Latest Articles
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Jun- 2023 -21 JuneClimate Change
El Niño’s Surprising Lifeline: Ocean Current Safeguards Pacific Island Reefs
Aerial view of Palmyra Atoll. Credit: © 2023 KAUST; Richard Brooks Scientists have found that unique ocean processes during El Niño events can help coral reefs survive the heat stress brought by climate change. Specifically, the strengthened North Equatorial Counter Current during El Niño brings cooler, nutrient-rich waters to some reefs, helping them resist heat-induced bleaching. The findings could inform future conservation strategies for coral reefs. Marine heatwaves are emerging as a key impact of climate change and pose a particularly significant threat to corals that form the backbone of coral reefs. Researchers have now identified a phenomenon that could…
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18 JuneHealth
Dads Make the Difference: The Impact on Breastfeeding Moms and Infant Sleep Safety
A study from Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago underscores the influential role fathers play in promoting breastfeeding and safe infant sleep practices. The research, utilizing a new survey tool called PRAMS for Dads, points to a significant increase in breastfeeding rates where fathers were supportive, while revealing that full adherence to recommended safe sleep practices was relatively low. The study also identifies racial disparities in safe sleep practices. Including fathers in strategies to improve infant health could help narrow disparities. Findings highlight racial disparities in sudden unexpected infant death in the U.S. Only…
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7 June3D Printing
Revolutionary 3D Printing Technology a “Game Changer” for Discovering and Manufacturing New Materials
High-throughput combinatorial printing illustration. The new 3D printing method, high-throughput combinatorial printing (HTCP), drastically accelerates the discovery and production of new materials. Credit: University of Notre Dame A novel 3D printing method called high-throughput combinatorial printing (HTCP) has been created that significantly accelerates the discovery and production of new materials. The process involves mixing multiple aerosolized nanomaterial inks during printing, which allows for fine control over the printed materials’ architecture and local compositions. This method produces materials with gradient compositions and properties and can be applied to a wide range of substances including metals, semiconductors, polymers, and biomaterials. The time-honored…
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6 JuneCOVID-19
Detecting Neutralizing Antibodies for COVID-19: A Novel Technique Uncovered by MIT Chemists
Lead Image: MIT chemists have come up with a new way to identify neutralizing antibodies, depicted here in light blue, against SARS-CoV-2 in a blood sample. Credit: iStock The method could enable a rapid test to determine whether individuals are producing antibodies that help protect against COVID-19. MIT scientists have developed a novel technique that uses lectin displacement to detect neutralizing antibodies against viruses like SARS-CoV-2, offering a way to assess vaccine effectiveness and potential protection against virus variants. They have applied for a patent for this technology. Antibodies that can disarm a virus, known as neutralizing antibodies, are key…
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6 JuneAstronomy
Cosmic Smoke Signals: James Webb Telescope Discovers Organic Molecules in Distant Galaxy
Astronomers using the Webb telescope discovered evidence of complex organic molecules similar to smoke or smog in the distant galaxy shown here. The galaxy, more than 12 billion light years away, happens to line up almost perfectly with a second galaxy only three billion light years away from our perspective on Earth. In this false-color Webb image, the foreground galaxy is shown in blue, while the background galaxy is in red. The organic molecules are highlighted in orange. Credit: J. Spilker / S. Doyle, NASA, ESA, CSA Astronomers have found complex organic molecules in a galaxy more than 12 billion…
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