Research News

Researchers also found that congestion on the roads in San Francisco also was exacerbated because of where the ride-hailing cars were and at what time of day.

Uber And Lyft Caused Major Traffic Uptick In San Francisco, Study Says

3:57pm May 08, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

Researchers compared data from fall 2010 — before the companies made inroads in the city — and fall 2016. They found that the companies are to blame for more than half of a big increase in traffic.

News Brief: U.S.-China Trade Talks, Humans Accelerate Species' Extinction

8:01am May 07, 2019

The White House is fighting China in trade talks, but a new report found top advisers battled over whether to impose tariffs on Chinese imports. The U.N. warns which species are at risk of extinction.

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"Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history," a U.N. panel says, reporting that around 1 million species are currently at risk. Here, an endangered hawksbill turtle swims in a Singapore aquarium in 2017.

1 Million Animal And Plant Species Are At Risk Of Extinction, U.N. Report Says

6:35pm May 06, 2019

"Protecting biodiversity amounts to protecting humanity," says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who warns that species are being lost at an alarming rate.

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For drone design inspiration scientists look towards the way birds land.

Science

If Drones Had 'Claws,' They Might Be Able To Fly For Longer

5:24pm May 06, 2019

by Joe Palca

Small drones have a problem — their battery life runs out relatively quickly. A team of roboticists says it has created special landing gear that can help conserve precious battery life.

Stressed-out family caregivers who were taught how to reframe negative thoughts and focus on positive experiences actually reduced their anxiety and depression, a study found.

From Gloom To Gratitude: 8 Skills To Cultivate Joy

12:25pm May 05, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

Reaching out in kindness, mindful breathing and taking time daily to note positive moments and personal strengths are all part of a program that reduces anxiety and depression. But it takes practice.

Phil Gutis with his dog, Abe, who died last year. Gutis, who has Alzheimer's, hoped an experimental drug could help preserve his memories.

After A Big Failure, Scientists And Patients Hunt For A New Type Of Alzheimer's Drug

4:41pm May 03, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Now that so many experimental drugs targeting amyloid-beta have bombed, scientists are looking for different approaches for treating Alzheimer's, including a drug that failed as a cancer treatment.

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Freshwater shrimp from the species Gammarus pulex like this one, collected in Suffolk County in the U.K., were found to have traces of cocaine.

Traces Of Cocaine, Pesticides Detected In U.K. Shrimp

8:26pm May 02, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

Scientists collected freshwater shrimp at 15 locations in Suffolk. Shrimp from all of the sites were found to have detectable amounts of cocaine, and many had other drugs or pesticides.

The Xiahe mandible was originally found in 1980 in Baishiya Karst Cave. Researchers say the bone is 160,000 years old and came from a Denisovan.

Denisovans, A Mysterious Kind Of Ancient Humans, Are Traced to Tibet

11:36pm May 01, 2019

by Christopher Joyce

Until now, the only Denisovan remains came from a cave in Siberia. The new find is "much more complete," one expert says.

MMR — the modern combination vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella — provides stronger, longer-lasting protection against measles than the stand-alone measles vaccine typically given in the U.S. in the early 1960s.

Measles Shots Aren't Just For Kids: Many Adults Could Use A Booster Too

7:31pm April 29, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

With U.S. measles cases at record highs, doctors say adults who got vaccinated prior to 1968 should consider getting revaccinated to make sure they and their neighbors are protected.

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Scientists have found a way to transform brain signals into intelligible speech.

Decoded Brain Signals Could Give Voiceless People A Way To Talk

6:14pm April 24, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Scientists have found a way to transform electrical signals in the brain into intelligible speech. The advance may help people paralyzed by a stroke or disease, but the technology is experimental.

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