The Life Technology™ News Blog: November 2020

Monday, November 30, 2020

Life on an airless Earth

In hidden pockets around the world, tiny creatures consume toxins and wait for their day to again rule the Earth.

Italy fines Apple 10 mn euros for water damage claims

Italy's competition authority said Monday it had fined Apple 10 million euros ($12 million) for misleading claims about the water resistant properties of various iPhone models.

Italy fines Apple 10 mn euros for water damage claims

Italy's competition authority said Monday it had fined Apple 10 million euros ($12 million) for misleading claims about the water resistant properties of various iPhone models.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-italy-fines-apple-mn-euros.html

Women found to be at higher risk for heart failure and heart attack death than men

Women face a 20% increased risk of developing heart failure or dying within five years after their first severe heart attack compared with men, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.

Heart disease risk in women increases leading up to menopause; early intervention is key

The menopause transition, the years leading up to menopause, is a time of increasing heart disease risk for women. Monitoring women's health and lifestyle, while integrating early intervention strategies for good cardiovascular health, are important, especially during midlife and during menopause to help prevent heart disease, according to a new Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, "Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing for Early Prevention," published today in its flagship journal, Circulation.

Forearm fractures may signal intimate partner violence

Up to one-third of adult women who sustain a non-displaced fracture to the ulna bone of the forearm may be victims of intimate partner violence, according to a study being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The findings underscore the need to screen for intimate partner violence in women with these types of injuries, researchers said.

Deep learning predicts woman's risk for breast cancer

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have developed a deep learning model that identifies imaging biomarkers on screening mammograms to predict a patient's risk for developing breast cancer with greater accuracy than traditional risk assessment tools. Results of the study are being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

First foreign students arrive in Australia since virus closure

International students have arrived in Australia for the first time since the country shut its borders to curb coronavirus in March, with a charter flight touching down in Darwin on Monday.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-foreign-students-australia-virus-closure.html

Australia bush fire rips through heritage-listed island

Australian firefighters are struggling to control a massive bush fire that already destroyed 40 percent of the UNESCO world heritage-listed Fraser Island before a heatwave hit Monday.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-australia-bush-rips-heritage-listed-island.html

Thousands flee as Indonesian volcano bursts to life

Thousands have fled the scene of a rumbling Indonesian volcano that burst to life for the first time in several years, belching a massive column of smoke and ash, the disaster agency said Monday.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-thousands-indonesian-volcano-life.html

Merriam-Webster's top word of 2020 not a shocker: pandemic

If you were to choose a word that rose above most in 2020, which word would it be?

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-merriam-webster-word-shocker-pandemic.html

Brightly burning meteor seen across wide areas of Japan

A brightly burning meteor was seen plunging from the sky in wide areas of Japan, capturing attention on television and social media.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-brightly-meteor-wide-areas-japan.html

Fast-moving gas flowing away from young star caused by icy comet vaporisation

A unique stage of planetary system evolution has been imaged by astronomers, showing fast-moving carbon monoxide gas flowing away from a star system over 400 light years away, a discovery that provides an opportunity to study how our own solar system developed.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-fast-moving-gas-young-star-icy.html

WHO warns malaria fight flat-lining

Progress in eliminating malaria has stalled in recent years, the World Health Organization said Monday, with more than 400,000 people once again estimated to have died from the disease last year.

First foreign students arrive in Australia since virus closure

International students have arrived in Australia for the first time since the country shut its borders to curb coronavirus in March, with a charter flight touching down in Darwin on Monday.

Australia bush fire rips through heritage-listed island

Australian firefighters are struggling to control a massive bush fire that already destroyed 40 percent of the UNESCO world heritage-listed Fraser Island before a heatwave hit Monday.

Thousands flee as Indonesian volcano bursts to life

Thousands have fled the scene of a rumbling Indonesian volcano that burst to life for the first time in several years, belching a massive column of smoke and ash, the disaster agency said Monday.

Merriam-Webster's top word of 2020 not a shocker: pandemic

If you were to choose a word that rose above most in 2020, which word would it be?

Brightly burning meteor seen across wide areas of Japan

A brightly burning meteor was seen plunging from the sky in wide areas of Japan, capturing attention on television and social media.

Researcher uses fruit for less toxic drug delivery

University of Louisville researchers have found a less toxic way to deliver medicines by using the natural lipids in plants, particularly grapefruit and ginger.

Measuring broken hearts: Divorce has negative effects on physical and mental health

Going through a divorce is extremely challenging and previous research has highlighted the adverse effects that it can have on divorcees. A recent study in open-access journal Frontiers in Psychology is the first to examine health impacts immediately after a divorce. The study found that the mental and physical health of recent divorcees was worse than that of the background population and that higher levels of conflict predicted worse mental health, regardless of other factors. Understanding these effects could assist researchers in designing interventions that help divorcees to get back on their feet and avoid long-term repercussions.

Fast-moving gas flowing away from young star caused by icy comet vaporisation

COVID-19 studies should also focus on mucosal immunity, researchers argue

Anyone who has undergone a nasal swab or saliva test for COVID-19 knows that the virus is most easily detected in the nose and mouth. That's why, University at Buffalo researchers argue in a new paper, more COVID-19 studies should be devoted to how immunity emerges to SARS-CoV-2 in the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth.

Sunday, November 29, 2020

NYC to reopen schools, even as virus spread intensifies

New York City will reopen its school system to in-person learning, and increase the number of days a week many children attend class, even as the coronavirus pandemic intensifies in the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.

Q&A: What is palliative care and who needs it?

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 65 year-old-mother was diagnosed recently with Parkinson's disease. A friend mentioned that we should see a palliative care doctor to develop a care plan. I don't think my mother is dying anytime soon. Can you explain palliative care and why we might need a consultation?

A short guide to quarantining after holiday travel

If you traveled over the Thanksgiving holiday, it's time to go into quarantine.

Booze robbing many Americans of their sleep

(HealthDay)—Nearly 7 in 10 Americans have lost sleep because they drank alcohol too close to bedtime, including 1 in 5 who often have this problem, a new poll shows.

Bahamas is set to start offshore oil drilling just 150 miles off South Florida

Florida's waters may be protected from offshore drilling but the Bahamas plans to start looking for oil in less than a month at an exploratory well just 150 miles off the coast of the Sunshine State.

Bahamas is set to start offshore oil drilling just 150 miles off South Florida

Florida's waters may be protected from offshore drilling but the Bahamas plans to start looking for oil in less than a month at an exploratory well just 150 miles off the coast of the Sunshine State.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-bahamas-offshore-oil-drilling-miles.html

Average winter temperatures in Northeast have warmed by up to 4.8 degrees since 1970, new research shows

In the winter of 1969-70, Philadelphia had an average temperature of 30.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Last year, the average was 39.4.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-average-winter-temperatures-northeast-degrees.html

Sydney records hottest November night as heatwave sweeps city

Sydney recorded its hottest November night as Australia's largest city suffered through a weekend heatwave that saw daytime temperatures peak above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-sydney-hottest-november-night-heatwave.html

Mammoth move: loneliest elephant heads to Cambodia after Cher campaign

Following years of public outcry and campaigning by American pop star Cher, the "world's loneliest elephant" embarked Sunday on a mammoth move from Pakistan to retirement in a Cambodian sanctuary.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-mammoth-loneliest-elephant-cambodia-cher.html

Virus surge leads to curfew in San Francisco

A surge in coronavirus cases will put San Francisco under a curfew beginning on Monday and trigger other restrictions related to the virus, the city announced.

Average winter temperatures in Northeast have warmed by up to 4.8 degrees since 1970, new research shows

In the winter of 1969-70, Philadelphia had an average temperature of 30.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Last year, the average was 39.4.

Sydney records hottest November night as heatwave sweeps city

Sydney recorded its hottest November night as Australia's largest city suffered through a weekend heatwave that saw daytime temperatures peak above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Mammoth move: loneliest elephant heads to Cambodia after Cher campaign

Following years of public outcry and campaigning by American pop star Cher, the "world's loneliest elephant" embarked Sunday on a mammoth move from Pakistan to retirement in a Cambodian sanctuary.

Teladoc eyes several new phases of growth for telemedicine

Fresh off a big acquisition and riding a wave of customer growth, Teladoc Health is ready to do more for patients.

Fauci warns Americans to brace for 'surge upon surge' of virus

Americans should brace for a "surge upon a surge" in the coronavirus as millions of travelers return home after the Thanksgiving holiday, US government scientist Anthony Fauci said Sunday.

Saturday, November 28, 2020

UK's sole hydrogen car maker bets on green revolution

Hydrogen-powered car manufacturer Riversimple is hoping to steal a march on competitors ahead of Britain's promised "green revolution" that would see petrol-powered cars banned within 10 years.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-uk-sole-hydrogen-car-maker.html

Black Friday sees record online as US shoppers stay home

Black Friday online sales hit a new record this year as pandemic-wary Americans filled virtual carts instead of real ones.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-black-friday-online-shoppers-home.html

Vaccine giant to apply for pandemic licence in 'two weeks'

The world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume said Saturday it would apply for an emergency licence for a coronavirus vaccine within two weeks, and that confusion over the efficacy would not delay its distribution.

Scotland begins student virus tests before Christmas

As an unusual term comes to a close and Christmas holidays draw closer, students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland filed in and out of a sports hall that has been transformed into a mass coronavirus testing centre.

UK appoints vaccines minister to oversee COVID inoculations

The British government appointed a vaccines minister on Saturday as it prepares to inoculate millions of people against the coronavirus, potentially starting within days.

Europe virus toll crosses 400,000, shops reopen in France

Coronavirus deaths topped 400,000 Saturday in Europe, the world's second worst-hit region, as parts of the continent began to reopen shops for the holiday season.

CDC panel meets Tuesday to vote on COVID-19 vaccine priority

A panel of U.S. advisers will meet Tuesday to vote on how scarce, initial supplies of a COVID-19 vaccine will be given out once one has been approved.

Los Angeles orders more restrictions as coronavirus surges

Los Angeles County announced a new stay-home order Friday as coronavirus cases surged out of control in the nation's most populous county, banning most gatherings but stopping short of a full shutdown on retail stores and other non-essential businesses.

UK's sole hydrogen car maker bets on green revolution

Hydrogen-powered car manufacturer Riversimple is hoping to steal a march on competitors ahead of Britain's promised "green revolution" that would see petrol-powered cars banned within 10 years.

Black Friday sees record online as US shoppers stay home

Black Friday online sales hit a new record this year as pandemic-wary Americans filled virtual carts instead of real ones.

Experts: Virus numbers could be erratic after Thanksgiving

The coronavirus testing numbers that have guided much of the nation's response to the pandemic are likely to be erratic over the next week or so, experts said Friday, as fewer people get tested during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and testing sites observe shorter hours.

Friday, November 27, 2020

Mining companies are required to return quarried sites to their 'natural character'. But is that enough?

New Zealand has more than 1,100 registered quarries. Some of these mined sites are small, rural operations, but a significant number are large and complex, and within a city's urban boundaries.

The case of the missing dark matter: new suspect found in galactic mystery

A faraway galaxy with almost no dark matter has threatened to break our theory of galaxy formation. New evidence suggests the galaxy isn't an anomaly—but a victim of theft.

Iceberg A-68A: hit or miss?

An enormous iceberg, called A-68A, has made headlines over the past weeks as it drifts towards South Georgia in the Southern Ocean. New images, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission, show the berg is rotating and potentially drifting westwards.

ESA and Auroch Digital launch Mars Horizon game

You're controlling your very own space agency at the dawn of the space age, with the ultimate goal of setting foot on the surface of Mars. Which technologies should you research? Which rockets should you build? Should you aim for the Moon first or head straight to the Red Planet?

Mining companies are required to return quarried sites to their 'natural character'. But is that enough?

New Zealand has more than 1,100 registered quarries. Some of these mined sites are small, rural operations, but a significant number are large and complex, and within a city's urban boundaries.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-companies-required-quarried-sites-natural.html

The case of the missing dark matter: new suspect found in galactic mystery

A faraway galaxy with almost no dark matter has threatened to break our theory of galaxy formation. New evidence suggests the galaxy isn't an anomaly—but a victim of theft.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-case-dark-galactic-mystery.html

Iceberg A-68A: hit or miss?

ESA and Auroch Digital launch Mars Horizon game

UK to launch new watchdog next year to police tech giants

Britain plans to create a new watchdog to police big tech companies including Google and Facebook to counter their market dominance and prevent them from exploiting consumers and small businesses.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-uk-watchdog-year-police-tech.html

Japan spacecraft carrying asteroid soil samples nears home

A Japanese spacecraft is nearing Earth after a yearlong journey home from a distant asteroid with soil samples and data that could provide clues to the origins of the solar system, a space agency official said Friday.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-11-japan-spacecraft-asteroid-soil-samples.html

Hit by the coronavirus pandemic and a sharp drop in oil prices, biofuel demand has declined for the first time in two decades and may struggle to recover, according to experts.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-battered-virus-oil-slump-biofuels.html

Man United unable to fully restore systems after cyberattack

Manchester United has been unable to fully restore its computer systems a week after being targeted in a cyberattack.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-unable-fully-cyberattack.html

Man United unable to fully restore systems after cyberattack

Manchester United has been unable to fully restore its computer systems a week after being targeted in a cyberattack.