Mature trees could be less effective at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than previously thought, suggesting Earth may be closer to climate tipping point Scientists in Australia measured the capacity of mature trees to absorb CO2 They found that while the trees absorbed CO2, they didn’t hold on to it The CO2 ended up … Read more
An NHS contact-tracing app would only completely stop the spread of coronavirus if 80 per cent of current smartphone owners use it, researchers have warned. The team from the University of Oxford simulated how COVID-19 might spread in order to support the development of contact-tracing apps across Europe. However, a previous survey of potential contact-tracing … Read more
Computer users donating spare processing power in the search for a coronavirus vaccine accidentally create the world’s fastest supercomputer more powerful the then next 500 machines combined Folding@Home is an app people install on their computers to donate resources It allows thousands of machines to work together to solve complicated issues It allows them to … Read more
ESA satellite images reveal the once bustling waterways of Venice are now empty during the coronavirus lockdown in Italy Italy was deemed the epicenter of the coronavirus in all of Europe Officials quickly implemented a lockdown on March 9 to limit the spread ESA shared images of Venice from this month and compared it with … Read more
A British teenager born with only one hand is learning to ride a bike after being fitted with the world’s first medically-certified 3D-printed bionic hand. Fourteen-year-old Aimee Ashton, a talented art student from Hull, was born with part of her arm missing and no left hand. Aimee had previously used prosthetic arms but stopped using … Read more
Coming out of lockdown too soon could be catastrophic and lead to an explosion of new coronavirus cases, according to a study modelling the spread of the virus. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) created a model showing the spread of the deadly virus using publicly available data from Wuhan, Italy and South … Read more
Ford is trialling wristbands that vibrate when employees come within six feet of each other to ensure social distancing in its factories during the coronavirus crisis Ford is reportedly trialling the vibrating bracelets on a dozen employees Staff will be buzzed by the accessory if they come within 6ft of someone else The trial at a … Read more
Dancing with your grandma for 15 minutes a week ‘promotes positive feelings and improves her state of mind’, study claims Scientists asked 16 dance therapy instructors to partner with their grandmother Found a weekly 10-15 minute session had a dramatic impact on mental wellbeing Grandmothers in the project reported a better state of mind and … Read more
Some animals are genetically predisposed to die before reaching old age to benefit the rest of the colony, according to a new British study. Caenorhabditis elegans, a roundworm that shares genetic traits with humans, is programmed to die early to reduce its colony’s demand for food, scientists say. These organisms possess a genetic ‘self-destruct programme’, … Read more
Using a paper towel to dry your hands is ‘substantially’ more effective at removing viruses like coronavirus than a hand dryer, according to a new study. Scientists from the University of Leeds investigated whether the way people dry their hands in a public toilet made a difference to the way COVID-19 is transmitted. They found … Read more