Basking No More

Double fins paintzigs and zagson saline canvas sheets,tips and tails snakingoffshore rhymesthat converge in truthbeneath those broken,haunted waves.Moving mountains of the sea,your fearsome enormitymatched onlyby a magnitudeof grace:congregations of krillconsumed with the careof a lover’s caress.We waved to youfrom weathered skies,blinking in the sunto find younever really thereat all. A Basking shark (Image Credit: Greg […]

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Dogs may show grieving behavior after death of canine companion

Behavioural and emotional changes exhibited by dogs after the death of another dog in the same household could be indicative of grief, according to a survey of 426 Italian dog-owners published in Scientific Reports. Although grieving behaviours have been reported in a variety of animals, including birds and elephants, it has been unclear whether domestic dogs […]

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Scientists reveal 4.4 million galaxies in a new map

Durham University astronomer collaborating with a team of international scientists have mapped more than a quarter of the northern sky using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), a pan-European radio telescope. The map reveals an astonishingly detailed radio image of more than 4.4 million objects and a very dynamic picture of our Universe, which now has […]

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The protective armour of superbug C.difficile revealed

The spectacular structure of the protective armour of superbug C.difficile has been revealed for the first time showing the close-knit yet flexible outer layer – like chain mail. This assembly prevents molecules getting in and provides a new target for future treatments, according to the scientists who have uncovered it. Publishing in Nature Communications, the team of scientists from […]

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Novel strategy improved sepsis outcomes in animal model

Sepsis, an inflammatory syndrome that occurs when the body has an extreme response to an infection, is responsible for about 20% of deaths worldwide. Current treatment of sepsis includes transfusions of granulocytes, a type of immune cell, but this treatment has limited efficacy, a heavy dependence on large quantities of cells and frequent dosing. “Here, […]

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Transparent ultrasound chip improves cell stimulation and imaging

Ultrasound scans, best known for monitoring pregnancies or imaging organs, can also be used to stimulate cells and direct cell function. A team of Penn State researchers has developed an easier, more effective way to harness the technology for biomedical applications. The team created a transparent, biocompatible ultrasound transducer chip that resembles a microscope glass slide […]

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Key advance in fight against dangerous surgical site infections

Scientists at Oregon State University have made a key advance against dangerous and costly surgical site infections, the type of infection most commonly associated with health care procedures. Each year in the U.S. alone, the researchers note, roughly 300,000 surgical patients develop an infection within 30 days of their operation, and more than 13,000 of […]

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Microscopic view on asteroid collisions could help us understand planet formation

A new way of dating collisions between asteroids and planetary bodies throughout our Solar System’s history could help scientists reconstruct how and when planets were born. A team of researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, combined dating and microscopic analysis of the Chelyabinsk meteorite — which fell to Earth and hit the headlines in 2013 — […]

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Risks of using AI to grow our food are substantial and must not be ignored

Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the cusp of driving an agricultural revolution, and helping confront the challenge of feeding our growing global population in a sustainable way. But researchers warn that using new AI technologies at scale holds huge risks that are not being considered. Imagine a field of wheat that extends to the horizon, […]

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More than 600 Russian scientists sign open letter against war with Ukraine

An open letter criticising the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been signed by more than 600 Russian scientists. It comes as other universities and national academies across Europe sent messages of support to their Ukrainian colleagues. On 24 February, Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered a land, sea and air attack on Ukraine. The invasion followed […]

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