When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? Ants may hold clues

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Now, a new study has brought us closer to understanding some of its evolution. It shows that human brains decreased in size approximately 3,000 years ago. By studying ants as models to illustrate why brains may increase or decrease in size, the researchers hypothesize that brain shrinkage parallels the expansion of collective intelligence in human societies.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-human-brains-decrease-size-years.html

Poor immune response in many double- vaccinated blood cancer patients

More than half of double-vaccinated blood cancer patients have been left with little protection against COVID-19, new research has found.

Common antidepressant should no longer be used to treat people with dementia, study says

A drug used to treat agitation in people with dementia is no more effective than a placebo, and might even increase mortality, according to a new study.

Scientists discover how bacteria use liquid protein droplets to overcome stress

Scientists have revealed how bacteria make tiny liquid droplets from proteins to help them survive harsh environments and thus reduce their chances of being killed by antibiotics.

What drove the invention of military technologies?

Peter Turchin from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna (CSH) and an interdisciplinary team of colleagues set out to test competing theories about what drove the evolution of war machines throughout world history. Their study, published today in the journal PLOS ONE, sees the strongest influence on the evolution of military technology coming from world population size, the connectivity between geographical areas, and advances in critical technologies such as iron metallurgy or horse riding. Conversely, and somewhat surprisingly, state-level factors such as the size of the population, the territory, or the complexity of governance seem not to have played a major role.

Going off the rails: Research reveals ecological impact of rail transport on UK bat species

New research from the University of Sussex has revealed the ecological impact of rail transport on bats in the UK, throwing light on a previously unstudied area.

Zapping untreated water gets rid of more waterborne viruses

Using sophisticated microscopy and computational analysis, Texas A&M University researchers have now validated the merit of a water purification technology that uses electricity to remove and inactivate an assortment of waterborne viruses. They said the yet-to-be-implemented water purification strategy could add another level of safety against pathogens that cause gastrointestinal ailments and other infections in humans.

'Like a magic trick,' certain proteins pass through cell walls

For decades, scientists have wondered how large molecules such as proteins pass through cell walls, also known as plasma membranes, without leaving a trace. That ability is part of what makes certain drugs—including some cancer treatments and the COVID-19 vaccine—work. And it is also how bacterial toxins enter human cells and wreak havoc.

Spotify teams up with Shopify to allow in-app merch purchases

Canadian e-commerce giant Shopify announced Wednesday a partnership with music streaming giant Spotify that will allow in-app sales of artists' merchandise.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-spotify-teams-shopify-in-app-merch.html

Scientists uncover a gene involved in sexual conflict in fruit flies

Sexual conflict in fruit flies is governed by specifically wired neurons in the brain which have been pinpointed by scientists at the University of Birmingham, UK.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-scientists-uncover-gene-involved-sexual.html

How political partisanship governed in-person schooling during pandemic

One of the most controversial topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person schooling, wasn't necessarily determined by the severity of the virus. New research from Michigan State University reveals how political partisanship influenced schools' reopening plans amid the global pandemic.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-political-partisanship-in-person-schooling-pandemic.html

African grey parrots may have better self-control than macaws

African grey parrots may be better able than macaws to delay gratification—rejecting an immediate reward in favor of a better one in the future—according to a study published in the journal Animal Cognition.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-african-grey-parrots-self-control-macaws.html

Curators squeezed out by high dino bones price tag

This week the largest triceratops skeleton ever unearthed goes up for auction in Paris—but museum curators like Francis Duranthon can only dream of getting their hands on such a prize.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-curators-high-dino-bones-price.html

Ocean acidity data affirms predictions of changes to El Nino conditions

Score one for a key climate change prediction.

Predicting famines using rainfall season start

The first rains that signal the beginning of the growing season kick off a flurry of activities in rural, agricultural communities. Farmers decide when to plant, how much labor to allocate, how many resources to devote to that season's crop and so on.

No 'silver bullet' for UK reaching net zero carbon emissions for electricity

CO2 emissions from electricity in the UK fell by two thirds in the last decade due to several factors working together, rather than a single panacea.

Proceeding with Caution: First global guidelines proposed for ancient DNA research

As ancient DNA research sweeps the globe, ballooning from zero genomes sequenced as of 2009 to more than 6,000 as of 2021, those involved in and affected by the genetic analysis of human remains have pressed with ever greater urgency for ethical standards that can be applied wherever such research is carried out.

First large-scale census of coral heat tolerance published

In a first-of-its-kind study, Florida's  critically endangered staghorn corals were surveyed to discover which ones can better withstand future heatwaves in the ocean. Insights from the study, led by scientists at Shedd Aquarium and the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, help organizations working to restore climate-resilient reefs in Florida and provide a blueprint for the success of restoration projects globally. 

Trump announces launch of media company, social media site

Nine months after being expelled from social media for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, former President Donald Trump said Wednesday he's launching a new media company with its own social media platform.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-trump-media-company-social-site.html

South Korea launches own space rocket for the first time

South Korea launched its first domestically-developed space rocket on Thursday, carrying a 1.5-tonne payload as it seeks to join the ranks of advanced space-faring nations.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-south-korea-space-rocket-tv.html

New galaxy images reveal a fitful start to the Universe

New images have revealed detailed clues about how the first stars and structures were formed in the Universe and suggest the formation of the Galaxy got off to a fitful start.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-galaxy-images-reveal-universe.html

Fusarium wilt of cotton more aggressive and diverse than previously understood

Cotton is an important crop worldwide and grown in large amounts in the United States, which provided 38 percent of cotton exports in 2017. One of the greatest threats to cotton production is Fusarium wilt, a fungal disease caused by the soil-borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV).

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-fusarium-wilt-cotton-aggressive-diverse.html

Some of the world's oldest rubies linked to early life

While analyzing some of the world's oldest colored gemstones, researchers from the University of Waterloo discovered carbon residue that was once ancient life, encased in a 2.5 billion-year-old ruby.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-world-oldest-rubies-linked-early.html