Lawyers used sheepskin as anti-fraud device for hundreds of years to stop fraudsters pulling the woo

Medieval and early modern lawyers chose to write on sheepskin parchment because it helped prevent fraud, new analysis suggests.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-lawyers-sheepskin-anti-fraud-device-hundreds.html

Understanding the structural and chemical heterogeneities of surface species at the single-bond limit

Advances in tip-based microscopy in materials science have allowed imaging at angstrom-scale resolution, although the technique does not provide clear characterization of the structural and chemical heterogeneities of surface species. In a new report now published on Science, Jiayu Xu and a research team in quantum information and quantum physics at the University of Science and Technology of China used a model system of pentacene derivatives on a silver surface. The researchers then combined a range of materials characterization techniques including scanning-tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy and tip-enhanced Raman scattering to provide electronic, structural and chemical information to characterize diverse, yet structurally similar chemical species relative to their interaction with the metal surface at single-bond resolution. The proposed multi-technique approach has wide applications across fundamental studies for heterogenous catalysis of surface chemistry.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-chemical-heterogeneities-surface-species-single-bond.html

NASA Ingenuity Mars helicopter prepares for first flight

Now uncocooned from its protective carbon-fiber shield, the helicopter is being readied for its next steps.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-nasa-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-flight.html

Pandora mission would expand NASA's capabilities in probing alien worlds

In the quest for habitable planets beyond our own, NASA is studying a mission concept called Pandora, which could eventually help decode the atmospheric mysteries of distant worlds in our galaxy. One of four low-cost astrophysics missions selected for further concept development under NASA's new Pioneers program, Pandora would study approximately 20 stars and exoplanets—planets outside of our solar system—to provide precise measurements of exoplanetary atmospheres.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-pandora-mission-nasa-capabilities-probing.html

Gender bias in the workplace starts with communication during recruitment

Eighty percent of jobs are communicated to people informally and these communications are often riddled with gender bias, providing a female (versus male) candidate with a less positive description of a leadership position, especially when the decision maker is more conservative. These are the findings of a new study by Ekaterina Netchaeva, of Bocconi University's Department of Management and Technology, looking at the role gender bias may play in the leadership gap between men and women.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-gender-bias-workplace.html

Ignoring climate change will lead to unprecedented, societally disruptive heat extremes in the Middle East

The Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) is a climate change hot spot where summers warm much faster than in the rest of the world. Some parts of the region are already among the hottest locations globally. A new international study led by scientists from the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center of the Cyprus Institute and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry predicts that ignoring the signals of climate change and continuing business as usual with increasing greenhouse gas emissions will lead to extreme, life-threatening heatwaves in the region. Such extraordinary heat events will have a severe impact on the people of the area.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-climate-unprecedented-societally-disruptive-extremes.html

Scientists assemble new reference genomes of mosquitoes to fight malaria

A research team from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), George Washington University and ITMO University has presented new data for studying the behavior and physiology of two types of malaria mosquitoes. This information will help find regions of the genome that are responsible for connection with the pathogen and for their feeding behavior. Research was published in GigaScience .

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-scientists-genomes-mosquitoes-malaria.html

One degree of global warming causes a 50% increase in population displacement risk

A new study shows that if the population were fixed at current levels, the risk of population displacement due to river floods would rise by ~50% for each degree of global warming. However, if population increases are taken into account, the relative global flood displacement risk is significantly higher.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-degree-global-population-displacement.html

Australians warned of deadly spider 'plague' after floods

A "plague" of the world's most venomous spiders could swarm Sydney after torrential rain and flooding, the Australian Reptile Park said Wednesday, warning that the deadly arachnids could seek refuge in homes as they escape the deluge.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-australians-deadly-spider-plague.html

NASA will attempt first off-world flight in early April

NASA is targeting early April for the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter to make the first attempt at powered, controlled flight on another planet, the space agency said Tuesday.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-nasa-off-world-flight-early-april.html

Congress to grill US internet giants over disinformation

The heads of Facebook, Google and Twitter will testify before Congress Thursday on disinformation, following a tense US election, Capitol attack and rise of a new administration seemingly intent on doing battle with Big Tech.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-congress-grill-internet-giants-disinformation.html

Australia's 'Big Wet' eases, but thousands still isolated

Rescue teams raced emergency supplies to flood-hit Australians Wednesday, as trapped residents waited for still-swollen rivers to ebb, so the long, hard clean-up can begin.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-australia-big-eases-thousands-isolated.html

California groups track face masks, gloves bound for ocean

Disposable masks, gloves and other types of personal protective equipment are safeguarding untold lives during the coronavirus pandemic. They're also creating a worldwide pollution problem, littering streets and sending an influx of harmful plastic and other waste into landfills, sewage systems and oceans.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-california-groups-track-masks-gloves.html

Prince Harry joins $1.7 bn US counseling startup

Britain's Prince Harry on Tuesday added to a growing portfolio of post-royal jobs, becoming "chief impact officer" at a San Francisco startup that provides mobile-based coaching, counseling and mentorship.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-prince-harry-bn-startup.html

Intel announces Arizona expansion as chipmaker seeks footing

Intel announced Tuesday it will build two new factories in Arizona and outsource more of its production as a new CEO looks to turnaround the struggling chipmaker.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-intel-arizona-expansion-chipmaker-footing.html

Stock trading app company Robinhood files plan to go public

Stock trading app company Robinhood said Tuesday that it has submitted a confidential plan to go public later this year.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-stock-app-company-robinhood.html

Amazon brings back former executive to run cloud business

Amazon said Tuesday that it's bringing back a former executive to run its cloud-computing unit, which has become the online shopping giant's most profitable business.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-amazon-cloud-business.html

Part of Wright brothers' 1st airplane on NASA's Mars chopper

A piece of the Wright brothers' first airplane is on Mars.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-wright-brothers-1st-airplane-nasa.html

Study finds foster youth lack critical financial skills

Most people rely on family members to help them learn how to open a bank account, find a job or create a budget, but that's often not an option for youth in foster care, according to a recent study in Child & Family Social Work.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-foster-youth-lack-critical-financial.html

How blockchain and machine learning can deliver the promise of omnichannel marketing

Researchers from University of Minnesota, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, BI Norwegian Business School, University of Michigan, National Bureau of Economic Research, and University of North Carolina published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines how advances in machine learning (ML) and blockchain can address inherent frictions in omnichannel marketing and raises many questions for practice and research.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-blockchain-machine-omnichannel.html

Deforestation, forest conversion and palm oil plantations linked to disease outbreaks

Deforestation, certain types of reforestation and commercial palm plantations correlate with increasing outbreaks of infectious disease, shows a new study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. This study offers a first global look at how changes in forest cover potentially contribute to vector-borne diseases—such as those carried by mosquitos and ticks—as well as zoonotic diseases, like COVID-19, which jumped from an animal species into humans. The expansion of palm oil plantations in particular corresponded to significant rises in vector-borne disease infections.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-deforestation-forest-conversion-palm-oil.html

Study finds new inroads in fast charging for lithium-ion batteries

Perhaps the most frustrating limitation of owning an all-electric car is how long it takes to fully charge the battery. For a Tesla, for example, it takes about 40 minutes to charge it to 80% capacity using the most powerful charging station.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-inroads-fast-lithium-ion-batteries.html