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Science News for December 7, 2007


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.

SourceNewYork-Presbyterian·DateDec 7, 2007
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.

M. D. Anderson research links diet, gardening and lung cancer risk

Researchers at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center link diet and gardening to lung cancer risk reduction, finding that smokers and nonsmokers can reduce their risk by eating four or more servings of green salad a week and working in the garden once or twice a week.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateDec 7, 2007

Miami Science Museum's IMPACT Project gets 4-year extension from US Dept. of Education

The Integrated Marine Program and College Training (IMPACT) Project has been successful in preparing low-income, first-generation students for postsecondary education. With a 95% success rate, the program helps students prepare for college through hands-on activities, lectures, and computer-based training.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·DateDec 7, 2007
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.

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.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalEndocrinology·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateDec 7, 2007
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.

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.

SourceNetherlands Organization for Scientific Research·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceNetherlands Organization for Scientific Research·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceNetherlands Organization for Scientific Research·DateDec 7, 2007
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.

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.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceNaval Research Laboratory·DateDec 7, 2007
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.

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.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceBiophysical Society·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateDec 7, 2007
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.

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.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2007

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.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 7, 2007