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Science News Archive 2010


Page 218 of 283

Grocery shoppers who try harder to track costs do worse, study finds

A new study found that grocery shoppers who try harder to track costs tend to over spend, with the hardest hit being low-income households who may struggle financially. The researchers suggest retailers help consumers estimate costs with cart scanners and provide shopper trainings.

Exploration in toddlers activated by fathers

A new study published in Early Child Development and Care reveals that fathers tend to give toddlers more leeway, allowing them to actively explore their environments. This 'activation theory' suggests that father-child interaction plays a crucial role in shaping a child's development.

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.

Ancient snakes living on Madagascar

Scientists have found that blindsnakes, a group of worm-like snakes, are one of the few organisms that inhabited Madagascar when it separated from India 100 million years ago. The study reveals that continental drift played a crucial role in their evolution, with populations separating as continents moved apart.

Innovative thinking on agriculture in the Greater Mekong Subregion

The report assesses environmental, social, and agricultural characteristics of GMS nations and outlines changes needed to meet future food demands. Technologies and practices can help farmers use water more efficiently, increase crop yields further and adapt to changing climatic conditions.

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.

What if all software was open source? A code to unlock the desktop

A University of Washington project aims to make all software open source, allowing users to add custom features to widely used programs. The Prefab system hijacks the display to customize user interaction, enabling people with disabilities to access previously inaccessible interfaces.

The pill for ovarian cysts

A study found that women taking oral contraceptive pills had significantly fewer recurring ovarian cysts after surgery. Long-term treatment appears to be key to preventing endometrioma recurrence, suggesting a change in clinical practice.

UT Southwestern researchers find clues to TB drug resistance

UT Southwestern researchers found that a type of blood pressure medication shows promise in overcoming some drug-resistant tuberculosis. However, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium may be resistant to treatment in more people than previously thought. The studies challenge current thinking on how TB works and how best to kill it.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

New path to solar energy via solid-state photovoltaics

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found a new path for sunlight to electricity conversion in semiconductor thin-films, overcoming the bandgap voltage limitation. By applying an electric field, they can manipulate the crystal structure and control photovoltaic properties.

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.

Regulation of mindin expression and the signaling pathway

The study found that mindin expression is upregulated during intestinal inflammation and induces NF-κB activation through a TLR-9 mediated manner. This suggests the importance of the TLR-9 mediated pathway in defining mindin's function and signaling pathways.

Do words hurt?

Researchers at Jena University found that verbal stimuli can activate the pain matrix in the brain, activating areas that process pain. The study used functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRT) to investigate how healthy subjects process words associated with experiencing pain.

Depression affects how women with PMDD respond to stress, pain

A recent study reveals that women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) have distinct biological responses to stress and pain, differing from those with major depression. The findings suggest that PMDD is a separate entity from depression, warranting more precise treatments.

Promoting healing by keeping skeletal stem cells 'young'

Researchers have pinpointed a key molecular player to control mesenchymal stem cell development, which could lead to new therapies for bone and cartilage diseases. The study found that activating the Notch pathway can delay the development of these cells, potentially making them more useful for treating conditions like osteoporosis.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Researchers look at reducing yield loss for crops under stress

Researchers are studying plant stress response mechanisms to improve crop productivity and survival under drought and extreme weather conditions. By understanding how plants respond to different types of stress, scientists hope to develop new breeding approaches that enhance crop resilience without sacrificing yields.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Bacterial 'food supplements' for small algae

Small algae consume more bacteria than specialized predators, gaining a competitive survival edge in the open ocean. This finding supports the idea that bacteria are a crucial nutrient source for these microorganisms.

Study shows that mutations in 1 gene cause many cancers

Researchers discovered specific PTEN mutations linked to distinct kinds of cancer in organs targeted by Cowden syndrome. The study suggests that testing for these mutations could predict cancer severity in patients with the syndrome.

Exotic plant takes over dunes of Southern Spain

The study found that Galenia pubescens outcompetes native plants, altering ecosystem function and causing a decline in species diversity. Effective control measures are necessary to prevent further invasion and mitigate its impacts on Mediterranean-climate coastal ecosystems.

The death of euthanasia

The term euthanasia is being reevaluated due to its broad meaning, which encompasses not only assisted dying but also palliative care. Experts recommend clear definitions and honest discussion to avoid polarization in the end-of-life care debate.

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.

Brown University-led team discovers how bats avoid collisions

Researchers at Brown University have found that echolocating bats use mental templates to differentiate between broadcast and echo signals, allowing them to minimize sound wave interference. By tweaking sound frequency, bats can create a unique template for each broadcast/echo set, enabling efficient navigation in cluttered environments.

After the next sunset, please turn right

Researchers found that bats orient themselves using the Earth's magnetic field at night and calibrate it to the sun's position at sunset. This ability helps them navigate long distances up to 1000 km across Europe, with some species migrating seasonally.

Measuring the stability of organic waste

Researchers developed a method to measure the stability of organic waste using respiration indices, which can predict biodegradable content and facilitate efficient treatment facility design. The study applies this methodology to various types of organic wastes, including food and garden waste, municipal solid waste, and sludge.

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.

Predicting what they say

A study published in Language reveals that people are remarkably accurate in predicting the syntax of others' speech, thanks to their knowledge of linguistic probability. This skill has significant applications for educators, entrepreneurs and those working with individuals with language disorders.

Did climate influence Angkor's collapse?

A study suggests that severe droughts and heavy monsoon rains may have weakened Angkor's economy and led to its downfall. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found evidence of a mega-drought lasting three decades, which could have exacerbated crop failure and infectious disease.

Moral judgments can be altered

Researchers disrupted activity in the right temporo-parietal junction using transcranial magnetic stimulation to impair subjects' ability to make moral judgments requiring understanding of others' intentions. This finding highlights the critical role of the TPJ in making moral judgments.

Microbes reprogrammed to ooze oil for renewable biofuel

Researchers at Arizona State University have successfully engineered photosynthetic cyanobacteria to secrete fatty acids, which can be converted into oil for use as a renewable biofuel. This breakthrough could significantly increase the energy yield of biofuels while minimizing environmental impact.

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.

Orange corn holds promise for reducing blindness, child death

A new gene discovery in orange corn has significant implications for addressing vitamin A deficiency-related blindness and child mortality. Increasing beta-carotene levels in cereal grains can be an economical approach to tackling these deficiencies, especially in developing countries.

Plant hormone regulates nectar production

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology have discovered that the plant hormone jasmonic acid regulates nectar production in rapeseed flowers, a critical process for pollination. The study found that jasmonic acid triggers nectar accumulation in response to floral development, regardless of herbivore attack.

Vital role for bacteria in climate-change gas cycle

Isoprene-degrading bacteria discovered near coastal zones, improving models of climate change and environmental factors. These microbes also break down alkanes, potentially aiding oil-degrading survival between spills.

New aid to biogeochemical research slated for materials characterization lab

The new Multiple Collector Inductively-Coupled Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) will help researchers interpret the Earth system's history and understand connections in weathering-climate systems. It will enable faster data analysis, expand isotopic techniques to new fields, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.

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.

New ethical guidelines needed for dementia research

Research on individuals with impaired decision-making capacity, such as dementia patients, is crucial for developing future treatments. However, current guidelines are often arbitrary and prioritize individual interests over the well-being of these groups.

Cutting fat -- and calories -- from cakes and frostings

Researchers at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service have formulated low-fat cake mixes and frostings using Fantesk, a microdroplet of trans-fat-free cooking oil encapsulated in cornstarch or wheat flour. These innovations produce cakes with better texture and volume while containing up to 50% less fat.

Personalizing medicine to prevent pandemics

Computer modeling and systems biology approaches can help tailor treatments to individuals, predicting disease progression and identifying host genes that affect viral development. This approach may lead to more effective treatment, detection, and prevention of future pandemics.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Children's sense of threat from parental fighting determines trauma symptoms

A study by Southern Methodist University found that children who witness violence between their parents report fewer trauma symptoms if they don't perceive the violence as threatening. The researchers highlight the importance of assessing how threatened a child feels when his or her parents are violent toward one another.

Clues to pregnancy-associated breast cancer found

A new study at the University of Illinois Chicago found that women who have given birth may be at increased risk for breast cancer due to inflammatory-related genes in their breast tissue. The researchers discovered a protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk, suggesting a balance between high-risk inflammatory and protectiv...

Practice doesn't make perfect, but it comes fairly close

A new article by Dr. Robert A. Baron and Rebecca A. Henry demonstrates that sustained intense practice can improve cognitive thinking levels and lead to true excellence. Entrepreneurs can acquire capacities that aid in starting or running a venture through principles like preparation, repetition, and self-reflection.

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.

Can animal models of disease reliably inform human studies?

A PLOS Medicine article highlights controversies surrounding animal experiments and their translation to human clinical trials. The study suggests that selective reporting in medical journals may create a false impression of treatment efficacy, leading to overstatement of benefits.

E20 fuel reduces carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions in automobiles

A new study by the Rochester Institute of Technology indicates that E20 fuel blends reduce tail pipe emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide without impacting vehicle drivability. The research found an average emissions reduction of 23% for carbon monoxide and 13% for hydrocarbon emissions compared to conventional gasoline.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

An archaeological mystery in a half-ton lead coffin

Researchers are using thermography and endoscopy to examine the contents of a 1,000-pound lead coffin found in an ancient Italian city without breaking it. The discovery is significant due to its rarity, with only a handful of examples from this time period existing in Italy.

Early warning system would predict space storms on Mars

A new monitoring system developed by RIT professor Roger Dube will predict space storms on Mars and provide early warnings for the critical infrastructure on Earth. The system uses artificial intelligence to recognize signs of a dangerous flux of particles, enabling at least three days' advanced warning for people living on both planets.

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.

Alzheimer's rat created for human research

McGill University researcher Prof. Claudio Cuello has genetically manipulated rats to emulate Alzheimer's disease in humans, allowing for the study of a suspected 'latent phase' previously impossible to predict. This breakthrough enables researchers to develop new treatments for the devastating brain condition.