Deep-CEE: The AI deep learning tool helping astronomers explore deep space

Galaxy clusters are some of the most massive structures in the cosmos, but despite being millions of lightyears across, they can still be hard to spot. Researchers at Lancaster University have turned to artificial intelligence for assistance, developing "Deep-CEE" (Deep Learning for Galaxy Cluster Extraction and Evaluation), a novel deep learning technique to speed up the process of finding them. Matthew Chan, a Ph.D. student at Lancaster University, is presenting this work at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy meeting on 4 July at 3:45pm in the Machine Learning in Astrophysics session.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/deep-cee-the-ai-deep-learning-tool-helping-astronomers-explore-deep-space

Collision course: Amateur astronomers play a part in efforts to keep space safe

Heavy traffic is commonplace on Earth but now congestion is becoming an increasing problem in space. With over 22,000 artificial satellites in orbit it is essential to keep track of their positions in order to avoid unexpected collisions. Amateur astronomers from the Basingstoke Astronomical Society have been helping the Ministry of Defence explore what is possible using high-end consumer equipment to track objects in space.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/collision-course-amateur-astronomers-play-a-part-in-efforts-to-keep-space-safe

Substantial increase in body weight since 1960s due to interplay between genes and environment

People with a genetic predisposition to obesity are not only at greater risk of excess weight, their genes interact with an increasingly "obesogenic" environment, resulting in higher body mass index (BMI) in recent decades, finds a study from Norway published by The BMJ today.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/substantial-increase-in-body-weight-since-1960s-due-to-interplay-between-genes-and-environment

Binary stars with unexplainable dimming pattern

A team of researchers from the U.S., Denmark and the U.K., working with a group at NASA's Ames Research Center, has found a binary star system that dims unpredictably. They have written a paper describing their findings and have posted it on the arXiv preprint server and also on Oxford's Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/binary-stars-with-unexplainable-dimming-pattern

When it's easier to get meds than therapy: How poverty makes it hard to escape mental illness

The poorer people are, the higher their chances of contending with domestic violence, crime, social conflict, homelessness and unemployment.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/when-its-easier-to-get-meds-than-therapy-how-poverty-makes-it-hard-to-escape-mental-illness

From Shark Bay seagrass to Stone Age Scotland, we can now assess climate risks to World Heritage

Climate change is the fastest-growing global threat to World Heritage. However, no systematic approach to assess the climate vulnerability of each particular property has existed—until now.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/from-shark-bay-seagrass-to-stone-age-scotland-we-can-now-assess-climate-risks-to-world-heritage

Clickety clack, let's look back: Typewriters return

For most of us, the clickety clack of a manual typewriter—or the gentler tapping of the IBM Selectric—are but memories, if we've heard them at all.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/clickety-clack-lets-look-back-typewriters-return

Researchers selectively eliminate cells that express the oncogene RAS

The RAS oncogene is activated in 30 percent of human cancers, and results in the proliferation and transformation of tumor cells. No effective inhibitor has been found for this protein to date.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/researchers-selectively-eliminate-cells-that-express-the-oncogene-ras

Artificial membrane binding proteins to direct stem cells to the myocardium

In a world first, scientists have found a new way to direct stem cells to heart tissue. The findings, led by researchers at the University of Bristol and published in Chemical Science, could radically improve the treatment for cardiovascular disease, which causes more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/artificial-membrane-binding-proteins-to-direct-stem-cells-to-the-myocardium

How to avoid information overload

Being able to go online offers a wealth of knowledge, keeps you connected to loved ones and makes all sorts of transactions more convenient. But there's a downside.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/how-to-avoid-information-overload

Allotment soil is safer than U.K. national guidelines suggest

With the rise in popularity of people growing their own fruit and vegetables, it may be surprising to know that many urban allotments have soil with lead levels above UK guidance values.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/allotment-soil-is-safer-than-u-k-national-guidelines-suggest

Research shows smoking triples deaths from heart disease

Smoking is killing at least 17 Australians a day from preventable heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular conditions, new research led by The Australian National University (ANU) has found.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/research-shows-smoking-triples-deaths-from-heart-disease

Image: Suomi NPP satellite captures ongoing fires in Alaska

There are many fires ongoing in the state of Alaska, but two of the largest are visible in this satellite image—Hess Creek Fire and Swan Lake Fire.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/image-suomi-npp-satellite-captures-ongoing-fires-in-alaska

SpaceX has lost contact with three of its Starlink satellites

On May 23rd, 2019, SpaceX launched the first batch of its Starlink constellation, a fleet of satellites that will fulfill Elon Musk's promise to provide broadband satellite-internet access to the entire planet. The deployment of these 60 satellites was the first in a series of six planned launches that would see around 720 satellites orbiting at an operational altitude of 550 km (340 mi).

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/spacex-has-lost-contact-with-three-of-its-starlink-satellites

Safe practices around fireworks

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, summer celebrations offer plenty of excuses to light up the night sky. From fireworks at wedding receptions and Independence Day celebrations to graduation bonfires and simple sparklers at weekend cookouts, Americans love playing with fire.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/safe-practices-around-fireworks

Carbon dioxide levels and climate change: Is there really a controversy?

The relationship between atmospheric CO2 levels and climate change is often perceived as a controversial subject. While there's no real disagreement among climate scientists—around 90% fully agree that human activity is clearly responsible for climate change—in the United States in 2016, barely 50% of the general public came to the same conclusion. Adding to the general confusion, highly active "climate-change deniers" claim that temperature has evolved independently of CO2 atmospheric concentrations through Earth's history, and that therefore today's rising CO2 levels are not an issue.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/carbon-dioxide-levels-and-climate-change-is-there-really-a-controversy

Anti-vaccine movement a 'man-made' health crisis, scientists warn

The anti-vaccination movement is now a global crisis, an international panel of scientists say, and everyone must do more to combat it.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/anti-vaccine-movement-a-man-made-health-crisis-scientists-warn

How anglers are changing the catchability of fish

For many outdoor enthusiasts, fishing borders on an obsession—the thrill of the chase may be just as rewarding as landing a big catch.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/how-anglers-are-changing-the-catchability-of-fish

Lunar and solar eclipses make animals do strange things

For most animals, the structure of their day—and indeed their year—depends on the light-dark cycle. These regular and rhythmic cycles in the length of days tell animals when they should be foraging, when they should be asleep, when it's time to migrate and when it's time to breed. Animals can tell all this from how many hours of daylight they experience, but the moon's cycles also strongly influence their behavior.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/lunar-and-solar-eclipses-make-animals-do-strange-things

Image: Radio frequency model of Europe's future Meteosat Third Generation Imager (MTG-I) satellite

This mesh-based model of Europe's future Meteosat Third Generation Imager (MTG-I) satellite has helped select the optimal location of the radio frequency antennas used to send it commands and downlink mission telemetry.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/image-radio-frequency-model-of-europes-future-meteosat-third-generation-imager-mtg-i-satellite

Zambian teens can't talk about sex or contraception, even with their friends

Becoming pregnant constitutes a threat to young girls' health. That's because they have a higher risk of maternal complications than adult women.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/zambian-teens-cant-talk-about-sex-or-contraception-even-with-their-friends

Scientists find carbon from thawing permafrost is released into the atmosphere at higher rates than previously thought

For years, scientists have pointed to warming permafrost in the Arctic tundra as a source for increased carbon in the atmosphere; as this soil warms, it releases greenhouse gases that have long been trapped in frozen ground.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/scientists-find-carbon-from-thawing-permafrost-is-released-into-the-atmosphere-at-higher-rates-than-previously-thought

New modeling technique discovers surprising 'liquid-crystal' organization of liver tissue

The currently used simplified model of mammalian liver tissue can only show in a limited way how liver tissue is structured and formed. Almost 70 years later, researchers at the Max Planck Institutes of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics as well as for the Physics of Complex Systems together with the TU Dresden took advantage of novel microscopy developments, computer-aided image analysis, and 3-D tissue reconstruction and created a new realistic 3-D model of liver organization. Remarkably, they discovered that the liver features an organized structure, similar to liquid crystals.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/new-modeling-technique-discovers-surprising-liquid-crystal-organization-of-liver-tissue

Blue 'noctilucent' clouds are appearing further south than ever seen before, and pollution may be a cause

Cloud watchers have recently been given record-breaking glimpses of the rarest clouds in the skies. Stunning rippled blue clouds have been forming in the highest reaches of the atmosphere over Europe and the U.S.. These clouds are normally only seen around the poles, but this summer is set to be the best observing season in years—they have already been seen at the lowest latitudes ever recorded.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/blue-noctilucent-clouds-are-appearing-further-south-than-ever-seen-before-and-pollution-may-be-a-cause

Four surprising technological innovations that came out of the Apollo moon landings

NASA's Apollo programme was one of the most challenging technological achievements in the 20th century. Beyond the space race and exploration, it contributed to several inventions and innovations that are still having an impact on our lives. But at the same time, there are several myths regarding what technologies actually came out of it.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/four-surprising-technological-innovations-that-came-out-of-the-apollo-moon-landings

Smartphone network helps uncover hundreds of anti-cancer molecules in food

A crowdsourcing project which uses thousands of idling smartphones has helped to uncover anti-cancer properties of everyday foods and medicines.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/smartphone-network-helps-uncover-hundreds-of-anti-cancer-molecules-in-food

Fast radio burst pinpointed to distant galaxy

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are among the most enigmatic and powerful events in the cosmos. Around 80 of these events—intensely bright millisecond-long bursts of radio waves coming from beyond our galaxy—have been witnessed so far, but their causes remain unknown.

* This article was originally published here

Details of UK-led solar science mission revealed

Named after a Celtic goddess of the Sun, SULIS is a UK-led solar science mission, designed to answer fundamental questions about the physics of solar storms. The mission consists of a cluster of small satellites and will carefully monitor solar storms using state-of-the-art UK technology, as well as demonstrating new technologies in space. Lead Investigator on the project, Dr. Eamon Scullion of Northumbria University, will reveal plans for the mission on Wednesday, 3 July at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Lancaster.

* This article was originally published here

Camera joins Apple band in patent for smartwatch

Camera at the end of a smartwatch strap, anyone? It is being suggested as a way to overcome some hurdles in smartwatch picture-taking.

* This article was originally published here