New methods for detecting single molecules

Resistance to antibiotics is on the rise worldwide. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM alongside the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich have developed a process for rapidly detecting multidrug-resistant pathogens. The unique feature: Even one single molecule of DNA is sufficient for pathogen detection. In future, the platform could be introduced as part of point-of-care diagnostics on hospital wards or in medical practices as an alternative to the established PCR analyses or in combination with other diagnostic methods. The system will be presented at MEDICA 2021.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-methods-molecules.html

Remote sensing enables the prediction of potential berry picking locations

By combining nationwide airborne laser scanning data and data on berries collected in connection with forest inventories, it is possible to make small-scale berry yield predictions for an entire country. These predictions indicate potential berry picking locations, but do not accurately predict berry yields.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-remote-enables-potential-berry.html

Tree ring helps to reveal intensification of hydroclimatic change in middle reaches of Yangtz River

Hydroclimate is an important part of the global climate system. How hydroclimate will change in the future has attracted lots of attention under global warming.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-tree-reveal-intensification-hydroclimatic-middle.html

Will debt, liability and Indigenous action see the sun set on the Ring of Fire?

Noront Resources Ltd.—the company at the heart of Ontario's embattled Ring of Fire mining development—is once again making headlines as the subject of competing corporate takeover bids by mining giant BHP Billiton and Australian private investment firm Wyloo Metals.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-debt-liability-indigenous-action-sun.html

Using ocean plastic waste to power ocean cleanup ships

A team of researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Harvard University believes that the plastic amassing in floating islands in the oceans could be used to power the ships that are sent to clean them up. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how ocean plastics could be converted to ship fuel.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-11-ocean-plastic-power-cleanup-ships.html

'Chainmail catalysis' improves efficiency of CO oxidation at room temperature

CO oxidation at room temperature is significant for gas purification. Pt promoted by 3d transition metals (TMs) is a promising candidate for this reaction. However, TMs are prone to be deeply oxidized in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, leading to low activity.

A commonly found parasite could treat certain types of cancer

Scientists have discovered that a deadly parasite, known to cause ill health in pregnant women and immunocompromised patients, could potentially be used to treat various types of tumors.

New methods for detecting single molecules

Resistance to antibiotics is on the rise worldwide. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM alongside the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich have developed a process for rapidly detecting multidrug-resistant pathogens. The unique feature: Even one single molecule of DNA is sufficient for pathogen detection. In future, the platform could be introduced as part of point-of-care diagnostics on hospital wards or in medical practices as an alternative to the established PCR analyses or in combination with other diagnostic methods. The system will be presented at MEDICA 2021.

New tool assesses how well people read kids' emotions

Psychology researchers at North Carolina State University have developed and validated a new tool for assessing how accurate people are at recognizing emotion in elementary school-aged children. The technique will facilitate research on understanding emotions of children—and highlights the fact that adults are often wrong when assessing the emotions of children.

Remote sensing enables the prediction of potential berry picking locations

By combining nationwide airborne laser scanning data and data on berries collected in connection with forest inventories, it is possible to make small-scale berry yield predictions for an entire country. These predictions indicate potential berry picking locations, but do not accurately predict berry yields.

COP26: 2021 extreme weather a 'canary in the coal mine,' say experts

University of Reading climate scientists have called on world leaders at COP26 to keep the damaging consequences of climate change seen this year in mind as they begin their negotiations.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-cop26-extreme-weather-canary-coal.html

A cosmic whodunit: ALMA study confirms what's robbing galaxies of their star-forming gas

Astronomers examining the nearby universe with the help of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have just completed the largest high-resolution survey of star-forming fuel ever conducted in galaxy clusters. But more importantly, they're tackling a long-standing mystery in astrophysics: What's killing galaxies? The research, which provides the clearest evidence to date that extreme environments in space have severe impacts on the galaxies within them, will be published in an upcoming edition of The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-cosmic-whodunit-alma-galaxies-star-forming.html

Researchers explore the extremely metal-poor galaxy DDO 68

By performing hydrodynamical simulations, astronomers have investigated an extremely metal-poor galaxy known as DDO 68. Results of the study, presented in a paper published October 25 on the arXiv pre-print server, shed more light on the origin and nature of this peculiar galaxy.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-explore-extremely-metal-poor-galaxy-ddo.html

Satellite monitoring of Greenland ice melting highlights global flood risk

Global warming has caused extreme ice melting events in Greenland to become more frequent and intense over the past 40 years, raising sea levels and flood risk worldwide, finds new research involving UCL academics.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-satellite-greenland-ice-highlights-global.html

Using optical microscopy to take a look beneath the skin of 'surfactant onions'

Surfactant onions form when layers of surfactant molecules organize around each other into a sphere. They are easily pictured by thinking of their vegetable namesake. Until now it has not been clear whether surfactant onions are perfect layered structures or whether they contain defects. Researchers from the University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science have used microscopy to get a better understanding of surfactant onion layers, which is important for their potential application. Their findings are published in Physical Review Research.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-11-optical-microscopy-beneath-skin-surfactant.html

Chemo helps breast cancer cells to spread and attach to blood vessel linings in the lungs

A new study adds to the evidence that chemotherapy enhances cancer's spread beyond the primary tumor, showing how one chemo drug allows breast cancer cells to squeeze through and attach to blood vessel linings in the lungs.

Tree ring helps to reveal intensification of hydroclimatic change in middle reaches of Yangtz River

Hydroclimate is an important part of the global climate system. How hydroclimate will change in the future has attracted lots of attention under global warming.

Study: Lack of sleep affecting students' mental health, especially women

More than two thirds (65.5 percent) of students are experiencing poor sleep quality and this is linked to mental health problems, new research published in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Human Biology suggests.

Will debt, liability and Indigenous action see the sun set on the Ring of Fire?

Noront Resources Ltd.—the company at the heart of Ontario's embattled Ring of Fire mining development—is once again making headlines as the subject of competing corporate takeover bids by mining giant BHP Billiton and Australian private investment firm Wyloo Metals.

Using ocean plastic waste to power ocean cleanup ships

A team of researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Harvard University believes that the plastic amassing in floating islands in the oceans could be used to power the ships that are sent to clean them up. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how ocean plastics could be converted to ship fuel.