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Science News Archive December 2010


Page 9 of 21

Iridium memories

Researchers incorporated nanocrystals of iridium into flash memory designs, demonstrating excellent memory properties and thermal stability. Iridium's high work function and melting point make it an attractive option for improving nonvolatile memory with enhanced trapping ability.

A positive step in the face of uncertainty

ASU professors Patricia Gober and Craig Kirkwood assess the impact of climate change on water shortages in Phoenix. Their study provides options for solutions, including changing landscape type, limiting pools, and investing in leak fixes. By embracing uncertainty, residents can reduce risk and protect themselves from water scarcity.

UCI researchers find novel memory-enhancing mechanism in brain

UCI researchers identified a novel mechanism in the brain that boosts memory by strengthening and prolonging memories of negative events to simple objects. Neuropeptide S activation prepares the brain for learning, leading to remarkable memory improvement with long-lasting effects.

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.

What 'pine' cones reveal about the evolution of flowers

Genetic analysis suggests a single common ancestor triggered the emergence of flowers from pine cone-like structures, with water lilies as potential 'genetic fossils'. This discovery challenges expectations of distinct genetic instructions for each floral organ in early angiosperms.

Fighting flu in newborns begins in pregnancy

Researchers found that vaccinating pregnant women against influenza prevents hospitalization in infants by 91.5%. This effective strategy protects young infants without a vaccine, and is cost-effective as it protects two individuals.

Study finds prayer can help handle harmful emotions

A University of Wisconsin-Madison sociologist found that prayer can help victims of violent relationships cope with their emotions by finding comfort in God's perspective. Prayer serves as a distraction and reprieve from anxiety, while also raising self-worth counteracting the abuser's hurtful words.

High activity staves off pounds, especially for women

A new study by Northwestern Medicine found that highly active women gain significantly less weight over 20 years compared to their low-activity peers. On average, highly active women gained about 13 pounds less than those with low activity levels.

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.

Vaccine boosts your immune system

Researchers have discovered a protein that can prevent chronic tissue inflammation and boost the immune system. The therapeutic vaccine has been shown to effectively treat conditions like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers open the door to biological computers

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have successfully created synthetic circuits in yeast cells using gene-regulated communication. This breakthrough could lead to the development of complex biological systems for detecting diseases and monitoring environmental pollutants.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New vaccine to assist worldwide eradication of polio

A new type of vaccine is being developed that can trick the body into developing immunity against polio, with no risk of causing or spreading the disease. The replica virus particle will be designed to look and behave like the real virus but contain no genetic material.

Walkable neighborhoods richer in social capital, UNH study finds

Research from the University of New Hampshire found that walkable neighborhoods have higher levels of social capital, including trust among neighbors and participation in community events. This study suggests that designing neighborhoods with accessibility can lead to increased social benefits and improved quality of life.

2 people receive kidney transplants in pilot program using CMU software

A new national program using Carnegie Mellon University's computer algorithm successfully matched transplant candidates with living donors, enabling the first kidney transplants. The program aims to increase the number of kidney paired-donation transplants by creating a national pool of mismatched donor-recipient pairs.

Neonatal intensive care in Mexico is cost effective

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that neonatal intensive care provides substantial population health benefits in Mexico relative to its costs, even for very premature babies. The study suggests that including neonatal intensive care in Mexico's Seguro Popular program is highly efficient in terms of overall benefits provided com...

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.

Violent games not to blame for youth aggression

A new study published in Journal of Youth and Adolescence found no link between violent video games and serious acts of youth aggression or violence. Instead, depression was identified as a strong predictor of youth violence and aggression.

Mothers' diets have biggest influence on children eating healthy

A Michigan State University study found that mothers' own eating habits and perceptions of their child as a 'picky eater' significantly impact whether their toddler consumes enough fruits and vegetables. Health professionals must consider these factors when developing strategies to promote healthy eating in children.

Biracial and passing -- as black

A majority of survey respondents identify as biracial but pass as black in certain situations. The phenomenon suggests a changing culture around race relations in the US, with blackness becoming less stigmatized.

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.

Alcohol consumption may increase amphetamine abuse

A recent study found that moderate alcohol drinkers were more likely to engage in computer tasks to receive high doses of amphetamines, indicating increased vulnerability to stimulant effects. The researchers suggest that moderate drinking may sensitize individuals to the reinforcing effects of amphetamines.

Go ahead, drink your milk

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no link between dairy consumption and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, or total mortality. The research also revealed that drinking three glasses of milk per day may lead to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

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.

Cell of origin for brain tumors may predict response to therapy

Researchers at UCSF have identified that oligodendroglioma brain tumors arise from progenitor cells rather than neural stem cells. This distinction explains why these tumors are more responsive to therapy, unlike other brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme.

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.

Geologist's discoveries resolve debate about oxygen in Earth's mantle

Recent studies by University of Rhode Island scientist Katherine Kelley reveal that the Earth's mantle is highly oxidized due to exposure to oxygen during its formation. The findings suggest that oxygen from subduction zones controls mineral composition and gas behavior in the mantle, influencing volcanic eruptions.

Study shows how flu infections may prevent asthma

A new study suggests that influenza virus infection in young mice protected against the development of allergic asthma. The study also found that a compound isolated from Helicobacter pylori activated a subset of natural killer T cells, which may prevent asthma.

Apartment-dwelling children in nonsmoking units still exposed

Children living in apartments are at higher risk of tobacco smoke exposure due to shared ventilation systems or wall contamination. The study found that over 84% of children in multi-unit housing had been exposed to tobacco smoke, compared to 70% in detached houses.

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.

Soda taxes: Weight loss benefit linked to household income

A new study found that imposing higher taxes on sodas and sweetened drinks would generate significant revenue but result in only minor weight loss for most households. The tax's impact varies by household income, with middle-income groups experiencing the largest reductions in calories and weight.

A new mechanism for reversible proteasome inhibition

Researchers at TUM have developed a new mechanism for reversible proteasome inhibition, which could lead to improved treatments for cancer and immune reactions. By targeting the immuno-proteasome specifically, they aim to minimize damage caused by side effects.

Potential chink in armor of African sleeping sickness parasite: It's social

Researchers discovered that Trypanosoma brucei parasites can sense their environment, exchange messages, and coordinate movements when seeded onto a surface. This social behavior opens up new avenues for understanding other supposedly solitary parasites like those responsible for malaria and epidemic diarrhea.

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.

How Iapetus got its ridge

A team of researchers, including Washington University professor William B. McKinnon and associate professor Andrew Dombard, propose that Iapetus had a sub-satellite created by a giant impact, which eventually broke apart and formed the ridge. The study suggests that tidal forces played a crucial role in shaping the moon's unique feature.

Parkinson's disparities

A recent study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that African American patients and those with lower socioeconomic status have more advanced Parkinson's disease and greater disability when seeking treatment from specialists. This disparity is associated with earlier loss of independence and greater disease severity.

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.

Protein restores learning, memory in Alzheimer's mouse model

Researchers at UT Health Science Center San Antonio have found that increasing a protein called CBP can restore learning and memory in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. This breakthrough provides a novel therapeutic target for the development of Alzheimer's medications.

Research examines gender gaps in immigrant health

A new study by researchers at Duke University reveals that Mexican American men and women have different experiences with the US healthcare system, with men facing greater challenges as they age. Women, particularly those more recently arrived in the US, report poorer health due to their increased interactions with healthcare providers.

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.

Many brain tumor patients use homeopathy, alternative treatments

A study published in Neurology found that nearly 40% of brain tumor patients use alternative therapies, including homeopathic remedies and vitamin supplements. Younger people, women, and those with more education were more likely to use these treatments, which they often sought to add benefits to conventional care.

Math research to improve Internet reliability

Researchers synthesize traffic matrices based on real network patterns, enabling network researchers to test communication network designs. This will help network providers make efficient and reliable networks.

CMU's research finds large uncertainty in carbon footprint calculating

A recent study by Carnegie Mellon's Christopher Weber found that carbon footprint calculations are often inaccurate due to variables from production and shipping. The use phase of an IBM computer server accounted for 94% of total greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency in data centers.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Winners of the IOF Young Investigators Awards announced at Singapore meeting

The International Osteoporosis Foundation has presented its Young Investigators Awards to researchers from China, India, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan, highlighting the need for osteoporosis awareness in the region. The awards recognize outstanding research on hip fractures, falls, and vitamin D deficiency, promoting education, innovati...

How cells export and embed proteins in the membrane

EMBL scientists first to visualize the structure of a ribosome-protein complex involved in carrying nascent proteins out of the cell. The discovery could increase understanding of illnesses such as cystic fibrosis and Parkinson's disease, where improper protein targeting leads to harmful accumulation inside cells.

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.

A study analyzes the movement of tree sap

Researchers created a 3D model of a European beech tree to study the changes in the trunk's structure when water moves through it. The study reveals that the sap is in a pressurized situation, expanding in radial direction during positive pressure and contracting during negative pressure.