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The future of flooding in Venice: improving projections, predictions and protection in the face of expected sea level rise
A new assessment of flood risk in Venice indicates that the impact of higher emissions on relative sea level rise during this century will be critical in planning future defense infrastructure for Venice and other coastal cities. The special issue, with contributions lead by researchers from Universita del Salento, ISMAR — Institute of Marine Sciences…
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Innovation spins spider web architecture into 3D imaging technology
Innovators are taking cues from nature to develop 3D photodetectors for biomedical imaging. The researchers used some architectural features from spider webs to develop the technology. The Purdue researchers used some architectural features from spider webs to develop the technology. Spider webs typically provide excellent mechanical adaptability and damage-tolerance against various mechanical loads such as…
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Efficient cryopreservation of genetically modified rat spermatozoa
Researchers have developed a new technique to improve the efficiency of rat sperm cryopreservation, a process that is usually extremely difficult. Their technique makes it possible to produce more than 300 offspring from one male rat through in vitro fertilization using frozen sperm. It can be used to maintain specific strains of genetically modified rats…
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Colorado’s famous aspens expected to decline due to climate change
Using computer modeling, researchers simulated how the distribution of quaking aspen, a native tree known for its brilliant yellow and orange foliage in fall and the sound of its trembling leaves, will change amid rising temperatures over the next 100 years. Using computer modeling, researchers simulated how the distribution of quaking aspen, or Populus tremuloides,…
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Research advances understanding of DNA repair
A researcher has made a discovery that alters our understanding of how the body’s DNA repair process works and may lead to new chemotherapy treatments for cancer and other disorders. Researchers discovered that base excision repair has a built-in mechanism to increase its effectiveness — it just needs to be captured at a very precise…
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How wildfires may have larger effects on cloud formation than previously thought
As the frequency and size of wildfires continues to increase worldwide, new research shows how the chemical aging of the particles emitted by these fires can lead to more extensive cloud formation and intense storm development in the atmosphere. «The introduction of large amounts of ice-nucleating particles from these fires can cause substantial impacts on…
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Hepatitis E virus defies alcohol-based hand disinfectants
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause serious liver inflammation and is the most common cause of acute virus-mediated hepatitis worldwide. Infection can be prevented through appropriate hygiene measures. Scientists have investigated the effectiveness of various common hand disinfectants against HEV. They were able to show that most formulations do not completely inactivate the virus.…
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Raise your glass: New nanotech clears haze from white wine
Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, or Chardonnay — when you reach for your favorite white, it’s the clean, clear sparkle that first catches your eye. Or does it? When white wines look cloudy it’s a sign of protein instability, and a sure-fire way to turn customers away. Now, new research is ensuring white wines will always look…
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Strong winds power electric fields in the upper atmosphere
Using observations from NASA’s ICON mission, scientists presented the first direct measurements of Earth’s long-theorized dynamo on the edge of space: a wind-driven electrical generator that spans the globe 60-plus miles above our heads. The dynamo churns in the ionosphere, the electrically charged boundary between Earth and space. It’s powered by tidal winds in the…
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Impact of oil contaminated water on tubeworms and brittlestars
A new study adds a new layer to understanding how an oil spill could impact marine life. A diverse community of worms and other marine organisms on the seafloor plays a large role in nutrient cycling, organic matter burial, and remineralization. The burrowing and feeding activities of these organisms or bioturbation helps in the oxygenation…