Science

Loss of Smell and Taste Reported as Early Symptoms of COVID-19 Symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, typically include a dry cough, fever and shortness of breath. But evidence is beginning to emerge from other countries and now from the UK that sudden loss of …

Early Mars Had Multiple Water Sources, New Study Shows An analysis of two Martian meteorites — Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034 and Allan Hills (ALH) 84001 — shows that Mars likely received water from at least two vastly different sources early in its history; the variability implies that Mars, unlike Earth …

Scientists Decode Genome of Sterlet Sturgeon An international team of researchers from the United States and Europe has produced the first high-quality genomic sequence for the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), a small species of sturgeon from Eurasia. The sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus). Image credit: Andreas Hartl. Sturgeons are among the oldest species …

Astronomers Go Hunting for Dark Matter in the Nearby Cosmos Scientists around the world have been speculating on dark matter for decades, but we still don’t know what the mysterious substance is. It doesn’t look like that’s changing any time soon, either. A new study from University of Michigan, Lawrence …

NASA Selects SpaceX for Lunar Gateway Cargo Missions NASA’s eventual goal to send crewed missions to Mars will be easier to accomplish if we can return to the moon, but it won’t just be to visit this time. NASA intends to construct a space station in orbit of the moon …

Researchers Create First Ultrasound Biosensor A team of scientists from Monash University and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute has developed a new biosensor that can be used inside a body and is able to emit signals that can be detected by common ultrasound scanners. Walker et al developed a …

Artificial Intelligence Identifies Potential Anti-COVID-19 Drugs Scientists from Gero Pte. Ltd., Singapore, have used a deep neural network to search for host-target acting antivirals among experimental and approved drugs with potential activity against SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease. Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated …

Researchers Find Extraterrestrial Protein in Meteorite Acfer 086 A research team led by Harvard University scientist Julie McGeoch has found a never-before-seen protein inside a meteorite called Acfer 086. A sample of Acfer 086. Image credit: McGeoch McGeoch, arXiv: 1707.09080. Acfer 086 is one of a large collection of meteorites …

MIT Develops Cheap, Open Source Ventilator for Coronavirus Treatment As the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen, medical centers around the world have started running short of vital supplies like masks, gloves, and disinfectants. Hospitals are also running critically low on ventilators, which can keep COVID-19 patients alive if the disease …

UK Plans to Roll Out 15-Minute Home Coronavirus Test Kits This Week Healthcare professionals and infectious disease experts around the world agree that extensive testing is the best way to combat coronavirus. However, the extreme shortage of COVID-19 testing kits has made that impossible. The Public Health England (PHE) just …