science blogspot

Increased UV from ozone depletion sterilizes trees Evidence links volcanoes to Earth's largest mass extinction 252 million years ago Date: February 7, 2018 Source: University of California - Berkeley Summary: Paleobotanists put dwarf, bonsai pine trees in growth chambers and subjected them to up to 13 times the UV-B radiation Earth experiences today, simulating conditions that likely existed 252 million years ago during the planet's worst mass extinction. The UV-B made the pines temporarily sterile and created malformed pollen, evidence that ozone depletion from volcanic eruptions could have led to high UV-B levels that contributed to the end-Permian crisis for plants and animals. Share: FULL STORY UC Berkeley researchers subjected dwarf pines (Pinus mugo) to enhanced UV-B radiation in growth chambers for two months. The irradiated pines not only produced malformed pollen, but they dropped...

No sex for all-female fish species Date: February 12, 2018 Source: University of Würzburg Summary: They reproduce through gynogenesis. Their offspring are clones of the mother. According to established theories, the Amazon molly should have become extinct a long time ago. A new study shows how the fish avoids this fate. Share: FULL STORY The Amazon molly does not produce any male offspring. The females reproduce asexually through gynogenesis. Nevertheless they need sperm to trigger the cloning process. Credit: Manfred Schartl The Amazon molly does not produce any male offspring. The females reproduce asexually through gynogenesis. Nevertheless they need sperm to trigger the cloning process. Credit: Manfred Schartl Close Species that produce asexually are rare among vertebrates, making the Amazon molly ( Poecilia formosa ) the big exception. The small fi...

New research advances spintronics technology Discoveries will help realize the promise of faster, energy-efficient spintronic computers and ultra-high-capacity data storage Date: February 1, 2018 Source: University of California - Riverside Summary: Engineers have reported advances in so-called 'spintronic' devices that will help lead to a new technology for computing and data storage. They have developed methods to detect signals from spintronic components made of low-cost metals and silicon, which overcomes a major barrier to wide application of spintronics. Share: FULL STORY UCR researchers have developed methods to detect signals from spintronic components made of low-cost metals and silicon. Credit: UC Riverside UCR researchers have developed methods to detect signals from spintronic components made of low-cost metals and silicon. Credit: UC Riverside Close ...

Viruses -- lots of them -- are falling from the sky An astonishing number of viruses are circulating around the Earth's atmosphere -- and falling from it Date: February 6, 2018 Source: University of British Columbia Summary: An astonishing number of viruses are circulating around the Earth's atmosphere -- and falling from it -- according to new research. The study marks the first time scientists have quantified the viruses being swept up from the Earth's surface into the free troposphere, beyond Earth's weather systems but below the stratosphere where jet airplanes fly. The viruses can be carried thousands of kilometers there before being deposited back onto the Earth's surface. Share: FULL STORY Viruses and bacteria fall back to Earth via dust storms and precipitation. Saharan dust intrusions from North Africa and rains from the Atlantic. Credit: NASA Visible Earth ...

Quantum race accelerates development of silicon quantum chip Date: January 25, 2018 Source: Delft University of Technology Summary: Scientists have shown that the quantum information of an electron spin can be transported to a photon, in a silicon quantum chip. This is important in order to connect quantum bits across the chip and allowing to scale up to large numbers of qubits. Share: zrbwtdrdaeawwbyqrse FULL STORY The quantum computer of the future will be able to carry out computations far beyond the capacity of today's computers. Credit: TU Delft The quantum computer of the future will be able to carry out computations far beyond the capacity of today's computers. Credit: TU Delft Close The worldwide race to create more, better and reliable quantum processors is progressing fast, as a team of TU Delft scientists led by Professor Vandersypen has reali...

Light controls two-atom quantum computation Date: February 7, 2018 Source: Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics Summary: Scientists have demonstrated mathematical operations with a quantum gate between two trapped atoms that is mediated by photons. Share: FULL STORY Illustration of the experimental setup: From the right, single photons (bright red) impinge on an optical cavity in which two atoms (red bullets) are trapped. Because of the strong atom-light field coupling a long-range interaction is mediated between the atoms that can be used to realize gate operations. Following each gate operation, the resulting two-atom state is read out by resonantly probing the cavity transmission and the atomic fluorescence. Credit: MPQ, Quantum Dynamics Division Illustration of the experimental setup: From the right, single photons (bright red) impinge on an optical cavity in which two atoms...

Scientists create functioning kidney tissue Date: February 9, 2018 Source: University of Manchester Summary: Scientists have successfully produced human kidney tissue within a living organism which is able to produce urine, a first for medical science. The study signifies a significant milestone in the development of treatment for kidney disease. Share: FULL STORY Kidney glomeruli -- constituent microscopic parts of the organ- were generated from human embryonic stem cells grown in plastic laboratory culture dishes. Credit: Image courtesy of University of Manchester Kidney glomeruli -- constituent microscopic parts of the organ- were generated from human embryonic stem cells grown in plastic laboratory culture dishes. Credit: Image courtesy of University of Manchester Close Scientists have successfully produced human kidney tissue within a living organi...

Rocky or gassy? Massive, dense super-Earth planet detected Date: February 8, 2018 Source: Carnegie Institution for Science Summary: A star about 100 light years away in the Pisces constellation, GJ 9827, hosts what may be one of the most massive and dense super-Earth planets detected to date, according to new research. This new information provides evidence to help astronomers better understand the process by which such planets form. Share: FULL STORY An artist's impression of a stellar system with three super-Earths. Credit: Courtesy of ESO An artist's impression of a stellar system with three super-Earths. Credit: Courtesy of ESO Close A star about 100 light years away in the Pisces constellation, GJ 9827, hosts what may be one of the most massive and dense super-Earth planets detected to date, according to new research led by Carnegie's J...

Experimental therapy restores nerve insulation damaged by disease Lab tests show treatment might help people with autoimmune diseases Date: February 12, 2018 Source: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Summary: When the body attacks its own healthy tissues in an autoimmune disease, peripheral nerve damage handicaps people and causes persistent neuropathic pain when insulation on healing nerves doesn't fully regenerate. Unfortunately, there are no effective ways to treat the condition. Now scientists describe an experimental molecular therapy that restores insulation on peripheral nerves in mice, improves limb function, and results in less observable discomfort. Share: FULL STORY This image from a paper in Nature Medicine shows how inhibiting an enzyme called HDAC3 in mice increases the expansion of Schwann cells (green). Schwann cells form a protective insulating layer called the myelin sheath around...