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Science News Archive December 2007


Page 11 of 16

In search for water on Mars, clues from Antarctica

Researchers compare images of Mars gullies to McMurdo Dry Valleys' saltwater flows, finding similarities that suggest liquid water on Mars. The study bolsters the notion of microbial life on Mars, as bacteria thrive in the Antarctic landscape's similar conditions.

Gleevec, the targeted cancer pill, delivers more good news to patients

Researchers announced new data showing Gleevec improves outcomes for children with Ph+ ALL, reversing the poor prognosis, and prevents disease progression in adults with CML. Continuous treatment with Gleevec has shown a declining rate of relapse over time, with no patients progressing to advanced phase in CML.

Current melting of Greenland's ice mimicks 1920s-1940s event

Researchers found that Greenland's glaciers responded similarly to the 1920s warming event, with the Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier losing nearly a mile of ice in 1932. This parallels recent changes, increasing alarm about the island's ice fields and sea level rise.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Smaller storms drop larger overall rainfall in hurricane season

Researchers found that smaller tropical storms and depressions contribute significantly to cumulative rainfall, with over half of the seasonal rainfall attributed to these weaker systems. In contrast, major hurricanes produce heavy rainfall on any given day but are not the primary storm type relieving drought in the region.

Research finds link between depression

Research shows depression significantly increases risk of death following a heart attack, with depressed patients more than twice as likely to die if they don't recover from depression within six months. The study also highlights the role of molecular mechanisms and inflammatory molecules in this association.

Study finds first-ever genetic animal model of autism

Researchers have developed a first-ever genetic animal model of autism, allowing for the study of abnormal brain function and potential treatments. The model mimics human autism symptoms, including social interaction deficits, while also displaying enhanced spatial learning abilities.

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.

Study finds brain differences in adolescents with mental illness

Researchers found brain size differences between adolescents with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, as well as between boys and girls. Puberty may contribute to these changes, suggesting sex hormones influence brain development and potentially informing treatment approaches.

ZOLINZA (vorinostat) in combination with bortezomib demonstrated clinical activity

Results from two Phase I trials demonstrate clinical activity of ZOLINZA (vorinostat) combined with bortezomib in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma. The combination treatment showed partial or minimal responses in 48% of evaluable patients, suggesting potential for further evaluation in randomized clinical trials.

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.

Study shows new strategy for developing antidepressants

Researchers have discovered a new approach to developing antidepressants by targeting novel brain molecules, which can lead to faster treatment and relief from depression. The study found that patients responded within two hours and 70% showed improvement within 24 hours.

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.

Research reveals secrets of alcohol's effect on brain cells

Researchers found that alcohol activates a stress-linked pathway in neurons to release key genes that can influence the health and activity of brain cells. The study sheds light on how this process occurs and may help scientists understand alcohol-linked disorders such as chronic alcoholism and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Scottish mothers have fewer children than other UK women

Research reveals that Scottish women are less likely to have larger families, stop at two children, and combine work with having kids. Factors contributing to low fertility include education, employment, gender equality, and friendship networks.

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.

Antibacterial chemical disrupts hormone activities

A study by UC Davis researchers found that triclocarban, a common antibacterial chemical, alters hormonal activity in rats and human cells. In male rats, testosterone-dependent organs grew abnormally large after exposure to the chemical.

Story ideas from the Journal of Biological Chemistry

Researchers found that high sugar consumption led to obesity, insulin resistance, and cognitive decline in mice. The study highlights the potential link between sugary drinks and Alzheimer's disease, a finding that could have significant implications for human health.

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.

Scotland's economy challenged by population trends

A recent upswing in births and migration to Scotland is expected to be short-lived, with the country's population predicted to decline and age markedly over the next 25 years. The research highlights the importance of maintaining or improving current net in-migration balances to address these challenges.

Transfer of knowledge in the Middle Ages

Researchers studied how Christianity brought written material from Mediterranean to NW Europe, including Biblical weights, measures, and glossaries. They aimed to understand various forms of transferring Greek and Roman knowledge about the natural world.

Young and invisible: African domestic workers in Yemen

Research by Marina de Regt reveals that migrant women from the Horn of Africa are driven to improve their families' lives, but often endure low status, long hours, and abuse in Yemen. The documentary sheds light on the resilience of these women and promotes awareness about their living and working conditions.

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.

Cleaner diesels thanks to laser light

Researchers used Laser Induced Incandescence to investigate optimal engine conditions that reduce soot emission. Measurements revealed that neither engine load nor fuel injection system affected primary particle size, but other settings can improve combustion.

Stats fail to reflect investments in knowledge economy

Research funded by ESRC suggests that UK businesses are under-investing in intangible assets, which could be the reason for stagnant productivity. Investing in intangibles such as software, research, and branding can increase productivity, making traditional measurement techniques inadequate.

US-French research team to barcode an entire ecosystem

A US-French research team is creating a comprehensive inventory of all non-microbial life on Moorea, including plants, animals, and fungi. The project aims to catalog and barcode every species on the island, shedding light on ecosystem responses to climate change, invasive species, and human impact.

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.

SECCHI team obtains images of the solar wind at Earth

The SECCHI team has obtained images of large waves of solar material sweeping past Earth, confirming the existence of previously known point measurements. The waves are associated with high-density regions that rotate with the Sun and are believed to form as high-speed wind from coronal holes runs into low-speed wind.

Obesity and metabolism: Weight gain and the growing risk of cancer

Research from the American Association for Cancer Research links weight gain and diabetes to increased risks of various cancers. Women with diabetes are 1.5 times more likely to develop colorectal cancer, while those with high C-peptide levels face a risk of death nearly three times higher than women with lower levels.

James Webb Space Telescope testing to find infrared light for Christmas

The Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) will undergo thermal and electromagnetic calibration, scientific and environmental testing at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. The successful completion of the first tests just before Christmas will enable scientists to understand the best ways of making discoveries with the instrument.

Media highlights in the Dec. 15 issue of Biophysical Journal

Researchers explore how heart muscle adjusts contractions based on protein spacing and DNA elasticity, revealing new insights into cellular control and potential applications for measuring picoscale forces. The studies also provide a more accurate model for single-molecule research.

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.

Study points to possibility of blood test to detect lung cancer

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified four blood proteins that can distinguish patients with lung cancer from those without. The blood test, which uses a classification tree to sort out likelihoods, shows promise as a less-invasive follow-up for patients with suspicious lesions.

Nanotube-producing bacteria show manufacturing promise

Researchers have found semiconducting nanotubes produced by living bacteria, opening the door to cheaper and more environmentally friendly manufacture of electronic materials. The discovery could lead to novel functionality for next-generation semiconductors in nano- and opto-electronic devices.

Cystic fibrosis proteins photographed interacting

Researchers at UAB have provided physical proof that two proteins involved in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) interact closely enough to cause a biochemical imbalance. This discovery may aid in understanding the biological underpinnings of CF and speeding up the development of new drugs to treat or cure the disease.

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.

Protein protects brain against compound in lead poisoning, liver disease

Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that protein PEPT2 shields the brain from a naturally occurring but toxic compound found in lead poisoning and liver diseases. The study found that mice lacking PEPT2 died sooner and had higher concentrations of the toxin in their cerebrospinal fluid.

Dam the Red Sea and release gigawatts

Damming the Red Sea could solve the region's growing energy demands and alleviate oil supply tensions through hydroelectric power. However, such a massive project may cause untold ecological harm and displace countless people from their homes.

Chemoprevention, naturally: Findings on plant-derived cancer medicines

Research presents findings on plant-derived cancer medicines, highlighting the potential of black raspberry gel in preventing or slowing the growth of oral premalignant tumors. The study demonstrates that the gel slows or reduces lesion progression in about two-thirds of study participants, with no reported side effects.

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.

Ultrafast optical shutter is switched entirely by laser light

A team of physicists from Vanderbilt University and the University of Konstanz in Germany have used a laser with 12-femtosecond pulses to switch vanadium dioxide film between reflective and transparent states. The transition occurs faster than previously thought, with the film shifting back and forth in under 100 femtoseconds.

New direction for chance discovery?

The chance discovery field is shifting towards a new direction, focusing on interaction, visualization, and abduction to tackle complex problems and predict future trends. By analyzing implicit symptoms in data, researchers aim to identify risks and benefits, enabling better decision-making.

Extensive failure of 3 main HIV drugs is slow in routine clinical practice

A study of 7916 patients found that the cumulative risk of triple-class failure was estimated at 9.2% by 10 years, with evidence suggesting a decrease in this rate over time. Despite extensive failure, many patients retained some virological activity post-failure, and the risk of death was lower than expected.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

JCI online early table of contents: Dec. 6, 2007

Researchers have identified immunomodulatory anticancer drugs lenalidomide and pomalidomide as effective therapies for inducing fetal hemoglobin production in sickle-cell disease patients. Additionally, a new compound has been discovered to treat protein-losing enteropathy, a condition causing excessive protein loss from the gut.

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.

'Hellish' hot springs yield greenhouse gas-eating bug

Scientists have discovered a new species of bacteria that consumes methane, a potent greenhouse gas, in the geothermal field Hell's Gate in New Zealand. The 'methanotrophic' bacterium is hardy and can thrive in acidic environments, making it a promising candidate for reducing methane emissions from various sources.

Strawberry fields ripe for the picking

Researchers compared three strawberry production systems to determine consumer preference, finding that cold-climate plasticulture and advanced matted row systems were most popular. Consumers were willing to pay more for fresh berries from their preferred system, with quality characteristics like firmness differing among the production...