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Science News Archive 2009


Page 184 of 277

True grit

Researchers discovered that the teeth contain crystals of magnesium calcite, which are smaller, harder and denser than those of pure calcite. The unique arrangement of these crystals in two different arrays allows them to be self-sharpening as they wear down.

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.

Lithium may help radiation target cancer, spare healthy tissue

Researchers found that lithium promotes DNA repair in healthy cells but not in brain tumor cells, protecting healthy hippocampal neurons from radiation-induced damage. This mechanism could provide a way to increase the radiation dose to kill tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue.

Cigarette smoke may rob children of needed antioxidants

A study of over 2,000 children aged 6-18 found that those exposed to secondhand smoke had lower antioxidant levels, which can help defend against biological stresses. The researchers recommend a diet rich in antioxidants from fruits and vegetables to mitigate this effect.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Scientists learn why the flu may turn deadly

Researchers discovered that the influenza virus can paralyze the immune systems of healthy individuals, leading to severe secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia. The study found that this immunological paralysis is long-lived and specific to influenza infection.

Study finds particles, molecules prefer not to mix

Researchers found that particles and molecules have a tendency to separate from each other when mixed, forming small-scale phase separation. This phenomenon is counterintuitive, as one might expect different shapes to mix well without any special interaction or repulsion between them.

Iron deficiency in womb may delay brain maturation in preemies

A new study found that iron deficiency in womb may delay auditory neural maturation in preemies, affecting sound processing and later language development. The research evaluated 80 infants over 18 months, revealing abnormal brain maturity in those with low iron levels.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Hypothyroidism in women associated with liver cancer

A new study published in Hepatology found that women with a history of hypothyroidism are at a significantly higher risk of developing liver cancer. The study revealed that subjects with a prior history of hypothyroidism had twice the risk of liver cancer, particularly for females, and those who had it for over 10 years had a threefold...

Sleep apnea thickens blood vessels, increases heart disease risk

Researchers found that obstructive sleep apnea thickens blood vessels due to NADPH oxidase enzyme activation, increasing the risk of pulmonary hypertension and other heart diseases. In mice, inhibiting NADPH oxidase reduced hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension, suggesting potential treatment strategies.

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.

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.

Junghans named PI in $5.9 million breast cancer grant

Richard Junghans, MD, has been awarded a $5.9 million grant from the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program to research gene therapy techniques to modify patients' T cells and create 'designer T cells' to fight breast cancer.

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.

NASA's Fermi explores high-energy 'space invaders'

The Fermi telescope has detected a class of pulsars, probed gamma-ray bursts and watched flaring jets in galaxies billions of light-years away. The data may imply the presence of a nearby object beaming cosmic rays our way.

Embargoed news from Annals of Internal Medicine

Researchers identified BCL2, p53, and high microvessel density as molecular factors associated with increased risk of death from prostate cancer. Additionally, a study found that news reports often sensationalize medical research, potentially misleading the public about its relevance to human health.

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.

New trial casts doubt on role of zinc supplements in diarrhea treatment

A randomized controlled trial found that zinc and copper supplementation was no more effective than placebo in treating acute diarrhea in children. The study's authors suggest that baseline serum zinc concentrations may not be a reliable measure of body zinc status, contributing to the lack of effect.

Research gives clues for self-cleaning materials, water-striding robots

Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and RIKEN institute developed a computer simulation to design nanostructured surfaces with superhydrophobic properties. This technology can help create self-cleaning materials and water-striding robots, which are inspired by nature's ability to repel water.

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.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

New insight into Alzheimer's disease pathology

A study published in the Journal of Cell Biology reveals that a mutated Alzheimer's-related protein called presenilin helps form and maintain nerve cell connections. The findings suggest that failing nerve transmission might be an early step in the disease's pathology.

Injectable testosterone may provide effective male contraception

A new study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that injecting testosterone undecanoate monthly can effectively prevent pregnancy. After thirty months, the cumulative contraceptive failure rate was 1.1 per 100 men.

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.

MIT: Targeting tumors using tiny gold particles

Gold nanorods can detect and treat tumors by absorbing near-infrared light, heating them up to kill cancer cells, while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. The technology has shown promise in studies using mice, where tumors disappeared within 15 days of treatment.

Meditate your way to better bladder health

A study published in the Journal of Urology found that cognitive therapy is an effective management strategy for urge incontinence, with patients experiencing a substantial improvement in symptoms. Cognitive therapy employs deep-breathing and guided-imagery exercises to train the brain to control the bladder without medication or surgery.

Drug prevents seizure progression in model of epilepsy

Researchers identified a new anticonvulsant compound that eliminates seizures in a model of epilepsy by inhibiting ion channels associated with the disease. The study found that blocking these channels can prevent subsequent seizures, offering a promising treatment for epilepsy.

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.

Monell Center receives $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant

The Monell Center has received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant to investigate the role of mosquito taste in malaria transmission. The project aims to identify new strategies to deter mosquitoes from biting humans by understanding how human skin tastes to them.

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 gene may provide breast cancer diagnostic marker

A new gene called DEAR1 has been found to be genetically altered in breast tumors and may provide a new prognostic marker for breast cancer patients, particularly those with early-onset cancer. The research suggests that DEAR1-negative staining could help identify young women at high risk of cancer recurrence.

University of Cincinnati researchers develop 'lab on a tube' monitoring device

The University of Cincinnati has developed a novel 'lab on a tube' monitoring device capable of continuously monitoring multiple physiological parameters in neurotrauma patients. The device, which can drain excess cerebrospinal fluid and deliver medications, aims to revolutionize patient care by enabling real-time monitoring.

Crop models help increase yield per unit of water used

A series of symposium papers explore AquaCrop and other agronomic models that estimate water use efficiency under varying conditions. The models were shown to adequately simulate WUE under well-watered conditions but tend to overestimate or underestimate WUE under water stress, limiting their usefulness for deficit irrigation scenarios.

Study: Furniture tip-over injuries rising

A recent study found that an average of nearly 15,000 children younger than 18 years old visited emergency departments annually for furniture tip-over injuries from 1990-2007. The majority of injuries occurred among children younger than 7 years of age and resulted from televisions tipping over.

Calorie restriction causes temporal changes in liver metabolism

Researchers found that short-term calorie restriction with a low-carbohydrate diet caused greater changes in liver fat content and metabolic function compared to a high-carbohydrate diet. Long-term calorie restriction improved skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, while cellular insulin signaling increased.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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