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Science News for December 19, 2001


Massachusetts leads the nation in unemployment growth

A new study by Northeastern University finds that Massachusetts has seen an unprecedented increase in unemployment, with the state's rate rising to over 80% in just over a year. College-educated workers are disproportionately affected, with many facing layoffs in high-tech and engineering fields.

SourceNortheastern University·DateDec 19, 2001

IBM's test-tube quantum computer makes history

Scientists at IBM's Almaden Research Center performed the first demonstration of Shor's historic factoring algorithm, solving a simple version of the mathematical problem at the heart of many data-security systems. The team controlled a billion molecules in a test tube to become a seven-qubit quantum computer.

SourceIBM Watson Research Center·JournalNature·DateDec 19, 2001
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Damping the flames: inflammation control mechanism determined

Researchers have discovered that a specific cell surface molecule senses runaway inflammation and tissue damage, allowing the body to limit excessive inflammation. The study found that the adenosine receptor plays a central role in controlling inflammation, and its dysfunction may lead to impaired inflammation regulation.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNature·DateDec 19, 2001

Fish may show how nature diversifies

Researchers at HHMI used the threespine stickleback as a model to study genetic changes that define a species. They discovered that different chromosome regions control the development of different parts of the fish skeleton and found correlations between spine lengths and genetic variation.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature·DateDec 19, 2001
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Archaeologists rewrite timeline of Bronze and Iron Ages

Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Reading have given a new kind of precision to the timeline of the Bronze and Iron Ages in the Aegean and Near East. The study, published in Science, dates certain artifacts from around 740 B.C., placing an early appearance of the alphabet outside Phoenicia at this time.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateDec 19, 2001

Gold: a metal with a silver lining

Researchers at Texas A&M University are refining a process using small gold clusters to improve materials, including textiles and antifreeze. This could lead to more efficient and environmentally superior production methods.

SourceTexas A&M University·DateDec 19, 2001

Gasoline additive interferes with alcohol breath analyzers

A study found that gasoline additives like MTBE can interfere with older breath-alcohol analyzers, but not newer models. This raises concerns about the accuracy of breath tests for people exposed to high levels of MTBE, such as workers in the gas station industry.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalForensic Science International·DateDec 19, 2001

UF study: Grandparents celebrated instead of reviled in children's lit

A recent study by UF researchers found that only three out of 64 children's books published since 1985 presented grandparents negatively, while at least one grandparent was actively involved with grandchildren in all the books. The study highlights the positive portrayal of grandparents in modern children's literature, showcasing their...

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalJournal of Family Issues·DateDec 19, 2001
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Drunken driving costs and risk measured more accurately by economists

Researchers Levitt and Porter studied fatal two-car crashes to determine the percentage of people estimated to be driving drunk. Their findings show that drivers who had been drinking were seven times more likely to cause a fatal crash than sober drivers.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalJournal of Political Economy·DateDec 19, 2001

Ibuprofen blocks aspirin’s ability to protect against heart attacks

Researchers found that taking ibuprofen daily can reduce the effectiveness of low-dose aspirin in preventing heart attacks. This interaction occurs because ibuprofen blocks aspirin from binding to the COX-1 enzyme, which is essential for platelet clotting and heart protection.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 19, 2001

Trauma survivors losing less sleep than they think

Research suggests that trauma survivors often underestimate their sleep quality and overestimate their sleep time. Studies have found that with proper treatments like progressive muscle relaxation and stimulus control, traumatic memories can be left behind without impacting sleep., Timely treatment of sleep disorders may prevent PTSD o...

SourceAmerican Society for Technion - Israel Institute of Technology·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 19, 2001