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Discovering the physics behind 300-year-old firefighting methods

23/01/2024
Inspired by a 1725 fire engine that pumped water at larger distances and higher speeds than previously possible, authors analyzed the pressure chamber's Windkessel effect to capture the physics behind this widely used, enduring technology. They compared the initial state of the chamber, the rate at which bucket brigades could pour water in (volumetric inflow), the length of time pressure builds, and the effects on output flow rate. Next, the authors plan to examine the physiological Windkessel involved in the heart-aorta system.

New technology lets researchers track brain cells' 'off switches'

23/01/2024
The method could shed light on what goes awry in numerous brain conditions when neurons are correctly and incorrectly activated or inhibited.

Health researchers develop software to predict diseases

23/01/2024
IntelliGenes analyzes genomic data to discover biomarkers associated with health traits.

Innovative tech shows promise to boost rubber production in US

23/01/2024
With disease and high demand posing threats to the world's primary natural rubber supply in Southeast Asia, scientists are working to ramp up the U.S. rubber market by advancing methods to extract latex from two sustainable North American plant sources: a dandelion species and a desert shrub.

Study suggests that unintentional weight loss is a signal to see a doctor

23/01/2024
Unintentional weight loss is associated with an increase in the risk of a cancer diagnosis within the coming year, according to a new study. Compared with participants who did not lose weight, recent weight loss was associated with significantly increased risk for several types of cancer, including upper gastrointestinal tract (including esophageal, stomach, liver, biliary tract, and pancreatic cancer), hematological (including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia), colorectal, and lung cancers. However, recent weight loss wasn't found to be associated with increased risk for other cancer types, such as breast cancer, genitourinary cancer, brain cancer, or melanoma.

Could bizarre visual symptoms be a telltale sign of Alzheimer's?

23/01/2024
A team of international researchers has completed the first large-scale study of posterior cortical atrophy, a baffling constellation of visuospatial symptoms that present as the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. These symptoms occur in up to 10% of cases of Alzheimer's disease.

Genetic discovery reveals who can benefit from preterm birth therapy

23/01/2024
A new study has identified genetic variants that predict whether patients will respond to treatment for preterm birth, a condition that affects one in 10 infants born in the United States.

Blue tit population booms with moths on the menu

23/01/2024
Researchers found that years when moth numbers were up resulted in increased population growth for the blue tit.

Records of cometary dust hitting the asteroid Ryugu

23/01/2024
The Hayabusa2 mission that collected samples from the asteroid Ryugu has provided a treasure trove of insights into our solar system. After analyzing samples further, a team of researchers have unearthed evidence that cometary organic matter was transported from space to the near-Earth region.

Research team breaks down musical instincts with AI

23/01/2024
A research team announced they have identified the principle by which musical instincts emerge from the human brain without special learning using an artificial neural network model.

Gulls swap natural for urban habitats, machine-learning study finds

23/01/2024
The study is the first of its kind to compile a three-year dataset using a citizen science-based, opportunistic research method to include a large sample of gulls and other sub-Arctic birds in urban Alaska. The study provides a current snapshot of the habitat shift to an urban landscape.

New research into hedgehogs injured by robotic lawn mowers discovers a significant but solvable animal welfare and conservation problem

23/01/2024
Scientists analyzed 370 documented cases of hedgehogs being injured (cut) by electric gardening tools in Germany. Almost half of the hedgehogs found between June 2022 and September 2023 did not survive the injuries. The data reveal a serious animal welfare and conservation issue for these specially protected animals, as most hedgehogs were only found hours or even days after the accidents.

A new perspective on the temperature inside tropical forests

23/01/2024
New worldwide maps of temperatures inside tropical forests show that global warming affect different way in different parts of the forests. Undergrowth level temperature of the tropical forests can be even 4 degrees less than average temperature of the area.

Links discovered between weather patterns and power outages could help UK protect itself from disruptive weather

23/01/2024
The behavior of specific weather patterns and their impact on power faults could be used to develop a weather pattern - conditioned fault forecasting system for power system operators.

HIV: Early treatment, one key to remission

23/01/2024
People living with HIV need to take antiretroviral treatment for life to prevent the virus from multiplying in their body. But some people, known as 'post-treatment controllers,' have been able to discontinue their treatment while maintaining an undetectable viral load for several years. Starting treatment early could promote long-term control of the virus if treatment is discontinued.

Multi-generational toxicant exposures show cumulative, inherited health effects

23/01/2024
While exposure to a single substance like DDT has been shown to create inherited disease susceptibility, a recent study in animals found exposure to multiple different toxicants across generations can amplify those health problems. In the study, an initial generation of pregnant rats was exposed to a common fungicide, then their progeny to jet fuel and the following generation to DDT. When those rats were then bred out to a fifth unexposed generation, the incidence of obesity as well as kidney and prostate diseases in those animals were compounded, rising by as much as 70%. Researchers also found that their epigenetics, molecular processes independent of DNA that influence gene expression, were also greatly altered.

Uncovering the secrets behind the silent flight of owls

23/01/2024
Owls produce negligible noise while flying. While many studies have linked the micro-fringes in owl wings to their silent flight, the exact mechanisms have been unclear. Now, a team of researchers has uncovered the effects of these micro-fringes on the sound and aerodynamic performance of owl wings through computational fluid dynamic simulations. Their findings can inspire biomimetic designs for the development of low-noise fluid machinery.

Delhi smog: India's cities must look beyond their limits to clean up air pollution

23/01/2024
Delhi needs the help of its rural neighbors to finally beat its killer smog problem, concludes a recent review.

Complex green organisms emerged a billion years ago

23/01/2024
Of all the organisms that photosynthesize, land plants have the most complex form. How did this morphology emerge? A team of scientists has taken a deep dive into the evolutionary history of morphological complexity in streptophytes, which include land plants and many green algae. Their research allowed them to go back in time to investigate lineages that emerged long before land plants existed.

Major climate benefits with electric aircraft

23/01/2024
Researchers have performed the world's first life cycle assessment (LCA) of an existing, two-seater, all-electric aircraft, with a direct comparison to an equivalent fossil fuel-powered one. According to the study, after just one quarter of the expected lifespan of the electric aircraft, the climate impact is lower than that of the fossil fuel-based aircraft, provided that green electricity is used. The downside, however, is increased mineral resource scarcity.

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