Notices by Flipboard Science Desk (sciencedesk@flipboard.social), page 15

For background on the stranded astronauts, check out this collection of stories from Futurism: https://flipboard.com/@futurism/boeing-s-stranded-astronaut-disaster-egt92h4914dj3qbt

NASA record holder can relate to astronauts stuck in space. He was, too.

AP reports that Frank Rubio's visit to the International Space Station lasted just over a year, twice as long as planned. "He said he spoke with Suni Williams on Thursday and expressed pride in how she and Butch Wilmore have coped with their situation."

https://flip.it/dsIFlc

For similar stories, follow @space-ScienceAlert

#Astronauts #Space #NASA #Boeing #ISS #Science

A mysterious virus is spreading around the Americas after undergoing genetic changes that may make it more potent.

BBC News reports: "Oropouche ... virus causes a feverish disease in humans but is also found in a number of animals including howler monkeys, marmosets and sloths, along with a number of different insects." It is sometimes called the "sloth virus."

https://flip.it/wdwd_W

#Disease #Virus #Animals #SouthAmerica #ClimateChange #PublicHealth #Science

What have been the top scientific discoveries this month?

@popsci curated their picks in this collection of articles: https://flip.it/eNWq4n

Included are new information about Egypt's oldest pyramid, Stonehenge, a huge mastodon skull and more.

#Science #Archaeology #Paleontology #Space

Dogs are really good at detecting chronic wasting disease, study shows.

Outdoor Life reports that the research "may help wildlife and livestock managers detect and contain CWD, the fatal prion disease that infects deer, elk, and other cervids across North America."

https://flip.it/--uMng

Here's the original study in PLOS One journal: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0303225

#Dogs #Wildlife #Disease #Conservation #Science

@btschumy Yeah, it's a lotta snakes in one place!

These beloved sea creatures are dying. Can human medicine save them?

From @Vox: "To thwart a disease that’s decimating Caribbean coral reefs, scientists are turning to an unlikely drug."

https://flip.it/lKt0Ue

#Coral #Ocean #ClimateChange #MarineBiology #Climate #GlobalWarming #Science

Newborn rattlesnakes at a Colorado "mega den" in the U.S. are making their live debut.

AP reports: "Thanks to livestream video, scientists studying the den on a craggy hillside in Colorado are learning more about these enigmatic — and often misunderstood — reptiles. They’re observing as the youngsters, called pups, slither over and between adult females on lichen-encrusted rocks."

https://flip.it/liCkaM

#Snake #Animals #Science #Herpetology

The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket crashed during an attempted landing on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean last night. The booster had nearly completed its touchdown when it tipped over, dropping into the sea. @theverge reports:
https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/28/24230383/spacex-falcon-9-booster-first-stage-crash-starlink-launch

#SpaceX #Falcon9 #AtlanticOcean #Starlink #ElonMusk

Climate change is warming once cool lakes and reservoirs in the U.S., fueling a rise in dangerous bacteria outbreaks and algae blooms. Bloomberg reports:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-17/deadly-bacteria-is-a-growing-threat-to-beach-vacations-across-the-us?srnd=green

#ClimateChange #WaterPollution #Lake #Bacteria #WaterReservior #GlobalWarming

SpaceX has once again pushed back the launch of its Polaris Dawn mission, which is expected to carry four private citizens to space, this time because of an unfavorable weather forecast. NBC reports:
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/spacex-postpones-launch-private-polaris-mission-again-rcna168583

#SpaceX #PolarisDawn #Space #KennedySpaceCenter #ElonMusk

SpaceX is still preparing for its Polaris Dawn mission, poised to make history with the first private spacewalk, after it was again delayed due to “unfavorable weather forecasted.” The Hill reports:
https://thehill.com/homenews/4851800-spacex-launch-delay-polaris-dawn-mission/

#SpaceX #PolarisDawn #Space #KennedySpaceCenter #ElonMusk

Modern technology that allows for deep water exploration more accurately than ever before made way for the findings of the Nazca Ridge, a new seamount in international waters about 900 miles off the coast of Chile in the Southeastern Pacific. ABC reports:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/20-new-species-identified-recently-discovered-underwater-ecosystem/story?id=113150084

#SeaLife #Ocean #SouthernPacific #UnderwaterLife #NewSpecies

Ouch! Scientists say they've figured out which paper is most likely to give you a paper cut.

@popsci reports on the work of researchers at the Technical University of Denmark: https://flip.it/1ogFye

#PaperCut #Science #Paper #Physics

Here's what's missing from the invasive species narrative.

NPR has a 12-minute audio segment on the topic: "To get at the root of the problem, [a researcher] says we humans have to take a concerted look in the mirror — even if it means being slower and stricter about the flow of commerce."

https://flip.it/_LhVgU

#InvasiveSpecies #Animals #Environment #Plants #Science

A new study found that the main active ingredient in cannabis, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been shown to reverse conventional signs of brain aging in mice a discovery that could help in finding ways to keep our brains healthier and sharper for longer as we get older. Science Alert reports:
https://www.sciencealert.com/cannabis-revealed-to-have-anti-aging-effect-in-the-brains-of-mice

#THC #Cannabis #BrainHealth #EndocannabinoidSystem #AntiAging

A new study found that the main active ingredient in cannabis, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been shown to reverse conventional signs of brain aging in mice a discovery that could help in finding ways to keep our brains healthier and sharper for longer as we get older. Science Alert reports:
https://www.sciencealert.com/cannabis-revealed-to-have-anti-aging-effect-in-the-brains-of-mice

#THC #Cannabis #BrainHealth #EndocannabinoidSystem #AntiAging

NASA's problems with the mobile launch tower that will support a larger version of its Space Launch System rocket are getting worse rather than better. Ars Technica reports:
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/08/nasas-second-large-launch-tower-has-gotten-stupidly-expensive/

#Nasa #LaunchTower #Space #SpaceLaunchSystem

Scientists have created an "exceptionally bright" light source that can generate quantum-entangled photons (particles of light) which could be used to securely transmit data in a future high-speed quantum communications network. Live Science reports:
https://www.livescience.com/technology/communications/unbreakable-quantum-communication-closer-to-reality-thanks-to-new-exceptionally-bright-photons

#QuantumCommunication #QuantumInternet #Quantum #OpticalFiber #Data #QuantumMechanics #Internet

The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission capsule carrying four private citizens will have to wait to launch into space after a helium leak forced a launch delay until later this week at the earliest. NBC reports:
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/spacex-polaris-launch-postponed-helium-leak-detected-rcna167168

#SpaceX #PolarisDawn #Space #KennedySpaceCenter #ElonMusk #SpaceWalk

Half of the world's beaches could disappear in less than 100 years. Could electroshock theory save them?

Popular Mechanics reports: "A new study from scientists at Northwestern proposes that mild voltages applied to these ecosystems could spur the creation of 'binding' materials that may be able to make beaches more resilient to erosion."

Subscription may be required: https://flip.it/U97V2p

#Beach #Ocean #ClimateChange #Climate #Environment #Science