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Science News for August 21, 2011


Study: New job trends reproducing old forms of gender inequality

A study by Indiana University and Cornell University reveals that overworking is partly responsible for the slowdown in narrowing the gender wage gap. Women face more family obligations, limiting their availability for high-demand occupations, which often require long work hours.

SourceIndiana University·DateAug 21, 2011
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

The secret life of millipedes

New research on male helminthomorph millipedes has uncovered the intricate process of leg-to-gonopod metamorphosis, essential for their reproductive success. This complex transformation involves significant reorganization of the exoskeleton and muscles, altering the animal's body plan.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalFrontiers in Zoology·DateAug 21, 2011

Study identifies new way to treat common hospital-acquired infection

Researchers identify a molecular process by which human cells can neutralize toxins released by Clostridium difficile, offering a promising new treatment for intestinal disease. The discovery could also be applied to other bacterial diseases and has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of hospital-acquired infections.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Medicine·DateAug 21, 2011

Newly discovered Icelandic current could change North Atlantic climate picture

Researchers confirm presence of a deep-reaching ocean circulation system off Iceland that influences the ocean's response to climate change in unprecedented ways. The North Icelandic Jet contributes to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, transporting warm surface water and affecting global climate patterns.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 21, 2011

Less-educated Americans turning their backs on religion

A new study finds that less-educated Americans are increasingly disengaging from religious institutions, with lower attendance rates than their more educated peers. This trend is particularly concerning as religious institutions often provide vital social and emotional support to the less educated.

SourceAmerican Sociological Association·DateAug 21, 2011
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Iberian lynx not doomed by its genetics

Research reveals Iberian lynx fossils have low genetic variation over the last 50,000 years, suggesting moderate population sizes may ensure long-term survival. This finding challenges the myth that certain species are doomed by their genetics.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateAug 21, 2011

At last, a reason why stress causes DNA damage

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center discovered a mechanism linking chronic stress to DNA damage. Stress leads to prolonged lowering of p53 levels, which can cause chromosomal irregularities. The study used an adrenaline-like compound in mice and found that degradation of p53 resulted in accumulation of DNA damage.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalNature·DateAug 21, 2011
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.

New defense discovered against common hospital-acquired infection

Researchers have identified a key mechanism used by intestinal cells to defend against Clostridium difficile infections. A previously unknown protective response, known as nitrosylation, can be exploited to prevent toxin-induced cell damage.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalNature Medicine·DateAug 21, 2011

Sweet insight: Discovery could speed drug development

A new study has developed a simple process to separate sugars from carrier molecules and attach them to drugs, promising to accelerate the development of novel pharmaceuticals. The technique also allows for easy screening of transformed molecules, which could lead to the production of effective treatments for various diseases.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateAug 21, 2011
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Major ALS breakthrough

Scientists have discovered a common cause of all forms of ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease, by identifying a broken down protein recycling system in neurons. This finding provides a common target for drug therapy and suggests that all types of ALS are tributaries pouring into a common river of cellular incompetence.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateAug 21, 2011