Welcome to the 03 January 2019 edition of “Hawaii Science Digest”–a Hawaii Island blog focusing on science, technology, medicine, health, the environment, cyber security, and artificial intelligence (AI). Views expressed in this science news review are those of the reporters and correspondents. Today’s post cites articles published by “Science News Magazine.” Here are the details:
Accessed on 03 January 2019, 0437 UTC.
Source: https://www.sciencenews.org
“Science News Magazine”, 02 January 2019, published by the Society for Science & the Public.
Please click link or scroll down to read your selections.
NEWS
New Horizons shows Ultima Thule looks like a snowman, or maybe BB-8
Ultima Thule’s snowmanlike shape shows the New Horizons target was probably two space rocks that got stuck together.
NEWS
A new implant uses light to control overactive bladders
Experiments in rats show that a new soft device could help alleviate frequent, sudden urges to urinate.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
THE SCIENCE LIFE
This scientist watches meat rot to decipher the Neandertal diet
This scientist is studying how meat changes as it rots to figure out what Neandertals might have eaten.
FEATURE
Top 10 stories of 2018: Climate change, gene-edited babies, hidden craters and more
2018 was a year all about impact — on the planet, on solving crimes, on mosquito populations, on reversing paralysis, and more.
NEWS
Known as the ‘mother of Hubble,’ astronomer Nancy Roman dies at 93
Astronomer Nancy Roman, the “mother of Hubble,” has died.
NEWS
Macaques take turns while chattering
Japanese monkeys take turns while communicating. Adjusting response times while chattering, macaques intentionally pause like humans do when chatting.
NEWS
Live updates: New Horizons’ flyby of a distant Kuiper Belt object
The New Horizons spacecraft is ready for the most distant close flyby of a rocky object in the solar system, a rocky body called MU69 or Ultima Thule.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
These are the most-read Science News stories of 2018
From male birth control to wombat poop, Science News online readers had a wide variety of favorite stories on our website.
YEAR IN REVIEW
What will be the big science stories of 2019? Here are our predictions
From black hole insights to the future of self-driving cars to figuring out what it means to be human, 2019 will be a big year in science.
YEAR IN REVIEW
Artificial intelligence is mastering a wider variety of jobs than ever before
In 2018, AI bested humans at following fauna, diagnosing disease, mapping the moon and more.
50 YEARS AGO
50 years ago, astronauts orbited the moon for the first time
Apollo 8 launched on December 21, 1968, with three astronauts on board, making 10 revolutions around the moon — the first manned lunar orbits.
YEAR IN REVIEW
2018 was a busy year in space
This year, some missions started exploring the cosmos, while others were winding down.
SCIENCE STATS
Americans are sleeping less than they were 13 years ago
A survey suggests that nearly one-third of American adults are sleeping fewer than 6 hours a night, and minority groups are most affected.
YEAR IN REVIEW
These 2018 findings could be big news — if they turn out to be true
Discoveries about fossils, the Big Bang and more could shake up the scientific world – if they turn out to be true.
NEWS IN BRIEF
How decorating for Christmas sends people to the ER
A study takes a stab at quantifying Christmas-related mishaps.
SCIENCE VISUALIZED
Pterosaurs may have been covered in fur and primitive feathers
A new study provides evidence of plumelike structures in ancient flying reptiles.
NEWS
More plants survived the world’s greatest mass extinction than thought
Fossil plants from Jordan reveal more plant lineages that made it through the Great Dying roughly 252 million years ago.
YEAR IN REVIEW
The #MeToo movement shook up workplace policies in science
In the #MeToo era, the scientific community is confronting its own sexual harassment problems and looking to research for solutions.
YEAR IN REVIEW
The battle over new nerve cells in adult brains intensifies
It’s not yet time to abandon the idea that adult human brains make new nerve cells.
NEWS
Invasive asexual midges may upset Antarctica’s delicate moss banks
Fast-multiplying insects with earthworm powers have invaded Antarctica, and scientists are worried about how their waste could affect the continent.
NEWS
Mice lack stem cells in the heart needed for self-repair
Adult mice hearts have no stem cells, a study finds. The same may be true for people, and that’s not welcome news for those who’ve had a heart attack.
YEAR IN REVIEW
E-cigarettes caught fire among teens
High schoolers’ use of e-cigarettes shot up from 2017 to 2018, and public health officials are concerned that a new generation is at risk for nicotine addiction.
NEWS IN BRIEF
The sugar that makes up DNA could be made in space
Deoxyribose, the sugar of DNA, was created in a lab simulating ice in space.
NEWS
Bennu and Ryugu look like spinning tops and scientists want to know why
The first high-resolution images of Bennu confirm that the asteroid looks very similar to the asteroid Ryugu.