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Science News Archive April 2009


Page 17 of 24

Diet secrets of 'the Royals'

Researchers used GPS tracking collars and analyzed carbon isotopes in elephant tail hair to monitor the elephants' movements and diet. The study found that when rains begin, satellite measurements show increasing greenness as grasses grow, indicating peak levels of high-protein grass in the elephants' diet.

For cancer cells, genetics alone is poor indicator for drug response

Scientists studying a new cancer treatment discovered that protein levels, not genetics, determine the effectiveness of the medication. This finding offers an alternative explanation to the cancer stem-cell hypothesis and holds promise for designing more effective anti-cancer treatments.

New insights into progressive hearing loss

A study found a microRNA gene, miR-96, associated with progressive hearing loss in humans and mice. The mutation disrupts the development of sensory hair cells, leading to dramatic loss of hearing.

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.

Active optical clock

Researchers have proposed a novel optical clock concept that enables more stable clocks, sub-natural linewidth laser spectroscopy, and long coherence time lasers. The lasing behavior of the active optical clock is described by the modified Schawlow-Townes linewidth formula, which narrows the linewidth due to collective emission from ga...

UCSF team closer to creating safe embryonic-like stem cells

Scientists have developed a new method to create safe and effective embryonic-like stem cells using tiny molecules called microRNAs. This breakthrough technology eliminates the risks associated with traditional DNA-based methods, making it a promising step towards regenerative medicine.

A healthy color

Researchers at Temple University have found a simple color-changing oral strip can help detect gum disease more quickly and easily than traditional methods. The strips change color based on levels of microbial sulfur compounds in saliva, providing a comparable screening method.

Imaging and discovery from USArray and EarthScope

Recent observations from the USArray transportable array and EarthScope instruments have shed new light on seismic wave propagation and the evolution of the Yellowstone hotspot. The analysis suggests a common mantle source for the region's unique topographic features, providing valuable insights into geological processes.

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.

MIT: New method could lead to narrower chip patterns

Researchers at MIT have developed a novel method for creating exceptionally fine lines on microchips, overcoming fundamental limits in light-based technologies. The technique uses interference patterns to produce transparent lines interspersed with opaque material.

Molecule prompts damaged heart cells to repair themselves after a heart attack

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that the protein Thymosin beta-4 initiates migration of heart cells and blood vessel growth after a heart attack, encouraging new growth and repair of damaged heart cells. The molecule affects developmental gene expression as early as 24 hours after systemic injection.

Hispanics appear to face poorer quality nursing home care

A study by Brown University researchers found that nursing homes serving primarily Hispanic residents provided poorer quality care, including higher rates of bed sores. The study looked at data from California, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and Colorado and found disparities in care related to racial segregation.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Neal Lane wins Karl T. Compton Medal for Leadership in Physics

Dr. Neal F. Lane, a prominent physicist and former U.S. presidential science advisor, has been awarded the AIP's Karl T. Compton Medal for his outstanding contributions to physics through exceptional statesmanship. He is recognized for his advocacy of public understanding of science and technology, as well as his championship of scient...

IU astronomer's discovery poses challenge to galaxy formation theories

A team of astronomers has found a sample of massive galaxies with properties suggesting they may have formed recently, running counter to widely-held beliefs. The discovery challenges our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution, offering new opportunities for research into the origin and early history of galaxies.

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.

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.

CSI: Pisco, Peru

Scientists from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and University of Oxford have analyzed data to identify details of the major plate boundary event that destroyed 90% of Pisco, Peru. The study reveals maximum intensity and damage occur few tens of kilometers south of the epicenter.

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.

Avotermin could give accelerated and permanent improvement in scarring

Researchers found that avotermin improved scar appearance by an average of five points at six months and eight points by month 12 in two studies. The treatment also showed a significant improvement in the structure of healed skin, with 60% of scars demonstrating less abnormal collagen fibre orientation.

Scorpion biodiversity

A study in Evolution Canyon, Israel, shows that scorpion species exhibit different distributions on the south-facing and north-facing slopes, despite identical regional geology. The results suggest that environmental pressures, such as sunlight and drought, can lead to local changes in biodiversity.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

The impact of 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake -- 20 years later

The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake had a profound societal impact, transforming earthquake sciences and engineering. The event led to improved understanding of earthquake processes and triggered major changes in building codes and disaster response.

ARVO 2009 award recipients

This year's Proctor Medal recipient, Joe G. Hollyfield, is recognized for his research on drusen and age-related macular degeneration. Samuel Wu receives the Friedenwald Award for pioneering retinal signaling process systems.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

New drug shows promise in treating drug-resistant prostate cancer

A new therapy for metastatic prostate cancer has shown considerable promise in early clinical trials involving patients whose disease has become resistant to current drugs. Researchers have developed a novel compound, MDV3100, which blocks the androgen receptor in CRPC cells, lowering PSA levels and reducing tumor growth.

Early administration of antiretroviral therapy can improve survival

A study published in The Lancet found that early antiretroviral treatment can significantly improve survival rates among HIV-positive patients. By initiating treatment when CD4 cell counts fall between 351 and 450 cells/µL, the risk of AIDS development and death was reduced by 28%.

More women with early stage breast cancer choosing double mastectomies

A recent study found a 188% increase in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) undergoing contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) between 1998 and 2005. The surgery is typically recommended for women with invasive breast cancer, but not for those with DCIS, which has a 98-99% 10-year survival rate.

First results from Penn's balloon-borne telescope BLAST

The study confirms individual galaxies are source of Far Infrared Background, a decade-old question answered. BLAST's submillimeter survey uncovers dust-enshrouded galaxies with properties deciphered through multi-wavelength data.

Public trust doctrine could aid management of US oceans

Establishing a public trust doctrine for federal waters could provide a practical legal framework for regulating ocean-based commerce while protecting marine species and habitats. The doctrine would obliges governments to manage natural resources in the best interests of citizens, without sacrificing future generations' needs.

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.

Human ES cells progress slowly in myelin's direction

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin successfully generated human embryonic stem cells that can produce myelin, a finding with potential for both basic and clinical research. The process takes 14 weeks compared to 2 weeks for mouse ES cells.

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.

NASA twin spacecraft may reveal secret of Moon's origin

Stereo will use a wide-field-of-view telescope to search for asteroids orbiting the region, which could be leftovers from a Mars-sized planet that formed billions of years ago. The mission aims to provide three-dimensional views of space weather and study its effects on Earth.

Physicists discover important step for making light crystals

Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered a method to compress atoms in an optical lattice until heat is squeezed out and into a surrounding ultra-cold Bose-Einstein condensate, which can absorb and evaporate the heat away. This new approach aims to overcome temperature as a bottleneck for the creation of light crystals.

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.

The 'myths' of Coca-Cola

A recent editorial in The Lancet critiques Coca-Cola's marketing tactics, drawing parallels with the tobacco industry. The company is accused of using celebrity endorsements and blaming shifting to avoid responsibility for its products' impact on health.

Device protects transplanted pancreatic cells from the immune system

Scientists have developed a device that protects transplanted pancreatic precursor cells from the immune system, allowing them to mature into functional beta cells. This breakthrough approach could alleviate the need for long-term immunosuppression in cell transplantation therapy.

Monitoring Yellowstone earthquake swarms

A massive earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park was analyzed by SSA researchers, revealing epicenter migration and sudden depth changes. The study suggests that hydrothermal fluids may be responsible for the swarm's source properties.

Cloud computing brings cost of protein research down to Earth

Researchers at Medical College of Wisconsin developed a set of free tools called ViPDAC to combine with Amazon's cloud computing service, providing inexpensive processing time for proteomics data analysis. This makes it possible for more users to analyze their data in greater depth and learn more about the systems they're studying.

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.

Novel method predicts impact of a covert anthrax release

A new statistical method estimates the source location and geographic extent of an aerosolized anthrax release based on early cases and weather information. This enables public health decision makers to identify people at risk and treat them promptly to save lives.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.