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Based on their findings, the researchers noted there are practical solutions that could have prevented collapse of the embankment slope investigated in this study. Their recommendations include using stabilizing agents, like cement, to reduce the impact of moisture and the placement of perforated pipes to drain the water quickly.
Miso made in space tastes nuttier (link is external)
Miso is a traditional Japanese condiment made by fermenting cooked soybeans and salt. Researchers successfully made miso on the International Space Station (ISS). They found that the miso smelled and tasted similar to miso fermented on Earth -- just with a slightly nuttier, more roasted flavor. The team hopes this research will help broaden the culinary options available to astronauts, improving the quality of life for long-term space travelers.
Study strengthens link between shingles vaccine and lower dementia risk (link is external)
A new analysis of a vaccination program in Wales found that the shingles vaccine appeared to lower new dementia diagnoses by 20% -- more than any other known intervention.
First ancient genomes from the Green Sahara deciphered (link is external)
An international team has sequenced the first ancient genomes from the so-called Green Sahara, a period when the largest desert in the world temporarily turned into a humid savanna-like environment. By analyzing the DNA of two 7,000-year-old naturally mummified individuals excavated in the Takarkori rock shelter in southwestern Libya, the team showed that they belonged to a long-isolated and now extinct North African human lineage.
Early Earth's first crust composition discovery rewrites geological timeline (link is external)
Modern continental rocks carry chemical signatures from the very start of our planet's history, challenging current theories about plate tectonics.
Researchers explore using soil for heat storage (link is external)
When spring arrives and the heating season comes to an end, keeping warm becomes less of an issue. However, scientists remind us that it is not just a seasonal necessity -- heat is also a valuable energy resource that can be stored and used when needed most. Researchers have discovered an innovative solution beneath our feet: using soil as an efficient thermal energy storage system.
Electrochemical process separates valuable industrial chemicals from animal waste (link is external)
A collaboration between chemical engineers and animal scientists has created a system for recovering valuable industrial chemicals from animal waste, representing a major step towards circularity and environmental sustainability.
Using everyday products during pregnancy can affect newborn's metabolism, study finds (link is external)
A newly published study found that a mother's exposure to phthalates during pregnancy can affect their newborn's metabolism and brain development. These widely used plasticizers are commonly found in a variety of cosmetics and personal care products, such as shampoos, soaps, and detergents, as well as plastic food and beverage containers.
Mammals were adapting from life in the trees to living on the ground before dinosaur-killing asteroid (link is external)
More mammals were living on the ground several million years before the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, new research has revealed.
Rocky Mountain snow is contaminated, study shows (link is external)
Mountain snowpacks accumulate snow throughout the winter, building up stores of water that will supply communities across the American West throughout the long dry season. Now, a new study shows that as storms carry snow to the Rocky Mountains, they are also bringing mercury and other contaminants from mines in the region. The research helps scientists understand how contaminants are spread by atmospheric circulation and has implications for snowpack preservation and illuminating the lasting environmental impact of mining activities.
New insight into factors associated with a common disease among dogs and humans (link is external)
For dogs housed at Texas kennels, age and fecal score are important factors for screening for subclinical Giardia infections.
A borrowed bacterial gene allowed some marine diatoms to live on a seaweed diet (link is external)
A group of diatom species belonging to the Nitzschia genus, gave up on photosynthesis and now get their carbon straight from their environment, thanks to a bacterial gene picked up by an ancestor, according to a new study.
Use of antifungals in agriculture may increase resistance in an infectious yeast, study suggests (link is external)
Genomic changes in the infectious yeast Candida tropicalis may play a role in its resistance to antifungals, according to a new study. These genomic changes can be brought on by a common antifungal, TBZ. The study demonstrates that the use of TBZ in agriculture may contribute to the increasing problem of antifungal resistance.
Dramatically higher loss of GDP under 4°C warming (link is external)
New projections reveal a 4 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures would cut world GDP by around 40% by 2100 -- a stark increase from previous estimates of around 11%.
Surprising number of environmental pollutants in hedgehogs (link is external)
Lead, pesticides, brominated flame retardants, plastic additives, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals. This is what researchers found when they collected dead hedgehogs to investigate the environmental pollutants found in urban environments.
We know nanoplastics are a threat -- this new tool can help us figure out just how bad they are (link is external)
While the threat that microplastics pose to human and ecological health has been richly documented and is well known, nanoplastics, which are smaller than one micrometer (1/50th the thickness of an average human hair), are far more reactive, far more mobile and vastly more capable of crossing biological membranes. Yet, because they are so tiny and so mobile, researchers don't yet have an accurate understanding of just how toxic these particles are.
Mpox could become a serious global threat, scientists warn (link is external)
Mpox has the potential to become a significant global health threat if taken too lightly, according to scientists.
Exposure to air pollution in childhood is associated with reduced brain connectivity (link is external)
A new study has found that children exposed to higher levels of air pollution in early and mid childhood have weaker connections between key brain regions. The findings highlight the potential impact of early exposure to air pollution on brain development.
Omega-6 fatty acid promotes the growth of an aggressive type of breast cancer, study finds (link is external)
Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in seed oils such as soybean and safflower oil, and animal products including pork and eggs, specifically enhances the growth of the hard-to-treat 'triple negative' breast cancer subtype, according to a preclinical study. The discovery could lead to new dietary and pharmaceutical strategies against breast and other cancers.
A step toward plant-based gelatin (link is external)
Researchers present gum tragacanth as a plant-based alternative to gelatin for creating edible films. The team developed films containing different concentrations of gelatin and gum tragacanth and monitored their survivability in water and saline solutions. They found the optimal combination of gum tragacanth and gelatin for maintaining the gelatin's gel-like behavior was a 3-to-1 ratio of the two, respectively. However, gum tragacanth's inclusion leads to a more porous film, making it prone to penetration by water or saline solutions. Though gum tragacanth cannot replace gelatin completely just yet, even a partial replacement is a step forward.
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