In depression treatment trials, placebo effect is growing stronger
As with placebo pills, time is making placebo magnetic stimulation more effective. Enlarge / A decent placebo setup for transcranial magnetic stimulation is difficult to distinguish from actual treatment. (credit: Monty Rakusen).....»»
A causal theory for studying the cause-and-effect relationships of genes paves the way for targeted treatments
By studying changes in gene expression, researchers learn how cells function at a molecular level, which could help them understand the development of certain diseases......»»
3D printing method crafts stronger, more ductile alloy for extreme environments
A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong University, Tianmushan Laboratory, and the National University of Singapore has pioneered a new method for crafting an ultra-strong, ductile alloy using 3D printing technology......»»
Pathogens that cling to microplastics may survive wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment fails to kill several human pathogens when they hide out on microplastics in the water, reports a study led by Ingun Lund Witsø of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, published November 6, 2024 in the open-access journal.....»»
Making farming better for bees: Can we breed crops that produce more nectar and pollen?
Where once there were vast areas of forest and other natural habitats, farmland now covers much of Earth—including 70% of the UK. This transition has helped feed a growing number of people......»»
Food security in Africa: Managing water will be vital in a rapidly growing region
Sub-Saharan Africa's population is growing at 2.7% per year and is expected to reach two billion by the year 2050. The region's urban population is growing even faster: it was at 533 million in 2023, a 3.85% increase from 2022......»»
Genetic repair via CRISPR can inadvertently introduce other defects, researchers show
The CRISPR molecular scissors have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of genetic diseases. This is because they can be used to correct specific defective sections of the genome. Unfortunately, however, there is a catch: under certain condit.....»»
Braving sharks and hordes of urchins, scientists are growing kelp one forest at a time
The weathered UC Davis Marine Laboratory looms in thick fog on the edge of the ocean near Bodega Bay. Inside, an experiment is playing out that gives a badly-needed boost to Northern California's kelp forests—underwater cathedrals of green and gold.....»»
Mozambique VPN usage soars as internet restrictions continue
While it's the first time the country has resorted to strict internet censorship during protests, VPN usage keeps growing as restrictions are still in place......»»
Kia says its new EV camper concept is the “ideal escape pod”
Kia has given an electric SUV and an EV van the off-road treatment. Whenever we write about electric vans, the comments reveal a growing but pent-up demand for a camper version. W.....»»
Water overuse in Brazil"s MATOPIBA region could mean failure to meet up to 40% of local demand for crop irrigation
Considered one of the fastest-growing agricultural frontiers in Brazil, and the area with the highest greenhouse gas emissions in the Cerrado, Brazil's savanna-type biome, the region known as MATOPIBA, risks facing water shortages in the years ahead......»»
The best games on Xbox Game Pass right now (November 2024)
From RPGs to shooters to indie hits, the list of the best games on Xbox Game Pass is massive and keeps growing. Here are the titles you should dive into first......»»
Africa"s cities are growing chaotically fast, but there"s still time to get things right, say experts
Cities are vital engines of economic growth, innovation and social progress. They shape the futures of nations and the lives of millions......»»
Defibrillation devices can still save lives using 1,000 times less electricity, optimized model finds
In a paper published in Chaos, researchers from Sergio Arboleda University in Bogotá, Colombia, and the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta used an electrophysiological computer model of the heart's electrical circuits to examine the effect o.....»»
Mapping the maze where the IRS could find billions in unpaid taxes
In 2021, the difference between what U.S. taxpayers owed the federal government and what they paid hit nearly $700 billion. This "tax gap" has been growing for years while the Internal Revenue Service's budget has shrunk, declining by 18% between 201.....»»
Valencia floods: Warming climate is making once-rare weather more common and more destructive, says researcher
In the last few days, a seasonal weather system known in Spain as the "cold drop" or DANA (an acronym of "depresión aislada en niveles altos": isolated depression at high levels) has caused heavy rain and flooding across Spain's Mediterranean coast.....»»
Apple launches new internal study focused on building smart glasses
After announcing Vision Pro last year, Apple has reportedly been exploring more ways to provide AR and VR content to users – and it seems that the idea of smart glasses is growing within the company. A Bloomberg report on Monday revealed that Apple.....»»
Multi-omics approach reveals nanoplastic toxicity in aquatic life
Plastic pollution has become a growing crisis for aquatic environments, with nanoplastics emerging as particularly hazardous due to their minuscule size and broad dispersal. Unlike larger plastic fragments, nanoplastics infiltrate cellular systems an.....»»
Study reveals effect of slope position on nonstructural carbohydrates in biological soil crusts
Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) provide energy for metabolic processes in plants and play a key role in plant growth, defense and osmoregulation. However, the regulation of NSC in biological soil crusts across different slope positions remains unc.....»»
Cobalt-copper tandem system offers sustainable approach for converting carbon dioxide to ethanol
The continuing release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a major driver of global warming and climate change with increased extreme weather events. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have now presented a method for effect.....»»
COP29: AI can help develop climate-resistant crops for Africa—but it shouldn"t be left in the hands of corporates
How we use land and feed a growing global population, and the burden we place on natural habitats in pursuit of nutrition, will again take center stage at the annual global climate change conference, COP29, in November......»»