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Science News for January 19, 2007


Improved nanodots could be key to future data storage

Researchers at NIST created nanodot arrays with uniform response to magnetic fields, reducing variation by 5% and identifying key design cause. This breakthrough enhances prospects for commercially viable nanodot drives with increased storage capacity.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateJan 19, 2007

NIST 'Standard Bullet' fights gang violence

Researchers at NIST developed a copper bullet with unique markings to aid in tracing guns used in multiple crimes. The Standard Bullet enables crime labs to optimize their computerized optical imaging instruments, improving the quality of gun trace analysis.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·DateJan 19, 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.

New screening process helps better diagnose oral cancers

Researchers developed a new screening process using chemiluminescent light and toluidine blue dye to improve diagnosis accuracy for early-stage oral cancer. The study found that this approach can reduce unnecessary biopsies and false negatives, leading to better patient outcomes.

SourceAmerican Society for Radiation Oncology·DateJan 19, 2007

Algae toxin identification unravels fish-kill mystery

Researchers at the Hollings Marine Laboratory have uncovered a subtle chemical pathway by which Pfiesteria piscicida can produce a lethal toxin. The discovery resolves a long-standing mystery surrounding occasional mass fish kills on the East Coast.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJan 19, 2007

New quartz references for workplace safety

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed a new set of Standard Reference Materials to improve workplace safety by accurately measuring respirable quartz dust. These materials cover the range between 5 micrograms and 1000 micrograms of quartz per filter, typical of the field's range.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·DateJan 19, 2007

MIT: Nanocomposities yield strong, stretchy fibers

MIT researchers have developed a new method to produce strong and stretchy nanocomposite materials, similar to spider silk. These materials can be used to strengthen packaging materials and develop tear-resistant fabrics or biomedical devices.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Medicine·DateJan 19, 2007
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New international study to test exercise in heart failure patients

A large international study involving 83 sites will test 3,000 patients to evaluate the impact of exercise training on death and hospitalization in heart failure patients. The trial, called HF-ACTION, is the largest randomized clinical trial of exercise training ever performed.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalAmerican Heart Journal·DateJan 19, 2007

Right counter height can improve fingerprint capture

Researchers at NIST found that optimal work surface heights of 26 inches for image quality and 36 inches for speed can improve fingerprint capture. Participants preferred using their right hands, which reduced processing time.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·DateJan 19, 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.

Treatment for homeless youth pays off in long run, study finds

A six-month study found that teens who completed a comprehensive intervention program significantly reduced their substance abuse and depression, and increased their social stability. The program offered 12 individual therapy sessions and four HIV education/skills practice sessions, adapted for teens living on the streets.

SourceOhio State University·JournalAddictive Behaviors·DateJan 19, 2007
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.

New miniaturized device for lab-on-a-chip separations

Researchers at NIST have developed a miniaturized technique for separating minute samples of proteins, amino acids, and other chemical mixtures. The new 'gradient elution moving boundary electrophoresis' (GEMBE) method works by opposing the movement of mixture components with a stream of buffering solution flowing at a variable rate.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateJan 19, 2007

Billions of dollars saved in US by polio vaccination

A new study by Harvard researchers estimates that US polio vaccination has saved over $180 billion in medical costs, preventing approximately 1.1 million cases of paralytic polio and 160,000 deaths between 1955 and 2005.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalRisk Analysis·DateJan 19, 2007

Countries share good times using gps and the Internet

The Sistema Interamericano de Metrologia (SIM) network enables faster time comparisons between countries, allowing small nations to evaluate their measurements against world standards. National metrology institutes in member OAS nations participate in the network, which currently compares times between Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the US.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·DateJan 19, 2007

Researchers create new class of compounds

A new class of aluminum-hydrogen compounds has been synthesized with potential applications in solid rocket fuel and the hydrogen economy. The compounds' relative stability may enable more efficient propulsion systems and cleaner energy production.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalScience·DateJan 19, 2007
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Tears reveal some of their deepest secrets to researchers

Researchers have identified a new class of lipids in tears and oleamide, a previously unknown lipid, shedding light on the complex design of tears. The discovery may help scientists better understand eye-related disorders like dry eye disease, which affects millions Americans.

SourceOhio State University·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·DateJan 19, 2007

Researchers observe superradiance in a free electron laser

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have successfully generated extremely short light pulses using a new technique that could be used in the next generation of light source facilities. The team observed superradiance, a phenomenon where light intensity grows as it interacts with an electron beam.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 19, 2007