Toothless dino's lost digits point to spread of parrot-like species

A newly discovered species of toothless, two-fingered dinosaur has shed light on how a group of parrot-like animals thrived more than 68 million years ago.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-10-toothless-dino-lost-digits-parrot-like.html

Toothless dino's lost digits point to spread of parrot-like species

A newly discovered species of toothless, two-fingered dinosaur has shed light on how a group of parrot-like animals thrived more than 68 million years ago.

Underwater robots to autonomously dock mid-mission to recharge and transfer data

Robots can be amazing tools for search-and-rescue missions and environmental studies, but eventually they must return to a base to recharge their batteries and upload their data. That can be a challenge if your robot is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) exploring deep ocean waters.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-10-underwater-robots-autonomously-dock-mid-mission.html

Expert discusses how COVID-19 is monitored

When someone is infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, they can feel a variety of different ways. Some people will be completely asymptomatic, while others will have symptoms, and some can even become severely ill. Many people with symptoms will have fever, chills, sweats, body aches, and a feeling like they have the flu.

Shark-free COVID-19 vaccine petition makes waves, gains more online support

An online movement to save sharks from becoming the next victims of the COVID-19 pandemic is growing in support.

UK Nobel physics laureate pays tribute to snubbed Hawking

Nobel physics laureate Roger Penrose on Tuesday said his late colleague Stephen Hawking richly deserved a share of the prize after the British scientists conducted pioneering research into black holes.

Expert discusses how contact tracing may slow the spread of COVID-19

Contact tracing is an important tool that's being used to slow the spread of COVID-19. It's the process of notifying family, friends, co-workers and other close contacts of people newly infected with a virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, to let them know they may have been exposed.

Earth grows fine gems in minutes

Rome wasn't built in a day, but some of Earth's finest gemstones were, according to new research from Rice University.

Pesticides and food scarcity dramatically reduce wild bee population

The loss of flowering plants and the widespread use of pesticides could be a double punch to wild bee populations. In a new study, researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that the combined threats reduced blue orchard bee reproduction by 57 percent and resulted in fewer female offspring. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

A simple enrollment change yields big dividends in children's early learning program

Researchers know that texting programs can greatly benefit young children's literacy. Now new research shows that parents' participation in such programs can be boosted exponentially with one simple tweak: automatic enrollment, combined with the ability to opt out.

The plant hormone auxin may promote disease by regulating virulence gene expression

Scientists have long known that the plant hormone auxin controls many aspects of plant growth, development, and responses to the environment. Only more recently have they begun to understand that there is also a link between auxin and leaf spotting diseases.

New aerosol research indicates significantly less risk of COVID-19 transmission from

Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been much debate about the danger to hospital staff from anesthetic procedures. Concerns include that placing a tube in the patient's airway (intubation) before surgery or removing it at the end (extubation) may produce a fine mist of small particles (called aerosols) and spread the COVID-19 virus to nearby staff.

Swiss regulator looking at AstraZeneca/Oxford virus vaccine

Swiss authorities said Tuesday they had begun assessing AstraZeneca and Oxford University's COVID-19 vaccine—the first such treatment submitted for authorisation in the country.

Shark-free COVID-19 vaccine petition makes waves, gains more online support

An online movement to save sharks from becoming the next victims of the COVID-19 pandemic is growing in support.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-10-shark-free-covid-vaccine-petition-gains.html

UK Nobel physics laureate pays tribute to snubbed Hawking

Nobel physics laureate Roger Penrose on Tuesday said his late colleague Stephen Hawking richly deserved a share of the prize after the British scientists conducted pioneering research into black holes.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-10-uk-nobel-physics-laureate-tribute.html

Predicting sports performance with 'big data'

Smartphones and wearable devices are not simple accessories for athletes. A CNRS researcher has developed a simple mathematical model for studying the performance of endurance athletes. A recent collaboration with a scientist from the Polar Electro Oy company (Finland) made it possible to apply the model to data gathered from approximately 14,000 runners training in real conditions.

Activists, scientists, authors among 'genius grant' fellows

An activist speaking out about inadequate waste and water sanitation in rural America, an author of young adult and children's literature reflecting the world's diversity, and a neuroscientist who used mathematics to study the brain's development are among the 21 recipients of this year's "genius grants".

Storms devastate rice paddies in Italy's 'golden triangle'

With a deafening roar, the swollen Sesia river swept down the Alpine valley in northern Italy to engulf the plains below, drowning the country's so-called "golden triangle" of rice paddies in mud.

US Nobel winner's 25-year odyssey to black hole at center of galaxy

For US astronomer Andrea Ghez, who won this year's Nobel Physics Prize, what makes black holes so fascinating is how tricky they are to conceptualize.

Scientists detect 'mass death' of sea life off Russia's Kamchatka

Pollution off the Pacific shoreline of the remote Kamchatka peninsula has caused the mass death of marine creatures, Russian scientists said Tuesday.

Apple sets unveil for Oct 13 amid 5G iPhone speculation

Apple scheduled a media event for October 13 amid expectations it would unveil one or more new iPhones which use ultrafast 5G wireless technology.

Boeing says pandemic will cut demand for planes for a decade

Boeing is lowering its expectations around demand for new planes over the next decade as the coronavirus pandemic continues to undercut air travel.

Romania struggles to contain virus with tougher controls

Romania announced tighter measures against the spread of the coronavirus Tuesday, as the country's intensive care units struggled with an influx of patients.

EU program spots largest ozone hole over Antarctica in years

The European Union's Earth observation program said Tuesday that the ozone hole over Antarctica has swelled to its largest size and deepest level in years.

Lockdown stress not so bad after all, but vulnerable families hit harder

During the 'intelligent lockdown' in the Netherlands this spring, the respondents in a Leiden study reported a mild increase in their stress levels. This extra stress could have a negative effect on families, particularly if parents already had psychological problems before the corona crisis.