What’s hot in science? Research news for Nov 10 – 17, 2021

Wed, 10 Nov 2021
Scientists create artificial neural networks that detect symmetry and patterns

Machine learning technique effective for novel image comparison and data analysis

A research team at Lehigh University, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, developed and effectively taught an artificial neural network to sense symmetry and structural similarities in materials and to create similarity projections. The researchers published their findings …

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Wed, 10 Nov 2021
Scientists pinpoint genes for tuskless African elephants

Genes evolved under intense poaching pressure

In regions of Africa wracked by heavy poaching, scientists have observed an increasing number of African elephants without their iconic white tusks, prized in the multibillion-dollar wildlife black market. But there has been no direct evidence indicating how this was …

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Mon, 15 Nov 2021
Black spruce trees struggle to regenerate amid more frequent Arctic fires

Resulting ecological shift could have rippling impacts on the boreal region

The black spruce — a key species on the boreal landscape — is losing its resilience and capacity to regenerate in the face of warming temperatures and increasingly frequent Arctic wildfires. The trend could result in a landscape-wide ecological shift that would have a …

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Mon, 15 Nov 2021
Breath test detects severe COVID-19 infection in seconds

More accurate and faster results than PCR test

Scientists at the Ohio State University, sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation, are developing a breath test that uses nanosensors to screen for COVID-19. The device measures biomarkers in breath unique to the virus and can detect COVID-19 in 15 seconds.

In addition to being faster …

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Tue, 16 Nov 2021
New technology uses body heat to power a wearable fever detector

Compact technology could make mass fever detection faster and cheaper

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed battery technology that uses thermal energy from body heat to power a wearable …

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Tue, 16 Nov 2021
Flash droughts: When, where and why?

Study explores the global distribution, trends and drivers of flash droughts

Flash droughts are rapidly developing, unexpected periods of drought. These droughts can cause severe impacts in agricultural and other systems, as well as ripple effects that extend even farther.

“Given that flash droughts can develop in only a few weeks, they create …

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Wed, 17 Nov 2021
Scientists discover neutron star mergers a primary source of cosmic heavy metals

Collisions between neutron stars discharge more heavy metals than collisions between neutron stars and black holes

Researchers at MIT and the University of New Hampshire embarked on a novel scientific endeavor to quantify and analyze sources of heavy metals in the solar system. Scientists have long known that when neutron stars collide with a black hole or another neutron star the explosion can …

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Wed, 17 Nov 2021
Fossils reveal how tusks first evolved and why they are unique to mammals

Warthogs, hippopotamuses, Arctic-dwelling walruses and hyraxes all have tusks

When imagining animals with tusks, most people picture elephants. But many other animals have tusks, including warthogs, hippopotamuses, Arctic-dwelling walruses, and even five-pound, guinea pig-like animals called hyraxes.

Though the sizes of the animals and their …

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