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Science News for March 23, 2006


Do older people quit smoking for the wrong reasons?

The study suggests that factors like lack of transportation, poor financial situation, and dementia might contribute to smoking cessation in older smokers. Despite the potential benefits, quitting smoking at an advanced age can significantly lower the risk of death.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateMar 23, 2006
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

The 'oxygen imperative'

Oxygen is essential for the development of complex biochemical networks that enable organisms to convert food into energy. The study found that even simple networks had anoxic pathways common to all life, but oxygen was necessary for higher life forms to evolve.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

Polar melting may raise sea level sooner than expected

New research suggests that polar melting could accelerate global sea level rise by at least 20 feet, exceeding previous predictions. The study links Arctic and Antarctic melting during the Last Interglaciation, indicating a potential future sea level rise of four-to-six meters.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

There's water under the desert – but it's hardly being used

A hydrological mapping study found that the Judea Group Aquifer in Israel's desert has an average yearly volume of 100 million cubic meters, with only 20% currently used. The remaining water could supply 5% of Israel's total freshwater needs and meet the potable water needs of several towns at a lower cost.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalJournal of Hydrology·DateMar 23, 2006
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Glimpse to past adds weight to global warming forecasts

A team of researchers recreated climatic conditions 130,000 years ago using a climate model, which showed that it can accurately simulate extreme conditions similar to those caused by man-made carbon dioxide emissions. This study provides more confidence in the reliability of future climate change projections.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

New RNAi tools enable systematic studies of gene function

A new RNAi toolset enables researchers to systematically study thousands of genes, revealing previously unknown growth regulators and confirming the library's sensitivity. The toolset, developed by a public-private partnership, is now available to all genetic researchers.

SourceBroad Institute of MIT and Harvard·JournalCell·DateMar 23, 2006

Junk DNA may not be so junky after all

Scientists have identified human enhancers able to control expression consistent with the zebrafish ret gene, shedding light on Hirschsprung disease and multiple endocrine neoplasia. The new system uses zebrafish to test mammalian DNA and is a significant advance over current methods.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

Renaissance of medicine in the Middle East needed

The Lancet highlights efforts to eliminate infectious diseases and promote healthy change in the Middle East. Global interest in health can be used to forge partnerships and depoliticize the region, catalyzing a renaissance of medicine.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMar 23, 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.

Mars meteorite similar to bacteria-etched earth rocks

A Mars meteorite containing tiny burrows has been discovered, sparking interest in the search for life beyond Earth. The discovery, published in Astrobiology journal, suggests that Martian rock formations may be similar to those created by bacteria on Earth.

SourceOregon State University·JournalAstrobiology·DateMar 23, 2006

Greenland's glaciers pick up pace in surge toward the sea

Scientists have detected a significant increase in glacier quakes and calving events in Greenland, suggesting that the ice is accelerating towards the sea. The researchers hypothesize that the ice is slipping on growing pockets of meltwater, which could be triggered by calving events or stick-slip processes.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

Newer form of cardiac imaging providing better look at heart

The study found that TEE significantly impacted the treatment or evaluation of patients with stroke entities in 22 to 32 percent of individuals, demonstrating improved care. This research has led to increased utilization of TEE in diagnosing stroke, transient ischemic attack, and peripheral embolism.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEchocardiography·DateMar 23, 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.

Arctic, antarctic melting may raise sea levels faster than expected

Researchers Bette Otto-Bliesner and Jonathan Overpeck base their findings on data from ancient coral reefs, ice cores, and other natural climate records. The Community Climate System Model (CCSM) suggests that Arctic warming could lead to sea level rise of up to 11 feet, while paleoclimate records indicate a rise of 13-20 feet.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

Wasabi's kick linked to single pain receptor

Researchers have found that the sensory ion channel TRPA1 is responsible for the pain response evoked by mustard oil, garlic, and acrolein. The study suggests potential new avenues for the development of anti-inflammatory and pain medications.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateMar 23, 2006

Mental disorders as common in Lebanon as in western Europe

A recent study published in The Lancet found that mental disorders are common in Lebanon, with a prevalence equivalent to that in Western Europe. Only one out of every 10 individuals with mental disorders received treatment, highlighting the need for improved mental health care in Lebanon.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMar 23, 2006
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.

Age is an independent risk factor in young women with breast cancer

Researchers analyzed the American SEER database of over 45,000 women with early-stage breast cancer and found that being young was an independent indicator of poor survival. The study revealed a significant increase in the risk of dying from breast cancer in women under 45, with a hazard ratio of 1.03 for age.

SourceECCO-the European CanCer Organisation·DateMar 23, 2006

Elephantiasis close to elimination in Egypt

Mass drug administration has led to sharp falls in infection rates and transmission in both study areas. The Egyptian national programme is likely to be successful if sentinel villages are representative of communities included in the programme.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMar 23, 2006

Lefties have the advantage in adversarial situations

Researchers found that left-handed snails are less frequently attacked by right-handed crabs, leading to increased survival rates. This advantage is likely due to the specialized tooth on the crab's right claw, which is designed for opening shells, making it harder for the crab to access the left-handed snail's shell.

SourceYale University·JournalBiology Letters·DateMar 23, 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.

Pregnancy research leads to progress on premature delivery

Researchers have discovered that certain proteins in the amniotic membranes can fuel an inflammatory response, leading to preterm labor. The study aims to develop a chemical test to identify effective drugs and block the TLRs to stop early labor.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·DateMar 23, 2006

NASA scientist claims warmer ocean waters reducing Earth's ice

According to a NASA scientist, warmer water temperatures are increasing melting and accelerating ice flow in polar areas. The warming is primarily limited to the upper 1000 meters of the oceans, but has a deeper effect on the North Atlantic waters, where it has increased the melting of sea ice.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

JCI table of contents, March 23, 2006

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation sheds light on the mechanism underlying microglia's behavior in multiple sclerosis. Researchers found that controlled inflammatory responses can restore damaged myelin and nerve function, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for MS treatment. Additionally, studies o...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 23, 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.

Global warming yields novel 'glacial earthquakes' in polar areas

Scientists have found that glacier melting in polar regions is causing a rise in seismic activity, with glacial earthquakes occurring most commonly in summer months. This phenomenon is linked to the movement of massive glaciers and their response to climate change.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

New studies show topical glucosamine targets pigment overproduction

Researchers used a non-invasive imaging system to detect pigment changes and test the efficacy of topical N-acetyl glucosamine in reducing hyperpigmentation. The study found that N-acetyl glucosamine was more effective than placebo and, when combined with niacinamide, showed significant reductions in facial hyperpigmented spots.

SourceManning Selvage & Lee·DateMar 23, 2006

Procedure cures some diabetic mice, but not in the way previously reported

Researchers found that injections of spleen cells and transplants of islets from healthy mice temporarily cured diabetes in 4 out of 22 mice, but failed to restore insulin-producing beta cells. The procedure's success was confirmed by three independent labs, challenging the previous hypothesis on how it works.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006
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.

Clarifying controversy in multiple sclerosis

Research findings clarify microglia's induction and blockage of oligodendrogenesis in MS, shedding light on disease mechanisms. The study highlights the complex interplay between microglial activation and oligodendrogenesis in MS.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 23, 2006

Not all breast cancers' risk are increased by HRT

Researchers found a higher risk of developing lobular and tubular breast cancer in women taking HRT, with combined HRT increasing the risk even more. No increase in ductal breast cancer risk was observed, and some cancers were more hormone-receptive than others.

SourceECCO-the European CanCer Organisation·DateMar 23, 2006

Teens' herbal product use associated with illicit substance use

A recent study found that teens who use herbal remedies are four times more likely to have used inhalants and eight times more likely to have used heroin. The study suggests that parents and healthcare providers should ask about herbal product use to identify potential substance abuse issues.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateMar 23, 2006

Honor among businesses: Corporations are becoming more ethical

A study of 5,000 managers found that both small and large firms showed increasingly positive selections on their own ethical views. This trend was observed across three decades, with no difference between large and small firms except in the 1993 survey.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalJournal of Small Business Management·DateMar 23, 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.

MIT: Oceans are a major gene swap-meet for plankton

Scientists at MIT uncover a crucial mechanism driving plankton evolution, enabling them to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The discovery highlights the importance of gene diversity and exchange between microbes and viruses in shaping ocean ecosystems.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateMar 23, 2006

Global program to eliminate elephantiasis has early success in Egypt

After five years of mass treatments, rates of filarial infection have sharply declined in Egypt. The Egyptian campaign to eliminate these infections has achieved its goals in most areas, with the parasite's transmission efficiency being low enough for remaining infections to die out on their own.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalThe Lancet·DateMar 23, 2006
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.

Lennart Carleson wins 2006 Abel Prize

Carleson's mathematical work on harmonic analysis and dynamical systems led to settling a conjecture that had remained unsolved for over 150 years. He also made significant contributions to the study of dynamical systems, which have applications in weather, financial markets, and biological systems.

SourceAmerican Mathematical Society·DateMar 23, 2006

Tufts University's Perseus Digital Library to offer new online search tool

The new tool uses natural language processing and historical knowledge to extract entities from historical documents, allowing users to quickly locate specific individuals or locations. The system will enable users to browse lists of entities and their frequencies within individual documents and the collection as a whole.

SourceTufts University·DateMar 23, 2006
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Caring emotions may overcome drug addictions in new parent therapy program

A new parent therapy program has demonstrated preliminary promise in helping substance abusing mothers recognize their own and their children's emotional states. By improving the emotional quality of mother-child relationships, the program aims to promote children's psychosocial development and reduce preoccupation with drug use.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalFamily Relations·DateMar 23, 2006

New map of the Milky Way charts where stars are born

A team of astronomers produced the clearest map to-date of star-forming clouds in the Milky Way, enabling deeper insights into the origin of stars. The new illustration reveals similar lumpy structures in molecular clouds, suggesting that all clouds form stars in roughly the same proportion.

SourceBoston University·DateMar 23, 2006
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.

Ocean virus identified in human blood samples

A study found that Vesivirus antibodies were present in over 40% of patients with clinical hepatitis, suggesting a potential link between the virus and human disease. The research also highlights the widespread distribution of Vesivirus in various animal species, including fish and primates.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Medical Virology·DateMar 23, 2006

New sensor technology, developed at Argonne, quickly detects

Engineers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a suite of sensors that can quickly detect chemical, biological, nuclear, and explosive materials. The sensors use millimeter/terahertz technology to identify unique spectral patterns - or fingerprints - that uniquely identify explosives and chemicals.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·DateMar 23, 2006