Fire blankets can protect buildings from wildfires

Wrapping a building in a fire-protective blanket is a viable way of protecting it against wildfires, finds the first study to scientifically assesses this method of defense.

Rare 'itinerant breeding' behavior revealed in California bird

Reproduction and migration are the two most demanding tasks in a bird's life, and the vast majority of species separate them into different times of the year. Only two bird species have been shown to undertake what scientists call "itinerant breeding": nesting in one area, migrating to another region, and nesting again there within the same year, to take advantage of shifting food resources. New research just published in The Auk: Ornithological Advances provides strong evidence that a third bird species takes on this unusual challenge—the Phainopepla, a unique bird found in the southwestern U.S. and the northernmost member of an otherwise tropical family.

Handwashing robot helps schoolkids make a clean break with bad habits

A robot which encourages kids to wash their hands has helped pupils at a remote Indian primary school take a fresh approach to hygiene.

'I wish you were murdered': Some students don't know the difference between bullying and banter

Many Australian students don't know the difference between banter and bullying, with some saying they joke about wishing their friend would "drown" or "die in a car crash."

Australia could see fewer cyclones, but more heat and fire risk in coming months

Northern Australia is likely to see fewer cyclones than usual this season, but hot, dry weather will increase the risk of fire and heatwaves across eastern and southern Australia.

There's a binge drinking boom among older people: What that could be doing

Although enjoying a glass of red wine now and again may be healthy for your heart and gut, drinking too much alcohol can put you at higher risk of developing many serious health conditions. Heavy alcohol consumption has been linked to a number of health issues, including developing certain types of cancer, stroke, heart and liver disease, and brain damage. In older people, drinking unhealthy levels of alcohol can be even more damaging to health, and may cause memory loss, high blood pressure, balance problems, and worsen mental health.

Japan searches for survivors as Typhoon Hagibis death toll hits 56

Tens of thousands of rescuers worked into the night Monday to find survivors of a powerful typhoon in Japan that killed at least 56 people, as fresh rain threatened to hamper their efforts.

Free streamer Tubi to move into UK and Europe

US streaming giant Tubi—which has been dubbed "the free Netflix"—is to launch a children's network next week and expand its main service into Europe next year, it announced Monday.

Women and men tolerate heart transplants equally well, but men may get better hearts

Women are just as likely as men to survive after a heart transplant despite often getting poorer-quality donor hearts, according to new research.

Philippines begins mass vaccinations after polio returns

Parents lined up from sunrise holding sleeping infants as the Philippines launched a campaign on Monday to vaccinate millions of children against polio, which has re-emerged nearly two decades after the nation's last cases.

Blue light isn't the main source of eye fatigue and sleep loss—it's your computer

Blue light has gotten a bad rap, getting blamed for loss of sleep and eye damage. Personal electronic devices emit more blue light than any other color. Blue light has a short wavelength, which means that it is high-energy and can damage the delicate tissues of the eye. It can also pass through the eye to the retina, the collection of neurons that converts light into the signals that are the foundation of sight.

Locally sourced power may be the answer for vulnerable energy grid

This week, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company took the unprecedented step of cutting power to nearly 750,000 Northern California customers, including much of the UC Berkeley campus, in an effort to mitigate the risk that active transmission lines could spark a wildfire during dry and windy conditions.

Activity trackers can be useful tools in managing diabetes

Researchers at The University of Manchester have conducted the largest ever review of the effect of movement-monitoring devices, such as pedometers, on the activity of individuals with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Order found in circular molecule suggests deeper importance to brain function

Scientists are rethinking the importance of an enigmatic molecule after finding intricate processes at play in its formation.

Birth weight linked to childhood allergies

The more a baby weighs at birth relative to its gestational age the greater the risk of childhood food allergies and eczema, according to South Australian researchers.

New design strategy can help improve layered superconducting materials

Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a new layered superconducting material with a conducting layer made of bismuth, silver, tin, sulfur and selenium. The conducting layer features four distinct sublayers; by introducing more elements, they were able to achieve unparalleled customizability and a higher "critical temperature" below which superconductivity is observed, a key objective of superconductor research. Their design strategy may be applied to engineer new and improved superconducting materials.

Research team develops new genetic-based epilepsy risk scores

An international team of researchers led by Cleveland Clinic has developed new genetic-based epilepsy risk scores which may lay the foundation for a more personalized method of epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. This analysis is the largest study of epilepsy genetics to date, as well as the largest study of epilepsy using human samples.

Guam avoids severe coral bleaching predicted for this year

Official say vulnerable coral reefs on Guam have not experienced severe bleaching that was predicted for this year.

Southern California blazes show signs of slowing

Wildfires raging across southern California showed signs of slowing Sunday, as firefighters contained nearly half of the biggest blaze.

US 'medical tourists' seek cheap health care abroad

When Veronica Merrill decided to undergo stomach surgery for weight loss, she found two options: pay $12,000 at home in the United States, or have it done in Mexico for $4,000.

Video captures whale bubble-net feeding

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) researchers and key collaborators captured amazing whale's-point-of-view and aerial drone video of humpback whale bubble-net feeding. It's one component of a project investigating causes of a possible decline in humpback whale numbers

Nobel awards season comes to an end with economics prize

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences will announce the last Nobel winner later Monday, when it awards its prestigious economics prize.

For low-risk thyroid cancer patients, less may be more for post-surgery surveillance

Not all patients feel the same way about medical treatment.

New brain research could change how concussions are treated

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, can be caused by anything from sports injuries to battlefield trauma. And they can have fatal or lasting effects. The results of a severe concussion—problems with thinking, memory, movement, emotions—are clear. The causes, or underlying pathological mechanisms, were not.

Pioneering clinical trial to treat psychosis in Parkinson's patients using cannabidiol

A pioneering clinical trial will investigate the use of cannabidiol (CBD) - a compound found in the cannabis plant—in people with Parkinson's-related psychosis.

Self-reported suicide attempts rising in black teens as other groups decline

Adding to what is known about the growing crisis of suicide among American teens, a team led by researchers at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University have uncovered several troubling trends during the period of 1991-2017, among Black high school students in particular.