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Science News for April 26, 2006


eRHIC gets to the heart of the matter

The eRHIC facility will enable physicists to probe the matter contained within ions with high precision. Analyzing collisions between RHIC ions and eRHIC electrons can help answer fundamental questions in physics about quark-gluon interactions and nuclear spin.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·DateApr 26, 2006
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Cure for cancer worth $50 trillion

The study by Murphy and Topel reveals that life-extending procedures have a greater value than rising medical expenditures overall. The authors show that increased longevity has an economic value of $1.2 million per person, with the largest gains at birth and young age.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Political Economy·DateApr 26, 2006

Keeping amyloid - and Alzheimer's - in check

Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute have identified a crucial protein called TMP21 that regulates amyloid-beta production. By controlling the specific cleavage of APP, TMP21 helps keep amyloid-beta levels in check, preventing the formation of toxic plaques. This discovery may lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2006
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Tiny polyps gorge themselves to survive coral bleaching

Researchers discovered that some coral species can replenish energy reserves by increasing feeding rates, allowing them to recover from bleaching events. However, even resilient species face a significant threat as global warming projections suggest up to 60% of the world's coral reefs could be lost within 10-30 years.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2006

Hormone found to decrease appetite and increase activity

A recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity discovered that oxyntomodulin, a hormone, can reduce food intake and increase energy expenditure in overweight volunteers. This finding holds promise for developing a new therapy to treat obesity, shifting focus from dieting alone to increasing spontaneous activity levels.

SourceImperial College London·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateApr 26, 2006

Vaccine could be effective after exposure to Marburg virus

Researchers have developed a vaccine that prevents haemorrhagic fever developing in monkeys infected with the deadly Marburg virus. The vaccine was found to be highly effective as a post-exposure treatment, with all treated monkeys surviving for at least 80 days.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 26, 2006

MIT: Mini satellites rocketing to space station

The MIT SPHERES project aims to develop autonomous space vehicles that can maintain their positions via radio links, interacting almost constantly. The first critical test of the SPHERE is set for May 18 inside the space station, with two additional satellites scheduled to reach the station later this year.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateApr 26, 2006
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.

Dr. McCluskey receives top honor for young taste researchers

Dr. McCluskey receives the Ajinomoto Award for Young Investigators in Gustation for her work on taste bud regeneration and its relation to the immune system. She aims to understand how macrophages, a type of immune cell, affect neural function in injured nerves.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·DateApr 26, 2006

Micro-pump is cool idea for future computer chips

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new cooling system that uses a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) pump to cool electronic devices on a tiny scale. The device is integrated onto a silicon chip and can create a cooling action through electrohydrodynamics, enhancing the pumping action by up to 13 percent.

SourcePurdue University·DateApr 26, 2006

Coral reef resilience: Better feeders survive bleaching

A new study found that branching coral Montipora capitata sharpens its plankton intake when bleached, increasing its chances of recovery. The findings indicate that any coral, regardless of shape or location, can recover if it can increase feeding.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2006

MIT chemist discovers secret behind nature's medicines

A recent study by MIT chemist Catherine L. Drennan has discovered the simple secret behind how organisms create self-medications like antibiotics and anti-tumor agents. The enzyme SyrB2, which uses a smaller amino acid to bind halides, reveals an elegant simplicity in its mechanism.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2006
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.

How does your city grow? A view of urban sprawl from outer space

Researchers used high-altitude and satellite images to track land use changes nationwide, finding that more recent residential development is not any more scattered than in 1976. The study found that climate, topography, access to groundwater, roads, and municipality type play a role in urban sprawl patterns.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateApr 26, 2006

Virtual 'forest' used to measure navigation skills

Researchers used a virtual 'forest' to test navigation skills, finding that good navigators rely on internal representations of the environment rather than just visual information. The study suggests that understanding how individuals use visual and non-visual cues can inform rehabilitation protocols for people with visual impairments.

SourceAssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology·JournalJournal of Vision·DateApr 26, 2006

Aspirin shows promise in combating a common, antibiotic-induced hearing loss

Researchers found that aspirin significantly reduces the risk of hearing loss when paired with gentamicin, a commonly used antibiotic. The study, conducted in China and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed a 75% lower incidence of hearing loss in patients given aspirin compared to those receiving placebos.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 26, 2006
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Better model of deadly brain cancer

Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute have created a mouse model of medulloblastoma, a common childhood brain cancer. The study found that mice lacking the XRCC4 gene or both XRCC4 and p53 died early from tumors, which displayed genetic abnormalities characteristic of human medulloblastomas. This new model will help understand...

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 26, 2006

Gene needed for butterfly transformation also key for insects like grasshoppers

Researchers at the University of Washington discovered a regulatory gene named broad that is necessary for insect metamorphosis. The study shows that the broad gene regulates the nymphal stage in lower insects, equivalent to the pupal stage of advanced insects like butterflies.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 26, 2006

Marijuana-like compounds suppress the immune response

Researchers found that compounds binding to CB2 receptor suppress white blood cell migration, a key step in fighting infections and inflammation. This discovery suggests potential therapeutic applications for cannabinoids in treating inflammatory diseases.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateApr 26, 2006
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Technique that makes brain tumours fluoresce improves surgical outcome

Researchers have developed a new method for detecting brain tumours during surgery using a fluorescent compound, which significantly improves complete tumour removal rates (65% vs 36%) and survival rates without tumour progression (41% vs 21%). The technique has been shown to be safe with no significant difference in serious side effects.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateApr 26, 2006

Water and nanoelectronics will mix to create ultra-dense memory storage devices, researchers say

Scientists have discovered a new method to stabilize ferroelectricity in nanostructures using fragments of water, leading to ultra-dense memory storage devices with unprecedented capacities. This breakthrough could enable the creation of storage devices small enough to hold massive amounts of data, such as music or video libraries.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNano Letters·DateApr 26, 2006
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.

'Uniquely human' component of language found in gregarious birds

Researchers found that starlings can learn to distinguish between two different patterns of organizing sounds used for communication, including recursive center-embedding. This ability challenges the long-held assumption that human language is uniquely complex and computational.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2006

Training on virtual 'patient' improves carotid angiography skills

A study found that training on a virtual 'patient' improved carotid angiography skills in cardiologists, with reduced catheter errors and faster procedure times. The use of simulators provides an objective measure of performance, allowing for the tracking of individual trainees' progress and evaluation of their competence.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateApr 26, 2006

Study may explain why exercise helps heart failure patients

Researchers found that aerobic training can reverse abnormal production of certain neurohormones that cause severe symptoms of heart failure. The study suggests that exercise may be a novel non-pharmacological aid for improving functional capacity, systolic function, and quality of life in heart failure patients.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateApr 26, 2006
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.

'Banana-jawed' fossil mammal linked to rare sound-producing skill

Researchers discovered that males of the extinct species Thyrohyrax had oversized, swollen lower jaws shaped like a banana, which may have been used to produce sound. The discovery suggests that Thyrohyrax and its fossil relatives were the only mammals to use this skeletal structure for sound production.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·DateApr 26, 2006

Hyena mothers give their cubs a helpful dose of hormones

A recent study published by Michigan State University's Kay Holekamp found that alpha female hyenas have higher androgen levels during pregnancy, which influences the behavior of their cubs. As a result, the cubs exhibit more aggressive and sexual play, increasing their chances for life-success.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·DateApr 26, 2006

NASA dis-assembles and re-assembles Tropical Storm Gert

Researchers used computer simulations to recreate Tropical Storm Gert's conditions, improving model accuracy and understanding of hurricane formation. The study revealed the importance of topography in Mexico's role in helping storms form.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 26, 2006
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

New drug could reduce tissue damage after heart attack

A new compound, bis(phosphocholine)-hexane, has been designed to inhibit the effects of C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein that contributes significantly to heart attack damage. By blocking CRP's tissue-damaging effects, this potential drug may reduce mortality and scar size in patients who have experienced a heart attack.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2006

How should countries best respond to a flu pandemic?

A combination of interventions could be highly effective at reducing transmission in a flu pandemic, potentially saving many lives. School closure combined with antiviral drugs can halve the number of people getting ill.

SourceImperial College London·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2006

Like mother, like cubs

A study by Michigan State University zoology professor Kay Holekamp found that high-ranking hyena mothers pass on high levels of androgens to their offspring, making them more aggressive and sexually vigorous. This unique trait helps females secure food resources and dominate their social group.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature·DateApr 26, 2006
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.

Sludge recycling sends antiseptic soap ingredient to agriculture

Researchers found that triclocarban, used in antiseptic soap, persists in sludge and is concentrated several thousand-fold higher than in raw wastewater. The chemical's polychlorinated structure makes it resistant to degradation during wastewater treatment.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateApr 26, 2006

Cultural approach holds the key to tackling obesity, says Yale research

A Yale University review of key papers found that Black American women define obesity positively, relating it to attractiveness and self-esteem, while White American women view it negatively, associating it with unattractiveness and decreased self-esteem. The study highlights the importance of culturally sensitive approaches to address...

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalJournal of Advanced Nursing·DateApr 26, 2006
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.