Fresh water isn’t unlimited. Rainfall isn’t predictable. Just three percent of the world’s water is drinkable, and more than 70 percent of that freshwater is used for agriculture. Unnecessary irrigation wastes huge amounts of water – some crops are watered twice as …Continue reading
UCI researchers’ deep learning algorithm solves Rubik’s Cube faster than any human
Since its invention by a Hungarian architect in 1974, the Rubik’s Cube has furrowed the brows of many who have tried to solve it, but the 3D logic puzzle is no match for an artificial intelligence (AI) system created by researchers at …Continue reading
Genetic study reveals both metabolic and psychiatric origins of anorexia
A global study, led by researchers at King’s College London and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, suggests that anorexia nervosa is at least partly a metabolic disorder, and not purely psychiatric as previously thought. The research was published in …Continue reading
Pioneering nerve transfer surgery restores hand function and elbow extension in paralyzed patients
Nerve transfer surgery has enabled 13 young adults with complete paralysis to regain movement and function in their elbows and hands, according to the largest case series of this technique in people with tetraplegia (paralysis of both the upper and lower limbs), …Continue reading
Science says that it’s okay to indulge once in a while
Obesity and type 2 diabetes have increased significantly worldwide within the past 30 years. Lifestyle factors such as indulging in high-calorie foods play a large role in the development of these two serious health conditions. Understanding how overeating causes changes in blood …Continue reading
Researchers devise birth control strategy to fight mosquito-borne disease
Researchers at the University of Arizona have discovered a protein in mosquitos that is critical to the process of producing viable eggs and can be exploited to control mosquito populations. Named Eggshell Organizing Factor 1 (EOF-1), the selective blocking of this protein …Continue reading
Severe air pollution makes workers less productive, study finds
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have completed an extensive study which has revealed that exposure to air pollution over several weeks can reduce employee productivity. Associate Professor Alberto Salvo from the Department of Economics at the NUS Faculty of …Continue reading
Researchers find statins could reduce production of ‘good fat’
An international team of researchers has found that the statin class of pharmaceuticals — which are prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack — also reduce the formation of brown adipose fatty tissue. Unlike white adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue helps …Continue reading
Implantable device offsets food cravings, aids weight loss
A new battery-free, implantable weight-loss device developed by engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison could be humanity’s newest weapon in the battle against obesity. Measuring less than a centimeter across, the tiny device — which scientists claim is safe for use in …Continue reading
Astronomers discover most distant object in Solar System
Astronomers have discovered an object in our Solar System which is 120 times farther from the Sun than the Earth. This makes it the most distant body ever observed within this Solar System. The object has been provisionally designated 2018 VG18, and …Continue reading