Strange fruit: How Billie Holiday’s performance of the anti-lynching song politicized Black consciousness

Billie Holiday’s recording of the anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit” has stirred and haunted generations of listeners. A new article in the Journal of African American History, titled “Professional Mourning: Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’ and the Remaking of Black Consciousness,” presents a detailed history of the song and argues that Holiday’s rendition, released in the 1930s,…

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Proteins modified in lungs offer clues to biological functions of bromine

Researchers at the Center for Research on Redox Processes in Biomedicine (Redoxome) in Brazil have identified extracellular matrix proteins modified by the action of hypobromous acid in normal and fibrotic lung tissues, suggesting a possible physiological role for protein bromination. This is the first study to identify brominated proteins in pulmonary fibrosis and non-fibrotic lung…

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Study unveils strategy for improving mechanical properties of aluminum composites

Particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites (PRAMCs), in which the aluminum matrix is reinforced with nanoparticles, exhibit great potential for applications in the aerospace and automobile industries. These materials combine the advantages of both aluminum matrix and reinforcement particles, including high specific strength, high specific modulus, and good wear resistance. Particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites (PRAMCs), in which the…

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A research team is developing a method to recycle more plastics

Despite consumer efforts to sort and separate recyclables, most plastic bottles still end up in the landfill. Standard recycling methods to sort, shred and remake plastics are limited to just type-1 and type-2 plastics—basically only soda bottles, water bottles and milk jugs. Despite consumer efforts to sort and separate recyclables, most plastic bottles still end up…

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Study: Grocery shopping habits prove credit worthiness, aiding those without credit history

Recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, coupled with the evolution of large-scale data storage, access and processing technologies, have fueled interest among financial institutions in new data sources for credit scoring. Recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, coupled with the evolution of large-scale data storage, access and processing technologies, have fueled interest…

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Community science volunteers can set scientific world abuzz with new bumble bee sightings

Community science volunteers—laypeople with an interest in bees and conservation—significantly contribute to the scientific knowledge of native bumble bees across Canada and the United States, finds a new study by York University. Community science volunteers—laypeople with an interest in bees and conservation—significantly contribute to the scientific knowledge of native bumble bees across Canada and the United…

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