Walk the dinosaur: New biomechanical model shows Tyrannosaurus rex in a swinging gait

Researchers from the Netherlands have created a new approach to envision how dinosaurs walked. By modeling a T. rex tail as a suspension bridge, the scientists formed a new idea of the animal's walking speed. Trix, the tyrannosaur from Naturalis museum in the Netherlands, probably strolled slower—but with more spring in its step—than assumed. This is a first step towards more realistic dinosaur motion.

Handwashing responsible for bacteria in sinks, largest non-hospital study shows

Handwashing is shaping communities of bacteria that live and grow in the plumbing of domestic sinks, scientists have found.

Simple oral hygiene could help reduce COVID-19 severity, says study

COVID-19 could pass into people's lungs from saliva with the virus moving directly from mouth to bloodstream—particularly if individuals are suffering from gum disease, according to new research.

Simple treatment during pregnancy can protect baby from memory problems in later life

A new study in laboratory rats has discovered a direct link between low oxygen in the womb and impaired memory function in the adult offspring. It also finds that anti-oxidant supplements during pregnancy may protect against this.

US warns against travel to 80% of world due to coronavirus

The State Department on Monday urged Americans reconsider any international travel they may have planned and said it would issue specific warnings not to visit roughly 80% of the world's countries due to risks from the coronavirus pandemic.

J&J and other drugmakers go on trial over US opioid crisis

Four drugmakers, including Johnson & Johnson, went on trial Monday over claims they helped fuel the deadly opioid epidemic in the United States through deceptive marketing that downplayed the risks of addiction.

Japanese region seeks new virus emergency as Olympics near

Japan's third most populated region will on Tuesday ask the central government to impose a state of emergency over the coronavirus as infections rise just three months before the country hosts the Olympics.

United loses $1.36 billion as business travel remains weak

United Airlines posted a $1.36 billion loss in the first quarter and will need a rebound in lucrative business and international travel before it returns to profitability.

India's capital to lock down amid explosive virus surge

New Delhi imposed a weeklong lockdown Monday night to prevent the collapse of the Indian capital's health system, which authorities said had been pushed to its limit amid an explosive surge in coronavirus cases.

Mass fossil site may prove tyrannosaurs lived in packs

Ferocious tyrannosaur dinosaurs may not have been solitary predators as long envisioned, but more like social carnivores such as wolves, new research unveiled Monday found.

Apple to host virtual iPad event, may hint at new AirPods

Many of us may be suffering from virtual event fatigue after a year of video calls. But not Apple, which plans new product announcements at what seems likely to be an iPhone-less online event on Tuesday.

Scrutiny of Tesla crash a sign that regulation may be coming

The fiery crash of a Tesla near Houston with no one behind the wheel is drawing scrutiny from two federal agencies that could bring new regulation of electronic systems that take on some driving tasks.

Hospital-level care at home comparable to hospitalization for sick older adults

Hospital-level care at home with a comprehensive geriatric assessment led to similar outcomes compared with hospitalization for medically unwell older persons referred to bed-based hospital care. Advantages of at-home care included a decrease in admission to long-term residential care at 6 months and delirium at 1-month follow-up. Results of a randomized trial are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Disrupted sleep is linked to increased risk of death, particularly in women

For the first time, a study has shown a clear link between the frequency and duration of unconscious wakefulness during night-time sleep and an increased risk of dying from diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and death from any cause, particularly in women.

Omega-3 supplements do double duty in protecting against stress

A high daily dose of an omega-3 supplement may help slow the effects of aging by suppressing damage and boosting protection at the cellular level during and after a stressful event, new research suggests.

Efforts to reduce opioid prescriptions may be hindering end-of-life pain management

Policies designed to prevent the misuse of opioids may have the unintended side effect of limiting access to the pain-relieving drugs by terminally ill patients nearing the end of their life, new research led by the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy suggests.

Viking metalwork craft and expertise evolved from 8th to 9th century

The evolution of metalwork expertise and craftsmanship developed by Viking craftspeople in Denmark in the 8th and 9th centuries has been detailed in a study published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.

Science and need—not wealth or nationality—should guide vaccine allocation and prioritization

Ensuring COVID-19 vaccine access for refugee and displaced populations, and addressing health inequities, is vital for an effective pandemic response. Yet, vaccine allocation and distribution has been neither equitable nor inclusive, despite that global leaders have stressed this as a critical aspect to globally overcoming the pandemic, according to a paper published by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Read "Leave No-one Behind: Ensuring Access to COVID-19 vaccines for Refugee and Displaced Populations" in the journal Nature Medicine.

Researchers find a way to mend a broken heart

A Monash University study has uncovered for the first time a way to prevent and reverse damage caused by broken-heart syndrome, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Proportion of Black physicians in US has changed little in 120 years

A new UCLA study finds that the proportion of physicians who are Black in the U.S. has increased by only 4 percentage points over the past 120 years, and that the share of doctors who are Black men remains unchanged since 1940.

Individualized training is key for autistic adolescents learning to drive

A collaborative study from the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) and the Center for Autism Research (CAR) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) identified clear strengths and a series of specific challenges autistic adolescents experience while learning to drive. The findings were recently published by the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Flushing a public toilet? Don't linger, because aerosolized droplets do

Flushing a toilet can generate large quantities of microbe-containing aerosols depending on the design, water pressure or flushing power of the toilet. A variety of pathogens are usually found in stagnant water as well as in urine, feces and vomit. When dispersed widely through aerosolization, these pathogens can cause Ebola, norovirus that results in violent food poisoning, as well as COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.

How many Anthropocenes

The Anthropocene, in its brief but vivid history, has developed many faces. A new study from the University of Leicester suggests how these can add up to a wider understanding.

Surprising ionic and flow behaviors with functionalized nanochannels

Nanochannels have important applications in biomedicine, sensing, and many other fields. Though engineers working in the field of nanotechnology have been fabricating these tiny, tube-like structures for years, much remains unknown about their properties and behavior.

Rock glaciers will slow Himalayan ice melt

Some Himalayan glaciers are more resilient to global warming than previously predicted, new research suggests.

Understanding spoilage and quality issues may improve American artisan cheesemaking industry

American artisan cheese has become increasingly popular over the past few decades. Understanding spoilage concerns and the financial consequences of defects can improve quality, profitability, and sustainability in the American artisan cheesemaking industry. In an article appearing in the Journal of Dairy Science, scientists from Tufts University took the pulse of artisan cheese producers in the United States through an industry survey.