Simple skin test identifies Parkinson’s disease

A simple skin test can accurately identify Parkinson’s disease, researchers report. Physicians currently diagnose patients using clinical signs and symptoms but a definitive diagnosis can only come during an autopsy. Parkinson’s disease is commonly misdiagnosed early, complicating clinical trials of potential treatments. The study, published in the...

5h

Clovis only made stone tools for about 300 years

The Clovis, some of North America’s earliest inhabitants, only made stone tools during a brief 300-year period from 13,050 to 12,750 years ago, new research shows. There is much debate surrounding the age of the Clovis—a prehistoric culture named for stone tools found near Clovis, New Mexico in the early 1930s—who once occupied North America during...

6h

Experts: To protect public from COVID, decarcerate

The United States must reduce incarceration to protect public safety during the pandemic, a report finds. To stem the tide of COVID-19 infections both within correctional institutions and in surrounding communities, jurisdictions around the US should act immediately to reduce the number of people housed behind bars, recommend the panel of criminal...

7h

Gun show suicide prevention chats get owners to lock guns up

Talking to people at gun shows about suicide prevention and the risks of unsecured firearms can lead to safe weapons storage, according to a new study. Researchers visited 18 gun shows and other community events around Washington state last year and found that engaging people in a community-based setting, in an empathetic conversation focused on safety,...

7h

A COVID-19 vaccine may be different from others

The process for creating a COVID-19 vaccine may be different from other common vaccines, Andrea Amalfitano says. Amalfitano is dean of the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and a professor of pediatrics, microbiology, and molecular genetics. Here, Amalfitano sheds light on the creation a COVID-19 vaccine, how it’s different...

7h

How will self-driving cars affect public health?

Researchers have developed a framework to identify the public health effects of self-driving vehicles. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are the wave of the future in the automobile industry, and there’s extensive discussion about the impacts on transportation, society, the economy, and the environment. Less attention, however, has been focused on the potential...

8h

Fake ‘grammar’ shows apes get language basics

Humans are not the only ones that can identify rules in complex language-like constructions—monkeys and great apes can, too, according to a new study. Researchers used a series of experiments based on an “artificial grammar” to conclude that this ability can be traced back to our ancient primate ancestors. “This suggests that this crucial element...

10h

Imaging tech captures molecule ‘wobble’ in 3D

Researchers have found a way to visualize individual molecules inside living cells in greater detail, showing their position and orientation in 3D, and even how they wobble and oscillate. The work could shed invaluable insights into the biological processes involved, for example, when a cell and the proteins that regulate its functions react to the...

11h

Mask vs. muzzle: Even words are now polarized

In the United States, even the meanings of some words are now polarized, research finds. Everyone is speaking English, say the scientists, but computer analysis of social media discussions shows viewers of different news channels are, in a sense, speaking different languages. Based on millions of user comments on the YouTube channels for four leading...

12h

Heat-reflecting paint keeps things cool without AC

A new white paint can keep surfaces up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than their ambient surroundings, researchers report. The paint would absorb nearly no solar energy and send heat away from the building, replacing the need for air conditioning, according to the researchers. Without the building heating up, air conditioning wouldn’t have to kick...

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