★★★★★ (ცɮ ცαηℊℊą) ★★★★★

A distinctive feature of modern humans is our round (globular) skulls and brains. Researchers report that present-day humans who carry particular Neanderthal DNA fragments have heads that are slightly less rounded, revealing genetic clues to the evolution of modern brain shape and function. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2zWD4L1

Microorganisms perform key functions in ecosystems and their diversity reflects the health of their environment. Researchers use genomic tools to sequence the DNA of microorganisms in samples, and then exploit this considerable amount of data with artificial intelligence. They build predictive models capable of establishing a diagnosis of the health of ecosystems and identify species that perform important functions. This new approach will significantly increase the observation capacity of large ecosystems. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Pzlphi

Many species of mammals have evolved what appear to be paradoxical behaviors towards their young. Like humans, most exhibit nurturing, protective behaviors, and in some circumstances even act as surrogate parents. However, virgin males often engage in infanticide as a strategy to propagate their own genes. How are these conflicting social behaviors controlled? from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2S3tBZr

Brain scientists have plenty of ways to track the activity of individual neurons in the brain, but they're all invasive. Now, researchers have found a way to literally watch neurons fire -- no electrodes or chemical modifications required. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2EgZ5XQ

In pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 1b, two key biological structures are blocked from binding to one another -- which ultimately stunts critical brain growth. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LefKwG

Children with elevated levels of callous traits -- such as a lack of remorse and disregard for other people's feelings -- show widespread differences in brain structure compared with children with lower levels of the traits, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2EuzXNZ

Scientists introduce ORTHOSCOPE, a new web-based tool capable of inferring gene function, estimating gene trees and identifying sets of ancestral genes in just minutes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QwEeqI

Since the arrival of the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in North America was first reported in New Jersey in early 2018, it has been found in eight other states in the US and, by the looks of a new study comparing North American habitat with the invasive tick's native territory, it shouldn't be a surprise if it shows up in many more. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2S3ti0J

Our understanding of when the very first animals started living on land is helped by identifying trace fossils -- the tracks and trails left by ancient animals -- in sedimentary rocks that were deposited on the continents. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QrB081

Complexity in nature, whether in chlorophyll or in living organisms, often results from self-assembly and is considered particularly robust. Compact clusters of elemental particles can be shown to be of practical relevance, and are found in atomic nuclei, nano particles or viruses. Researchers have decoded the structure and the process behind the formation of one class of such highly ordered clusters. Their findings have increased understanding of how structures are formed in clusters. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Lh4mzT

Most teens get stressed out by their families from time to time, but whether they bottle those emotions up or put a positive spin on things may affect certain processes in the body, including blood pressure and how immune cells respond to bacterial invaders, according to researchers. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QS9VKt

Organically farmed food has a bigger climate impact than conventionally farmed food, due to the greater areas of land required. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2SMQJeG

Conventional lithium ion batteries have reached performance limits. Scientists have now developed a new nanostructured anode material for lithium ion batteries, which extends the capacity and cycle life of the batteries. Based on a mesoporous mixed metal oxide in combination with graphene, the material could provide a new approach how to make better use of batteries in large devices such as electric or hybrid vehicles. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2zX0BLy

Researchers have developed a new device that can measure and control a nanoparticle trapped in a laser beam with unprecedented sensitivity. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Pzi0iw

Challenge any modern human to go a day without a phone or computer, and you'd be hard pressed to get any takers. Our collective obsession with all things electronic is driving a dramatic daily drain on the world's power. In fact, if we continue on pace with our current ever-increasing energy consumption, by the year 2035, we will use all of the world's energy to run our computers - an impossible/unsustainable situation. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2zWyfB4

The group is suspected of attempting to steal copper before becoming trapped in a West Virginia mine. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2Elh1An

Look closely, and you can make out the lander's solar panels. from News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://ift.tt/2UGsy3b

A multi-country study finds that large portion sizes in fast food and full service restaurants is not a problem unique to the US. The researchers found that 94 percent of full service meals and 72 percent of fast food meals studied in five countries contained 600 calories or more. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UFJW8e

New laboratory techniques can identify which of our genes are influenced by DNA snippets that are left behind in our genetic code by viruses. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UHvtZu

A protein family found naturally in our cells could help stop the spread of dangerous drug resistant infections by using 'detective' like powers to collect evidence of bacterial infection and imprison it, according to new research. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2BjncSD

Accused in the US of acting as agent for the Kremlin, Maria Butina has signed a deal with prosecutors. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2Eh2BBA

Researchers studying ancient corncobs found at a Native American archeological site have recovered a 1,000-year-old virus, the oldest plant virus ever reported. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2EjU4O4

Physicists are now exploring laser-based technology traditionally used for studying conditions in the atmosphere -- such as Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) -- to shine a light on the subtlest of features of mosquito activity and better track populations that may carry a viral threat. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2EusoXY

Population data for European mountain birds have been for the first time combined in a recent study, with worrying results: the abundances of mountain-specialist birds has declined by as much as 10% in the 2000s. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RXqmCJ

Regular visits to the cinema, theatre or to museums could dramatically reduce the chances of becoming depressed in older age a new study has found. Researchers found a clear link between the frequency of 'cultural engagement' and the chances of someone over 50 developing depression. It is the first such study to show that cultural activities not only help people manage and recover from depression but actually help to prevent it. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QwwftU

Contrary to popular belief, there is no reason to avoid exercising in the evening, an analysis of the scientific literature has revealed. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RY5Qlo

Queensland's coastal shark numbers are continuing a 50-year decline, in sharp contradiction of suggestions of 'exploding' shark populations, according to a new analysis. Researchers analyzed data from the program, which has used baited drumlines and nets since 1962 to minimize human-shark interactions, and now spans 1,760 km of the Queensland coastline. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QwwaGC

The online retailer has teamed up with police in New Jersey to fight parcel theft with dummy packages. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2Lf3YlA

Researchers have observed a previously unrecognized behavior in a single-celled parasite called Spironucleus vortens, which infects ornamental fish such as angelfish: The protozoans swarm. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2zQYqt9

A study has confirmed that some vials of a hormone used in discontinued medical treatments contained seeds of a protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease, and are able to seed amyloid pathology in mice. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PAv86Y

This year's Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded for discoveries in laser physics, recognizes optical tweezers. Now researchers have developed a method that greatly simplifies and improves the use of optical tweezers. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RYyWky

Women reported irritation and injury after some tampons came apart inside their bodies. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2LgX4MK

Asia's high mountain glaciers are flowing more slowly as they melt, affecting the water supply of the arid plains below the peaks. from News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://ift.tt/2UFUxzQ

Upcoming 16th science pass of Jupiter marks Juno's halfway point in prime mission data collection. from News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://ift.tt/2C7FtDP

Two new image mosaics detail the lander's deck and "workspace" - the surface where it will eventually set down its science instruments. from News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://ift.tt/2SIT9e9

For the second time in history, a human-made object has reached the space between the stars. from News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://ift.tt/2zRdkj3

Vibrations picked up by two spacecraft instruments have provided the first sounds of Martian wind. from News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://ift.tt/2PpsyRj

OSIRIS-REx observations of asteroid Bennu will improve predictions of which asteroids could be on a trajectory that could pose a risk to Earth. from News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://ift.tt/2QAlFBi

Now unstowed, the spacecraft's robotic arm will point a camera located on its elbow and take images of the surroundings. from News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://ift.tt/2Pks27b

'Where did the hot Neptunes go?' This is the question astronomers have been asking for a long time, faced with the mysterious absence of planets the size of Neptune. Researchers have just discovered that one of these planets is losing its atmosphere at a frantic pace. This observation strengthens the theory that hot Neptunes have lost much of their atmosphere and turned into smaller planets called super-Earths. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Gg2mt7

Scientists have identified 66 alien plant and animal species, not yet established in the European Union, that pose the greatest potential threat to biodiversity and ecosystems in the region. The research lists the invasive species that are likely to arrive and spread in the region over the next decade. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QrDp2k

What if, instead of turning up the thermostat, you could warm up with high-tech, flexible patches sewn into your clothes -- while significantly reducing your electric bill and carbon footprint? Engineers have found a cost-effective way to make thin, durable heating patches by using intense pulses of light to fuse tiny silver wires with polyester. Their heating performance is nearly 70 percent higher than similar patches created by other researchers. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RSBznX

Scientists have created and tested a decision tool that appears to be the most accurate, non-invasive method yet developed to predict asthma in young children. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RWvZkp

Researchers have designed an ingestible capsule that can be controlled using Bluetooth wireless technology. Their capsule, which can be customized to deliver drugs, sense environmental conditions, or a combination of those functions, can reside in the stomach for at least a month, transmitting information and responding to instructions from a user's smartphone. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Ew4qLC

Donald Trump said Michael Cohen was "supposed to know the law" and was just trying to embarrass him. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2LlLVdL

A global study has found a paradox: our water supplies are shrinking at the same time as climate change is generating more intense rain. And the culprit is the drying of soils, say researchers, pointing to a world where drought-like conditions will become the new normal, especially in regions that are already dry. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Eu3KGW

Scientists spent the past year evaluating the impacts of Hurricane Maria, a powerful category 5 storm that struck Puerto Rico head-on in September 2017. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2EgNMPs

Increasing one's level of physical activity may be an effective way to boost one's mood, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UGHRsD

The Indian Ocean played a far greater role in driving climate change during the last ice age than previously believed and may disrupt climate again in the future. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Bk19Ll

Educators in a Maryland school district encourage students to explore different career paths in part by giving them opportuni - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2RWpGxf

Ninth-grade English teachers at a Kansas school adapted the Genius Hour concept to help students learn to research.  - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2QxrUqn

The skills and expertise of paraeducators are essential to the learning outcomes of students with special needs, educator Rit - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2RWpFtb

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More out-of-school programs in Chicago report using technology for active learning than do schools, which more often use tech - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2RYeeBk

Teachers at a Montana middle school received an $18,500 grant to create a music laboratory where students can compose on comp - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2Qu8uTi

 - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2RWpAFT

When starting times at two Seattle schools were pushed from 7:50 a.m.  - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2QrzX7S

The Indiana State Board of Education has recommended that lawmakers conduct more oversight over the state's virtual charter s - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2RWpz4N

Very important 68.20% Somewhat important 24.10% Neutral 3.08% Not very important 3.08%  - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2QsA2IL

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Linnette Attai, a privacy expert, writes that 2019 could be a perfect storm of activity related to protecting privacy.  - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2Qr7Vtn

Students benefit from audiobooks whether or not they qualify for special services due to a learning disability.  - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2RYeekO

Packed with 10 new strategies for summarizing and introducing technology, this updated edition of "Summarization in Any Subje - More -  from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2QtwXrD

SmartBrief Education's monthly Editor's Choice Content Award celebrates educator-written content. from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2S2T8lu

Jean-Baptiste Say, economist from ASCD SmartBrief https://ift.tt/2Qwc5QK

Scientists performed repeated lung lavage as a new approach for tuberculosis diagnosis in rhinoceros. Subsequent genetic tests reliably identified mycobacteria in the animals' respiratory fluids -- with minimal stress and risk for the rhinos. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2CbKITn

Policymakers and researchers have underestimated the effect that changes in land management and people's diets would have on limiting greenhouse gas emissions and countering the effects of climate change, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Lf4xfj

Apple says the move is expected to make it the largest private employer in Austin. The city already has the most Apple employees outside of the company's headquarters in California. (Image credit: Apple) from Technology : NPR https://ift.tt/2rzWSz1

Michael Spavor, who is being held in China, is a businessman with close personal ties to North Korea. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2GeU8RY

The company says it expects to become Austin's biggest private employer. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2zXZaN8

Michael Spavor is believed to have been detained on suspicion of harming China's national security. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2Litiaw

Fire crews free the 29-year-old from a small duct at a vacant Chinese restaurant in California. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2rAmnQS

Hotel room cleaners have long battled sexual harassment by guests. Now they are hitting back. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2QQziwd

Maria Butina, who has ties to a Russian banker, is expected to plead guilty in a plea deal. from BBC News - US & Canada https://ift.tt/2LwJiVu

WINONA, Minn. – No. 19 Saint John's basketball extended its win streak to six games with an 87-70 victory at Saint Mary's on Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Winona. - Box Score from Saint John's University Athletics https://ift.tt/2Eh5ZMI

To help patients with muscle disorders, scientists have engineered a new stem cell line to study the conversion of stem cells into muscle. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2zYQi9V

Researchers have created a noninvasive technology that detects when nerve cells fire based on changes in shape. The method could be used to observe nerve activity in light-accessible parts of the body, such as the eye, which would allow physicians to quantitatively monitor visual function at the cellular level. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PAxaE7

Researchers have used a blood test and microarray technology to identify distinct molecular signatures in children with cystic fibrosis. These patterns of gene expression ultimately could help predict disease severity and treatment response, and lead to therapies tailored to each patient's precise biology. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LchVRr

Scientists have described increased connections between key parts of the brains of monkeys who have taken methylphenidate (Ritalin). from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2CauLwF

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique's viability for membranes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QumwnR

Urban hummingbird feeders are highly prevalent. Researchers want to understand the health implications for birds congregating and sharing food resources at these bird buffets. Data from a new study using RFID technology is one piece of that puzzle. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Eh2B4l

Excess body weight accounted for approximately 3.9 percent of all cancers worldwide in 2012, a figure that is expected to rise in the coming decades given current trends. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UEg2Bm

Part of the ancient archaeological site of Tiwanaku, Bolivia, believed by Incans to be where the world was created has been reconstructed using 3D printed models of fragments of an ancient building. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QrBN95

By trapping atoms in a lattice of light, researchers explore how unconventional metals conduct electricity, with an eye toward understanding high-temperature superconductors. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Ehqetx

Can deep learning -- a distinct subset of machine learning -- do a better job at identifying clouds in lidar data than the current physics-based algorithms? The answer: A clear 'yes.' A new model is much closer to the answers scientists arrive at but in just a fraction of the time. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RUbh4L

A new study suggests reducing the number of fishing days in a season doesn't reduce catch as much as some would predict. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2BfpSk3

New research suggests that populations of the Northern Cardinal -- one of the most ubiquitous backyard birds in the United States -- are undergoing speciation in two adjacent deserts. This study, which analyzed genetics and vocal behavior, gives clues about the early steps in bird speciation. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2EtTqyB

An international team has developed a novel pharmaceutical formulation to administer triclabendazole -- an anti-parasitic drug used to treat a type of flatworm infection -- in billions of tiny capsules. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UGI9jo

Astronomers used the powerful ALMA telescope to discover that in other parts of the Milky Way Galaxy (seen here) there is potentially a large population of young planets -- similar in mass to Neptune or Jupiter -- at wide-orbit that are not detectable by other current planet searching techniques. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2GeJHhk

A new study shows that Midwest agriculture is increasingly vulnerable to climate change because of the region's reliance on growing rain-fed crops. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QvXnt1

New findings reveal urban and rural differences in prenatal exposure to essential and toxic elements. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RVGWTc

Blinking may feel like an unconscious activity, but new research suggests that humans unknowingly perceive eye blinks as nonverbal cues when engaging in conversation. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QpoohD

Heatwaves similar to those experienced in Europe in 2018 can have a very negative impact on animals. A new study shows that overheated birds have smaller offspring, and that those that are born may have lower chances of survival. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2SHvBGr

The effects of constantly being bullied are more than just psychological. Research now shows that there may be physical structural differences in the brains of adolescents who are regularly victimized, and this could increase the chance that they suffer from mental illness. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2G8WJwC

The gravitational waves created in the depths of space indeed reach Earth. Their effects, however, are so small that they could only be observed so far using kilometer-long measurement facilities. Physicists therefore discuss whether Bose-Einstein condensates with their ordered quantum properties could also detect these waves. Astronomers have now looked at these suggestions and have soberly determined that such evidence is far beyond the reach of current methods. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2LbIyFX

Despite the commuter cold being a widely accepted concept, it has never been proven that public transport contributes to the spread of airborne infections. Now new research on the London underground commute has proven a link does exist. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2RVy4gC

Speed limits set only five miles per hour below engineering recommendations produce a statistically significant decrease in total, fatal and injury crashes, and property-damage-only crashes, according to a group of researchers. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2ErL8Hh

Exposure to high levels of oxygen encourages the brain to remain in deep, restorative sleep, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2zUOr69

Research confirms new minerals are capturing and storing carbon. The minerals, members of the hydrotalcite group, are the first outside of the carbonate family to naturally capture atmospheric CO2 in mine waste, important as society continues to forge ways to lower our carbon emissions and combat climate change. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UGAiC4