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Published Modern humans generate more brain neurons than Neanderthals
(via sciencedaily.com) The question of what makes modern humans unique has long been a driving force for researchers. Comparisons with our closest relatives, the Neanderthals, therefore provide fascinating insights. The increase in brain size, and in neuron production during brain development, are considered to be major factors for the increased cognitive abilities that occurred during human evolution. However, while both Neanderthals and modern humans develop brains of similar size, very little is known about whether modern human and Neanderthal brains may have differed in terms of their neuron production during development. Researchers now show that the modern human variant of the protein TKTL1, which differs by only a single amino acid from the Neanderthal variant, increases one type of brain progenitor cells, called basal radial glia, in the modern human brain.
Published Surprise finding suggests 'water worlds' are more common than we thought
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study suggests that many more planets may have large amounts of water than previously thought--as much as half water and half rock. The catch? All that water is probably embedded in the rock, rather than flowing as oceans or rivers on the surface.
Published Gamers can have their cake and eat it too
(via sciencedaily.com) New research from Japan shows that multiple cognitive abilities may be empirically measured from a complex game experience depending on the game's design.
Published Climate change threatens ice caves in Austria
(via sciencedaily.com) Eight ice caves in four Austrian federal states: A team of geologists has comprehensively documented the loss and gain of ice in Alpine ice caves over the last 2000 years for the first time. The geologists warn: The ice of smaller caves especially is in danger of disappearing in the near future and with it a valuable climate archive.
Published What makes the 'Appalachian truffle' taste and smell delicious
(via sciencedaily.com) A hallmark of a truly luxurious meal is a sprinkling of truffle shavings -- the fungal kind, not the chocolate. Nicknamed 'diamonds' of the culinary world, these fanciful fungi are prized for their unique flavor and scent. But newer truffle species are fighting to achieve that same gourmet status. Now, researchers have performed the first full aroma characterization of the Appalachian truffle, unlocking the potential for a new North American 'black diamond.'
Published Study unearths ancient reef structure high and dry on the Nullarbor Plain
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers using advanced satellite imagery have discovered an ancient reef-like landform 'hidden' in plain view on the Nullarbor Plain, which has been preserved for millions of years since it first formed when the Plain was underwater.
Published City digital twins help train deep learning models to separate building facades
(via sciencedaily.com) To automatically generate data for training deep convolutional neural network models to segment building facades, researchers used a three-dimensional model and game engine to generate digital city twin synthetic training data. They found that a model trained on these data mixed with some real data was competitive with a model trained on real data alone, revealing the potential of digital twin data to improve accuracy and replace costly manually annotated real data.
Published Mirror image molecules reveal drought stress in forests
(via sciencedaily.com) Worldwide, plants emit about 100 million tons of monoterpenes into the atmosphere each year. These volatile organic molecules include many fragrances such as the molecule pinene -- known for its pine fresh scent. Since these molecules are highly reactive and can form tiny aerosol particles that can grow into nuclei for clouds droplets, natural emissions play an important role in our climate. Therefore, it is important for climate predictions to know how monoterpene emissions will change as temperatures rise.
Published What is the best way to group students? Math model
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have developed a new approach that uses math to determine the best ways to group individuals to maximize learning. Their work has broad implications in education, as well as in economics, music, medicine, and sports.
Published These female hummingbirds evolved to look like males -- apparently to evade aggression
(via sciencedaily.com) 1 in 5 adult female white-necked jacobin hummingbirds look like males. New research shows that this is a rare case of 'deceptive mimicry' within a species: Females with male-like plumage are trying to pass themselves off as males, and as a result receive a benefit in the form of reduced aggression from males.
Published The way you talk to your child about math matters
(via sciencedaily.com) 'You're so smart!' -- This encouraging response may actually do more harm than good to children's math performance, according to a new study. The study found that encouraging children with responses related to their personal traits or innate abilities may dampen their math motivation and achievement over time.
Published Two new temperate rocky worlds discovered
(via sciencedaily.com) Astronomers have just announced the discovery of two 'super-Earth' planets orbiting LP 890-9, a small, cool star located about 100 light-years from Earth.
Published Pioneering mathematical formula paves way for exciting advances in health, energy, and food industry
(via sciencedaily.com) A groundbreaking mathematical equation has been discovered, which could transform medical procedures, natural gas extraction, and plastic packaging production in the future.
Published Researchers devise tunable conducting edge
(via sciencedaily.com) Physicists have demonstrated a new magnetized state in a monolayer of tungsten ditelluride. This material of one-atom thickness has an insulating interior but a conducting edge, which has important implications for controlling electron flow in nanodevices.
Published Solar energy breakthrough: Perovskite cell with greater stability, efficiency
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have made a technological breakthrough and constructed a perovskite solar cell with the dual benefits of being both highly efficient and highly stable.
Published Planetary heist: Astronomers show massive stars can steal Jupiter-sized planets
(via sciencedaily.com) Jupiter-sized planets can be stolen or captured by massive stars in the densely populated stellar nurseries where most stars are born, a new study has found.
Published Super-dense packing of hydrogen molecules on a surface
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists describe the formation of a superdense monolayer of hydrogen on highly ordered mesoporous silica near the boiling temperature. Theoretical studies and simulations confirm the experimental observations of the unusually high hydrogen density in the adsorbed layer and may also open new possibilities for enhancing the volumetric capacity of cryogenic hydrogen storage systems.
Published Major leap for stable high-efficiency perovskite solar cells
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Solar cells manufactured from materials known as 'perovskites' are catching up with the efficiency of traditional silicon-based solar cells. At the same time, they have advantages of low cost and short energy payback time. However, such solar cells have problems with stability -- something that researchers have now managed to solve. The results are a major step forwards in the quest for next-generation solar cells.
Published Gamma rays from neighboring galaxy related to millisecond pulsars
(via sciencedaily.com) Physicists and astronomers have studied gamma rays caused by the Sagittarius Dwarf, a small neighboring galaxy of our Milky Way. They showed that all the observed gamma radiation can be explained by millisecond pulsars, and can therefore not be interpreted as a smoking gun signature for the presence of dark matter.
Published Smoke from the Black Summer wildfires in Australia impacted the climate and high altitude winds of the southern hemisphere for more than a year and a half
(via sciencedaily.com) The 2019/20 wildfires in Australia transported more smoke into the atmosphere than observed ever before anywhere in the world. In the so-called Black Summer, three times as many particles reached high air layers as in the previous record wildfires in Canada during summer 2017. Research now reveals the climate impact of these huge fires: Smoke particles with a total mass of around one million tonnes spread across the southern hemisphere and affected the climate for about one and a half years by warming the upper atmosphere and cooling the lower atmosphere close to Earth's surface.