high dopamine concentrations do not make neurons more active. However, higher dopamine levels do make the neurons remain active for a longer period of time.
US scientists link BCG vaccination with fewer COVID-19 cases, Indian scientists hopeful but cautious
"We found that countries without universal policies of BCG vaccination, such as Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States, have been more severely affected compared to countries with universal and long-standing BCG policies," noted the researchers led by Gonzalo Otazu, assistant professor of biomedical sciences at NYIT.
The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, administered to millions of Indian children soon after birth to protect against tuberculosis, could be a "game-changer" in the fight against the deadly coronavirus, say US scientists. The severity of coronavirus impact may be linked to national policies on BCG childhood vaccination, the yet to be published study from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) states while citing the examples of Italy and the US. We found that countries without universal policies of BCG vaccination, such as Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States, have been more severely affected compared to countries with universal and long-standing BCG policies.
According to the study, a combination of reduced morbidity and mortality could make the BCG vaccination a game-changer in the fight against COVID-19.
The BCG vaccine is part of India's universal immunisation programme and administered to millions of children at birth or soon after it.
It is the live weakened form of mycobacterium bovis -- the causative agent of tuberculosis in cattle -- related to mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria which causes tuberculosis in humans.
India, with the world's highest TB burden, introduced BCG mass immunisation in 1948.
It was effective not in the sense that it was able to cure, but it was able to reduce the intensity," Gulati said.
Gulati explained that the SARS virus is also basically a "coronated virus".
"So since the current pandemic is less intense in the countries with BCG vaccine intervention and that it was effective against another coronavirus is reason for hope.
Climate crisis may have pushed world's tropical coral reefs to tipping point of 'near-annual' bleaching Mass bleaching seen along Great Barrier Reef could mark start of global-scale event, expert warns
Can you catch the coronavirus twice? We don’t know yet
We don’t have enough evidence yet to know if recovering fromcovid-19induces immunity, or whether any immunity would give long-lasting protection against thecoronavirus
Turning cells into computers with protein logic gates. The same basic tools that allow computers to function are now being used to control life at the molecular level. The advances have implications for future medicines and synthetic biology.
In an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, several states have issued stay-at-home orders. But for domestic violence victims, staying at home may not mean safer at home.
Autonomous, living microrobots that seek and destroy cancer are not as futuristic as one might imagine, thanks to a fusion of robotics and synthetic biology.
Most people live around animals, even if they don’t have farms or pets. From ticks to squirrels to rats, many members of the animal kingdom can transmit disease. Here’s a short list of common animals and some of the diseases we can get from them:
How do plants know when to flower? A protein called phytochrome B, which can sense light and temperature, triggers plant growth and controls flowering time.
Beet root's bleeds are red? A chemistry tweak can create a blue hue Results could pave the way for a rare natural blue pigment to color food, clothes and more
A delicate remote control operation to remove a tracking collar from a tiger on an epic 13-month trek through India is carried out to avoid the device choking the animal. The feline explorer, named Walker for the roughly 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) of terrain it covered, has been tracked by Indian wildlife experts through forests, farms, highways and villages.
An Ingredient in Some Medicinal Mouthwashes Could Put Teeth at Great Risk of Cavities
A new study suggests oral rinses that rely on a particular chemical calledchlorhexidine may actually leave your teeth more open to damage.
Although this chemical is said to be 'antibacterial', that's only true in some cases. Recent findings suggest the solution can disturb the microbiome in your mouth, leading to an abundance of lactate-producing bacteria, which makes your saliva more acidic.
That's not exactly good for your teeth. Saliva plays an important role in keeping the pH of your mouth relatively neutral, but if that changes, it might cause issues in your gums and gnashers.
Using chlorhexidine mouthwash not only decreased microbial diversity and increased acidity, it also lowered the saliva's ability to buffer pH.
Saliva lactate and glucose concentrations were elevated after using this mouthwash, and it also disrupted the conversion of nitrate into nitrite, which may support our circulation.
This is important, because the authors found increased systolic blood pressure when the real mouthwash was used.
This weird effect haspopped up in previous studies, and the authors think the use of CHX mouthwash may be more accentuated in people with high blood pressure levels.
There's a lot the average person doesn't know about concrete. For example, it's porous; it's the world's most-used material after water; and, perhaps most fundamentally, it's not cement.
Though many use "cement" and "concrete" interchangeably, they actually refer to two different—but related—materials: Concrete is a composite made from several materials, one of which is cement.
Cement production begins with limestone, a sedimentary rock. Once quarried, it is mixed with a silica source, such as industrial byproducts slag or fly ash, and gets fired in a kiln at 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. What comes out of the kiln is called clinker. Cement plants grind clinker down to an extremely fine powder and mix in a few additives. The final result is cement.
Cement is then brought to sites where it is mixed with water, where it becomes cement paste. If you add sand to that paste it becomes mortar. And if you add to the mortar large aggregates—stones of a diameter of up to an inch—it becomes concrete.
What makes concrete so strong is the chemical reaction that occurs when cement and water mix—a process known as hydration.
Hydration occurs when cement and water react. During hydration, the clinker dissolves into the calcium and recombines with water and silica to form calcium silica hydrates. Calcium silica hydrates, or CSH, are the key to cement's solidity. As they form, they combine, developing tight bonds that lend strength to the material. These connections have a surprising byproduct—they make cement incredibly porous. Within the spaces between the bonds of CSH, tiny pores develop—on the scale of 3 nanometers, or around 8 millionths of an inch. These are known as gel pores. On top of this, any water that hasn't reacted to form CSH during the hydration process remains in the cement, creating another set of larger pores, called capillary pores.cement paste is so porous that 96 percent of its pores are connected.
Earth's magnetic field is powered by the solidification of the planet's liquid iron core. The cooling and crystallization of the core stirs up the surrounding liquid iron, creating powerful electric currents that generate a magnetic field stretching far out into space. This magnetic field is known as the geodynamo.
Multiple lines of evidence have shown that the Earth's magnetic field existed at least 3.5 billion years ago. However, the planet's core is thought to have started solidifying just 1 billion years ago, meaning that the magnetic field must have been driven by some other mechanism prior to 1 billion years ago. Pinning down exactly when the magnetic field formed could help scientists figure out what generated it to begin with.
Don't look to mature forests to soak up carbon dioxide emissions
The plants take 'a limited quantity of CO2, convert the absorbed carbon into sugars, but they can't use those sugars to grow more, because they don't have access to additional nutrients from the soil. Instead, they send the sugars below-ground where they 'feed' soil microbes who release teh CO2 back to atmosphere!
Scientists discovered and proposed explanation for night sky glow of STEVE
The northern and southern lights, or aurora, typically show up as swirling green ribbons of light spreading across the night sky near the poles. But STEVE is a thin ribbon of mauve or white light that stretches from east to west, closer to the equator than where auroras usually appear and at much higher altitudes.
Scientists first thought STEVE was a new kind of aurora, but previous research shows its light is not produced the same way. Researchers are still unsure of what generates STEVE's light, but a group of space physicists now suspect STEVE lights up when fast-flowing rivers of plasma jumpstart certain chemical reactions high in the atmosphere.
The first scientific study published on STEVE found a stream of fast-moving plasma—a hot gas of charged particles and electrons—passing through the atmosphere right where STEVE events occurred. The researchers suspected these particles were connected to STEVE but were unsure whether they were the cause of it. These super-fast plasma flows stream through the upper atmosphere when the magnetosphere is disturbed, at about the speed it takes to orbit Earth, and STEVE occurs only during the fastest flows.
Scientists suspect the fastest plasma rivers break chemical bonds in the upper atmosphere, triggering reactions that produce light. They propose that when the streams of plasma are hot and fast enough, they can split apart nitrogen molecules (N2), which then combine with single oxygen atoms to form nitric oxide (NO). The nitric oxide then grabs another free oxygen atom to create nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a reaction that also produces light. The researchers suspect STEVE's glow is the light from this chemical reaction, which makes sense because STEVE is found right where these plasma streams occur.
Crisis informatics expert offers three tips to avoid misinformation during COVID-19
three things we can do to find relevant and trustworthy information online during these uncertain times:
Solid sources: Look at information from sources where it is their job to be on top of a global pandemic. For example, The World Health Organization or local county health departments who are monitoring your local conditions are good sources.
Be skeptical: Take the messages you see on your social network with a grain of salt, especially if they evoke anemotional reaction, and fact check them with official sources. Many messages that contain misinformation are designed to make you angry, upset, or emotional in some way, which makes you more likely to share them.
Dig a little to verify: Trustworthy accounts often have a complete profile and have a professional look and tone, though these things can be faked. So, in addition, look for features that are harder to fake, such as the credibility of an account's past messages, or who follows the account (Are they followed by reliable sources?).
Bluetooth signals from your smartphone could automate Covid-19 contact tracing while preserving privacy
Experts from many institutions are developing a system that augments "manual" contact tracing by public health officials, while preserving the privacy of all individuals. The system relies on short-range Bluetooth signals emitted from people's smartphones. These signals represent random strings of numbers, likened to "chirps" that other nearby smartphones can remember hearing.
'Houston, we've had a problem': Remembering Apollo 13 at 50 And the real story behind the movie ... read this gripping narrative that depicts the 'heroism' behind space science.
With a little bit of tweaking with lasers, now metal surfaces can be instant bacteria killers. What if your door knobs can kill germs you transfer to them as soon as you touch them?
Identical mice, different gut bacteria, different levels of cancer: how microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract can tweak the development of colorectal cancer.
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$$
Take this with a pinch of salt, we don't endorse it. We may have spotted a parallel universe going backwards in time Strange particles observed by an experiment in Antarctica could be evidence of an alternative reality where everything is upside down
“Solidarity” clinical trial for COVID-19 treatments
"Solidarity” is an international clinical trial to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19, launched by the World Health Organization and partners.
It is best explained by a mismatch between today’s diets and those for which our teeth and jaws evolved.
Dental problems such as crowding and cavitiesare common in people today. But other species tend not to have such afflictions, nor did our fossil forebears.
Our teeth have evolved over hundreds of millionsof years to be incredibly strong and to align precisely for efficient chewing. They developed these characteristics to function in a specific oral environment.
Our dental disorders largely stem from a shiftin the oral environment caused by the introduction of softer, more sugary foods than the ones our ancestors typically ate.
Moon mining is poised to become a thriving off-world industry
But what exactly does the moon, long considered a barren rock — or, in some quarters, a very old piece of cheese — have to offer?
Moon's resources can be broken down into three key elements.
The first, water, needs little introduction. It's the basis for life as we know it.
The second key element found beneath the lunar surface that humans would look to mine is Helium-3. Since the isotope isn't radioactive, it wouldn't generate dangerous waste products, prompting experts to tout Helium-3 as a safer source of nuclear energy.
The third chief draw to moon mining? Rare earth metals, like Yttrium, Lanthanum, and Samarium. These minerals aren't easy to come by on our planet. In fact, about95 percentof them are controlled and stored by a single country: China.
Butwe all certainly need them. Everything from wind turbines to glass for solar panels to hybrid cars to your smartphone contains rare earth metals. Even guided missiles and other high-tech military equipment makes use of them.
Timing of large earthquakes follows a 'devil's staircase' pattern - a mathematical pattern, where clusters of earthquake events are separated by long but irregular intervals of seismic quiet.
Spider venom key to pain relief without side-effects: researchers have designed a novel tarantula venom mini-protein that can potentially relieve severe pain without addiction.
Risk of viruses emerging in humans may not depend on their animal host: it is the characteristic traits of the viruses, rather than their animal hosts, that will be the more useful predictors of zoonotic transmission.
Being right-brained or left-brained comes down to molecular switches: The answer lies in how certain genes on each side of the brain are switched "on" and "off" through a process called epigenetic regulation.
Each cell in the brain has the same genes but it is epigenetics that dictate whether those genes are switched "on" or "off." Labrie and her collaborators found numerous epigenetic differences between the hemispheres of healthy brains that are linked to variations in gene activity. Notably, these differences, or asymmetry, could make one side of the brain more vulnerable to neurological diseases.
For example, epigenetic abnormalities on one side of the brain could make that hemisphere more susceptible to the processes that cause the death of brain cells in Parkinson's. The differences in cell death across hemispheres leads to the appearance of the disease'shallmark symptoms, such as tremor, on one side of the body before the other. As the disease progresses, symptoms on the side first affected often are more severe than symptoms on the other side of the body.
The findings also give scientists a vital window into the various biological pathways that contribute to symptom asymmetry in Parkinson's, including brain cell development, immune function and cellular communication.
"We all start out with prominent differences between the left and right sides of our brains. As we age, however, our hemispheres become more epigenetically similar.
For Parkinson's, this is significant: people whose hemispheres are more alike early in life experienced faster disease progression, while people whose hemispheres were more asymmetric had slower disease progression. There is huge potential to translate these findings into new therapeutic strategies."
Peipei Li et al, Hemispheric asymmetry in the human brain and in Parkinson's disease is linked to divergent epigenetic patterns in neurons, Genome Biology (2020). DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-01960-1
As the temperatures in a cookstove begin to drop, and the black smoke turns grayish-white, soot (or black carbon) emission is replaced by organic carbon.
despite its whitish appearance, organic carbon particles absorb as much—if not more—sunlight in the atmosphere as black carbon. And its health effects may be worse for the nearly 2.7 billion households worldwide that use them.
Researchers find organic carbons are also absorbing light—and likely harming people's health
Why didn't the universe annihilate itself? Neutrinos may hold the answer
Why didn't the universe annihilate itself in a humungous burst of energy not long after the Big Bang?
The new research suggests that the answer comes down to a subtle discrepancy in the way thatneutrinosand their evil twins, the antineutrinos, behave—one of the first indications that phenomena called matter and antimatter may not be the exact mirror images many scientists believed.
A type of damage in soft materials and tissue called cavitation is one of the least-studied phenomena in physics, materials science and biology, say expert observers. But strong evidence suggesting that cavitation occurs in the brain during sudden impact leading to traumatic brain injury (TBI) has accelerated interest recently.
The researchers intend it to spark fresh discussion and drive collaboration among new communities of biologists, chemists, materials scientists, physicists and others to advance knowledge. They define high-priority goals and point out new opportunities in the field of how matter deforms and flows with cavitation.
Researchers are breaking down barriers that separate different scientific fields to spur progress in understanding cavitation—how it causes difficult-to-diagnose injuries or unseen failure in soft materials."
Studied mainly in fluids for many years, cavitation is the creation and collapse of bubbles in liquids. . When bubbles collapse they force liquid into a smaller area, causing a pressure wave and increased temperature, which lead to damage. In a pump, cavitation can erode metal parts over time, for example. Cavitation inside artificial heart valves can damage not only the parts but the blood, he says. Microcavitation in the brain as a result of high-impact blows or being near an explosion are factors in TBI.
Scienitsts hope this will lead to advances in medical devices for diagnosing disease, novel devices for protective gear and new sustainable approaches for cleaning materials.
Scientists find a rule to predict new superconducting metal hydrides: a new 'law within a law' discovered showed a link between an element's position in the Periodic Table and its potential to form a high-temperature superconducting hydride.
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Research: Cancer gene inhibition shows step toward beating neuroblastomas
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-cancer-gene-inhibition-neuro...
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Skull scans reveal evolutionary secrets of fossil brains
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-physical-spurs-gene-reveals.html?utm_...
Physical force alone spurs gene expression, study reveals
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* https://phys.org/news/2020-04-evolutionary-cave-hibernate-extinctio...
Evolutionary adaptation helped cave bears hibernate, but may have caused extinction
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-google-chips.html?utm_source=nw...
Google trains chips to design themselves
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Apr 2, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
high dopamine concentrations do not make neurons more active. However, higher dopamine levels do make the neurons remain active for a longer period of time.
More information: Local and global consequences of reward-evoked striatal dopamine release, Nature (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2158-3 , https://nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2158-3
Specialized MRI sensor reveals the neurotransmitter's influence on neural activity throughout the brain
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-universe.html?utm_source=nwletter&...
Researchers test the way we understand forces in the universe
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https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-pandemic-has-unleashed-a-wa...
Coronavirus pandemic has unleashed a wave of cyber attacks – here’s how to protect yourself
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-major-net-industrial-emissions....
Major new study charts course to net zero industrial emissions
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-discovery-compounds-circadian-clock.h...
The discovery of new compounds for acting on the circadian clock
Apr 2, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
The new coronavirus emerged from the global wildlife trade – and may be devastating enough to end it
https://theconversation.com/the-new-coronavirus-emerged-from-the-gl...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-disease-primarily-roadsides.html?utm_...
Plant disease primarily spreads via roadsides
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$$ https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-lockdowns-weeks-covid-.html?...
Research: Lockdowns need to last more than six weeks to contain COVID-19 $$
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Heavy drinking into older age adds 4 cm to waistline
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*'Cool' relief for migraine sufferers: Innovation law center helps bring wearable tech to market
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* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-diets-weight-loss-blood-pres...
Most diets lead to weight loss and lower blood pressure, but effects largely disappear after a year
Apr 2, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
How the novel coronavirus binds to human cells
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-coronavirus-human-cells.html...
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Quarantined Italians become citizen scientists
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* https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/04/to-stem-coronavirus-...
To stem the coronavirus crisis, Harvard Medical School scientists forge ahead on six key fronts
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coronavirus crisis, science is the way out: Q&A with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Ann Druyan
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/01/coronavirus-neil-...
Apr 2, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
US scientists link BCG vaccination with fewer COVID-19 cases, Indian scientists hopeful but cautious
"We found that countries without universal policies of BCG vaccination, such as Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States, have been more severely affected compared to countries with universal and long-standing BCG policies," noted the researchers led by Gonzalo Otazu, assistant professor of biomedical sciences at NYIT.
The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, administered to millions of Indian children soon after birth to protect against tuberculosis, could be a "game-changer" in the fight against the deadly coronavirus, say US scientists. The severity of coronavirus impact may be linked to national policies on BCG childhood vaccination, the yet to be published study from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) states while citing the examples of Italy and the US.
We found that countries without universal policies of BCG vaccination, such as Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States, have been more severely affected compared to countries with universal and long-standing BCG policies.
According to the study, a combination of reduced morbidity and mortality could make the BCG vaccination a game-changer in the fight against COVID-19.
The BCG vaccine is part of India's universal immunisation programme and administered to millions of children at birth or soon after it.
India, with the world's highest TB burden, introduced BCG mass immunisation in 1948.
It was effective not in the sense that it was able to cure, but it was able to reduce the intensity," Gulati said.
Gulati explained that the SARS virus is also basically a "coronated virus".
"So since the current pandemic is less intense in the countries with BCG vaccine intervention and that it was effective against another coronavirus is reason for hope.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/us-scientists-lin...
Apr 2, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
*Bacterial Immunity: An adaptable defense
https://elifesciences.org/articles/56122?utm_source=content_alert&a...
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/01/climate-crisis-...
Climate crisis may have pushed world's tropical coral reefs to tipping point of 'near-annual' bleaching
Mass bleaching seen along Great Barrier Reef could mark start of global-scale event, expert warns
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https://www.sciencealert.com/10-coronavirus-symptoms-you-may-not-be...
Some COVID-19 Symptoms Are Turning Out to Be Atypical. Here's What We Know So Far
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https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532754-600-can-you-catch-t...
Can you catch the coronavirus twice? We don’t know yet
We don’t have enough evidence yet to know if recovering from covid-19 induces immunity, or whether any immunity would give long-lasting protection against the coronavirus
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-boost-internet-home.html?utm_so...
How to boost your internet speed when everyone is working from home
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-in-flight-air-density-accurate....
Predicting in-flight air density for more accurate landing
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-d-shields-doctors-healthcare-wo...
Engineers 3-D print face shields for doctors and healthcare workers
Apr 2, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Bioengineering biomimetic human small muscular pulmonary arteries
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-bioengineering-biomimetic-human-small...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-cells-protein-logic-gates.html?utm_so...
Turning cells into computers with protein logic gates. The same basic tools that allow computers to function are now being used to control life at the molecular level. The advances have implications for future medicines and synthetic biology.
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-next-generation-sensor-network-tracki...
Scientists develop 'backpack' computers to track wild animals in hard-to-reach habitats
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Geneticists are bringing personal medicine closer for multiracial individuals
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Does relativity lie at the source of quantum exoticism?
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Making the invisible visible: Entangled photons for imaging and measurement techniques
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-dashboard-tray.html?utm_source=...
A dashboard tray that appears and disappears at the wave of a hand
Apr 3, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Newly discovered memory process influences decision-making
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-newly-memory-decision-making...
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* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-cocky-kids-four-year-olds-ov...
Cocky kids: The four-year-olds with the same overconfidence as risk-taking bankers
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Lifestyle changes could delay memory problems in old age, depending on our genes
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Natural sunscreen gene influences how we make vitamin D
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-starving-pancreatic-cancer-c...
Starving pancreatic cancer of cysteine may kill tumor cells
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* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-news-tone-content-covid-cove...
Too much news: How the tone and content of COVID-19 coverage affects mental wellbeing
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-muscle-protein-abundant-hear...
Muscle protein abundant in the heart plays key role in blood clotting during heart attack
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-safer-home-safe-space.html?u...
In an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, several states have issued stay-at-home orders. But for domestic violence victims, staying at home may not mean safer at home.
Apr 3, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
How large a gathering is too large during the coronavirus pandemic?
The math of social networks can create a roadmap to a group size that still curbs spread
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid19-social-gath...
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https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid19-control-mea...
How coronavirus control measures could affect its global death toll
Experts analyzed contact patterns and disease severity to estimate COVID-19’s potential reach
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https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cats-animals-pets-coronavirus-c...
A cat appears to have caught the coronavirus, but it’s complicated
There is no evidence that cats can transmit the virus to people
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https://www.the-scientist.com/features/bacteria-as-living-microrobo...
Bacteria as Living Microrobots to Fight Cancer
Autonomous, living microrobots that seek and destroy cancer are not as futuristic as one might imagine, thanks to a fusion of robotics and synthetic biology.
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* https://theconversation.com/a-matter-of-trust-coronavirus-shows-aga...
A matter of trust: coronavirus shows again why we value expertise when it comes to our health
Apr 3, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Coronavirus: country comparisons are pointless unless we account for these biases in testing
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-country-comparisons-are-poi...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-class-receptors.html?utm_s...
Scientists discover a new class of taste receptors
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-google-publish-user-govts-tackl...
Google to publish user location data to help govts tackle virus (Update)
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-reveal-evidence-elusive-particles-new...
New measurements reveal evidence of elusive particles in a newly-discovered superconductor
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-coastal-pollution-genetic-diversity-c...
Coastal pollution reduces genetic diversity of corals, reef resilience
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https://theconversation.com/while-we-fixate-on-coronavirus-earth-is...
While we fixate on coronavirus, Earth is hurtling towards a catastrophe worse than the dinosaur extinction
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-google-art-users-photos-famous....
Google's Art Transfer allows users to transform photos as if they were painted by famous artists
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Apr 4, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
*Genome variation gives insight into coronavirus spread
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-genome-variation-insight-coronavirus....
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-world-biggest-left-handednes...
World's biggest study of left-handedness
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Scientists show how parasitic infection causes seizures, psychiatric illness for some
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* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-coronavirus-cases-exponentia...
Coronavirus cases are growing exponentially: Here's what that means
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-cases-are-growing-exponenti...
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Apr 4, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Chilling concussed cells shows promise for full recovery
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-chilling-concussed-cells-ful...
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* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-coronavirus-body-deadly.html...
What the coronavirus does to your body that makes it so deadly
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https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01002-7?utm_source=Natur...
Scientists decode mouse facial expressions: Artificial intelligence decodes the facial expressions of mice
Neuroscientists also uncover neural circuitry whose activity correlates with particular emotions.
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https://www.sciencealert.com/this-bee-is-half-male-and-half-female-...
Scientists Find a Half Male, Half Female Bee, Split Right Down The Middle: gynandromorphism
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* https://www.sciencealert.com/experts-explain-how-the-coronavirus-di...
Experts Explain The Important Reasons Why COVID-19 Differs From a Flu Pandemic
No herd immunity
Testing and treatment troubles
Apr 4, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Six unknown factors in coronavirus models and how they could affect predictions
1. Asymptomatic spread
2. Mode of contact
3. Flouting the rules
4. Hotspots
5. The incubation period
range from one to 14 days
6. How the spread differs between countries
* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-unknown-factors-coronavirus-...
Apr 4, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
sources of zoonotic disease
Most people live around animals, even if they don’t have farms or pets. From ticks to squirrels to rats, many members of the animal kingdom can transmit disease. Here’s a short list of common animals and some of the diseases we can get from them:
Cats: toxoplasmosis; Pasteurella; ringworm
Bats: Ebola virus; SARS; MERS; rabies; Nipah virus; Hendra virus
Dogs: rabies; noroviruses; Pasteurella; salmonella; ringworm; hookworm
Ticks: Lyme disease; Rocky Mountain spotted fever; Powassan disease
Mosquitoes: malaria; dengue; West Nile virus; Zika virus; Chikungunya virus
Birds: bird flu (H1N1, H5N1); salmonella; psittacosis
Cows: Escherichia coli; ringworm; salmonellosis
Rodents: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; plague; rat-bite fever; salmonellosis
WAYS TO AVOID CONTRACTING ZOONOTIC DISEASES
Wash your hands with soap, or apply hand sanitizer, immediately after being around animals even if you didn’t touch them.
Keep poultry, rodents, reptiles, and amphibians away from your face.
Wear clothing and apply sprays that prevent bites from mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Avoid animal bites and scratches.
Be aware of animals that could transmit zoonotic diseases at places like petting zoos or animal exhibits or in daycares and schools.
(Source: CDC)
Apr 4, 2020
Sharath
Excellent Dr Krishna. You are definitely helping the society through these bunch of science videos. 3 cheers to you.
Thanks. But home come this comment landed here instead of the discussion page. I can't give a reply here! :)
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How Valid and Useful are Speculations About Covid-19 Biology
Apr 4, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
New study identifies characteristics of patients with fatal COVID-19
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-characteristics-patients-fat...
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-advice-health-staff-skin-mas...
Advice to health staff suffering skin damage from face masks
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-temperature-mechanism.html?utm_source...
How do plants know when to flower? A protein called phytochrome B, which can sense light and temperature, triggers plant growth and controls flowering time.
--
https://artdaily.cc/news/122380/Paintings-discovered-inside-the-cof...
Paintings discovered inside the coffin of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy
--
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/chemistry-tweak-beets-red-juice...
Beet root's bleeds are red? A chemistry tweak can create a blue hue
Results could pave the way for a rare natural blue pigment to color food, clothes and more
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https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-what-we-know-so-far-about-those...
It's Estimated 1 in 4 Coronavirus Carriers Could Be Asymptomatic. Here's What We Know
Apr 6, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
A delicate remote control operation to remove a tracking collar from a tiger on an epic 13-month trek through India is carried out to avoid the device choking the animal. The feline explorer, named Walker for the roughly 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) of terrain it covered, has been tracked by Indian wildlife experts through forests, farms, highways and villages.
Apr 6, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Dogs and cats ... and now a Tiger at NYC's Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-tiger-nyc-bronx-zoo-positive...
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Dogs, cats can't pass on coronavirus, but can test positive
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-03-dogs-cats-coronavirus-positi...
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-02-pet-dog-quarantined-hong-kon...
Hong Kong pets face coronavirus quarantine after dog tests positive
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https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00965-x
Coronavirus lockdowns have changed the way Earth moves
Apr 6, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
An Ingredient in Some Medicinal Mouthwashes Could Put Teeth at Great Risk of Cavities
A new study suggests oral rinses that rely on a particular chemical called chlorhexidine may actually leave your teeth more open to damage.
Although this chemical is said to be 'antibacterial', that's only true in some cases. Recent findings suggest the solution can disturb the microbiome in your mouth, leading to an abundance of lactate-producing bacteria, which makes your saliva more acidic.
That's not exactly good for your teeth. Saliva plays an important role in keeping the pH of your mouth relatively neutral, but if that changes, it might cause issues in your gums and gnashers.
Using chlorhexidine mouthwash not only decreased microbial diversity and increased acidity, it also lowered the saliva's ability to buffer pH.
Saliva lactate and glucose concentrations were elevated after using this mouthwash, and it also disrupted the conversion of nitrate into nitrite, which may support our circulation.
This is important, because the authors found increased systolic blood pressure when the real mouthwash was used.
This weird effect has popped up in previous studies, and the authors think the use of CHX mouthwash may be more accentuated in people with high blood pressure levels.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61912-4
https://www.sciencealert.com/your-mouthwash-could-be-putting-your-t...
Apr 6, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Viruses don't have a metabolism; but some have the building blocks for one
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-viruses-dont-metabolism-blocks.html?u...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-breakthrough-genetic-potential-ocean-...
Breakthrough in unlocking genetic potential of ocean microbes
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-neuroscientists-memory-cells...
Neuroscientists find memory cells that help us interpret new situations
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-state.html?utm_source=nwletter&ut...
Researchers expand search for new state of matter
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-milky-satellites-reveal-link-dark.htm...
The Milky Way's satellites help reveal link between dark matter halos and galaxy formation
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-genes-juvenile-to-adult-transition-tr...
*
Study: Genes that time juvenile-to-adult transition are triggered by a single protein
Apr 7, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Cement vs. concrete: Their differences
There's a lot the average person doesn't know about concrete. For example, it's porous; it's the world's most-used material after water; and, perhaps most fundamentally, it's not cement.
Though many use "cement" and "concrete" interchangeably, they actually refer to two different—but related—materials: Concrete is a composite made from several materials, one of which is cement.
Cement production begins with limestone, a sedimentary rock. Once quarried, it is mixed with a silica source, such as industrial byproducts slag or fly ash, and gets fired in a kiln at 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. What comes out of the kiln is called clinker. Cement plants grind clinker down to an extremely fine powder and mix in a few additives. The final result is cement.
Cement is then brought to sites where it is mixed with water, where it becomes cement paste. If you add sand to that paste it becomes mortar. And if you add to the mortar large aggregates—stones of a diameter of up to an inch—it becomes concrete.
What makes concrete so strong is the chemical reaction that occurs when cement and water mix—a process known as hydration.
Hydration occurs when cement and water react. During hydration, the clinker dissolves into the calcium and recombines with water and silica to form calcium silica hydrates. Calcium silica hydrates, or CSH, are the key to cement's solidity. As they form, they combine, developing tight bonds that lend strength to the material. These connections have a surprising byproduct—they make cement incredibly porous. Within the spaces between the bonds of CSH, tiny pores develop—on the scale of 3 nanometers, or around 8 millionths of an inch. These are known as gel pores. On top of this, any water that hasn't reacted to form CSH during the hydration process remains in the cement, creating another set of larger pores, called capillary pores.cement paste is so porous that 96 percent of its pores are connected.
More here:
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-cement-concretetheir-differences-oppo...
Apr 7, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-birds-vulnerable-extinction.html?utm_...
Innovative birds are less vulnerable to extinction
--
Scientists' warning to humanity on insect extinctions
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-humanity-insect-extinction...
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-lifestyle-trumps-geography-makeup-gut...
Lifestyle trumps geography in determining makeup of gut microbiome
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-invasive-species-charisma-easier.html...
Invasive species with charisma have it easier
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-frailty-impacts-blood.html?u...
Leaving its mark: How frailty impacts the blood
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-gut-newly-digestive-brain-ax...
Follow your gut: Newly identified digestive-brain axis controls food choice
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-strength-early-diabetes.html...
Evaluating grip strength to identify early diabetes
--
* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-dental-pain-anti-inflammator...
Dental pain? Reach for the anti-inflammatories, not the antibiotics
--
$$https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01027-y?utm_source=Natur...
Safely conducting essential research in the face of COVID-19
Apr 7, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Don't Be Fooled by Covid-19 Carpetbaggers
https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-dont-be-fooled-by-covid-19-carp...
“We all just need to be careful to indicate how certain we are and ...
--
https://indscicov.in/
--
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-theres-no-one-perfect-model...
Coronavirus: there’s no one perfect model of the disease
--
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-is-growing-exponentially-he...
Coronavirus is growing exponentially – here’s what that really mean
--
* https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heart-damage-in-covid-pa...
Heart Damage in COVID Patients Puzzles Doctors
Up to 1 in 5 hospitalized patients have signs of heart injury. Cardiologists are trying to learn whether the virus attacks the organ
Apr 7, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Researchers devise treatment that relieved depression in 90% of participants in small study
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-treatment-relieved-depressio...
--
$$
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-coronavirus-patients-benefit...
Coronavirus patients can benefit from blood of the recovered, new study shows$$
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-dynamics-reveal-bottles-faster.html?u...
Bubble dynamics reveal how to empty bottles faster
--
$$
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-simulations-extreme-opinions-polarize...
Simulations show extreme opinions can lead to polarized groups $$
--
$$ https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-covid-average-actual-infecti...
COVID-19: On average, only 6% of actual infections detected worldwide
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-bethe-experimentally.html?utm_source=...
Bethe strings experimentally observed
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-personalized-microrobots-biological-b...
Personalized microrobots swim through biological barriers, deliver drugs to cells
Apr 8, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Hackers' new target during pandemic: video conference calls
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-hackers-pandemic-video-conferen...
--
https://theconversation.com/social-media-fuels-wave-of-coronavirus-...
Social media fuels wave of coronavirus misinformation as users focus on popularity, not accuracy
--
China becomes world's top patent filer: UN
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-china-world-patent-filer.html?u...
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-soil-microbes-resist-disease.html?utm...
How soil microbes help plants resist disease
--
* https://phys.org/news/2020-04-evolution-team-butterfly-wings-shift....
The evolution of color: Team shows how butterfly wings can shift in hue
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-babies-retain-events-nap.htm...
Babies retain even detailed events during a nap
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https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/high-tech-ghost-ships-wi...
High-Tech Ghost Ships Will Set Sail sans Sailors
Maritime technology groups are building robotic vessels to cross the oceans
Apr 8, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
*Common protein in skin can 'turn on' allergic itch
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-common-protein-skin-allergic...
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* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-human-skin-suppresses-inflam...
Human skin suppresses inflammation after exposure to ultraviolet radiation
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-electric-cars-pacemaker.html...
No need to steer clear of electric cars if you have a pacemaker
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-04-electric-cars-dont-jolt-impl...
Electric cars don't jolt implanted heart devices: study
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What The Heck Is This Long, Hypnotic Stringy Thing Floating in The Ocean?
https://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-filmed-the-longest-known-s...
Apr 8, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Climate change could cause sudden biodiversity losses worldwide
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-climate-sudden-biodiversity-losses-wo...
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-black-hole.html?utm_source=nwletter&a...
Black hole bends light back on itself
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-house-nanoscale.html?utm_source=nwlet...
cleaning surfaces at the atomic level!
--
* https://sciencex.com/news/2020-04-traffic-contagious-lesscommon.htm...
https://theconversation.com/traffic-jams-are-contagious-understandi...
Traffic jams are contagious. Understanding how they spread can help make them less common
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-magnetic-field-billion-years-debate.h...
Earth's magnetic field is powered by the solidification of the planet's liquid iron core. The cooling and crystallization of the core stirs up the surrounding liquid iron, creating powerful electric currents that generate a magnetic field stretching far out into space. This magnetic field is known as the geodynamo.
Multiple lines of evidence have shown that the Earth's magnetic field existed at least 3.5 billion years ago. However, the planet's core is thought to have started solidifying just 1 billion years ago, meaning that the magnetic field must have been driven by some other mechanism prior to 1 billion years ago. Pinning down exactly when the magnetic field formed could help scientists figure out what generated it to begin with.
The existence of a magnetic field beyond 3.5 billion years ago is still up for debate
Apr 9, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Don't look to mature forests to soak up carbon dioxide emissions
The plants take 'a limited quantity of CO2, convert the absorbed carbon into sugars, but they can't use those sugars to grow more, because they don't have access to additional nutrients from the soil. Instead, they send the sugars below-ground where they 'feed' soil microbes who release teh CO2 back to atmosphere!
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-dont-mature-forests-carbon-dioxide.ht...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-basic-assumption-universe.html?utm_so...
Rethinking cosmology: Universe expansion may not be uniform (Update)
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-simultaneous-simulation-gravitation-m...
Simultaneous simulation of gravitation and magnetism of a protoplanetary disk
--
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-the-danger-of-latex-gloves-...
Coronavirus: the danger of latex gloves
--
* https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-why-experts-disagree-so-str...
Coronavirus: why experts disagree so strongly over how to tackle the disease
--
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-people-in-tall-buildings-ma...
Coronavirus: people in tall buildings may be more at risk – here’s how to stay safe
Apr 9, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Scientists discovered and proposed explanation for night sky glow of STEVE
The northern and southern lights, or aurora, typically show up as swirling green ribbons of light spreading across the night sky near the poles. But STEVE is a thin ribbon of mauve or white light that stretches from east to west, closer to the equator than where auroras usually appear and at much higher altitudes.
Scientists first thought STEVE was a new kind of aurora, but previous research shows its light is not produced the same way. Researchers are still unsure of what generates STEVE's light, but a group of space physicists now suspect STEVE lights up when fast-flowing rivers of plasma jumpstart certain chemical reactions high in the atmosphere.
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-explanation-night-sky-stev...
The first scientific study published on STEVE found a stream of fast-moving plasma—a hot gas of charged particles and electrons—passing through the atmosphere right where STEVE events occurred. The researchers suspected these particles were connected to STEVE but were unsure whether they were the cause of it. These super-fast plasma flows stream through the upper atmosphere when the magnetosphere is disturbed, at about the speed it takes to orbit Earth, and STEVE occurs only during the fastest flows.
Scientists suspect the fastest plasma rivers break chemical bonds in the upper atmosphere, triggering reactions that produce light.
They propose that when the streams of plasma are hot and fast enough, they can split apart nitrogen molecules (N2), which then combine with single oxygen atoms to form nitric oxide (NO). The nitric oxide then grabs another free oxygen atom to create nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a reaction that also produces light. The researchers suspect STEVE's glow is the light from this chemical reaction, which makes sense because STEVE is found right where these plasma streams occur.
Apr 9, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Crisis informatics expert offers three tips to avoid misinformation during COVID-19
three things we can do to find relevant and trustworthy information online during these uncertain times:
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-crisis-informatics-expert-misin...
Apr 9, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Bluetooth signals from your smartphone could automate Covid-19 contact tracing while preserving privacy
Experts from many institutions are developing a system that augments "manual" contact tracing by public health officials, while preserving the privacy of all individuals. The system relies on short-range Bluetooth signals emitted from people's smartphones. These signals represent random strings of numbers, likened to "chirps" that other nearby smartphones can remember hearing.
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-bluetooth-smartphone-automate-c...
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scents-d-videos-reveal-nose.html?utm_...
Making sense of scents: 3-D videos reveal how the nose detects odor combinations
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-year-old-egg-reveals-complexity-ancie...
5,000-year-old egg hunt: Research reveals surprising complexity of ancient ostrich egg trade
--
* https://phys.org/news/2020-04-d-printed-corals-bioenergy-coral-reef...
3-D-printed corals could improve bioenergy and help coral reefs
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-technique-path-biomanufacturing-medic...
Technique offers path for biomanufacturing medicines during space flights
Apr 10, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
'Houston, we've had a problem': Remembering Apollo 13 at 50
And the real story behind the movie ... read this gripping narrative that depicts the 'heroism' behind space science.
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-houston-weve-problem-apollo.html?utm_...
and
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-apollo-famous-quotes-hollywood.html?u...
--
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-robots-heroes-war-coronavirus.h...
Robots may become heroes in war on coronavirus
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-enzyme-pet-ten-hours.html?utm_source=...
Engineered enzyme able to break down PET (plastic) in ten hours
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-metal-surfaces-instant-bacteria-kille...
With a little bit of tweaking with lasers, now metal surfaces can be instant bacteria killers. What if your door knobs can kill germs you transfer to them as soon as you touch them?
--
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/why-the-pursuit-o...
*
Why the Pursuit of Scientific Knowledge Will Never End
It’s because the more we learn, the more questions we find to ask
--
Apr 10, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
The science of how diet can change the way sugar tastes
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-science-diet-sugar.html?utm_...
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-identical-mice-gut-bacteria-...
Identical mice, different gut bacteria, different levels of cancer: how microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract can tweak the development of colorectal cancer.
--
$$
Take this with a pinch of salt, we don't endorse it.
We may have spotted a parallel universe going backwards in time
Strange particles observed by an experiment in Antarctica could be evidence of an alternative reality where everything is upside down
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532770-400-we-may-have-spo... $$
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“Solidarity” clinical trial for COVID-19 treatments
"Solidarity” is an international clinical trial to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19, launched by the World Health Organization and partners.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/glo...
--
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/life-as-we-dont-k...
Life as We Don’t Know It
If we’re going to find extraterrestrials, we need to stop assuming they’ll think like humans
--
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YlI3n2Tw4-S4CDmRj7r0W9TfZTbxubK...
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOUR BABIES OR TODDLERS HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS BUT TEST NEGATIVE FOR THE SARS-CoV2? Think about this: Kawasaki
Apr 10, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Colliding galaxies ...
Apr 10, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
First sighting of mysterious Majorana fermion on a common metal
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-sighting-mysterious-majorana-fermion-...
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-cats-susceptible-coronavirus...
Cats are far more susceptible to new coronavirus than dogs are, but people shouldn't be 'fearful' of their pets: study
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-geneticists-regulatory-mechanism-chro...
Geneticists discover regulatory mechanism of chromosome inheritance
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-protocol-fascinating-quantum-states.h...
New protocol identifies fascinating quantum states
--
https://www.space.com/universe-expansion-rate-may-vary.html
Surprise! The universe's expansion rate may vary from place to place
--
The maths logic that could help test more people for coronavirus
https://theconversation.com/the-maths-logic-that-could-help-test-mo...
$$
Apr 11, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Bird social distancing ...
Social distancing: We should take our cues from birds
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-social-distancing-cues-birds.html?utm...
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-reversing-irreversible-chanc...
Reversing the irreversible: A second chance with fertility
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-toss-syringe-oral-delivery-d...
Toss the syringe: New formulation allows for oral delivery of many injectable drugs, including insulin
$$
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Why We Have So Many Problems with Our Teeth
Our choppers are crowded, crooked and riddled with cavities. It hasn’t always been this way
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-have-so-many-prob...
It is best explained by a mismatch between today’s diets and those for which our teeth and jaws evolved.
Apr 11, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Moon mining is poised to become a thriving off-world industry
But what exactly does the moon, long considered a barren rock — or, in some quarters, a very old piece of cheese — have to offer?
Moon's resources can be broken down into three key elements.
The first, water, needs little introduction. It's the basis for life as we know it.
The second key element found beneath the lunar surface that humans would look to mine is Helium-3. Since the isotope isn't radioactive, it wouldn't generate dangerous waste products, prompting experts to tout Helium-3 as a safer source of nuclear energy.
The third chief draw to moon mining? Rare earth metals, like Yttrium, Lanthanum, and Samarium. These minerals aren't easy to come by on our planet. In fact, about 95 percent of them are controlled and stored by a single country: China.
But we all certainly need them. Everything from wind turbines to glass for solar panels to hybrid cars to your smartphone contains rare earth metals. Even guided missiles and other high-tech military equipment makes use of them.
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/infographics/infographic.view.php?id=11272
--
https://www.sciencealert.com/a-man-injected-himself-with-his-own-se...
Where did he get this notion or misinformation?
A Man Injected Himself With His Own Semen to 'Cure' His Back Pain
Apr 12, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
How to spot a conspiracy theory – Expert guide to conspiracy theories part one
https://theconversation.com/how-to-spot-a-conspiracy-theory-expert-...
--
https://theconversation.com/who-believes-in-conspiracy-theories-and...
Who believes in conspiracy theories and why? Listen to part two of our expert guide
--
https://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-conspiracy-theories-...
A short history of conspiracy theories – listen to part three of our expert guide
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-deadliest-malaria-strain-imm...
Deadliest malaria strain protects itself from the immune system
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-australian-home-blood-pressu...
Many home blood pressure monitors not validated for accuracy
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-gamma-ineffective-sterilizin...
The gamma radiation sterilized masks lost two-thirds of their filtering efficiency, essentially turning N95 into N30 masks
Apr 13, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
6 new coronaviruses discovered in bats
https://www.livescience.com/6-new-coronaviruses-found-bats.html
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-image-hubble-spirals-spiral.html?utm_...
Hubble spots spirals within a spiral
--
* https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-spacecraft-survive-surfs.html?u...
Spacecraft is designed to survive fire, surfs its own wave
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-blocks-gum-disease.html?utm_source=nw...
The building blocks of gum disease
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-zoos-animals-infected-toxoplasma-gond...
Study at zoos shows 42% of animals infected with 'Toxoplasma gondii'
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-pregnancies-vitro-fertilizat...
Why do so many pregnancies and in vitro fertilization attempts fail?
https://phys.org/news/2016-10-human-eggs-wrong-chromosomes.html
Apr 13, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Researchers uncover importance of aligning biological clock with day-night cycles
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-uncover-importance-aligning-biologica...
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-supernova-outshines.html?u...
Scientists discover supernova that outshines all others
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-formation-theory-mysterious-interstel...
New formation theory explains the mysterious interstellar object 'Oumuamua
--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=56&v=bsfITaEonlU&am...
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-novae-sky.html?utm_source=nwletter&am...
Study finds new way novae light up the sky
--
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-mathematical-accurate-pictur...
Mathematical modeling draws more accurate picture of coronavirus cases
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-team-carbon-nanostructure-stronger-di...
carbon nanostructure stronger than diamonds
Apr 13, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Loss of smell and taste validated as COVID-19 symptoms in patients with high recovery rate
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-loss-validated-covid-symptom...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-material-mechanically-robust-shape-sh...
A new material to print mechanically robust and shape-shifting structures
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-vulnerable-cells-armor-infection-depl...
Vulnerable cells armor themselves against infection by depleting surface cholesterol
--
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-large-earthquakes-devil-staircase-pat...
Timing of large earthquakes follows a 'devil's staircase' pattern - a mathematical pattern, where clusters of earthquake events are separated by long but irregular intervals of seismic quiet.
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-methane-space-conditions-laboratory.h...
Methane forms under space conditions in laboratory
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-spider-venom-key-pain-relief.html?utm...
Spider venom key to pain relief without side-effects: researchers have designed a novel tarantula venom mini-protein that can potentially relieve severe pain without addiction.
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-longevity-gene.html?utm_source=nwlett...
Longevity gene discovered in plants: Using it may allow for several harvests from the same crop and thus to increase the yield per plant.
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-viruses-emerging-humans-animal-host.h...
Risk of viruses emerging in humans may not depend on their animal host: it is the characteristic traits of the viruses, rather than their animal hosts, that will be the more useful predictors of zoonotic transmission.
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-coronaviruses.html?utm_sou...
Scientists discover six new coronaviruses in bats
Apr 14, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Scientists provide new insight on how bacteria share drug resistance genes in hospitals
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-insight-bacteria-drug-resi...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-synthetic-toxic-sugar-mosq...
Scientists develop synthetic toxic sugar to manage mosquito populations
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-right-brained-left-brained-m...
Being right-brained or left-brained comes down to molecular switches: The answer lies in how certain genes on each side of the brain are switched "on" and "off" through a process called epigenetic regulation.
Each cell in the brain has the same genes but it is epigenetics that dictate whether those genes are switched "on" or "off." Labrie and her collaborators found numerous epigenetic differences between the hemispheres of healthy brains that are linked to variations in gene activity. Notably, these differences, or asymmetry, could make one side of the brain more vulnerable to neurological diseases.
For example, epigenetic abnormalities on one side of the brain could make that hemisphere more susceptible to the processes that cause the death of brain cells in Parkinson's. The differences in cell death across hemispheres leads to the appearance of the disease's hallmark symptoms, such as tremor, on one side of the body before the other. As the disease progresses, symptoms on the side first affected often are more severe than symptoms on the other side of the body.
The findings also give scientists a vital window into the various biological pathways that contribute to symptom asymmetry in Parkinson's, including brain cell development, immune function and cellular communication.
"We all start out with prominent differences between the left and right sides of our brains. As we age, however, our hemispheres become more epigenetically similar.
For Parkinson's, this is significant: people whose hemispheres are more alike early in life experienced faster disease progression, while people whose hemispheres were more asymmetric had slower disease progression. There is huge potential to translate these findings into new therapeutic strategies."
Peipei Li et al, Hemispheric asymmetry in the human brain and in Parkinson's disease is linked to divergent epigenetic patterns in neurons, Genome Biology (2020). DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-01960-1
Apr 15, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Long spaceflights affect astronaut brain volume
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-spaceflights-affect-astronau...
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-breakthrough-technology-eye-...
Discovered: eye damage from repeated intravitreal injections
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-electrospun-manuka-honey-nan...
Returning to roots: Manuka honey nanofibrous wound dressings
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-earth-atmosphere-dustier-previously-b...
* Earth's atmosphere far dustier than previously believed
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-carbons-absorbing-lightand-people-hea...
As the temperatures in a cookstove begin to drop, and the black smoke turns grayish-white, soot (or black carbon) emission is replaced by organic carbon.
despite its whitish appearance, organic carbon particles absorb as much—if not more—sunlight in the atmosphere as black carbon. And its health effects may be worse for the nearly 2.7 billion households worldwide that use them.
Researchers find organic carbons are also absorbing light—and likely harming people's health
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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-04-fanfare-apple-iphone-budget-min...
Apple launches new iPhone for the budget-minded
Apr 15, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
*COVID-19 puts new science to the pressure test
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-covid-science-pressure.html?utm_sourc...
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Apr 15, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
New research helps explain why the solar wind is hotter than expected
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-solar-hotter.html?utm_source=nwletter...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-satellite-galaxies-milky-dark-theory....
Satellite galaxies of the Milky Way help test dark matter theory
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-fossil-analysis-hints-evolutionary-in...
Fossil record analysis hints at evolutionary origins of insects' structural colours
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-covid-quickly-accurately-viral-dna.ht...
New COVID-19 test quickly and accurately detects viral DNA
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-didnt-universe-annihilate-neutrinos.h...
Why didn't the universe annihilate itself? Neutrinos may hold the answer
Why didn't the universe annihilate itself in a humungous burst of energy not long after the Big Bang?
The new research suggests that the answer comes down to a subtle discrepancy in the way that neutrinos and their evil twins, the antineutrinos, behave—one of the first indications that phenomena called matter and antimatter may not be the exact mirror images many scientists believed.
Apr 16, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
New textile could keep you cool in the heat, warm in the cold
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-textile-cool-cold.html?utm_source=nwl...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-probiotic-bifidobacteria-celiac-disea...
How probiotic Bifidobacteria could help celiac disease patients
Apr 16, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Cavitation science: heard about it before?
A type of damage in soft materials and tissue called cavitation is one of the least-studied phenomena in physics, materials science and biology, say expert observers. But strong evidence suggesting that cavitation occurs in the brain during sudden impact leading to traumatic brain injury (TBI) has accelerated interest recently.
The researchers intend it to spark fresh discussion and drive collaboration among new communities of biologists, chemists, materials scientists, physicists and others to advance knowledge. They define high-priority goals and point out new opportunities in the field of how matter deforms and flows with cavitation.
Researchers are breaking down barriers that separate different scientific fields to spur progress in understanding cavitation—how it causes difficult-to-diagnose injuries or unseen failure in soft materials."
Studied mainly in fluids for many years, cavitation is the creation and collapse of bubbles in liquids. . When bubbles collapse they force liquid into a smaller area, causing a pressure wave and increased temperature, which lead to damage. In a pump, cavitation can erode metal parts over time, for example. Cavitation inside artificial heart valves can damage not only the parts but the blood, he says. Microcavitation in the brain as a result of high-impact blows or being near an explosion are factors in TBI.
Scienitsts hope this will lead to advances in medical devices for diagnosing disease, novel devices for protective gear and new sustainable approaches for cleaning materials.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavitation
https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-perspectives-cavitation-sc...
Apr 16, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
How does COVID-19 kill? Uncertainty is hampering doctors’ ability to choose treatments
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01056-7?utm_source=Natur...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-kombucha.html?utm_source=nwletter&...
Kombucha is fermented tea
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-autism-males-linked-defect-b...
Autism in males linked to defect in brain immune cells, microglia
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-stress-remodels-brain.html?u...
Research shows how stress remodels the brain
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-sight-mice-skin-cells-light-...
Researchers restore sight in mice by turning skin cells into light-sensing eye cells
Apr 16, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Physical distance? 'Cough chamber' shows six feet not far enough!
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-chamber-feet.html?utm_source...
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-adult-brain.html?utm_source=...
When damaged, the adult brain repairs itself by going back to the beginning
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-massive-reveals-hypermutated...
Massive study reveals how 'hypermutated' malignant brain tumors with many mutations escape chemotherapy, immunotherapy
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-heavy-wildfire-out-of-hospit...
Breathing heavy wildfire smoke may increase risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
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* https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-high-blood-pressure-night-ef...
Could high blood pressure at night have an effect on your brain?
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https://www.space.com/comet-atlas-falling-apart-photos.html
Comet Atlas is falling apart, new photos confirm
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https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/exotic-creature-in-antar...
Exotic Creature In Antarctica Has Survived More Than 30 Ice Ages
Its perseverance is rewriting the history of life, and of ice, across the continent
Apr 16, 2020
Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa
Bats Are a Key Source of Human Viruses—but They May Not Be Special
Statistical analyses suggest surveillance efforts for the next pandemic should look beyond the flying mammals
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bats-are-a-key-source-of...
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-evidence-elusive-metabolon.html?utm_s...
Study finds evidence for existence of elusive 'metabolon'- the enzyme clusters
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-key-component-autonomous-cars.html?ut...
Engineers are trying to shrink a key component to help make autonomous cars affordable to common people
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-scientists-superconducting-metal-hydr...
Scientists find a rule to predict new superconducting metal hydrides: a new 'law within a law' discovered showed a link between an element's position in the Periodic Table and its potential to form a high-temperature superconducting hydride.
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https://phys.org/news/2020-04-healthy-climate-news-fava-beans.html?...
Healthy climate news: Fava beans could replace soy
Apr 16, 2020