Author Archives: admin

CBM-I via smartphone app could help patients with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions — ScienceDaily

Based on a study by McLean Hospital researchers, individuals with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions may soon be able to use a smartphone app to deliver on-demand cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I), a way to change mental habits without visiting a therapist. The study, “Translating CBM-I Into Real-World Settings: Augmenting a CBT-Based…

Astronomers find ‘Forbidden’ planet in ‘Neptunian Desert’ around its star — ScienceDaily

An exoplanet smaller than Neptune with its own atmosphere has been discovered in the Neptunian Desert around its star by an international collaboration of astronomers, with the University of Warwick taking a leading role. The rogue planet was identified in the new research, led by Dr Richard West including Professor Peter Wheatley, Dr Daniel Bayliss…

Fainting during pregnancy can be a sign of problems for both mother and baby — ScienceDaily

Women have long been told fainting is a common but harmless symptom of pregnancy, but new research shows it may indicate issues for both the baby and mother’s health, especially when it occurs during the first trimester. The study — conducted by a team of cardiology researchers that included University of Alberta senior epidemiologist Padma…

Group A strep genome research expedites vaccine development efforts — ScienceDaily

The global search for a group A streptococcal (Strep A) vaccine has narrowed after researchers identified a common gene signature in almost all global Strep A strains by sequencing thousands of genomes in a project spanning 10 years and more than 20 countries. Strep A, is a bacterial pathogen that in some regions of the…

Canadian neuroscientists offer insights into the long-term effects of adolescent cannabis use — ScienceDaily

About one in five Canadian adolescents uses cannabis (19% of Canadians aged 15-19), and its recent legalization across the country warrants investigation into the consequence of this use on the developing brain. Adolescence is associated with the maturation of cognitive functions, such as working memory, decision-making, and impulsivity control. This is a highly vulnerable period…

Soil communities threatened by destruction, instability of Amazon forests — ScienceDaily

The clearing and subsequent instability of Amazonian forests are among the greatest threats to tropical biodiversity conservation today. Although the devastating consequences of deforestation to plants and animal species living above the ground are well-documented, scientists and others need to better understand how soil communities respond to this deforestation to create interventions that protect biodiversity…

Origami-inspired materials could soften the blow for reusable spacecraft — ScienceDaily

Space vehicles like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 are designed to be reusable. But this means that, like Olympic gymnasts hoping for a gold medal, they have to stick their landings. Landing is stressful on a rocket’s legs because they must handle the force from the impact with the landing pad. One way to combat this is…

Adding a carbon atom transforms 2D semiconducting material — ScienceDaily

A technique that introduces carbon-hydrogen molecules into a single atomic layer of the semiconducting material tungsten disulfide dramatically changes the electronic properties of the material, according to Penn State researchers at Penn State who say they can create new types of components for energy-efficient photoelectric devices and electronic circuits with this material. “We have successfully…

Researchers perform simple calculations by shining light patterns through a translucent cube — ScienceDaily

McMaster researchers have developed a simple and highly novel form of computing by shining patterned bands of light and shadow through different facets of a polymer cube and reading the combined results that emerge. The material in the cube reads and reacts intuitively to the light in much the same way a plant would turn…

Researchers create soft, flexible materials with enhanced properties — ScienceDaily

A team of polymer chemists and engineers from Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new methodology that can be used to create a class of stretchable polymer composites with enhanced electrical and thermal properties. These materials are promising candidates for use in soft robotics, self-healing electronics and medical devices. The results are published in the…