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Science News Archive 2010


Page 68 of 283

New fish feeds made from fish byproducts

USDA-funded scientists in Hawaii have developed new fish feeds using discarded fish parts that can attract shrimp and boost their growth, similar to studies on Alaskan pollock and cod. Researchers are now refining these practical feeds for nutritional balance, cost-effectiveness, and environmental safety.

Family ties bind desert lizards in social groups

Researchers found that desert night lizards stay with their parents and siblings for several years after birth, forming family groups. The study suggests that viviparity provides the opportunity for prolonged interaction between mothers and offspring, predisposing animals to form cooperative behaviors.

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.

Nano drugs

Researchers have demonstrated that producing nanoscopic crystals of a pharmaceutical product can make it soluble in water, allowing for oral administration. This approach has the potential to address the issue of many medicinal drugs being ineffective when taken by mouth due to their low solubility in water.

UD researcher on project team for NASA's first visit to the sun

The Solar Probe Plus mission will send a robotic spacecraft to the sun's atmosphere to answer long-standing questions about its outer layers. The probe will measure magnetic and electric properties, helping to understand how solar wind is generated and better comprehend the heliosphere.

Psychologist finds 'shocking' impact on name recall

A recent study found that electric stimulation of the right anterior temporal lobe improved proper name recall by 11% in young adults. This technique, known as tDCS, may also lead to longer-lasting effects and hold promise for treating memory decline in older adults.

University of Colorado gets federal award for Cord Blood Bank

The University of Colorado Cord Blood Bank has received a $6.3 million grant to collect and bank umbilical cord blood from minority groups, increasing genetic diversity and matching rates for minority patients. The bank will support an additional 5,000 cord blood units and expand collections to Arizona.

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.

When the right suit matters

The US Department of Homeland Security is developing a national standard for bomb suits to provide sufficient protection for first responders. The proposed standard outlines minimum performance requirements, including blast and thermal heat protection, freedom of motion, and defogger performance, to ensure the safety of bomb technicians.

Long-extinct passenger pigeon finds a place in the family tree

Researchers used DNA from century-old specimens to identify the passenger pigeon's closest living relatives, revealing a unique bird with a distinct place in the evolutionary history of pigeons and doves. The study found that the passenger pigeon was not closely related to the mourning dove as previously thought.

From eye to brain

Researchers at the Salk Institute mapped the neuronal circuitry connecting photoreceptors with retinal ganglion cells, revealing computations in individual neurons and shedding light on the neural code used by the retina. The study aimed to improve retinal implants and understand visual processing.

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.

Call to heal the world's coral reefs

Marine scientists urge urgent action to save coral reefs from climate change, overfishing, and pollution. They propose management advice to empower local communities and control human impacts.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Reviving the FDA: NEJM perspective

Georgetown University School of Medicine family medicine physician Susan Okie provides an overview of changes made by the FDA under Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. The FDA has adopted a more proactive approach to its public health mission, and is working to address growing pains within the agency.

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.

BLADE software eliminates 'drive-by downloads' from malicious websites

A new tool called BLADE has been developed to eliminate drive-by download threats, which infect computers silently without user knowledge or consent. The software successfully blocked all drive-by malware installation attempts from over 1,900 malicious websites, including Adobe Reader and Sun Java targets.

Mount Etna's mystery explained?

Researchers have developed a dynamic model to explain Mount Etna's existence, suggesting it resulted from decompression melting of upper mantle material. The theory provides an alternative explanation for the volcano's geological environment and surrounding volcanism.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

One lock, many keys

B-cell receptors form ordered oligomer complexes that only become active when binding partners disintegrate into subunits. This new model challenges the accepted scientific doctrine and may contribute to the development of new vaccination strategies and treatments for B-cell tumours.

Wistar researchers discover new class of objects encoded within the genome

Researchers at The Wistar Institute have discovered a new class of long non-coding RNA molecules that function like gene enhancer elements, promoting gene expression and potentially accounting for unknown genomic activity. This breakthrough joins a growing body of evidence challenging the central dogma of genetics.

Stressed-out mums may worsen their child's asthma

A study published in BioPsychoSocial Medicine found that stressed-out mothers can exacerbate their children's asthma symptoms. Researchers discovered that mothers who suppress their emotional expressions or are chronically irritated and angry can increase their child's disease status. The study suggests that parents should focus on man...

Female Cantabrian bears and their young do not hibernate

A study found that female bears with cubs and independent young bears in the Cantabrian Cordillera do not enter hibernation. In contrast, older bears, including females preparing to give birth, exhibit typical hibernation behavior.

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.

MAVEN mission to investigate how sun steals Martian atmosphere

The sun uses its solar wind and ultraviolet radiation to strip Mars' atmosphere, making it cold and dry. MAVEN will examine the ways the sun loses the Martian atmosphere and measure hydrogen isotope ratios to discover how much water has been lost to space.

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.

Evolutionary tinkering produced complex proteins with diverse functions

Researchers reconstructed an ancient protein and traced its subtle changes over time to produce diverse modern-day descendants. They found that evolution tweaked the ancestral structure to create partnerships with new hormones or signals, leading to independent proteins with increased stability.

Research suggests volcanoes nixed Neanderthals

New research suggests that massive volcanic eruptions led to the extinction of Neanderthals, causing a dramatic climate shift that devastated ecosystems. The study, published in Current Anthropology, proposes that the eruption cleared the way for modern humans to thrive in Europe and Asia.

Is your job making you fat?

A study from the Université de Montréal found that office workers have become less active over the last three decades, contributing to the rise in obesity. The researchers suggest integrating sport, work, and transportation to combat inactivity and promote exercise.

AGU journal highlights -- Oct. 5, 2010

Scientists are struggling to explain the recent increase in Antarctic sea ice extent, with a new study suggesting that ozone depletion is not the primary cause. Meanwhile, researchers have also gained new insights into lunar topography using high-resolution data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter. Additionally, a study on Earth's r...

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.

A thirst for excitement is hidden in your genes

A study found a group of genetic mutations that predict sensation seeking behavior, linking it to dopamine levels. The research used a new technique to analyze genes in the dopamine system, identifying 12 potentially important SNPs that explained about 4% of the difference between individuals' sensation-seeking scores.

Keeping a watch on the world

The University of Nottingham leads a new knowledge exchange network focusing on Earth observation technology for various scientific applications. The cluster aims to develop and promote cutting-edge technologies to monitor environmental changes and their implications.

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.

Powerful free radical causes lung damage from oxygen therapy

Researchers found that oxygen therapy can increase peroxynitrite levels in the lungs, leading to inflammation, hemorrhaging, and swelling. A new compound, peptide 326, has been developed to interfere with this process, offering hope for reducing lung damage.

Bricks made with wool

Researchers in Spain and Scotland created bricks with wool fibres that are 37% stronger than conventional bricks, reducing environmental impact. The new material is made from clay, alginate, and sheep's wool, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials.

Early lung cancer detection

Researchers developed a method to detect early signs of lung cancer by examining cheek cells using biophotonics technology. The test, called partial wave spectroscopic (PWS) microscopy, shows promise in prescreening patients at high risk for the disease.

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 fossil suggests dinosaurs not so fierce after all

A new species of dinosaur, Sarahsaurus, discovered in Arizona suggests that dinosaurs did not spread globally by overpowering other species but instead took advantage of a natural catastrophe. The fossil, which lived around 190 million years ago, shows that sauropodomorphs started out small and later evolved to large size.

Consistent evidence: Speed cameras do reduce injuries and deaths

A team of researchers found that speed cameras decrease crashes involving injury and fatalities by reducing average speed and speeding violations. The study compiled data from 35 relevant studies, concluding that the cameras are effective in preventing road accidents.

2009 H1N1 pandemic -- what went right and what went wrong?

The 2009 H1N1 pandemic response was a mixed bag, with some key successes like swift international coordination and robust public health measures. However, there were also areas for improvement, such as limited preparedness at national levels and slower vaccine development.

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.

Fuel cells in operation: A closer look

Researchers used ambient-pressure XPS to examine every feature of a working solid oxide electrochemical cell, operating in an atmosphere of hydrogen and water vapor at high temperatures. This allowed for direct measurement of local chemical states and electric potentials at surfaces and interfaces during the cell's operation.

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.

NASA AIRS Satellite instrument sees Tropical Depression 14W form

Tropical Depression 14W forms near Hainan Island, China, with strong thunderstorms and rapid wind shear detected by NASA's Aqua satellite. The depression's organization and punch are being weakened by wind shear, which is expected to make it turn north-northeast before making a brief landfall in southern China.

Model unfolds proteins gently

A new theoretical model reported in the Journal of Chemical Physics investigates protein unfolding under smaller forces, revealing a previously uncharacterized sequential loss of structure involving fluctuation between two intermediates. The researchers discovered more steps and complexity compared to previous experiments and models.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Fish oil linked to increased risk of colon cancer in mice

Research by Michigan State University found that high doses of fish oil can induce severe colitis and colon cancer in mice. The study suggests that establishing dietary guidelines for omega-3 consumption is necessary to prevent harm, particularly in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.