Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for December 17, 2010


Beetroot juice could help people live more active lives

New research suggests beetroot juice can reduce the amount of oxygen needed to perform low-intensity exercise by up to 12%, enabling people to walk for longer periods. The study's findings have potential implications for older adults and individuals with heart or lung conditions.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Applied Physiology·DateDec 17, 2010

German federal government bolsters neutron research in Garching

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has invested 198 million euros over ten years to support scientific use of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz neutron source. This funding will enable researchers to build new instruments, upgrade existing ones, and hire additional staff.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·DateDec 17, 2010
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.

Ion channel responsible for pain identified by UB neuroscientists

University at Buffalo researchers discover that removing a class of potassium channels from nociceptors during inflammation reduces hyperalgesia, providing a potential therapeutic target for pain relief. This breakthrough could lead to the development of non-addictive, less-toxic painkillers.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·DateDec 17, 2010

Novel drug offers hope for early intervention in cystic fibrosis patients

A phase 3 clinical trial found that denufosol can help delay the progression of lung disease in CF patients by preventing mucus formation. The study showed improved lung exhalation rates and reduced symptoms in patients receiving denufosol compared to those on placebo.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateDec 17, 2010

USDA awards $5.5 million to tackle childhood hunger

The USDA has awarded $5.5 million to a research program aimed at understanding the causes and consequences of childhood hunger in the United States. The program will explore policy solutions to alleviate food insecurity among low-income families.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·DateDec 17, 2010

550 million years ago rise in oxygen drove evolution of animal life

Researchers discovered that humans share a method of sensing oxygen with the simplest known living animal, Trichoplax adhaerens. This finding suggests that the oxygen-sensing mechanism evolved around 550 million years ago, coinciding with the emergence of complex multicellular animal life.

SourceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council·JournalEMBO Reports·DateDec 17, 2010
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

NASA's LRO creating unprecedented topographic map of moon

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is producing the most accurate and complete map of the moon's complex landscape, revealing contours and slopes with precision. The dataset is being used to study lunar processes, including crater density and resurfacing, as well as the formation of multi-ring basins.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 17, 2010

How do you cut a nanotube? Lots of compression

Researchers at Brown University have developed a method to cut single-walled carbon nanotubes with precision, enabling the creation of higher-quality nanotubes for various applications. The technique involves sonicating the nanotubes in water, causing them to fracture due to compressive atom ejection.

SourceBrown University·DateDec 17, 2010
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.

The high price of sleep disorders

The study found that individuals with untreated hypersomnia incur significant economic costs, including increased medication use, hospital admissions, and unemployment. The researchers estimate that each person with violent snoring or narcolepsy costs society approximately €10,223 per year.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalActa Neurologica Scandinavica·DateDec 17, 2010

Typically Italian, isn't it?

Researchers found that accents were more important than physical appearance when categorizing people. The study showed that participants primarily relied on the spoken accent while assigning statements to depicted persons. This highlights the significance of language in social integration and ethnic categorization.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateDec 17, 2010

Into the ice: Completing the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory has completed its deployment, enclosing a cubic kilometer of clear ice to detect rare neutrino collisions. The telescope will observe just a few hundred neutrinos per day, but with unprecedented energy and statistics.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·DateDec 17, 2010
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.

Study reveals major shift in how eczema develops

A new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that both the stratum corneum and tight junctions play a crucial role in eczema development. Tightening both leaky barriers may be an effective treatment approach, targeting the faulty tight junction protein claudin-1.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateDec 17, 2010

Efficient phosphorus use by phytoplankton

Rapid turnover of lipid membranes enables phytoplankton to adapt to phosphorus scarcity, potentially supporting further growth when conditions improve. The process occurs within 24 hours and is a physiological response by individual cells.

SourceNational Oceanography Centre, UK·DateDec 17, 2010

Electric current moves magnetic vortices

Researchers at TUM used neutrons to observe the coupling between electric current and magnetic structure in a material. The discovery of magnetic vortices shows promise for developing new data storage systems that are stable and can be written to using weakly anchored electric currents.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalScience·DateDec 17, 2010

How plants counteract against the shade of larger neighbors

Research scientists unravel a regulation pathway for shade avoidance syndrome, where auxin hormone accumulation enhances growth in shaded plants. The transport protein PIN3 enables auxin formation, promoting shoot elongation and upward movement of leaves.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 17, 2010
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.

K-State research looks at pathogenic attacks on host plants

Researchers from Kansas State University have identified three resistance genes in rice that can be mutated to build resistance against pathogens. They discovered these genes by studying how bacteria take over plant nutrients, providing insight into ways to reduce crop losses and develop new medicinal research avenues.

SourceKansas State University·JournalNature·DateDec 17, 2010