Happy Tuesday, Aledan Merfolk! I have updates for you later this week or early next week, but since today is the first Tuesday of the month, it’s time for all of last month’s science news! (Yes, I missed February, but I’ll tell you why in my update post) Let’s go!
Researchers discover hydrogen signature of universe’s first stars
Moss in concrete parking lot home to new species of tardigrade
Ancient skull among artifacts found in North Sea
Makeup of gut microbiome is most influenced by environment
Synthetic molecule can light up TB bacteria for easier detection
Scientists create device for tumor-specific extracellular vesicle capture
7,000-year-old Native American burial ground found submerged near Fla.
Huge family tree gives researchers clues about human movements, relationships (there’s a couple partial graphics of the family tree in the article and it looks really cool)
Mummies show ancient Egyptians had tattoos earlier than thought
Second powerful weather-tracking satellite launched
Researchers seek new ways to limit when CRISPR editing goes off-target
and…
Researchers develop technique for more precise CRISPR targeting
and…
Follow-up study reverses controversial CRISPR-Cas9 findings
🙂
Skin bacteria chemical may be able to help treat certain cancers
Pacific island’s settlement focus of genetic studies
Females much larger than males in many species
Hallucinogenic drugs can induce dreamlike state in users
Research teams put crystals’ electrons into Higgs-like state
Researchers study whether teaching dogs to use touchscreens slows aging
Lab sees use for monovalent manganese in sodium-ion batteries (hear that sci-fi folks? Batteries for your novels!)
Upbeat music spurs longer treadmill runs (did we really need a whole study on this?)
Sunken WWII US aircraft carrier found
Rare baby bird fossil dates back 127 million years
Diminished coral reefs could lead to rising waves
Study explores synesthesia phenomenon
Ill health in animals connected to social dominance (Animals in socially dominant positions are more susceptible to parasite infection)
Message in a bottle from 1886 said to be oldest ever found (this is just BEGGING to become a book)
Viking settlement likely in New Brunswick, archaeologist says
New England storm uncovers wreckage of Revolutionary War-era boat
Some vision restored in mice with prosthetic retinas
Backyard soil able to absorb carbon well
Humans can’t hear black hummingbird’s high-pitched song
Bits of superconducting material found in pair of meteorites
No new neuron growth seen in adult human brains
289-million-year-old reptile escaped predators by losing tail
Humans sleep a lot less than other primates (no wonder everyone’s always tired)
Increased sun exposure in childhood may reduce risk of MS as adult
Ancient home uncovered during Rome subway dig
Same color variations show up in spiders on different Hawaiian islands
Blood-brain barrier may be easier to break through at specific times (night)
Cyclones on Jupiter run deep, Juno space probe finds
Graphene layers with a twist offer superconductive possibilities
Researchers re-create exoplanets’ atmospheric chemistry in lab
Black hole questions might be answered with superconductors
X-ray examination may help researchers preserve ancient cannonballs
520-million-year-old ocean predator had simple brain
Diabetes patients benefit from high-fiber diets in study
Research ramping up on postpartum depression
High levels of microplastics found in UK riverbeds
Study of how moon was formed suggests water could exist there
Humans along S. Africa coast survived ancient supervolcano eruption
DNA suggests elongated skulls found in Germany belonged to Huns
Foreign dogs better at protecting livestock (even dogs in the US are lazy :P)
Famed physicist Stephen Hawking dies at 76
Archaeopteryx capable of bursts of flight
Ancient stars, not dark matter, behind signal from Milky Way’s center
Clouds over Mars may be made of bits of dust from comet tails
Doubling information speed theoretically possible, quantum physicists say
Studies assess brain waves’ role in information assessment
Coral threatened by rise in oceans’ CO2 levels
Interaction between python mothers, offspring observed
Astronomers puzzled by galaxy lacking blue globular clusters
Ice formation observed on Ceres
Size, shape and color of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot changing
A look at doubt’s role in science
Humans evolved quickly after environmental change 500,000 years ago
Unique protein with antibacterial properties found in platypus milk
Microfluidic device shows researchers cell divisions, mutations
New pipette inspired by liverwort plant’s sex organs (I can’t wait to use this at work!)
Monkeys respond to sex, status in advertising
NASA offers a peek inside the Mars 2020 rover (see photo at the top of this page)
VR distracts, eases pain during medical treatment
Antarctica fossil forests may answer Permian extinction questions
Researchers struggle to rebuild after devastating hurricane season
Kepler mission could end in months as it runs out of fuel
Virtual particles may keep dead stars from becoming black holes
2 distinct Denisovan populations interbred with Homo sapiens
Bodies, environment affect workings of brain, new book suggests
Autism often comes with other conditions
Stem cell technique restores vision in 2 macular degeneration patients
TRAPPIST-1 worlds may have too much water to support life (I guess we know where the mermaids live! Mermaids can’t have “too much water” 😉 )
Scale model shows how Russian nuclear blasts could destroy asteroids
Discovery of gravitational waves has long, complex history
Mongolia’s drought history recorded in ancient tree rings
Oceans may have been on Mars much longer than once believed
Japan to use supercomputer to study nuclear fusion
USDA scientists find new uses for almond waste (possible replacement for high fructose corn syrup)
IVF technology might one day spare northern white rhino species
Researchers working to limit false positives in psychology studies
Metal with special electrical properties is based on weaving pattern
Expedition locates sunken WWII warship in South Pacific
ESA mission to study planets outside our solar system
Canadian mathematician wins Abel Prize for discovering math links
SSRIs may be more beneficial than SNRIs for pediatric anxiety disorders
Early humans likely glimpsed red dwarf star as it passed near sun
Researchers still learning about Saturn after Cassini’s fatal dive
Robotic fish may help scientists learn more about ocean life
Alzheimer’s patients produce tau protein faster
Test of male birth control pill shows few side effects
Rising mumps prevalence may be due to weakening vaccine protection
Unusual mummified skeleton belonged to newborn with genetic mutations
Genome structures in baby mice influenced by maternal attentiveness
Enzymes help bees defend themselves against pesticides
Eating meats cooked at high temps linked to high blood pressure
Plastic garbage patch in Pacific Ocean much larger than believed
“Nanospears” target cells for immuno-oncology and gene therapies
Preoperative ultrasound may avert unneeded lymph node dissection
Curiosity passes 2,000-day mark on Mars
Tiny electromagnetic force measured using one atom
Mount Etna’s slow slide toward Mediterranean charted by researchers
Many male creatures undergo physical changes to attract mates
Extensive flesh-eating bacteria wound treated with experimental spray
Flint youths’ blood lead levels decreasing (Flint still doesn’t have clean drinking water though!)
Kepler captures quick death of star in speedy supernova
Dimming of Tabby’s star newly observed
Waterfall driven by megaflood quenched ancient dry Mediterranean
Scientists looking into unusual bumps on humpback whales
Restricting calories may increase longevity
New fluid-filled organ found hiding throughout human body
Mummy found in ancient Egyptian coffin once thought to be empty
Garbage pile offers glimpse into Iron Age community’s party habits
More people were in old Amazon rainforest than once believed
No right whale newborns seen so far this year, researchers say
Thin, floating film created to block Great Barrier Reef from sun
Seeding atmosphere with salt may fight climate change
Brain size changes found in young children with ADHD
Ancient human footprints found in Canada
Remains of carnivorous Cretaceous Period dinosaur found in Argentina
Single source for all of Australia’s indigenous languages
Scandinavian bears staying with cubs longer due to hunting changes
Concertgoers have synchronized brain waves listening to live music
Scientists use light to enhance biofuel production
Equations break down how knuckle-cracking sounds are made
Earth-sized metal-heavy exoplanet found
MRSA in mice destroyed by new class of antibiotics
Frogs in Panama evolving resistance to deadly fungus
Researchers add sensory ability to robotic hand
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