First look at inner workings of water vortexes The links, twists and writhes of water vortexes and how they all work together have been observed for the first time. The findings could help researchers better understand larger vortexes, such as tornadoes and other storms. New Scientist Well-preserved armored dinosaur hid from predators with countershading The […]
Genetic study offers new clues about tardigrades Tardigrades make very specific proteins that help their cells keep their shape even when there is no water present, helping explain why the tiny creatures can survive desiccation. The study also suggests that tardigrades, despite looking more like an arthropod, are closer relatives of nematodes. New Scientist Increased […]
Cows may help researchers develop vaccine for HIV Cows’ immune systems show an extraordinary ability to neutralize HIV and may help researchers develop a vaccine for humans. Scientists say cows’ unique digestive system may play a role in their ability to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies in response to HIV in just a few weeks. BBC […]
Ravens can pre-plan, barter for rewards Ravens have the cognitive ability to plan ahead and barter for rewards. Researchers tested ravens in a series of experiments and found they performed better at those tasks than great apes or human children. National Geographic An ordinary star Our sun is just an ordinary star when compared with […]
NASA’s quieter supersonic jet zooms past milestone A supersonic jet under development at NASA that would create a much quieter sound than the loud sonic booms produced by more conventional supersonic aircraft has passed a preliminary design review. The Quiet Supersonic Transport is meant to make a quiet thump when passing the speed of sound […]
Data assimilation to help predict volcano eruptions A new method to forecast volcano activity using data assimilation is being developed by researchers in France. The method uses satellite data to gauge each volcano’s magma overpressure. Scientific American Bees exposed to pesticides even with untreated plants Bees are exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides even with untreated plants […]
Another distant planet suspected to be in Kuiper Belt Another planet, in addition to the so-called Planet Nine predicted last year, may be circling the sun in the Kuiper Belt. Researchers detected something between the size of Earth and Mars causing a warp in the orbits of asteroids, comets and dwarf planets within the Kuiper […]
Genes’ intron retention may be behind sex reversal in reptiles at high temps Australian central bearded dragon embryos, which under normal temperatures would hatch as either male or female, all hatch female regardless of their chromosomes when exposed to high temperatures, raising concerns that climate change could result in a change in the sex ratio […]
Streaks shooting out from Mars impact craters likely caused by high-speed winds Some impact craters on Mars show evidence of wind streaks likely caused by high-speed sideways vortices rolling away following the impacts. “These have tornado-like speeds but do not go straight up; instead, they are horizontal, like a tornado on Earth turned on its […]
HIV treatment’s effectiveness affected by type of bacteria in vagina Unhealthy bacteria colonies in the vagina may hinder the effectiveness of tenofovir, a drug used in gel form to prevent HIV infection. “We went from 60% protection if you have good Lactobacillus to 18% — really no protection at all — if you have bad […]