Tuesday, October 19, 2021

New tool can identify harmful blue-green algae

A new way to detect early signs of harmful blue-green algae, which bloom in lakes, rivers and reservoirs around the world, has been developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham together with researchers at the Culture Collection of Algae & Protozoa (CCAP), based at the Scottish Association of Marine Science.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-tool-blue-green-algae.html

Food safety crises at smaller restaurant chains can hurt giants

When it comes to a food safety crisis like an E.coli outbreak, little restaurant brands have an outsized influence.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-food-safety-crises-smaller-restaurant.html

Samples from China mission show Moon 'active' more recently than thought

The first lunar rocks brought back to Earth in decades show the Moon was volcanically active more recently than previously thought, Chinese scientists said Tuesday.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-samples-china-mission-moon-thought.html

Sri Lanka reverses organic farming drive as tea suffers

Sri Lanka on Tuesday backed down from ambitious plans to become the world's first completely organic farming nation, reversing a ban on imports of chemical fertiliser.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-sri-lanka-reverses-farming-tea.html

The new MacBook Pros: Top-of-the line model will cost you more than $6,000

Would you spend more than $6,000 on a laptop?

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-macbook-pros-top-of-the-line.html

Apple event: Updated MacBook Pros, third-generation AirPods, plus HomePod Mini speakers unveiled

If you're a fan of Apple AirPods, Monday's announcement may be music to your ears.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-apple-event-macbook-pros-third-generation.html

Auto sector shifts gear towards recycling parts, batteries

From ageing electric batteries to old engines to rearview mirrors, the auto industry is revving up its recycling efforts as it faces pressure to reduce its colossal carbon footprint.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-auto-sector-shifts-gear-recycling.html

Climate: Removing CO2 from the air no longer optional

The burning question going into the Glasgow climate summit is whether major economies can, by 2050, reduce emissions enough to deliver a carbon neutral world in which humanity no longer adds planet-warming gases to the atmosphere.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-climate-co2-air-longer-optional.html

SEC report questions trading apps after GameStop frenzy

US securities regulators studying the mysterious surge in GameStop shares in January called Monday for deeper examination of "game-like" features on some trading platforms.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-sec-apps-gamestop-frenzy.html

Striving for sustainability in sport

It is a sign of the times that last week's declaration by the Williams Formula One team of its aim to become a climate-positive organisation by 2030, was greeted in muted terms.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-sustainability-sport.html

Concrete: the world's 3rd largest CO2 emitter

If concrete were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases on Earth, behind only China and the United States.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-concrete-world-3rd-largest-co2.html

Fly more, pollute less—the great aviation conundrum

The aviation sector is facing a great dilemma: How can it fulfil its ambition of doubling passenger numbers while meeting its goal of reducing its massive greenhouse gas emissions?

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-pollute-lessthe-great-aviation-conundrum.html

Five critically endangered monkeys shot dead in Vietnam

Poachers in Vietnam have shot dead five critically endangered langurs, a type of monkey killed for bushmeat and traditional medicine, state media said Tuesday.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-critically-endangered-monkeys-shot-dead.html

Chinese users' feelings mixed about LinkedIn pulling out

For nearly seven years, LinkedIn has been the only major Western social networking platform still operating in China. People like 32-year-old Jason Liu view it as an important career enhancing tool.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-chinese-users-linkedin.html

Microsoft says it warned Bill Gates about flirting in 2008

Microsoft executives in 2008 warned Bill Gates to stop sending flirtatious emails to a female employee but dropped the matter after he told them he would stop, the company revealed Monday.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-microsoft-bill-gates-flirting.html

Israeli scuba diver discovers ancient Crusader sword

An Israeli scuba diver has salvaged an ancient sword off the country's Mediterranean coast that experts say dates back to the Crusaders.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-israeli-scuba-diver-ancient-crusader.html

New bitcoin-linked security to premiere on Wall Street

Bitcoin will take another step closer to mainstream investing Tuesday with the launch of a new security Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-bitcoin-linked-premiere-wall-street.html

More than 99.9% of studies agree: Humans caused climate change

More than 99.9% of peer-reviewed scientific papers agree that climate change is mainly caused by humans, according to a new survey of 88,125 climate-related studies.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-humans-climate.html

Mini 'mod' homes can help rough sleepers get off the streets for good: study

A new study on the first modular mini-homes in England created for those experiencing homelessness has found that—combined with "wraparound support"—these small, inexpensive units made from factory-built components help to restore the health, relationships and finances of residents.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-mini-mod-homes-rough-sleepers.html

Solar energy can be cheap and reliable across China by 2060, research shows

At the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, much attention will be focused on China. As the world's largest CO2 emitter, China's efforts to decarbonize its energy system will be critical to the goal of limiting the rise in global average surface temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-solar-energy-cheap-reliable-china.html

Pakistan's amphibians need more research efforts and better protection

Amphibians are bioindicators of an ecosystem's health and may also serve as biological control of crop and forest pests. The First Herpetological Congress, organized in 1989, presented alarming findings about the decline in amphibian populations. Currently, amphibians include the highest percentage of threatened species (>40%), as well as the highest number of data deficient species (>1500 species). The little we currently know about the occurrence of the chytrid fungus, which has already eradicated many amphibian species globally, is a grim example of how urgent it is to acquire further information.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-pakistan-amphibians-efforts.html