Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive December 2009


Page 13 of 21

Potential new heart attack biomarker uncovered

Researchers have identified cardiac myosin-binding protein C as a potential new diagnostic biomarker for heart attacks, particularly useful for mild attacks. cMyBP-C becomes nearly 20 fold more abundant than before within 5 minutes following a heart attack, suggesting its value in early diagnosis.

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.

Suzaku catches retreat of a black hole's disk

Astronomers study the galaxy's most active black-hole binary, revealing a dramatic change in the accretion disk's behavior. The Suzaku observations show that at low brightness, the inner edge of the disk retreats up to 600 miles from the black hole.

Student self-testing earns high marks as study tool

College students who practice retrieving knowledge through self-testing learn more effectively than those who rely on repetitive note reading. The key is not dropping flashcards once mastered, as retrieval fluency can create an illusion of learning.

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.

Cyclone Cleo back down to tropical storm status

Cyclone Cleo's maximum sustained winds dropped to 69 mph as it moved into an area with increased vertical wind shear, further weakening the storm. The tropical storm is forecast to become extra-tropical over the next several days.

The future of organic ornamental plants

The industry is shifting towards organic methods, with growers citing environmental concerns and a desire to reduce their ecological footprint. Organic bedding plant producers face challenges such as insect and disease management, fertility issues, and substrate problems, highlighting the need for future research in this area.

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.

The battle of the sexes

Researchers at EMBL uncover gene Foxl2 that maintains female traits in adult mice, reversing default pathway. The study has implications for reproductive medicine and may help treat sex differentiation disorders.

Obesity linked with poorer breast cancer outcomes

Women with high BMI have poorer breast cancer prognosis, with increased risk of death and reduced treatment effectiveness. Researchers found that adjuvant treatment loses its effect more rapidly in obese patients.

Introns: A mystery renewed

Researchers studying the model organism Daphnia pulex found that introns are inserted into the genome far more frequently than predicted, with many sequences of unknown origin. The study identified 'hot spots' for intron insertion and discovered parallel intron gains in independent genotypes.

Personalities judged by physical appearance alone

Observers can accurately judge aspects of a stranger's personality from photographs, with self-esteem and ratings of extraversion being correctly identified. The study found that spontaneous poses provided more insight into personality traits such as agreeableness, emotional stability, and openness.

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.

People affected by autism believe increase is 'real,' not diagnostic

A study found that laypeople's beliefs about the causes of autism differ from medical experts' consensus. Many individuals directly or indirectly affected by autism believe the incidence has increased due to environmental hazards and modern lifestyles, rather than changes in diagnosis practices.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Studying hair of ancient Peruvians answers questions about stress

Researchers from the University of Western Ontario detected cortisol in ancient Peruvian hair samples to understand how our ancestors responded to life-changing experiences like illness and disease. The study found high stress levels right before death, but also multiple episodes of stress throughout their final years of life.

Coaxing injured nerve fibers to regenerate by disabling 'brakes' in the system

A study published in Neuron found that deleting a gene called SOCS3 allows mouse axons to regenerate vigorously after injury. The research suggests that the mTOR pathway and JAK/STAT signaling pathway can be manipulated to promote axon regeneration, potentially leading to improved recovery from brain or spinal cord injuries.

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.

Money changes what we think is fair, Rotman research finds

A study published in Psychological Science shows that when distributing resources, people's ideas of fairness change depending on the item's value. Intrinsic values like food or vacation days are seen as fair to distribute equally, while market-based attitudes dominate for monetary rewards.

A new target for lymphoma therapy

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have discovered a gene enhancer responsible for activating cancer-causing genes in B cells, leading to the development of a new target for lymphoma therapy. The study suggests that targeting this regulatory component could potentially arrest lymphomas and other blood-related cancers.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

NYU researchers develop noninvasive technique to rewrite fear memories

Researchers at NYU have developed a non-invasive technique to block the return of fear memories by updating them with non-fearful information during the reconsolidation process. This technique, shown to be effective in reducing fear responses, may lead to new ways to treat anxiety disorders.

Brain activity exposes those who break promises

Scientists from the University of Zurich have discovered the physiological mechanisms in the brain that underlie broken promises. Patterns of brain activity can even predict whether someone will break a promise, shedding light on the neural basis of pro-social and antisocial behavior.

Charles Darwin: More than the origin

The American Journal of Botany presents two papers exploring botanical history before Darwin, his research on plant movements and orchids. Research reveals that Darwin's ideas on plant movements contributed to the discovery of auxin, a hormone essential in plant growth processes.

NFL grant to strengthen knee research

The NFL grant will support research on new materials to repair injured knees, with a focus on meniscal repair. Professor Kyriacos Athanasiou's laboratory at UC Davis is also working on tissue engineering of knee cartilage.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Are holiday and weekend eating patterns affecting obesity rates?

Researchers found significant changes in eating behavior on weekends and holidays, with higher caloric intake and lower nutritional value. The study's findings suggest that the US Department of Agriculture incorporate recommendations for holiday and weekend eating into its food pyramid guidelines.

New clues emerge for understanding morphine addiction

Astrocytes, previously thought to support neurons, may also contribute to drug addiction through specific proteins. The new research suggests that these cells could serve as potential markers for addiction or targets for therapy

Carnegie Mellon's Kelvin Gregory gets award to study water

Kelvin Gregory, a civil engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University, is leading a research team to develop a new water treatment system for hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale. The system aims to remove toxic metals and chemicals from flowback water, reducing environmental risks and minimizing disposal costs.

Cyclone Cleo has reached its maximum wind speed

NASA satellites capture images of Cyclone Cleo's strong convection and rainfall patterns. The storm is larger than 230 miles in diameter with hurricane-force winds extending 45 miles from its center.

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.

MSU research may lead to new ways to control honeybee parasite

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered proteins that can channel sodium ions through the cell membranes of Varroa mites, a parasite that devastates commercial bee colonies. This breakthrough could lead to more effective controls and reduce the need for toxic pesticides.

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.

Toward a fast, accurate urine test for pneumonia

A new study by Carolyn Slupsky reveals a distinct pattern of metabolites in urine samples from patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced pneumonia, enabling faster and more accurate diagnosis. This breakthrough paves the way for early treatment initiation, potentially saving lives.

Fermi sees brightest-ever blazar flare

Astronomers have identified the brightest source in the gamma-ray sky, with galaxy 3C 454.3 emitting flares 10 times brighter than its summer levels. The blazar's exceptional brightness is due to its orientation, with a jet aimed straight at Earth.

Magnetic power revealed in gamma-ray burst jet

Scientists have measured magnetic fields in the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst for the first time using a specialized camera on a telescope. This breakthrough observation opens up the study of magnetic fields in these cosmic events, potentially changing our understanding of their role in powering and collimating gamma-ray bursts.

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.

Physicians knowledge of childhood food allergies needs room for improvement

A recent study found that pediatricians and family physicians have limited knowledge of childhood food allergies, leading to potential misdiagnoses and ineffective treatment. Despite this, most physicians report providing care for children with food allergy and are proficient in identifying common allergens.

Carnegie Mellon researchers receive grant

Researchers Yoed Rabin and Kenji Shimada are developing an interactive simulator for cryosurgical procedures, combined with a computerized tutor to evaluate quality. This project aims to enhance surgical training by practicing virtual cryosurgical procedures, motivating surgeons to learn and improve their skills.

Why cancer cells just won't die

A cancer researcher has identified a protein called RanBPM that regulates apoptosis, a process by which damaged cells self-destruct. The discovery has implications for both diagnosing and treating cancer, as it may enable targeted therapy to reactivate apoptosis and kill cancer cells.

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.

Noninvasive technique blocks a conditioned fear in humans

Researchers successfully blocked a conditioned fear memory in humans for at least a year using a noninvasive technique that exploits the reconsolidation window of emotional memories. The method, inspired by animal studies, shows promise for treating anxiety disorders like PTSD by altering emotional memories during their recall.

Sticks and stones break bones, but this UH study may prevent it

A team of researchers at the University of Houston has created a process to grow real human bone in tissue culture, allowing them to investigate how bones form and grow. The technology has potential applications in preventing bone loss in astronauts and patients with spinal cord injuries.

Entropy alone creates complex crystals from simple shapes, study shows

Scientists at the University of Michigan discovered that certain pyramid shapes can spontaneously organize into intricate quasicrystals without any external interactions. This finding could lead to the development of new materials with unique properties, such as optical properties useful for communication and stealth technologies.

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.

Consumers overpredict the use of holiday gifts

A study found that 59% of gifts were used less frequently than predicted by their recipients. Strangers and even informed observers tended to make more accurate predictions about how often gifts would be used, with only 10% overprediction rate among the latter group.

Debunking fears: Latino growth does not boost crime

A new study from North Carolina State University finds that the introduction of Latinos contributes to declining crime rates and lower poverty levels in small- and medium-sized towns. The research also reveals that an increased Latino population puts pressure on local schools, but not on economic costs or tax increases.

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.