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Science News for June 27, 2010


Healthier cafeteria food, more intense gym classes lower students' diabetes risk

A national study called HEALTHY found that innovative PE programs, healthier food choices, and in-class lessons on healthy lifestyles can benefit children most at-risk for type 2 diabetes. After three years, students in intervention schools had a 21% lower rate of obesity and improved fasting insulin levels compared to comparison schools.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 27, 2010

Carbon nanotubes form ultrasensitive biosensor to detect proteins

A team of researchers at Boston College has developed a biosensor using carbon nanotubes that can detect minute amounts of proteins with high sensitivity. The sensor can distinguish between different varieties of the same protein and could potentially be used to diagnose diseases such as human papillomavirus.

SourceBoston College·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJun 27, 2010
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Carbon sequestration: Boon or burden

Large-scale carbon sequestration could help avoid extreme global warming, but its effectiveness is uncertain due to leakage risks. Geological storage appears more effective in delaying climate consequences with minimal CO2 leakage rates.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 27, 2010

Technique enables precise control of protein activity in living cells

Engineered allosteric regulation provides precise control of kinase activity in living cells, enabling scientists to understand cellular processes and dissect the functions of kinases. This new method has exciting applications in basic research and promises to open doors to new scientific insights into cancer and other human diseases.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJun 27, 2010

Why mercury is more dangerous in oceans

Research by Duke University scientists reveals that seawater's higher concentrations of mercury make saltwater fish like tuna and shark more toxic to humans. Methylmercury latches onto dissolved organic matter in freshwater, but tightly binds to chloride in seawater, where sunlight can't break it down as easily.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 27, 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.

Gestational diabetes linked to serotonin and dietary protein

Researchers at UCSF have found a link between serotonin, a neurotransmitter, and gestational diabetes, suggesting that high protein diets may trigger the condition. The study's findings offer new insights into possible ways to reverse non-gestational diabetes and provide potential therapeutic solutions.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalNature Medicine·DateJun 27, 2010

Unexpected findings in patients with limbic encephalitis will change disease diagnosis and classification and aid understanding of other neurological diseases

Researchers identify LGI1 as the main target of autoantibodies in patients with limbic encephalitis, leading to a new diagnostic test and potential therapeutic strategies for other neurological disorders. The findings also suggest that limbic encephalitis should be classified as an autoimmune synaptic encephalopathy.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·DateJun 27, 2010
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Physicists explain why superconductors fail to produce super currents

Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered that grain boundaries in high-temperature ceramic superconductors impede electrical current. The study, published in Nature Physics, provides a theoretical model explaining why these barriers limit the potential of superconductors.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 27, 2010