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Science News for February 7, 2007


Good for the goose, not so great for the gander

A new model proposes that sexual differentiation may exact a high biological cost, reducing function of mitochondria and influencing longevity. The model predicts which genes regulate life span and suggests testable hypotheses for exploring the biggest question in aging research.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalMechanisms of Ageing and Development·DateFeb 7, 2007

Parents' genes, not parents' arguing, may cause children's conduct problems

A study of twins and their children found that parents' genes, rather than parental arguing, influence the development of conduct problems. The research suggests that focusing on a child's parents in family therapy may not be as effective as targeting the child themselves.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 7, 2007

Conscience, religion alter how doctors tell patients about options

The study found that 86% of doctors feel obligated to present all options, but only 63% believe it's ethical to describe their objections. Male physicians and those who personally object to certain practices are less likely to refer patients to alternative providers.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 7, 2007

Children who sleep more weigh less

A new study published in Child Development found that children who sleep more have lower BMI measures and are less likely to be overweight five years later. Sleeping an additional hour reduced young children's chance of being overweight from 36% to 30%, while it reduced older children's risk from 34% to 30%.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 7, 2007
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.

Young adolescent girls' depression is tied to more stressful life events

A study of 562 young students found that girls experienced more depressive symptoms and stressors than boys, particularly in their interpersonal world. The researchers discovered that exposure to stressors and the way girls reacted to these events contributed to their higher levels of depression.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 7, 2007

EO Lawrence Award goes to 8 scientists and engineers

The EO Lawrence Award recognizes eight scientists and engineers for their exceptional contributions in research and development. The winners, including Paul Alivisatos and Moungi Bawendi, are honored for their work in materials science, physics, life sciences, chemistry, and environmental science.

SourceDOE/US Department of Energy·DateFeb 7, 2007

JILA measurements recast usual view of elusive force

Physicists at JILA have demonstrated that a surface's warmth increases its attractive force on nearby atoms, a finding with potential implications for devices like atom chips and MEMS. By using ultracold atoms and heated glass surfaces, researchers measured the temperature dependence of the elusive Casimir-Polder force.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 7, 2007

Loss of a universal tRNA feature reported

Researchers have discovered that two alphaproteobacteria lack the universal extra guanylate nucleotide typically found in transfer RNA molecule tRNAHis, which assists in incorporating amino acid histidine into new proteins. This finding suggests a radical departure from previously known identity rules for histidine-carrying tRNAs.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Bacteriology·DateFeb 7, 2007
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.

Children who sleep less more likely to be overweight

A Northwestern University study found that getting inadequate sleep increases the risk of being overweight in children. The five-year study, conducted on a nationally representative sample of 2,182 children aged 3-18, suggests that even an extra hour of sleep can reduce a child's chance of being overweight.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 7, 2007
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Enhancing activity of marijuana-like chemicals in brain helps treat

A Stanford University study suggests that boosting endocannabinoid levels in the brain may be a new treatment approach for Parkinson's disease. Researchers combined a drug with an experimental compound to trigger improved movement in mice with a condition similar to Parkinson's, showing promising results.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNature·DateFeb 7, 2007

Horse genome assembled

The horse genome sequence has been successfully assembled, offering a comprehensive understanding of the equine genome. The data provides valuable insights into genetic variations in horses, which can help identify the causes of various diseases affecting these animals.

SourceNIH/National Human Genome Research Institute·DateFeb 7, 2007

Female Antarctic seals give cold shoulder to local males

Female Antarctic fur seals travel long distances to mate with genetically diverse males, rather than local dominant males. This behavior enables species to maintain genetic diversity, crucial for resisting disease and parasites.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature·DateFeb 7, 2007

How parents react to material hardship found to be key to how income affects children

A major new study finds that family income affects children's cognitive skills and social emotional competence when parents experience material hardship, not just their income level. Researchers used data from 21,255 American kindergartners to identify two ways family income impacts children, including the provision of enriching materi...

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 7, 2007

Mimicking how the brain recognizes street scenes

Researchers developed a biological model of visual processing inspired by the brain to recognize objects in busy street scenes. The model achieved surprising versatility and learned from examples, validating biologically-inspired computer science.

SourceMcGovern Institute for Brain Research·JournalIEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence·DateFeb 7, 2007
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.

First 2-D Pictures of a 'frequency comb' transform it into a brush

Researchers at NIST have taken the first two-dimensional pictures of a frequency comb, revealing colors and intensity of all lightwaves simultaneously. The technique transforms the comb into a twodimensional brush, enabling scientists to measure and manipulate optical frequencies in a massively parallel manner.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature·DateFeb 7, 2007

Standard treatment more effective than diabetes drug for achieving pregnancy in fertility disorder

Researchers found that standard treatment with clomiphene was more effective than metformin alone in helping women with PCOS achieve successful pregnancy. The study, the largest and most comprehensive effort yet to compare the two drugs, showed that obese women were less likely to conceive during the course of the study.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 7, 2007

Take more breaks to avoid back injury at work, study says

A new study from Ohio State University found that workers who lift for a living need to take longer or more frequent breaks than they now do to avoid back injury. Taking regular breaks helps muscles recover and reduces the risk of fatigue-related back injuries.

SourceOhio State University·JournalClinical Biomechanics·DateFeb 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.

Children's sleep problems can lead to school problems

A new study reveals that African-American and poor children are more vulnerable to the effects of sleep disruption on their cognitive function, with poorer performance on school-related tests. The study suggests that health-related disparities between different groups of American children have important consequences.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 7, 2007

Chlamydia vaccine a step closer to reality

Researchers have identified certain proteins that can protect against Chlamydia infection and are working towards developing a vaccine for adolescent women. The funding boost will allow QUT to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention methods, including a potential patch-based delivery system.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·DateFeb 7, 2007

Prehistoric origins of stomach ulcers uncovered

A recent study reveals that the bacteria causing most painful stomach ulcers has been present in humans since modern man migrated from Africa over 60,000 years ago. The research provides new insights into early human migration and offers a way to study the diversification of human populations.

SourceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council·JournalNature·DateFeb 7, 2007

In tiny supercooled clouds, physicists exchange light and matter

Researchers at Harvard University have successfully stopped, store, and revive a light pulse in two separate locations using supercooled sodium clouds. This technique enables precise control over optical information and has potential applications in quantum information processing and cryptography.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateFeb 7, 2007
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Study shows largest North America climate change in 65 million years

A recent study published in Nature documents the largest climate change in North America over the past 65 million years, with fossilized teeth revealing a temperature drop of nearly 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The Eocene-to-Oligocene transition saw massive changes in ocean currents and life extinctions.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNature·DateFeb 7, 2007

Forensic photography brings color back to ancient textiles

Researchers at Ohio State University used forensic photography to analyze ancient textiles from Hopewell burial mounds, revealing previously hidden patterns and markings. The technique helps minimize damage during sampling, providing valuable information about prehistoric Native American technologies and colorants.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·DateFeb 7, 2007

Standard therapy more effective than diabetes drug in helping women with PCOS achieve pregnancy

Research finds standard therapy more effective in helping women with PCOS achieve pregnancy compared to diabetes drug metformin, which was initially thought to have great promise. Clomiphene fosters ovulation by stimulating hormone release, increasing pregnancy chances two times over metformin.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 7, 2007

Older adults face double whammy when it comes to body fat

New research found that older adults gain fat and lose lean mass each year until age 80, contributing to disability. The study also revealed that those born later experienced higher body fat percentages, highlighting the impact of the obesity epidemic on aging

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalJournal of Clinical Nutrition·DateFeb 7, 2007
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Scientists use seismic waves to locate missing rock under Tibet

Geologists use seismic waves to locate missing rock under Tibet, clarifying how continents behave when they collide. The research helps solve a long-standing mystery and provides key evidence for understanding the full dynamics of continental collision.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·DateFeb 7, 2007

International consortium to get to heart of coronary artery disease

An international consortium, led by Professor Dominique Gauguier, aims to understand the complex causes of coronary artery disease (CAD) and develop effective treatments. The project will use advanced genomics techniques to identify biomarkers for predicting CAD risk factors, offering insights into disease diagnosis and prevention.

SourceWellcome Trust·DateFeb 7, 2007

Involvement of nonresident fathers may protect low-income teens from delinquency

A new study found that nonresident fathers who are involved with their adolescent children report lower levels of delinquency. The researchers also discovered that increased parental involvement can help adolescents develop self-control and self-competence, decreasing the likelihood of engaging in problem behaviors.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 7, 2007
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Students who believe intelligence can be developed perform better

A study found that students who believe their intelligence can be developed outperform those who think it's fixed, especially in math grades. Students with a growth mindset are more motivated, work harder, and bounce back from setbacks.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 7, 2007

Fighting influenza and co. with 40,000 blood samples

An international EU project led by the University of Bonn aims to shed light on why the immune system weakens with age, particularly in elderly people. The researchers will analyze up to 40,000 blood samples to develop new medicines that can largely inactivate viruses and enable the immune system to deal with residual viruses.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·DateFeb 7, 2007

New data shakes accepted models of collisions of the Earth's crust

Researchers used GPS to record precise movements of hundreds of points on the Asian continent over 10 years, finding that most of Asia behaves like a 'c ceramic plate' while some areas, such as Tibet, deform more like Play-Doh. The findings challenge long-standing theories and provide new insights into continental deformation.

SourcePurdue University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 7, 2007

Machine learning could speed up radiation therapy for cancer patients

A new computer-based technique has the potential to automatically determine acceptable radiation plans in a matter of minutes, reducing the need for hours of manual tuning. The algorithm was tested on 10 prostate cancer patients and found to be effective in determining clinically acceptable treatment plans.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalPhysics in Medicine and Biology·DateFeb 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.

Scientists learn the origin of rogue B cells

Researchers at NIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases found that up to 10% of B cells retain faulty receptors, escaping correction. This discovery sheds light on the development of self-reactive B cells in autoimmune disease.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateFeb 7, 2007

NASA's largest space telescope mirror will see deeper into space

The James Webb Space Telescope's mirror blanks have been constructed, forming a mirror over seven times larger than the Hubble Telescope's mirror. The larger mirror enables excellent resolution and sensitivity, allowing scientists to see back to the formation of the first galaxies after the Big Bang.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateFeb 7, 2007

Risk of extinction accelerated due to interacting human threats

A new study found that the simultaneous effect of habitat fragmentation, overexploitation, and climate warming accelerates population decline and increases the risk of extinction. Experimental microcosm populations of rotifers showed significant declines under individual threats, but even faster declines when exposed to multiple threats.

SourceDalhousie University·DateFeb 7, 2007