Researchers discover how bacteria cause infections
Reading Time: 2 minutesUNIVERSITY of Montana (UM)researchers have published new insights in the journal Science on how bacteria cause infections, which may help with future infection treatments. Rather than studying bacteria, the researchers studied viruses that infect pathogenic bacteria, known as bacteriophages, as part of a National Institutes of Health grant to help develop a vaccine against bacterial […]
‘Astrocomb’ opens new horizons for planet-hunting telescope
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE hunt for Earth-like planets, and perhaps extraterrestrial life, just got more precise, thanks to record-setting starlight measurements made possible by a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) “astrocomb.” NIST’s custom-made frequency comb — which precisely measures frequencies, or colors, of light —ensures the precision of starlight analysis by an instrument called a spectrograph […]
How does a human calculator work?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteMALAYSIAN ‘human calculator’ Yaashwin Sarawanan (pix) finished second in the finals of Asia’s Got Talent 2019 competition recently. We are all fascinated with his astounding feats of mental agility. The “ordinary” human like us wants to know how, but sadly the geniuses can only offer fragments of insight into how they function, and the scientists […]
Clues to Martian life found in Chilean desert
Reading Time: 2 minutesA ROBOTIC rover deployed in the most Mars-like environment on Earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile, has successfully recovered subsurface soil samples during a trial mission to find signs of life. The samples contained unusual and highly specialised microbes that were distributed in patches, which researchers linked to the limited water availability, scarce nutrients and […]
Science carnival to bring parents, children together
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE Sunway Nexis Mall at Kota Damansara is all set to come alive with a carnival that aims to raise science awareness and interest among parents and children. It will also provide an opportunity for parents and children to interact and engage themselves in the many fun-filled learning activities. According to the organising committee chairperson […]
Sumatran rhinos ‘go missing’ in Sabah
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) has not been seen in Sabah for a long time. This, is according to studies conducted at the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve and Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Lahad Datu. Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew said the studies were collaborations between the ministry, through the Wildlife […]
Predicting the endgame in dengue
Reading Time: 2 minutesRESEARCHERS in Malaysia have identified two markers, obtained by a simple blood test, that might help with the early detection of mortality risk from severe dengue infection. Such information can help identify those at greatest risk faster, helping clinicians prioritise limited resources. The mosquito-borne dengue infection has been a problem in Malaysia for over a […]