Friday, January 17, 2020

science news 17.1.2020

Today's selection of science news. Links are normally to press releases on EurekAlert (at the bottom end I may also add a couple of newspaper stories). I include quotes from the summary in italics in cases where the title alone doesn't reveal what the story is about. My own thoughts appear without italics if I have any.



evolution

Scientists uncover how an explosion of new genes explain the origin of land plants

Fossil is the oldest-known scorpion

A sea monster's genome
The giant squid is an elusive giant, but its secrets are about to be revealed. A new study led by the University of Copenhagen has sequenced the creature's entire genome, offering an opportunity to throw some light on its life in the depths of the sea.



These are giant squid sucker rings.
Credit: The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London


ecology
Cyanobacteria in water and on land identified as source of methane


conservation

Mobile protected areas needed to protect biodiversity in the high seas


nanoworld

Pretty with a twist
Nanoscience can arrange minute molecular entities into nanometric patterns in an orderly manner using self-assembly protocols. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have functionalized a simple rod-like building block with hydroxamic acids at both ends. They form molecular networks that not only display the complexity and beauty of mono-component self-assembly on surfaces; they also exhibit exceptional properties.


humans

Math that feels good
Mathematics and science Braille textbooks are expensive and require an enormous effort to produce -- until now. A team of researchers has developed a method for easily creating textbooks in Braille, with an initial focus on math textbooks. The new process is made possible by a new authoring system which serves as a 'universal translator' for textbook formats. Based on this new method, the production of Braille textbooks will become easy, inexpensive, and widespread.


dystopian futures

'PigeonBot's' feather-level insights push flying bots closer to mimicking birds


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From the news media:

CNN about xenobots
, ie microrobots made from xenopus laevis stem cells. Sounds a bit worrying to me.


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