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Sep 1, 2020

US workers under lockdown three times more likely to report mental health issues

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

According to a recent survey of more than 1,500 US based respondents, workers are now three times more likely to report poor mental health than they were before the pandemic. The study also claims that seventy-five percent of people have experienced burnout at work, with 40 percent saying they’ve experienced burnout during the pandemic specifically. The report suggests that this is not surprising, given that 37 percent of employed respondents are currently working longer hours than usual since the pandemic started.

However, just 21 percent said they were able to have open, productive conversations with HR about solutions to their burnout. Fifty-six percent went so far as to say that their HR departments did not encourage conversations about burnout. This survey was conducted by FlexJobs, fielded in partnership with Mental Health America (MHA) in late July 2020.

Key findings:

Sep 1, 2020

CRISPR-edited babies born in China may have enhanced brain functions

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Fifty years after the classic Star Trek episode “Space Seed,” life imitates art…


The controversial decision to genetically edit the embryos of two girls born in China last year might have enhanced their memory and cognition, scientists say.

Chinese scientist He Jiankui reported in November that he’d used the CRISPR editing tool to delete a gene called CCR5, which enables humans to contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition to potentially blocking the development of AIDS, recent research suggests knocking out CCR5 can also make mice smarter and help the human brain recover from strokes.

Sep 1, 2020

Newly discovered sugar transporter might help beans tolerate hot temperatures

Posted by in category: food

We also discovered that our protein is located at the plasma membrane, the boundary between the inside and outside of a cell. This is critical. We are putting stock in the idea that this transporter moves sucrose from the outside of cells and into the phloem. To perform this function, its location on the plasma membrane is a must.


MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory (PRL) scientists have characterized a sucrose transporter protein found in common beans. The recently discovered protein could help us understand how beans tolerate hot temperatures. The transporter, called PvSUT1.1, is reported in the journal Plant Direct.

During photosynthesis, bean leaves capture carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into sugars that fuel their growth and development. Most species these sugars throughout the plant in the form of .

Continue reading “Newly discovered sugar transporter might help beans tolerate hot temperatures” »

Sep 1, 2020

Business Incubation

Posted by in categories: business, innovation

If you are selected for the business incubation program, you’ll have the opportunity to work in an innovative, high-tech entrepreneurial environment. You’ll leverage programs, facilities and networks from both ESA and top notch European incubation centers.

Sep 1, 2020

Virus Protection Surface Spray May Work for 7 Days on Planes

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

As an added safety measure, American Airlines is testing an antimicrobial surface coating that could make the coronavirus inactive for up to a week.

Sep 1, 2020

Stonehenge enhanced sounds like voices or music for people inside the monument

Posted by in category: media & arts

Scientists created a scale model one-twelfth the size of the ancient stone circle to study its acoustics.

Aug 31, 2020

How satellite ‘megaconstellations’ will photobomb astronomy images

Posted by in category: satellites

‘Megaconstellations’ of satellites increasingly launching into orbit around Earth will contaminate the data astronomers collect — and profoundly shift humanity’s view of the night skies. That’s the conclusion of the most detailed assessment yet of how these satellite networks, launched by companies including Amazon and SpaceX, might affect astronomical observations from Earth.


Most detailed report yet about the impact of giant satellite clusters says damage to observations is unavoidable — and offers mitigation strategies. Most detailed report yet about the impact of giant satellite clusters says damage to observations is unavoidable.

Aug 31, 2020

Tesla co-founder JB Straubel’s startup is already recycling scrap from Gigafactory Nevada

Posted by in categories: materials, sustainability

Straubel was an early founding member of Tesla and the company Chief Technology Officer until last summer.

He officially moved to an advisory role at the company, but it is believed to have been a symbolic move to soften the blow of Tesla’s longtime technology leader leaving the company.

As we reported at the time, Straubel was already becoming less present at Tesla months prior to the announcement and spending more time on his startup: Redwood Materials.

Aug 31, 2020

Are Radioactive Diamond Batteries a Cure for Nuclear Waste?

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, nuclear energy

Researchers are developing a new battery powered by lab-grown gems made from reformed nuclear waste. If it works, it will last thousands of years.

Aug 31, 2020

IBM looks to revolutionize industrial chemistry and in the process may have cut the discovery time for Covid-19 treatments in half

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, chemistry