Fire blankets can protect buildings from wildfires

Wrapping a building in a fire-protective blanket is a viable way of protecting it against wildfires, finds the first study to scientifically assesses this method of defense.

Rare 'itinerant breeding' behavior revealed in California bird

Reproduction and migration are the two most demanding tasks in a bird's life, and the vast majority of species separate them into different times of the year. Only two bird species have been shown to undertake what scientists call "itinerant breeding": nesting in one area, migrating to another region, and nesting again there within the same year, to take advantage of shifting food resources. New research just published in The Auk: Ornithological Advances provides strong evidence that a third bird species takes on this unusual challenge—the Phainopepla, a unique bird found in the southwestern U.S. and the northernmost member of an otherwise tropical family.

Handwashing robot helps schoolkids make a clean break with bad habits

A robot which encourages kids to wash their hands has helped pupils at a remote Indian primary school take a fresh approach to hygiene.

Women and men tolerate heart transplants equally well, but men may get better hearts

Women are just as likely as men to survive after a heart transplant despite often getting poorer-quality donor hearts, according to new research.

Under the sea: Study reveals secret building blocks of northern algae

New research from U of T 's Mississauga and Scarborough campuses reveals fascinating secrets about the complex structure of a marine organism found around the globe. The data provides important new insights about a molecular mineralization process creates the unique structure of a marine plant.

Ethnic identity and voting are timely focus of new book

"Elections are the Super Bowl for political scientists," says Randy Besco, an assistant professor, tenure stream of political science at UTM and author of the recently published book, Identities and Interests: Race, Ethnicity, and Affinity Voting (UBC Press).

Accounting for variability in vascular models

Scientists at Duke University are working to accurately model the uncertainties in the mechanical behavior of human arterial walls. By supporting theoretical developments for tissue engineering, the research could eventually underpin patient-specific simulations to help physicians develop non-invasive techniques for early diagnosis and identify potential pitfalls before performing medical procedures.

Ethical algorithms

Nearly forty thousand people lost their lives in car crashes last year in the U.S. alone. We can only presume that many of those fatalities were owed to our uniquely human frailties: distracted driving, driving under the influence, or plain inexperience. It makes sense to get human drivers off the roads as quickly as possible, and let machines do the driving.

Neuroscientists call for an ethical framework for transplanting human 'mini-brains' into animals

As research involving the transplantation of human "mini-brains"—known as brain organoids—into animals to study disease continues to expand, so do the ethical debates around the practice. One concern is the possibility, however minute, that the grafted organoids may one day induce a level of consciousness in host animals, as models evolve to resemble the human brain more closely.

Vaping: Crisis or lost opportunity?

Whether you're doing vape tricks for YouTube views or kicking yourself for not realizing that "USB" was actually your teenager's Juul, you know vaping is all the rage right now. You probably also know that President Trump has called on the FDA to ban all flavored e-cigarettes to combat youth vaping. This comes in reaction to the mysterious lung illness that has affected 1,080 people to date. 18 of them have died.

Organs 'too risky' to donate may be safe for transplantation

Organs from potential donors once rejected as being unsafe to transplant may not be as risky as once thought, new Australian research shows.

The future of cities—opportunities, challenges and the way forward

While urban population is expected to continue growing around most of the globe, this is less so in Europe.

New study deepens understanding of effects of media exposure to collective trauma

According to a new UCI-led study, it's not just how much media exposure an individual has to collective trauma, but also the graphic quality of what one sees, that may make them more vulnerable to trauma-related mental and physical health problems over time. Published online in the current issue of the journal Clinical Psychological Science, the study suggests that greater frequency of viewing bloody images in the week following the bombings is associated with higher acute stress, post-traumatic stress, and other mental health issues linked to impaired functioning six months later.

Introduce standard units for cannabis to improve mental health

New findings suggest that introducing 'standard units' for cannabis could improve people's mental health.

Survey identifies a growing need to hire data analysts for government jobs

As public agencies across the nation increasingly rely on data to improve operations, the market for careers in the field of data analytics is expected to expand in federal, state, and local governments over the next two years, according to a new survey conducted by Johns Hopkins University and two partners, REI Systems and ACT-IAC.

Group behind Facebook's Libra coin push meet in Geneva

The Libra Association, created by Facebook to launch its new cryptocurrency, kicked off its first council meeting in Geneva on Monday, despite defections by previous supporters like Visa and Mastercard.

Research team develops new genetic-based epilepsy risk scores

An international team of researchers led by Cleveland Clinic has developed new genetic-based epilepsy risk scores which may lay the foundation for a more personalized method of epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. This analysis is the largest study of epilepsy genetics to date, as well as the largest study of epilepsy using human samples.

Guam avoids severe coral bleaching predicted for this year

Official say vulnerable coral reefs on Guam have not experienced severe bleaching that was predicted for this year.

Southern California blazes show signs of slowing

Wildfires raging across southern California showed signs of slowing Sunday, as firefighters contained nearly half of the biggest blaze.

US 'medical tourists' seek cheap health care abroad

When Veronica Merrill decided to undergo stomach surgery for weight loss, she found two options: pay $12,000 at home in the United States, or have it done in Mexico for $4,000.

Video captures whale bubble-net feeding

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) researchers and key collaborators captured amazing whale's-point-of-view and aerial drone video of humpback whale bubble-net feeding. It's one component of a project investigating causes of a possible decline in humpback whale numbers

Nobel awards season comes to an end with economics prize

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences will announce the last Nobel winner later Monday, when it awards its prestigious economics prize.

For low-risk thyroid cancer patients, less may be more for post-surgery surveillance

Not all patients feel the same way about medical treatment.

New brain research could change how concussions are treated

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, can be caused by anything from sports injuries to battlefield trauma. And they can have fatal or lasting effects. The results of a severe concussion—problems with thinking, memory, movement, emotions—are clear. The causes, or underlying pathological mechanisms, were not.

Pioneering clinical trial to treat psychosis in Parkinson's patients using cannabidiol

A pioneering clinical trial will investigate the use of cannabidiol (CBD) - a compound found in the cannabis plant—in people with Parkinson's-related psychosis.

Self-reported suicide attempts rising in black teens as other groups decline

Adding to what is known about the growing crisis of suicide among American teens, a team led by researchers at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University have uncovered several troubling trends during the period of 1991-2017, among Black high school students in particular.