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Science News for August 28, 2008


Caltech scientists discover why flies are so hard to swat

Researchers use high-speed imaging to study fruit fly evasive maneuvers, finding that the fly's tiny brain calculates threat location and places legs in optimal position within 100 milliseconds. The team also identifies an optimal method for swatting flies by aiming forward of their starting position.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 28, 2008

Antarctic research helps shed light on climate change on Mars

Researchers found that Martian gullies resemble those in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys, formed as recently as a few hundred thousand years ago. The study suggests changes in snow accumulation and glaciation are linked to Mars' spin obliquity, indicating dynamic climate change on the planet.

SourceBoston University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 28, 2008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Clearing the airways in cystic fibrosis

Researchers discovered a way to restore function of CF airway cells by manipulating cellular quality control machinery. This technique could significantly reduce sticky mucus that clogs lungs and leads to life-threatening infections.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateAug 28, 2008

No more big stink: scent lures mosquitoes, but humans can't smell it

Researchers at UC Davis have discovered a low-cost, easy-to-prepare attractant that lures blood-fed mosquitoes without causing human discomfort. The synthetic mixture of trimethylamine and nonanal is equivalent to current attractants but odorless to humans.

SourceUniversity of California - Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 28, 2008

Study says eyes evolved for X-Ray vision

Research reveals that animals with forward-facing eyes have an advantage in dense environments, gaining X-ray vision. This allows them to visually survey a greater region around themselves, aiding in hunting and maneuverability.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology·DateAug 28, 2008

Caterpillar, Inc. funds USC 'print-a-house' construction technology

Researchers at USC's CRAFT center have developed a system to automate concrete building, with Caterpillar funding. The Contour Crafting process uses specialized concrete and has already built six-foot walls, paving the way for future research on design, robotics, and other issues.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·DateAug 28, 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.

Feats of strength begin a lizard's day

Male Jamaican anole lizards use visual displays to mark their territory, including push-ups, head bobs, and dewlap extensions, to warn other males away. This behavior helps avoid physical confrontations and establishes dominance before dawn and dusk, when these lizards are most active.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateAug 28, 2008

Robots learn to follow

Researchers at UC Davis developed a control system that allows robots to pick up on cues and predict where leaders are going, enabling them to follow accurately around corners. The system uses behavioral cues such as head turns and incorporates them into decision-making processes.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalIEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics·DateAug 28, 2008

Memory trick shows brain organization

A new study published in Neuron reveals that the perirhinal cortex can contribute to forming memories by creating simple associations between items. This finding expands our understanding of how brain areas involved in memory formation are organized, potentially leading to new insights into memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNeuron·DateAug 28, 2008

Risk of fracture is significantly higher in HIV-infected patients

A large study has found a significant increase in fracture rates among HIV-infected patients compared to non-infected controls. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, reveals that nearly 3% of HIV patients experienced fractures, with risks increasing with age.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateAug 28, 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.

Magmatically triggered slow earthquake discovered at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

A team of researchers has discovered a slow earthquake triggered by the 2007 dike intrusion at Kilauea Volcano, demonstrating the connection between magmatism and earthquake faulting. The study used satellite and GPS data to track the movement of magma and show how it triggered the slow earthquake on Kilauea's south flank.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 2008

Treadmill exercise retrains brain and body of stroke victims

Research shows that walking on a treadmill can significantly improve mobility and health in stroke survivors even years post-stroke. Brain scans reveal increased metabolic activity in areas associated with walking, suggesting the brain's ability to rewire and recover through exercise.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·DateAug 28, 2008

Heart disease risk of low-dose radiation exposure cannot be ignored

A recent study published in The Lancet found a statistically significant association between low-dose radiation exposure and cardiovascular disease. Researchers suggest that radiation can cause damage to blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease, especially among individuals with certain non-cancer diseases.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 28, 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.

Explosives go 'green'

LLNL scientists have successfully added unique green solvents to an explosive called TATB, improving crystal quality and chemical purity. This breakthrough aims to create safer explosives with reduced violent reactions.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateAug 28, 2008

Addressing the inequalities of health: A new and vital mandate

The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health advocates for a new global agenda to address health inequities. The report calls for action-oriented policy responses, including improving daily life conditions and addressing power and money distributions.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 28, 2008

'Pristine' Amazonian region hosted large, urban civilization, study finds

Researchers discover ancient urban civilization in the Amazon, with clusters of 150-acre towns and smaller villages organized in spread out 'galactic' patterns. The settlements were heavily influenced by historic human activity, contradicting long-held stereotypes about early Western versus New World settlements.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 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.

Life under the laser

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have created a novel technology using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to detect and track single molecule binding to A3-adenosine receptors. This allows for real-time observation of receptor activity within living cells, shedding light on potential anti-inflammatory drug targets.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·DateAug 28, 2008

Ceramic material revs up microwaving

Researchers have developed a ceramic material that heats up in the microwave without causing damage, allowing for faster cooking times. The material, made from petalite and magnetite, can retain heat for up to 15 minutes, enabling innovative food preparation methods.

SourcePenn State·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateAug 28, 2008

Variant of mad cow disease may be transmitted by blood transfusions, according to animal study

A recent study found that blood transfusions can transmit a variant of mad cow disease (vCJD) to humans with high efficiency, particularly when donors are in the later stages of infection. The research suggests that blood from BSE- and scrapie-infected sheep could be used effectively in non-human experiments to develop diagnostic tests.

SourceAmerican Society of Hematology·JournalBlood·DateAug 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.

Why are flies so hard to swat? Chock it up to good planning

Researchers identified flies' planning behavior, which occurs approximately 100 milliseconds earlier than previously known components of the escape response. The study found that flies carefully position their center of mass relative to jumping legs to propel themselves away from threats.

SourceCell Press·DateAug 28, 2008

Location, location, location important for genes, too

Researchers at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center discovered that mice can develop normally with just one of the four E2f genes. The study suggests that the location and timing of gene activity play a crucial role in development, contradicting previous assumptions about cancer-causing gene regulation.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalNature·DateAug 28, 2008

Unexpected large monkey population discovered

A report by Wildlife Conservation Society reveals a large population of threatened monkeys, including 42,000 black-shanked douc langurs and 2,500 yellow-cheeked crested gibbons, in Cambodia's Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area. The populations have remained stable since 2005 and are estimated to be the largest known in the world.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·DateAug 28, 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.

Tiny 3-D ultrasound probe guides catheter procedures

A novel 3D ultrasound probe guides catheter procedures with clearer real-time images, eliminating x-ray radiation and contrast agent risks. The device is portable and provides continuous imaging, enabling wider range of interventional procedures.

SourceDuke University·DateAug 28, 2008

Breaking harmful bonds

Brandeis scientists have identified a catalyst that efficiently breaks the carbon-fluorine bond, rendering it harmless to the environment. This breakthrough finding could lead to large-scale reactions to convert environmental pollutants into reusable or destroyable products.

SourceBrandeis University·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 2008

Biophysical method may help to recover hearing

Scientists have created a biophysical methodology to retune functioning regions of the ear to recognize frequencies associated with damaged areas, which could remedy even substantial hearing loss. The method uses modifications that enable remapping of frequencies without losing auditory information.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateAug 28, 2008

Study shows more genes are controlled by biological clocks

Researchers at the University of Georgia discovered that 25% of genes in Neurospora crassa are under control of the biological clock, a much higher rate than previously reported. This finding has significant implications for understanding various biological processes, including cell cycling and ribosome biogenesis.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 28, 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.

UC team studies link between Parkinson's disease and depression

A team of University of Cincinnati researchers is studying the relationship between depression and Parkinson's disease to gain insight into possible treatments. In pilot models, they found that stress-induced depression exacerbates problems with movement and causes brain cells to die faster.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·DateAug 28, 2008

HIV patients at greater risk for bone fractures

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that HIV-infected patients have a higher prevalence of fractures compared to non-HIV infected patients. The study analyzed data from over 8,500 HIV-infected patients and more than 2 million non-HIV infected patients, revealing a significant increase in fr...

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateAug 28, 2008

Crystals improve understanding of volcanic eruption triggers

Researchers have discovered that studying crystal formation in volcanoes can reveal the timing between magma movement and eruptions. This technique allows scientists to better understand individual volcano behavior, helping inform civil defense decisions.

SourceDurham University·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 2008

New beta-blocker to offer hope to heart and lung sufferers

A new drug development project aims to create a modified beta-blocker that targets the heart without affecting lungs, benefiting hundreds of thousands of heart patients with respiratory conditions. The treatment has the potential to become the general medicine of choice for all heart patients due to its reduced side effects.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·DateAug 28, 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.

Rapid changes in key Alzheimer's protein described in humans

A study found that recovery from brain injury increases amyloid beta levels in patients, with better neurological status correlating to higher levels. The findings suggest a new understanding of the connection between brain injury and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 2008