Ambient temperature influences the results of some of the most used laboratory tests, and these distortions likely affect medical decision making, such as whether to prescribe medications, researchers report. The authors say that laboratories could statistically adjust for ambient temperature on test days when reporting lab results to account for...
‘Super trees’ may help save Houston … and beyond
Statisticians are sharing strategies to identify 'super trees' for urban areas that help mitigate pollution, flooding and heat.
Dinosaur faces and feet may have popped with color
A study finds that there is a 50 percent chance that the common ancestor of birds and dinosaurs had bright colors on its skin, beaks and scales, but 0 percent chance that it had bright colors on its feathers or claws.
Virtual conferences are better for the environment and more inclusive
A research team led by engineers found that virtual conferences are more inclusive than in-person events, and also carry a smaller environmental footprint.
Catch me if you can: How mRNA therapeutics are delivered into cells
In recent years, ribonucleic acid (RNA) has emerged as a powerful tool for the development of novel therapies. RNA is used to copy genetic information contained in our hereditary material, the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and then serves as a template for building proteins, the building blocks of life. Delivery of...
Chronic exposure to air pollution may increase risks for ICU admission or death among COVID-19 patients, study finds
A new study suggests that persistent exposure to air pollutants in residential communities can impact health outcomes for COVID-19 patients.
New bioinformatics tool spots hybrid fish that threaten the survival of natural tilapia populations in aquaculture
A new genomics marker tool has been shown to accurately identify tilapia species and tell apart their hybrids, providing a novel resource to help develop aquaculture and empower conservation in Tanzania, Africa. Crucially, the new tool offers a cheaper solution than full genome data analysis -- the current approach to...
Circular economy: Researchers show how synthetic rubber raw material can be degraded
Enzymes are capable of degrading synthetic polyisoprene. The specific conditions for that have now been created and exploited. Polyisoprene is the principal component of natural rubber and of many types of rubber also used in car tires, for example. Up until now, it has only been possible to degrade polyisoprene,...
Experimental mRNA HIV vaccine safe, shows promise in animals
An experimental HIV vaccine based on mRNA -- the same platform technology used in two highly effective COVID-19 vaccines -- shows promise in mice and non-human primates, according to scientists. Their results show that the novel vaccine was safe and prompted desired antibody and cellular immune responses against an HIV-like...
Previously unrecorded Chilean tsunami identified
A large earthquake off the coast of south-central Chile in 1737 may have caused a substantial tsunami that was absent from historical records. Historical records are used to predict how often tsunamis are likely to occur in a region in the future. Until now, it was previously believed that tsunami-causing...