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Science News Archive March 2003


Page 6 of 10

Clouds mitigate effects of warming on arctic

Researchers found that Arctic clouds and climate conditions produce a cooling effect, possibly offsetting global warming's effects. Cloud forcing, which depends on interactions among climate factors, played a crucial role in this process.

Global warming could trigger cascade of climatic changes

A new study found that global warming could lead to abrupt changes in climate and sea level, with potential societal disruptions. The researchers discovered an Antarctic melting event that raised sea levels by 70 feet in under 500 years, causing widespread warming in the Northern Hemisphere.

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.

Space infrared telescope arrives at Cape Canaveral

The SIRTF is designed to peer into deep regions of the universe not visible optically, providing clues to star and galaxy formation. With its infrared spectrograph, it will observe ultrafrigid stars and penetrate obscuring dust in the cosmos.

Potential blood test for colon cancer risk

A new study identifies a genetic marker in blood samples that may indicate an increased risk of colon cancer. The researchers found that individuals with a family history of colon cancer, polyps, or personal history of the disease were more likely to have this marker in their blood.

Controlling 'badly' behaving neurons may ease Parkinson's disease

Researchers have discovered a way to control 'badly' behaving neurons in Parkinson's disease, potentially easing symptoms and progression. By blocking potassium channels or eliminating the subunit using gene therapy, high-frequency spiking can be stopped, preserving normal neuronal activity.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

'Sleep debts' accrue when nightly sleep totals six hours or fewer

Research at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that sleeping six hours or fewer per night leads to significant cognitive performance deficits. Even if individuals don't feel overtly sleepy, chronic sleep restriction can impair neurobiological functioning and increase the risk of accidents.

Crystals on a ball

Researchers have discovered that spherical crystals develop unique 'scar' defects to compensate for the curved surface, allowing them to pack in place. The findings, supported by experiments with water droplets and tiny beads, provide insights into how such structures form and persist in nature.

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.

Deep-sea ecosystem engineers

Tube worm aggregations, created by Lamellibrachia luymesi, provide habitat for deep-sea animals with lower sulfide tolerances. These ecosystems persist for centuries, taking up high quantities of sulfide from seep sediments.

Personal chemical agent detector ready for trials

A new personal chemical agent detector has been developed using a hybrid of sensor technologies, offering high sensitivity and fast reaction time. The device is reusable, can differentiate between warfare agent threats and background environments, and requires minimal power.

Diamond in the rough...and on the chip

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a stable, DNA-modified diamond film that can detect biological molecules with high accuracy. The sensor, which is about the size of a postage stamp, has the potential to be used in early warning systems for defense against biological weapons.

USC researchers uncover age discrimination in secretory cells

Researchers found that newly made vesicles immediately head to the cell membrane, bypassing older vesicles, which could have implications for diseases like diabetes. The study sheds light on the processing of vesicles in secretory cells and their role in secretion.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Prehistoric art gets the modern touch

Northumberland is renowned for its rich collection of prehistoric rock art, with up to 500 examples still existing in the field. A new website featuring the archive will display information at varying levels of complexity, providing valuable research and teaching resources.

It’s not you that makes vision mistakes, it’s your brain

A recent study by David Heeger and David Ress of NYU found that brain activity in the visual cortex corresponds to subjects' precepts, not the physically presented stimulus. This suggests that distortions occur at the first stages of brain processing and may shed light on conditions like amblyopia.

Virtual observatory prototype produces surprise discovery

The National Virtual Observatory (NVO) has confirmed the discovery of a new brown dwarf, one of only 200 known to science. This breakthrough came from a computerized search of millions of astronomical objects in two separate databases, showcasing the potential of NVO to uncover new findings quickly.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

The language of war

SpeechGear's Compadre language translation technology offers simultaneous two-way translation of spoken language, generating written records and handling nuances of language translation. The system connects to a remote server for massive computing power, enabling seamless verbal communication with individuals speaking different languages.

Pulsar bursts coming from beachball-sized structures

Researchers discovered pulsar bursts coming from beachball-sized structures in the Crab Nebula, a cloud of debris from a supernova. The structure's small size is inconsistent with all but one proposed theory for generating radio emission.

Good things, small packages

Researchers at Binghamton University's IEEC are working on developing small-scale electronics, including microelectric mechanical systems and nanostructured materials. The goal is to create next-generation products with advanced technology, rather than lower cost manufacturing.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

UNC to test new assist device for failed livers

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is conducting a clinical trial on a bio-artificial technology called ELAD, which uses functioning human hepatocytes to help patients with acute liver failure. The device has shown promising results in extending the lives of those awaiting a donor liver and may even allow the damaged liver...

$124 million for Cornell accelerator research

The National Science Foundation approves a major change in LEPP's investigation into elementary particles, shifting focus to charm quark physics. Physicists will make precision measurements of the strong force using CESR and CLEO facilities.

Book studies dual-career couples, employer policies

A new book by Phyllis Moen and Cornell University's Couples and Careers Study highlights the need for more flexible career paths to support dual-career couples. The study found that most two-career couples are experiencing stress due to managing multiple jobs, work schedules, and family responsibilities.

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.

Single dose oral smallpox drug shown effective in cowpox-infected mice

Researchers at University of California - San Diego develop new compound cidofovir analogs to treat poxvirus infections, showing effectiveness in preventing death and maintaining efficacy when given prior or after infection. The study found two compounds, HDP-CDV and ODE-CDV, to be most effective against lethal cowpox infection.

Hand-portable device detects biological agents

A new PCR device, called Razor TM , weighs only 8 pounds and can analyze 12 samples in 22 minutes running on battery power. This portable device has multiple uses in diagnostics and environmental testing due to its ease of use and portability.

Researchers study women's risk of rape in military

A study involving over 500 female veterans found that workplace factors, such as superior behavior, were highly associated with the risk of sexual assault during military service. The research highlights the need for interventions and policies to increase the safety of women in the workplace.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Problems plague health networks

Healthcare networks have struggled to deliver high-quality care at lower costs due to structural problems with information systems and functional failures in creating a new culture. Despite the potential for improved efficiencies, many networks have failed to address these issues, leading to under-performance on a national level.

Interferons effective against smallpox

Researchers found that administering interferon alpha and gamma intranasally provided nearly full protection (over 95%) against a lethal vaccinia virus infection in mice. This suggests potential implications for using interferons as a prophylactic tool in aerosol orthopoxvirus infections.

First step towards detecting exposure to biowarfare agents

Researchers have identified unique gene expression patterns in human cells after exposure to 8 different biothreat agents, enabling rapid detection of potentially exposed individuals. The study's findings offer possibilities for utilizing host gene expression responses for early illness prediction.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings study finds little variance in survival

A Mayo Clinic Proceedings study found that overall mortality is not increased among community patients with anorexia nervosa. However, deaths do occur, and further research is needed to define the association of suicide and alcoholism in these patients. The study adds to the knowledge of anorexia nervosa's long-term consequences.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Bacterial viruses make cheap easy vaccines

Researchers developed a method using bacteriophages to deliver vaccine components, offering advantages over traditional naked DNA vaccines. The technique has significant production and storage benefits, making it an attractive solution for addressing sudden vaccine demands.

Whiplash pain is common, usually mild, and long-lasting

A study of 141 whiplash patients and 40 ankle injury patients found that whiplash pain was more frequent but similar in intensity to ankle injuries. Pain improved significantly over time, with most patients returning to work within a year.

Dinosaur, crab fossils reveal ecosystem secrets

A team of geologists has discovered a crab fossil within inches of a massive plant-eating dinosaur fossil in Egypt. The find, dating back to the Cretaceous Period, sheds light on the ecosystem where these species coexisted, revealing a diverse array of organisms including fish, sharks, and turtles.

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.

Five female chemists win 2003 American Chemical Society national awards

This year's winners include Jacqueline K. Barton, Jillian A. Buriak, Linda K. Ford, Martha Greenblatt, and Madeleine Jacobs, who have made significant contributions to biomimetic chemistry, semiconductor surface chemistry, high school chemistry teaching, solid-state materials science, and encouraging women into careers in the chemical ...

Making a safer anthrax vaccine using spinach

Researchers genetically engineered tobacco mosaic virus to instruct spinach plants to manufacture protective antigen fragments, which can be easily purified and used in a vaccine. The resulting subunit vaccine has shown promise as a more efficacious and safer alternative to existing anthrax vaccines.

Medication protects patients with peanut allergies

A new anti-IgE antibody has shown promise in preventing severe allergic reactions to peanuts. The treatment increased patients' threshold sensitivity to peanut flour, allowing them to consume more without a reaction.

Combination therapy improves anthrax survival

Researchers developed a treatment strategy that combines antibiotics to kill infection with protective antigen antibodies to prevent toxin damage, achieving 100% survival in animal models. The approach addresses the limitations of current antibiotic-only treatments, which only cure 50% of infected animals.

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.

MIT study: Hydrogen car no environmental panacea

The MIT study concludes that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are not an environmentally friendly solution due to energy consumption and emissions. Hybrid vehicles, on the other hand, offer a more efficient approach, reducing energy use and emissions by a third compared to current vehicles.

Smell, emotion processor in brain may be altered in depressed patients

A study found that depressed patients' brains respond differently to smells and visual stimuli compared to healthy individuals. The researchers suggest that alterations in the orbitofrontal cortex and amygdala may contribute to the reduced sense of smell and intensified emotions in depression.

PET predicts response to Paxil in study

Researchers used PET scans to predict treatment response in OCD and depression patients, finding distinct brain activity patterns associated with improvement. The study demonstrates the potential of functional brain imaging to tailor psychiatric care, with implications for accelerating treatment discovery.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Most young women retain 'traditional' view of family life

A study by sociologists at the University of Bristol found that young women in their 20s and 30s tend to hold traditional views on family life. Many prioritize motherhood and a close relationship with their mothers, even if they have career aspirations. The researchers also identified four distinct career patterns among young adults: '...

Scientists' transgenic chicken aids embryo research

Researchers at North Carolina State University have successfully created a line of transgenic chickens carrying a reporter gene that can be easily tracked. This innovation provides a valuable tool for studying embryo development and potentially leads to new insights into birth defects and improvements in human and animal health.

Calcification in heart valve increases risk of heart attack or death

A new study found that calcification in heart valves is independently associated with an increased risk of heart attack and death. After adjusting for known risk factors, the researchers found that individuals with MAC were 50% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and 60% more likely to die from cardiovascular causes.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.