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Science News for February 12, 2008


Scientists expand understanding of how river carbon impacts the Arctic Ocean

A recent study reveals that dissolved organic carbon in Alaskan arctic rivers is remarkably labile during the spring flood period, challenging the prevailing paradigm. This finding suggests that riverine inputs of DOC may have a larger influence on coastal ocean biogeochemistry than previously realized.

SourceWoodwell Climate Research Center·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 12, 2008

Marketplace drama: The 7-year war on downloading in 4 acts

A new study by Markus Giesler explores the seven-year conflict between music downloaders and corporate executives, revealing a four-act drama of market evolution. The research identifies a fundamental cultural tension between utilitarian and possessive ideals, influencing consumer behavior and producer statements.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateFeb 12, 2008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New dinosaur from Mexico offers insights into ancient life on West America

Scientists unveil Velafrons coahuilensis, a massive duck-billed dinosaur from Mexico's Cerro del Pueblo Formation. The discovery provides valuable insights into the region's ecosystem and mass death events, challenging previous understanding of West America's Late Cretaceous history.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·DateFeb 12, 2008

Old dogs: Prior knowledge affects how consumers accept new information

A study found that prior knowledge can make it difficult for consumers to learn and recognize other positive qualities indicated by the same cues. The researchers used cheese tasting to explore this phenomenon, known as 'protection of prior learning.' The findings have important implications for marketers, policy makers, and consumers.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateFeb 12, 2008

New sensor system improves detection of lead, heavy metals

A new portable detection system developed by PNNL can accurately detect toxic lead and other heavy metals in blood, urine, and saliva samples. The device is field-deployable, battery-operated, and provides quicker results than current state-of-the-art mass spectrometry systems.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateFeb 12, 2008

Humans inhabited New World's doorstep for 20,000 years

New research suggests the Americas were colonized by approximately 1,000-5,000 people, with a 20,000-year layover in Beringia, where population size remained relatively stable. This three-stage colonization model provides a more complex scenario than previous theories, shedding light on the timing and scale of the initial migration.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 12, 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.

'Lab on a chip' mimics brain chemistry

Scientists develop micro-scale tool to study how nerve cells in the brain work together, providing insights into growth and signaling molecules. The 'lab on a chip' system helps researchers understand complex interactions between neurons and their environment.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalLab on a Chip·DateFeb 12, 2008

Chameleons and copycats: How mimicry affects interpersonal persuasion

Researchers find that watching someone eat a snack will cause you to also eat more of it, while mimicked posture and speech lead to higher ratings and increased consumption. The study suggests that mimicry has the potential to be a valuable tool in interpersonal persuasion.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateFeb 12, 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.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

A sense of scarcity: Why it seems like all the good ones are taken

A team of psychologists found that people's emotional desire for a mate leads them to believe there are fewer desirable partners available, even when the numbers are equal. This 'value heuristic' affects judgmental decisions in everyday life and can sometimes lead to unrealistic assumptions about reality

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateFeb 12, 2008

Other highlights in the Feb. 12 JNCI

A study found that breast cancer survivors, especially older women, are at a greater risk of dying from non-cancer causes than from breast cancer. Factors such as pre-existing diseases like heart disease and osteoporosis are associated with this increased risk. The researchers also found that women with cancer cells in the lymph nodes ...

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateFeb 12, 2008

What's good for the heart may be good for the prostate

A new study finds that eating a diet low in fat and red meat, but high in vegetables and lean protein, may significantly decrease the risk of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This association is likely due to reduced inflammation and changes in steroid hormones.

SourceFred Hutchinson Cancer Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateFeb 12, 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.

Surgery improves quality of life for children with sleep apnea

A tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy has been shown to provide dramatic relief from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children, with 80-90 percent experiencing significant improvement. The surgery can lead to a profound positive effect on children's quality of life.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalThe Laryngoscope·DateFeb 12, 2008

Anxiety linked to newly diagnosed DCIS patients' overestimation of breast cancer risks

A study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers found that women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) often misperceive their risk of recurrence or dying from breast cancer, due to elevated anxiety. This can lead to poor treatment choices and negatively impact emotional well-being and health behaviors.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateFeb 12, 2008

More attention needed to conflicts presented by institutional relationships

A recent study reveals that many US medical schools lack comprehensive policies addressing conflicts of interest related to financial interests of the institution itself or major officials. The study suggests that institutions may need additional support in addressing this issue, and raises questions about the effectiveness of existing...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJAMA·DateFeb 12, 2008
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.

New findings contradict a prevailing belief about the inner ear

A new study contradicts a prevailing belief about otoacoustic emissions, revealing they travel through fluid in the inner ear rather than rippling along the basilar membrane. The findings offer insight into hearing loss and could lead to the development of tools to detect damage.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 12, 2008

DCIS patients overestimate breast cancer risks

A study found that women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have overly optimistic views of their risk of recurrence and invasive breast cancer. Anxiety levels decreased over time, but depression remained low. Clinicians should be aware of these inaccurate perceptions to minimize distress.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateFeb 12, 2008
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Sept. 11 terrorism continues to impact mental health of Americans

A study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers found that Sept. 11 terrorism-related thoughts and fears are associated with increased psychological distress and alcohol abuse in Americans. The study measured the effect of macro-level sociological stressors on mental health, four years after the attacks.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJournal of the American Public Health Association·DateFeb 12, 2008

Breakthrough in pre-eclampsia test

Researchers at the University of Leeds have made a breakthrough in diagnosing pre-eclampsia, a condition that affects up to 15% of pregnancies. A user-friendly diagnostic kit is being developed to test pregnant women, with potential savings estimated at £500m for the NHS.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·DateFeb 12, 2008

Aircraft noise raises blood pressure even whilst people are sleeping, says study

Researchers monitored 140 sleeping volunteers near London Heathrow and three major European airports, finding that aircraft noise increased systolic blood pressure by an average of 6.2 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 7.4 mmHg. The study's findings highlight the need to reduce night-time aircraft noise levels to protect public health.

SourceImperial College London·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·DateFeb 12, 2008

MIT reveals superconducting surprise

Researchers discovered that scattering by impurities occurs in both the pseudogap and superconductive states, challenging existing theories. This finding could help understand why certain materials can superconduct at high temperatures.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 12, 2008
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.

Yale test detects early stage ovarian cancer with 99 percent accuracy

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have developed a blood test that detects early stage ovarian cancer with 99% accuracy, building on previous work showing 95% effectiveness. The new platform uses six protein biomarkers instead of four, increasing specificity from 95 to 99.4%.

SourceYale University·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateFeb 12, 2008
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Stevens' survey finds global companies lack strong leadership

A survey by Stevens Institute of Technology found that global companies operating in accelerating economies face a talent wall due to insufficiently trained technical personnel. The study revealed frequent conflict between local and headquarters management, with employees departing for cultural needs and training issues.

SourceStevens Institute of Technology·DateFeb 12, 2008

Young voters influenced by negative political ads, says study

A field study of registered voters aged 18-23 found that negative 'attack' ads provoke more voter migration than positive ads. The researchers also discovered that young voters are more likely to weaken their support for a candidate after viewing an ad attacking their preferred candidate.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateFeb 12, 2008

Study garners unique mating photos of wild gorillas

Western lowland gorillas have been observed mating in a unique face-to-face position for the first time in the wild. This behavior is rare among primates, with only bonobos frequently employing ventro-ventral copulation.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·DateFeb 12, 2008
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.