Kangaroos can intentionally communicate with humans, research reveals

Animals that have never been domesticated, such as kangaroos, can intentionally communicate with humans, challenging the notion that this behavior is usually restricted to domesticated animals like dogs, horses or goats, according to a first-of-its-kind study from the University of Roehampton and the University of Sydney.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-kangaroos-intentionally-humans-reveals.html

A new method for the functionalization of graphene

An international research team involving Professor Federico Rosei of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has demonstrated a novel process to modify the structure and properties of graphene. This chemical reaction, known as photocycloaddition, modifies the bonds between atoms using ultraviolet light. The results of the study were recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Chemistry.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-method-functionalization-graphene.html

New permafrost thermal stability map better describes the permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau (TP), which is sometimes called "Earth's third pole," is the highest and most extensive plateau in the world. TP is well known as the "Asian water tower," as it is the largest permafrost region among middle- and low-latitude regions in the world. The average temperature of permafrost on the TP is approximately -2 C, this warm permafrost is more sensitive to climate change and human disturbance than that in Arctic. However, the degradation of permafrost may affect the stability of this region. Mapping the permafrost on the TP is therefore of critical importance.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-permafrost-thermal-stability-tibetan-plateau.html

Semiconductor material analysis made possible with artificial intelligence

Studies on spintronics, which deal with the intrinsic spin of electrons and the field of electronic engineering, are actively conducted to address the limitations of the integration level of silicon semiconductors currently in use and to develop ultra-low-power and high-performance next-generation semiconductors. Magnetic materials are one of the most commonly used materials to develop spintronics devices such as magneto-resistive random-access memory (MRAM). Therefore, it is essential to accurately identify properties of the magnetic materials, such as thermal stability, dynamic behaviors and the ground state configuration, through the analysis of the magnetic Hamiltonian and its parameters.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-semiconductor-material-analysis-artificial-intelligence.html

Bolstered by pandemic, tech titans face growing scrutiny

Accelerating the transition to an ever more digital life, the coronavirus pandemic has tightened tech giants' grip on billions of customers' lives.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-bolstered-pandemic-tech-titans-scrutiny.html

Australia watchdog sues Facebook over 'misleading' VPN app

Australia's consumer watchdog launched legal action against Facebook on Wednesday, alleging the social media giant "misled" thousands of Australians by collecting user data from a free VPN service advertised as private.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-australia-watchdog-sues-facebook-vpn.html

Babbler bird falls into climate change trap

Animals can fall into an "ecological trap" by altering their behavior in the "wrong direction" in response to climate change, researchers say.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-babbler-bird-falls-climate.html

Hack brings unwanted attention to obscure but vital IT firm

Before this week, few people were aware of SolarWinds, a Texas-based software company providing vital computer network monitoring services to corporations and government agencies around the world.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-hack-unwanted-attention-obscure-vital.html

2020 emissions: precedent-setting or bucking the trend?

For a few moments in late April of 2020, oil—normally the lifeblood of the world economy—became more expensive to store than to pay someone to take it away.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-emissions-precedent-setting-bucking-trend.html

Lab-grown meat to make historic debut at Singapore restaurant

Lab-grown chicken meat will make its debut at a Singapore restaurant in a culinary first this weekend after the company behind the product announced its inaugural sale Wednesday.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-lab-grown-meat-historic-debut-singapore.html

Gig economy workers say they can no longer survive

Whether in Paris, Kuala Lumpur or California, gig economy workers fear they can no longer survive on meagre earnings from jobs that leave them increasingly vulnerable.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-gig-economy-workers-longer-survive.html

Fijians told to seek shelter as super cyclone closes in

Fijians living in the path of an approaching super cyclone were told to hunker down at home or flee to emergency shelters immediately on Wednesday, as authorities warned the storm has the potential to uproot buildings and cause mass destruction.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-fijians-told-super-cyclone.html

Hack may have exposed deep US secrets; damage yet unknown

Some of America's most deeply held secrets may have been stolen in a disciplined, monthslong operation being blamed on elite Russian government hackers. The possibilities of what might have been purloined are mind-boggling.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-hack-exposed-deep-secrets-unknown.html

Google hires new personnel head amid rising worker tensions

Google has hired a top executive from pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to oversee its personnel policies amid ongoing tensions with many employees who are upset with the company's policies.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-google-hires-personnel-worker-tensions.html

China prepares for return of lunar probe with moon samples

Chinese ground crews are standing by for the return of a lunar probe bringing back the first fresh samples of rock and debris from the moon in more than 45 years.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-china-lunar-probe-moon-samples.html

Honda recalls 1.4M US vehicles for software, other problems

Honda is recalling over 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S. to repair drive shafts that can break, window switches that can overheat and a software flaw.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-honda-recalls-14m-vehicles-software.html

Researchers turn DNA detectives to aid rhino poaching prosecutions with forensic evidence

Researchers at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), have, for the first time, used unique DNA markers to provide forensic evidence for alleged poaching cases involving the Indian rhino.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-dna-aid-rhino-poaching-prosecutions.html

Male bats with high testosterone levels have large forearm crusts when females are fertile

Males may put a lot of effort into attracting females. Male peacocks flaunt eye-catching trains, but male bats, because they are active at night, may rely on females' sense of smell to draw them in. Three years ago, Victoria Flores, a predoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama, discovered that male fringed-lipped bats often have a sweet-smelling, crusty substance on their forearms. Because only males had crusts and primarily exhibited these crusts during the putative reproductive season, Flores speculated that crusts might play a role in mating. Now Mariana Muñoz-Romo, postdoctoral fellow at STRI and National Geographic Explorer, and her colleagues have evidence to prove it.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-male-high-testosterone-large-forearm.html

Tepary beans—a versatile and sustainable native crop

Agriculture accounts for more than a third of water use in the United States. In drier parts of the country, like the southwestern U.S., that fraction can be much higher. For example, more than 75% of New Mexico's water use is for agriculture.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-tepary-beansa-versatile-sustainable-native.html

Microbes in dental plaque look more like relatives in soil than those on the tongue

From the perspective of A. Murat Eren, Ph.D., the mouth is the perfect place to study microbial communities. "Not only is it the beginning of the GI tract, but it's also a very special and small environment that's microbially diverse enough that we can really start to answer interesting questions about microbiomes and their evolution," said Eren, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-microbes-dental-plaque-relatives-soil.html

The phantom chorus: birdsong boosts human well-being in protected areas

If you thought your morning hike was contributing to your wellbeing, a new study shows that you're right, especially if our avian friends were singing while you strolled.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-phantom-chorus-birdsong-boosts-human.html

New research highlights impacts of weedkiller on wildlife

Prolonged exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of the weedkiller Roundup causes significant harm to keystone species according to new research at the University of Birmingham.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-highlights-impacts-weedkiller-wildlife.html