rainforest into the country’s dry eucalypt forests of today, according to the authors of a new study from The Australian National University.
Reflected glory
(PhysOrg.com) -- The nebula Messier 78 takes centre stage in this image taken with the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile, while the stars powering the bright display take a backseat. The brilliant starlight ricochets off dust particles in the nebula, illuminating it with scattered blue light. Igor Chekalin was the overall winner of ESO’s Hidden Treasures 2010 astrophotography competition with his image of this stunning object.
(PhysOrg.com) -- The nebula Messier 78 takes centre stage in this image taken with the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile, while the stars powering the bright display take a backseat. The brilliant starlight ricochets off dust particles in the nebula, illuminating it with scattered blue light. Igor Chekalin was the overall winner of ESO’s Hidden Treasures 2010 astrophotography competition with his image of this stunning object.
Geologists get unique and unexpected opportunity to study magma
Geologists drilling an exploratory geothermal well in 2009 in the Krafla volcano in Iceland encountered a problem they were simply unprepared for: magma (molten rock or lava underground) which flowed unexpectedly into the well at 2.1 kilometers (6,900 ft) depth, forcing the researchers to terminate the drilling.
Geologists drilling an exploratory geothermal well in 2009 in the Krafla volcano in Iceland encountered a problem they were simply unprepared for: magma (molten rock or lava underground) which flowed unexpectedly into the well at 2.1 kilometers (6,900 ft) depth, forcing the researchers to terminate the drilling.
NASA releases images of man-made crater on comet
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Stardust spacecraft returned new images of a comet showing a scar resulting from the 2005 Deep Impact mission. The images also showed the comet has a fragile and weak nucleus.
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Stardust spacecraft returned new images of a comet showing a scar resulting from the 2005 Deep Impact mission. The images also showed the comet has a fragile and weak nucleus.
Increased flooding driven by climate change: study
Global warming driven by human activity boosted the intensity of rain, snow and consequent flooding in the northern hemisphere over the last half of the 20th century, research released Wednesday has shown.
Global warming driven by human activity boosted the intensity of rain, snow and consequent flooding in the northern hemisphere over the last half of the 20th century, research released Wednesday has shown.
Oldest fossils of large seaweeds, possible animals tell story about oxygen in an ancient ocean
Almost 600 million years ago, before the rampant evolution of diverse life forms known as the Cambrian explosion, a community of seaweeds and worm-like animals lived in a quiet deep-water niche under the sea near what is now Lantian, a small village in Anhui Province of South China. Then they simply died, leaving some 3,000 nearly pristine fossils preserved between beds of black shale deposited in oxygen-free waters.
Almost 600 million years ago, before the rampant evolution of diverse life forms known as the Cambrian explosion, a community of seaweeds and worm-like animals lived in a quiet deep-water niche under the sea near what is now Lantian, a small village in Anhui Province of South China. Then they simply died, leaving some 3,000 nearly pristine fossils preserved between beds of black shale deposited in oxygen-free waters.
Herschel finds less dark matter but more stars
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA's Herschel space observatory has discovered a population of dust-enshrouded galaxies that do not need as much dark matter as previously thought to collect gas and burst into star formation.
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA's Herschel space observatory has discovered a population of dust-enshrouded galaxies that do not need as much dark matter as previously thought to collect gas and burst into star formation.
Chemistry news
Discovery of blood proteins that are red flags for ectopic pregnancy
A long, urgent search for proteins in the blood of pregnant women that could be used in early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (EP) has resulted in discovery of biomarkers that seem to be specific enough to begin testing in clinical trials, scientists are reporting in a new study in ACS's Journal of Proteome Research.
A long, urgent search for proteins in the blood of pregnant women that could be used in early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (EP) has resulted in discovery of biomarkers that seem to be specific enough to begin testing in clinical trials, scientists are reporting in a new study in ACS's Journal of Proteome Research.
Modeling radiation energy deposition in a complex biological system
Research involving selective irradiation of a human skin tissue model is improving how scientists determine the overall effects of low doses of ionizing radiation such as might be received during certain medical procedures or occupational exposures. Scientists at Washington State University-Tri Cities and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are modeling electron energy deposition patterns as produced by the electron microbeam developed at PNNL to determine how it may be used in the study of more complex biological systems.
Research involving selective irradiation of a human skin tissue model is improving how scientists determine the overall effects of low doses of ionizing radiation such as might be received during certain medical procedures or occupational exposures. Scientists at Washington State University-Tri Cities and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are modeling electron energy deposition patterns as produced by the electron microbeam developed at PNNL to determine how it may be used in the study of more complex biological systems.
Biomarker could make diagnosing knee injury easier, less costly, othopaedists say
A recently discovered biomarker could help doctors diagnose a common type of knee injury, according to a new study.
A recently discovered biomarker could help doctors diagnose a common type of knee injury, according to a new study.
Structure, dynamics of a chemical signal that triggers metastatic cancer revealed
In cancer and other pathological diseases, researchers are discovering that packaging is important: specifically, how DNA – about two meters long when unwound and stretched – coils up and compacts neatly inside the nucleus of a cell.
In cancer and other pathological diseases, researchers are discovering that packaging is important: specifically, how DNA – about two meters long when unwound and stretched – coils up and compacts neatly inside the nucleus of a cell.
Swimming microbes monitor water quality
Miners used to rely on canaries to alert them to dangerous build-ups of gases. Now much smaller animals -- the smallest of all -- can warn of toxins in water supplies.
Miners used to rely on canaries to alert them to dangerous build-ups of gases. Now much smaller animals -- the smallest of all -- can warn of toxins in water supplies.
Provided by PhysOrg.com
