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Science News for September 17, 2010


Research team assesses environmental impact of organic solar cells

A research team from Rochester Institute of Technology conducted a life-cycle assessment of organic solar cells, revealing lower embodied energy compared to conventional inorganic devices. The study also found potential benefits for manufacturing, including low-cost solution processing.

SourceRochester Institute of Technology·DateSep 17, 2010

NASA eyes Typhoon Fanapi approaching Taiwan

Typhoon Fanapi is approaching Taiwan with strong convection and a tight circulation center, reaching speeds of 97 mph. NASA's Aqua satellite data shows the typhoon consolidating, with a 11-mile-wide eye and a small gap in the eyewall.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 17, 2010

When the Earth mantle finds its core

Researchers confirm partial melting of mantle at 2900 km depth, revealing a deep magma ocean. The study uses X-ray diffraction to characterize the passage from solid to liquid state, shedding light on the dynamics and composition of the Earth's depths.

SourceEuropean Synchrotron Radiation Facility·JournalScience·DateSep 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.

SHSU to study ballistics database

Sam Houston State University will study the use and effectiveness of the national Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) database to connect crimes to a single firearm. The research aims to identify best practices for improving the system's effectiveness and understand why some law enforcement agencies do not use it.

SourceSam Houston State University·DateSep 17, 2010

Research could improve detection of liver damage

Research at the University of Liverpool has led to a potential breakthrough in detecting liver damage, using paracetamol as a basis for study. The team discovered specific proteins in the blood indicate early liver cell damage and can assess the extent of damage more accurately.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalMolecular Medicine·DateSep 17, 2010

Pickle spoilage bacteria may help environment

Agricultural Research Service microbiologist Ilenys Pérez-Díaz and her colleagues discovered that certain Lactobacilli species can modify azo dyes into non-mutagenic substances. This finding has potential applications for wastewater treatment, making food-grade bacteria a promising option for cleaning up textile industry dye waste.

SourceUnited States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics·JournalJournal of Applied Microbiology·DateSep 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.

Gene limits learning and memory in mice

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have found that deleting a certain gene in mice can improve their learning and memory abilities. The RGS14 gene, which is primarily active in one region of the hippocampus, appears to limit some forms of learning and memory when present.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 17, 2010

NASA's CloudSat satellite and GRIP Aircraft profile Hurricane Karl

Hurricane Karl's powerful thunderstorms featured very high icy cloud tops, while moderate to heavy rainfall was observed from the storm. The GRIP mission gathered valuable data on Karl's rapid intensification, which went from a tropical storm to a Category 3 hurricane overnight into Friday.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 17, 2010
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.

Channeling efforts to fight cystic fibrosis

Researchers have found a possible new target for fighting cystic fibrosis, exploiting the crosstalk between two chloride ion channels in mucous gland cells. The study suggests that activating one channel could compensate for the lack of CFTR functionality in affected cells.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 17, 2010

'Miracle tree' may form basis for low-cost water purification

Researchers aim to create a sustainable water treatment process using moringa seed, which can kill bacteria and remove sediment from water. The system's success depends on optimizing the amount of moringa seed needed to achieve effective water purification without compromising its shelf life.

SourcePenn State·DateSep 17, 2010

Light is the friend of lovers

Permanent night lighting affects songbirds' reproductive behavior, with males singing earlier and females laying eggs up to 1.5 days sooner in artificial light environments. This can lead to maladaptive mate-choice decisions, potentially impacting survival and fitness.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 17, 2010
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.

Tick tock: Rods help set internal clocks, biologist says

Researchers have found that rod cells in the retina play a crucial role in setting internal biological clocks, even in low light conditions. This discovery has important implications for understanding circadian rhythms and sleep disorders, particularly in older adults who may lose their rod cells to age.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateSep 17, 2010

Teenagers are more sedentary on weekends

A study published in Preventive Medicine found that teenagers spend significantly more time watching TV and engaging in sedentary behavior on weekends. The researchers analyzed data from over 3,000 European adolescents and found that having a computer in the bedroom reduces the risk of excessive TV watching.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalPreventive Medicine·DateSep 17, 2010

NASA sees record-breaking Julia being affected by Igor

NASA's Aqua satellite captured visible image of Hurricane Julia, weakened by Hurricane Igor's outflow, breaking a record for the most intense hurricane east of the Azores. The storm is expected to move west-northwest then turn northeast, staying at sea.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 17, 2010

Researchers at SUNY Downstate find drug combination may treat traumatic brain injury

A study published in PLoS One suggests that minocycline plus N-acetylcysteine may be a valuable treatment for traumatic brain injury. Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center found a synergistic improvement of cognition and memory after experimental traumatic brain injury, and are planning to bring this combination to clinical trials.

SourceSUNY Downstate Health Science University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 17, 2010

Targeted therapy decreases progression rate in thyroid cancer

Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that pazopanib significantly decreased progression rate in patients with metastatic, rapidly progressive differentiated thyroid cancers. The median progression-free survival time was 11.7 months, with an overall survival rate of 81 percent at one year.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateSep 17, 2010
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Less is more in the fight against terrorism

A mathematical analysis suggests that isolating terrorist network hubs is more effective than targeting the entire network. The study uses complex systems tools to analyze and model terrorist networks, finding that soft targets are not worth pursuing. Instead, focusing on the key hubs can lead to successful defeat.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations·DateSep 17, 2010

Mechanism behind demethylation pinpointed in APC gene mutants

Scientists at Huntsman Cancer Institute link loss of Apc to DNA demethylase, a system that erases DNA methylation. This system stalls normal intestinal cell development, leading to stem cell-like cells. Inhibition of the demethylase restores normal development and provides new opportunities for colon cancer treatment.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalCell·DateSep 17, 2010

Father absence linked to earlier puberty among certain girls

A new study found that girls without a biological father are more likely to enter puberty at an earlier age, especially in higher-income households. The study suggests that familial and contextual factors play an important role in the onset of puberty.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateSep 17, 2010

More effective weight control strategies are urgently needed

The childhood obesity epidemic among children and teenagers in the US is growing at an alarming rate, tripling over the past 30 years. Effective weight management requires a multidisciplinary approach drawing from medical evidence, best practices, and innovative initiatives.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalChildhood Obesity·DateSep 17, 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.

Study finds possible 'persistence' switch for tuberculosis

A computer model found a network of genes that can trigger TB's dormant state, switching it from fast-growing to slow-growing. The study reveals potential for a persistence switch that could explain why TB is so widespread and deadly.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Biology·DateSep 17, 2010

At the crossroads of chromosomes

Researchers reveal the structure of CENP-A, a molecule that plays a central role in DNA duplication and equal distribution into two daughter cells. The study provides insights into how CENP-A marks centromere location on each chromosome.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature·DateSep 17, 2010
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.

Great Lakes water quality is focus of new $5 million grant

Researchers will investigate how climate change affects Great Lakes water quality, focusing on extreme weather events and their impact on nutrient, pesticide, and sediment levels. The study aims to develop strategies for watershed councils and government entities to reduce water quality impacts.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·DateSep 17, 2010

Looking for secrets to drug addiction in our blood

The study aims to find a difference in how a susceptible person responds to hydrocodone compared to a nonsusceptible one. The researchers hope to discover an indicator of susceptibility to dependence on painkillers like hydrocodone.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateSep 17, 2010

Physicists cross hurdle in quantum manipulation of matter

Researchers developed a special sequence of high-precision electromagnetic pulses to protect the arbitrary quantum state of a single spin. This breakthrough enables the use of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond as highly sensitive nanoscale magnetic sensors and potentially, qubits for larger-scale quantum information processing.

SourceDOE/Ames National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateSep 17, 2010