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Science News Archive November 2002


Page 3 of 8

Brain's method of merging input depends on which senses supply it

Researchers found that when sensory cues from hands and eyes differ, the brain splits the difference to create a single percept, weighing individual senses differently. The brain maintains three separate representations of an object's properties, prioritizing combined visual and haptic cues over conflicting signals.

Black holes in a double pack

Astronomers detected two active black holes at the center of galaxy NGC 6240 using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The binary black hole system will eventually merge, producing massive gravitational waves detectable by LISA.

Statins benefit older people

A recent study found that pravastatin treatment reduced coronary death, non-fatal heart attack, and fatal or non-fatal stroke by 15% in adults aged 70-82. The benefits were most pronounced for reducing death from heart disease, with a nearly 25% relative risk reduction.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Phase transition in bilayers could affect their performance

Researchers found that phase transition in bilayers causes substantial tearing, resulting in foam-like defects that affect device performance and long-term storage. The study's findings have significant implications for the development of supported bilayer-based materials and applications such as biosensors.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Employers are slow to adopt family-friendly and employee-friendly policies

A survey by the Economic & Social Research Council found that many employers are reluctant to offer innovative non-financial benefits, such as day care programs or financial assistance for childcare. Only a few percent of establishments planned to introduce improvements in these areas in the next year.

To thin or not to thin

Forest thinning may improve plant diversity and support animal habitats if done correctly, according to USGS-funded research. The study found that selective thinning of dense young forests can promote the growth of hardwoods, large trees, and old-growth characteristics.

Warming study indicates water problems in the West

Climate change is expected to exacerbate existing water problems in the West, impacting hydroelectric power, salmon runs, and water supply deliveries. The region's water resources are already stretched to their limits, with little room for changes in current allocations.

Unearthing the San Andreas fault zone

Researchers have made key findings about the San Andreas fault system, predicting major earthquakes within 30 years for certain areas. The study, which analyzed paleoseismic data from 10 sites, suggests that at least 120 miles of the southernmost section of the fault may rupture in a large earthquake of magnitude 7.6 to 7.8.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Genetic clash doubles schizophrenia risk

A new study by UCLA researchers found that Rh-incompatible mothers are more than twice as likely to have children with schizophrenia. The study mapped genetic data from 181 Finnish families and discovered a significant link between the RHD gene and schizophrenia risk.

Rice Connexions program receives funding from Hewlett Foundation

The Rice Connexions program is expanding its offerings with new software tools and partnerships, making high-quality educational content freely available worldwide. The project aims to empower diverse cultural communities and break down barriers between academic disciplines through a collaborative approach to teaching materials.

Young mothers' marital status not age, linked to later depression

Researchers found that living in a female-headed family at age 14, having low self-esteem, and poor verbal/math skills predicted depressive symptoms in young adulthood. The study also highlighted the need to disentangle women's marital status from their age at first birth.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Getting the jump on hackers

Virginia Tech researchers are working on ways to protect battery-operated computers and wireless devices from hacking attempts that can drain their batteries. The project aims to develop built-in measures to prevent such attacks, which could become a major concern for the wireless industry.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Major herpes vaccine trial launched in women

A major herpes vaccine trial is underway for women to prevent genital herpes, with over 70% of HSV-1 and HSV-2 negative women showing protection against the disease. The trial aims to recruit thousands of HSV-negative women to test the efficacy of a subunit vaccine containing a piece of the virus outer coat.

Lack of harmony in European clinical trial regulations is hurting patients

The lack of harmonization in European clinical trial regulations is jeopardizing progress in state-of-the-art treatment strategies, denying patients the benefits of advances. This is particularly concerning in complex fields like cancer research, where multi-disciplinary and multi-modality treatment is required.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Sleep apnea linked to early brain damage

Researchers found dramatic gray matter loss in the brains of men with sleep apnea, primarily in regions controlling speech production, movement, and emotion. The severity of brain damage correlated directly with disorder severity, suggesting that early brain wiring abnormalities may contribute to sleep apnea onset.

Want hypertension? Hurry up!

A pioneering study found that time urgency and impatience during young adulthood are associated with increased risk of developing hypertension years later. The strongest link was seen among white men, who were more than three times as likely to develop high blood pressure as those in lower TUI groups.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Ag economist calculates value of knowing that food's safe

A study by Purdue economist William Masters found that African mothers are willing to pay a premium of 30% for infant food with guaranteed quality and safety information. This could lead to reduced child malnutrition rates if generic options were made available, saving up to 6 million lives annually.

First potentially clinically useful independent marker for lung cancer identified

A study by researchers at the H.Lee Moffitt Cancer Center has identified the ERCC1 gene as a potentially clinically useful independent marker for lung cancer. Patients with high levels of ERCC1 are more likely to survive after surgery and may benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy, while those with low levels have a poorer prognosis.

Drug combination opens clogged arteries faster, keeps them open longer

Duke University Medical Center researchers found that a new drug combination, combining eptifibatide and tenecteplase, speeds up and sustains restored blood flow to the heart. The study showed significant improvements in ECG readings, with patients receiving the combination therapy returning to stable levels within 55 minutes.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

$750,000 NYSTAR grant for biosensor development

Craighead's research focuses on developing chip-based chemical and biochemical analysis systems with high-speed capabilities. He aims to create rapid medical diagnosis or environmental monitoring tools using microfluidic systems and engineered nanostructures.

Terrorist attacks increased dangerous irregular heartbeats

A study of ICD patients found a significant increase in dangerous irregular heartbeats after a terrorist attack, highlighting the impact of stress on the heart. The rate of ICD discharges remained elevated for a month following the attack.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

First results from novel anti-angiogenic drug trial in patients

A Phase I study of the novel anti-angiogenic drug SU011248 showed promising results in patients with advanced cancers that had failed to respond to other therapies. The drug demonstrated activity in a range of tumour types, including renal and gastrointestinal cancers, but did not show efficacy against brain metastases.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Heart devices, transplants have similar costs; what will we pay?

A landmark study found that left-ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for heart failure patients cost $196,699, similar to liver transplantation ($250,000). The device has been shown to significantly improve survival and quality of life. Improving management of these critically ill patients could reduce costs.

UF study suggests schools boost empty calories to raise test scores

School districts that fed students more empty calories on test days showed significant improvements in test scores, particularly among schools threatened with sanctions. The study found a link between calorie increase and higher pass rates in math and English, but no long-term benefits.

Ovarian cancer detected in blood samples

Researchers used digital SNP analysis to detect ovarian cancer in 87% of early-stage and 95% of late-stage patients, with high total DNA amounts found in most cancer cases. The test holds promise for improved detection in a wide range of cancers.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

The growing Staphylococcus aureus arsenal

The study reveals the role of Map in promoting S. aureus persistence and survival in infected mice by interfering with T cell function. Researchers warn that the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains poses a significant threat to public health.

ACS grant to study estrogen's role in breast cancer

Researchers at Cornell University aim to learn how enzymes modify estrogen receptors, potentially leading to better diagnostic and therapeutic options for breast cancer patients. The study aims to clarify the molecular details of the estrogen-signaling pathway in normal and diseased tissues.

Economists may have much to offer child development experts

Child development experts may benefit from economists' tools to analyze the effect of resources on key outcomes like schooling, illness, and death. Economists can help broaden perspective on issues like day care by incorporating family resources and preferences into their models.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Diverse employment in Europe

The study reveals striking differences in employment rates across Europe, with Greece having ten times more people working in agriculture than the UK. Non-working households are common in many EU countries, but married women's employment rates do not affect this trend.

American Heart Association statement on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet study

The American Heart Association strongly criticizes a new study on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets, citing its tiny sample size and short duration. The organization emphasizes that there is no single 'diet' but rather a set of guidelines for a healthy dietary pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources.

Targeting bone metastasis and hypercalcemia

Researchers have identified two compounds that inhibit PTHrP production, reducing metastatic bone breakdown and tumor burden. The findings suggest potential therapeutic benefits for treating both bone metastasis and hypercalcemia in breast cancer patients.

US child care seriously lags behind that of Europe

The US child-care system faces significant shortcomings, including fragmented funding, low quality of care, and limited access to education-focused models. European countries offer alternative models, such as France's free public childcare system and Denmark's focus on working parents.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Robotic heart surgery: making repairs without lifting the hood

A team of surgeons successfully repaired the hearts of patients with atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale using robotic arms, resulting in faster recovery times and less scarring compared to traditional open-heart surgery. The new procedure uses minimally invasive technology, allowing for a three-inch incision instead of a foot...

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.