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Science News Archive 2008 - Page 146


Page 146 of 240

Active social life may delay memory loss among US elderly population

A recent Harvard study found that individuals with an active social life may experience a slower rate of memory decline compared to those with lower levels of social integration. The study, which analyzed data from over 1,000 US adults aged 50 and older, suggests that strong social networks can help preserve memory function.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateMay 29, 2008

New projects to raise UK profile in synthetic biology

The UK is launching a Synthetic Biology Initiative with £900,000 funding to establish a world-leading research community. The project aims to bring together biologists, engineers, and computer scientists to tackle future challenges such as sustainable power generation and medical applications.

SourceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council·DateMay 29, 2008

New West Nile and Japanese encephalitis vaccines produced

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have created new vaccines for West Nile and Japanese encephalitis viruses, showing promise in providing immunity against these deadly diseases. The 'pseudoinfectious' vaccines use genetically modified viruses that can only infect a single cell, mimicking a viral infection without am...

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalVaccine·DateMay 29, 2008
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.

HIV and illicit drug use -- a new way forward?

The UN's strategy on dealing with HIV and illicit drugs needs a complete overhaul, according to a Comment published in The Lancet. The authors argue that the International Narcotics Control Board undermines recognition of HIV prevention measures for those who use drugs.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 29, 2008

New metamaterial proves to be a 'perfect' absorber of light

Researchers at Boston College developed a 'perfect' metamaterial capable of absorbing all incident radiation, transforming it into heat. This breakthrough showcases the team's ability to design materials with tailored responses to radiation.

SourceBoston College·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 29, 2008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A common aquatic animal's genome can capture foreign DNA

Scientists at Harvard University have discovered that bdelloid rotifers can capture and incorporate genetic material from plants, fungi, bacteria, and animals into their genomes. This finding challenges traditional notions of sexual reproduction and may provide insight into the animals' ability to adapt to new environments.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateMay 29, 2008

A chunky metabolism

Bacteria with large metabolic networks and those living in diverse environments tend to be more modular. This makes sense as they adapt to changing environments by developing separate processes for different environments.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 29, 2008
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity -- TEEB

The TEEB report presents a comprehensive economic case for conserving biodiversity, citing severe consequences if current decline continues. Economic valuation studies show that the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services has significant human costs, particularly for the poor.

SourceHelmholtz Association·DateMay 29, 2008

NIH awards Einstein College of Medicine & Montefiore Medical Center $22M grant

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center a five-year, $22 million grant to establish the Einstein-Montefiore Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. The institute aims to expedite the transfer of research discoveries from academia to patient care.

SourceAlbert Einstein College of Medicine·DateMay 29, 2008

A molecular 'salve' to soothe surface stresses

NIST researchers have discovered that a single layer of molecular 'salve' can significantly reduce surface stress, which is crucial for applications like chemical and biological sensors. The 'salve' reduces stress by allowing atoms to adopt the molecules into their family, resulting in a more stable and tension-free surface.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalElectrochimica Acta·DateMay 29, 2008
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's diet not the main cause of ADHD

A review of scientific evidence found that only a minority of children with hyperactivity are affected by their diet, suggesting a combination of factors is more likely to be involved.

SourceSugar Nutrition UK·JournalCritical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition·DateMay 29, 2008

Green firms rewarded by financial markets

A study published in Strategic Management Journal reveals that financial markets reward green firms due to their perceived lower risk, resulting in reduced total cost of capital. Additionally, individual investors favor greener firms, leading to increased ownership and lower equity capital costs.

SourceWiley·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateMay 29, 2008

X chromosome exposed

A chromatin modifying enzyme helps compensate for the fact that males have only one copy of the sex chromosome X by binding differently to male and female sex chromosomes. This process, called dosage compensation, ensures that males produce the same amount of proteins as females despite their single X chromosome.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalCell·DateMay 29, 2008
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.

Protons pair up with neutrons

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility found that protons are about 20 times more likely to pair up with neutrons in the nucleus. This discovery could have significant implications for understanding the structure of nuclear systems, from light nuclei to neutron stars.

SourceDOE/Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility·DateMay 29, 2008

Bridging the math gender gap

A study by Kellogg School of Management Professor Paola Sapienza found that girls' math scores improve in more gender equal societies, with the number of high-achieving girls increasing. In more equal societies, girls outperform boys in reading as well.

SourceManning Selvage & Lee·JournalScience·DateMay 29, 2008

June GEOSPHERE media highlights

The June issue of GEOSPHERE discusses delamination models for the Columbia River Basalt Group, a USGS Great Basin Paleontological Database with 150 years of fossil data, and 3D modeling techniques in Oklahoma and Ireland. Geochemical processes also contribute to contamination in northern Mexico's Rio Conchos basin.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeosphere·DateMay 29, 2008

Young mineral scientists rock!

The 2nd EuroMinScI conference brought together young researchers to present their latest findings on mineralogy, Earth sciences, and the physics-based simulation techniques. Notable awards were given to Olga Narygina and Verity Borthwick for their outstanding work in experimental and theoretical modeling.

SourceEuropean Science Foundation·DateMay 29, 2008

Dehydrated tomatoes show promise for preventing prostate cancer

A recent study suggests that dehydrated tomato products containing the organic carbohydrate FruHis may have strong anti-cancer properties. In an animal study, rats fed with a diet rich in FruHis and tomato paste showed longer survival from cancer compared to those without these ingredients.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Research·DateMay 29, 2008
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.

NYU dental researcher finds link between pregnancy and tooth loss

A nationwide study of 2,635 women found a significant link between pregnancy and tooth loss, with women having more children being more prone to missing teeth. The study suggests that biological and behavioral changes during pregnancy and childbirth may contribute to tooth loss.

SourceNew York University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateMay 29, 2008

New HIV browser gives researchers access to valuable data from vaccine trials

The new GSID HIV Data Browser provides a wealth of data collected during clinical trials of an AIDS vaccine, offering researchers a unique opportunity to study how the virus evolves and causes new infections. The browser links to preserved specimens and clinical information, allowing investigators to study the evolution of the virus an...

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·DateMay 29, 2008
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.

Quality of life predicts cancer survival, U-M study finds

A U-M study found that patients with poor physical quality of life, particularly those experiencing pain, eating, and speech difficulties, are significantly less likely to survive. The researchers recommend routine quality of life assessments for head and neck cancer patients to identify potentially aggressive tumors.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateMay 29, 2008

Enzyme may hold key to improved targeting of cancer-fighting drugs

A new compound design approach may be enabled by the discovery of an enzyme that can manipulate chemical pathways in bacteria. The enzyme is found to have loose specificity, allowing it to be used to create more controllable compounds from antibiotic chromoproteins. Genetic engineering will play a key role in this process.

SourceBoston College·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMay 29, 2008

Mars' water appears to have been too salty to support life

Scientists at Harvard University analyzed salt deposits in Martian rock and found that the water was more likely a thick brine with salinity exceeding terrestrial life's tolerance. The study suggests that even four billion years ago, Mars' surface would have been challenging for life.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateMay 29, 2008
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.

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.

Word/logic bank to help build 'thinking' machines

Researchers have created a unique internet facility called Open Ontology Repository (OOR) to store diverse collections of concepts and facilitate complex systems in various sectors. OOR will support advanced logic systems and save time and money in manufacturing control, supply chain management, and biomedical management.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·DateMay 29, 2008

Exercise cuts cancer death in men

A new study from Karolinska Institutet found that men who exercise regularly are less likely to die from cancer than those who don't. The researchers discovered a 33% increased survival rate among men who walked or cycled for at least 30 minutes a day, with more extensive physical activity leading to a 16% lower incidence of cancer.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateMay 29, 2008
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.

Nanoparticles assemble by millions to encase oil drops

Researchers at Rice University create nanoscale 'baton'-like particles that spontaneously assemble into bag-like sacs around oil droplets in water. This phenomenon could lead to innovative technologies for cleaning up oil spills and polluted groundwater, as well as delivering drugs with controlled release.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 29, 2008

A molecular switch turns on the flame in 'nature's blowtorch'

Researchers at Brandeis University have uncovered a molecular switch in the 'nature's blowtorch' enzyme cytochrome P450. The protein chain can change its structure through a 180-degree rotation, allowing for precise control over oxidation reactions.

SourceBrandeis University·JournalStructure·DateMay 29, 2008

Ohio State receives $34M NIH grant

The Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science will provide support services to researchers while fostering collaboration with other medical centers. The grant will accelerate research outcomes at Ohio State and elsewhere, leading to faster development of treatments for patients.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·DateMay 29, 2008
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

UBC, McGill researchers uncover 'stirring' secrets of deadly supervolcanoes

UBC and McGill researchers simulated supervolcano eruptions using Plexiglas models filled with corn syrup. The study sheds light on the complex flow effects inside a magma chamber during an eruption. A potential global nuclear winter could result from a large supervolcano eruption, causing widespread devastation and crop failures.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 29, 2008

Bilateral cochlear implants: A case when 2 are definitely superior to 1

A study by Indiana University School of Medicine found that bilateral cochlear implants significantly improve hearing in noisy environments and overall quality of life. The benefits of the second implant outweighed its added cost, offering improved cognitive skills and emotional well-being for profoundly deaf individuals.

SourceIndiana University·DateMay 29, 2008

New geomorphological index created for studying the active tectonics of mountains

A new geomorphological index has been created to study active tectonics in mountains, identifying four classes of activity and using six geomorphological indicators. The index is based on land forms and direct evidence of active faults, with applications in regions like southern Spain where studies are not widely distributed.

SourceUniversity of Granada·JournalGeomorphology·DateMay 29, 2008
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.

No sex, but plenty of gene transfer

Bdelloid rotifers acquire genes from bacteria, fungi, and plants through environmental DNA incorporation. This process may contribute to their speciation and adaptability.

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalScience·DateMay 29, 2008

'Barren' seafloor teeming with microbial life

A recent study reveals thousands of times more bacteria on the seafloor than in the water above, with higher diversity and abundance compared to hydrothermal vents. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the deep-sea carbon cycle and the emergence of life.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalNature·DateMay 28, 2008

Securing the future of Europe's biological data resources

A new EC-funded project aims to unite Europe's biological data resources into a sustainable, integrative network for life sciences research. The European Life-science Infrastructure for Biological Information (ELIXIR) project will provide a secure funding mechanism and protect valuable data from insecure or short-term funding.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·DateMay 28, 2008
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.

Cancer survivors are living 'in limbo' with unmet needs for care

Long-term cancer survivors are experiencing unmet needs for symptom management, leading to a poor quality of life. The European CanCer Organisation is working to bridge the gap between oncology and palliative care to provide comprehensive care for all stages of disease.

SourceECCO-the European CanCer Organisation·JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer·DateMay 28, 2008

Gene therapy increases survival for end-stage head and neck cancer

A gene therapy called Advexin has shown significant improvement in survival rates for patients with end-stage head and neck cancer by restoring tumor-suppressor gene p53 expression. Patients with a favorable p53 profile experienced a median survival of 7.2 months, compared to 2.7 months for those with an unfavorable profile.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·DateMay 28, 2008