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Science News for January 20, 2009


Bacterial pathogens and rising temperatures threaten coral health

Researchers identify bacteria responsible for yellow band disease, a bacterial infection that sickens coral colonies and kills photosynthetic symbionts. Warmer temperatures exacerbate the disease's virulence, posing a grim prognosis for corals and their spread.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalJournal of Applied Microbiology·DateJan 20, 2009

Engineered virus targets and kills apparent cancer stem cells in neuroblastoma

Researchers successfully used an engineered herpes virus to block tumor formation in mice by targeting and killing apparent cancer stem cells. The study suggests that early-stage cancer precursor cells with stem-cell-like properties may explain how some cancers form and are treatment resistant.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 20, 2009
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.

Orphaned elephants forced to forge new bonds decades after ivory ban

Researchers found that African elephants in Tanzania's Mikumi National Park formed unusually small groups and chose to forge new bonds with unrelated females. The effects of poaching on group size, relatedness, and social bonding persist for up to 20 years after the killing has ended.

SourceWiley·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateJan 20, 2009

Faces and race

Researchers developed a measurement system and protocol to train Caucasian subjects to recognize different African American faces, reducing implicit racial bias. The training improved ability to tell apart individual African-American faces and increased positive associations with African-American faces.

SourceBrown University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 20, 2009

Excessive weight loss can be a bad thing

Cachexia is a wasting disease that can be life-threatening if left untreated. It's often linked to an underlying disease and requires specialized care from a physician familiar with the condition.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalClinical Nutrition·DateJan 20, 2009
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Binge drinking leads to a greater risk of preterm birth

A new study found that binge drinking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of preterm birth, regardless of when alcohol consumption stops. Women who drank heavily or binged had a higher incidence of preterm birth compared to those who abstained from alcohol.

SourceResearch Australia·JournalObstetrics and Gynecology·DateJan 20, 2009

Anxious older adults may benefit from antidepressants

A study found that escitalopram improved anxiety symptoms and quality of life in older adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The drug helped reduce anxiety and improve functioning, including daily activities related to work or family life. Benefits were modest, but the medication was well-tolerated overall.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·DateJan 20, 2009

Project MARGO: A new tool which improves the reliability of climate models

Researchers created MARGO, a new quantitative tool that reconstructs sea surface temperatures during the Last Glacial Maximum. The study provides more exhaustive data than previous models and helps identify aspects to improve climate modeling, particularly in representing temperature gradients and ocean currents.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJan 20, 2009
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.

Pathogenic soil bacterium is influenced by land management practices

A study found that the pathogenic soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei is associated with land management changes such as livestock husbandry and residential gardening. The bacterium was more commonly found in areas with lower soil pH, irrigation, and presence of livestock animals.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateJan 20, 2009

Many of China's 140 million old people find the crowd to be lonely

A study by Durham University and the University of Reading found that loneliness has doubled from 16% to 30% among Chinese people aged 60+, with urbanization and nuclear family structures contributing to the issue. To tackle this problem, the authors suggest involving local communities in social activities and providing financial support.

SourceDurham University·JournalAgeing and Society·DateJan 20, 2009
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.

Native lizards evolve to escape attacks by fire ants

Researchers found that native fence lizards are adapting to fire ant attacks by developing twitching behavior, running away, and longer hind legs. Lizards from sites invaded longest were more likely to perform these survival behaviors.

SourcePenn State·JournalEcology·DateJan 20, 2009

Fish out of water

A new species of fish from tropical South America has been discovered, confirming suspected roots to the loricariid catfish family tree. The species, Lithogenes wahari, shares traits with both the Loricariidae and Astroblepidae families, including bony armor and a grasping pelvic fin.

SourceAmerican Museum of Natural History·JournalAmerican Museum Novitates·DateJan 20, 2009
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Indiana University discovery may provide new approach to HIV treatment

A variant of the protein Nef has been identified as a potential target for HIV treatment, with the goal of suppressing its production to prevent AIDS progression. Researchers believe that a drug affecting Nef could provide protection against the virus and complement existing therapies.

SourceIndiana University·JournalMolecular Cell·DateJan 20, 2009

School performance and body weight affects kids' self-esteem, study shows

A recent study by University of Alberta researcher Paul Veugelers found that body weight affects children's self-esteem, but low self-esteem does not lead to weight gain. School performance also has a significant impact on self-esteem, with students able to perform well despite low self-esteem.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalObesity Reviews·DateJan 20, 2009

Blocked protein prevents Lupus in mouse model

A study led by Professor Derry Roopenian found that a blocked protein called Interleukin 21 prevents systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in mice. The researchers also demonstrated the importance of IL21 signaling in SLE progression, suggesting that interrupting this process could be an effective therapeutic option for human SLE patients.

SourceJackson Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2009

Microbot motors fit to swim human arteries

Researchers from Monash University have designed microbot motors powered by piezoelectricity, allowing them to swim up narrow arteries and enhance surgical views. The innovative technology could revolutionize minimally invasive surgeries, making them safer and more effective.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalJournal of Micromechanics and Microengineering·DateJan 20, 2009
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Surviving dance club music (noise) with hearing intact

A global team of researchers has discovered an alteration in the ear's nAChR protein that contributes to protecting against permanent hearing loss by limiting sound. The study found that genetically altered mice with improved sound-blocking ability suffered less permanent hearing damage when exposed to loud sounds.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 20, 2009

Frogs are being eaten to extinction: new study

A new study reveals the global trade in frog legs is threatening their extinction. The annual global trade has increased over the past 20 years, with at least 200 million frogs consumed every year, according to Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalConservation Biology·DateJan 20, 2009
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.