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Science News Archive 2012


Page 128 of 333

Unusual weather events identified during the Black Saturday bushfires

The study reveals that horizontal convective rolls affected fire behaviour, introducing variability in wind, temperature, and humidity conditions. This new understanding has the potential to improve fire management and warning systems, providing a better guide for public warning systems and firefighting resources.

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.

Simple mathematical computations underlie brain circuits

MIT neuroscientists discovered that two major classes of brain cells repress neural activity through simple yet profound mathematical computations. The findings could help scientists understand diseases caused by imbalances in brain inhibition and excitation, including autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Crossing 5+ time zones more than doubles illness risk for elite athletes

Research tracking 259 elite rugby players found that those competing in tournaments across multiple time zones were twice to three times as likely to get ill as on their home turf. The study suggests various stressors such as pollution, temperature, and germs may be involved in the increased risk of illness.

Early human ancestors had more variable diet

Researchers analyzed fossil teeth to determine the dietary preferences of three groups of hominins in South Africa. The study found that Australopithecus had a more varied diet than early Homo, while Paranthropus had a primarily herbivorous-like diet

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.

Test vaccine successfully protects monkeys from Nipah virus

Researchers have developed a vaccine that protects African green monkeys from Nipah virus, with all nine vaccinated animals surviving a lethal challenge. The vaccine is based on a Hendra virus surface protein and is in commercial development for use in horses.

NIST focuses on testing standards to support lab on a chip commercialization

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is developing testing standards for lab-on-a-chip devices to ensure accurate measurements and product quality. Key findings include the importance of controlling multiple factors, such as materials and measurement methods, in determining autofluorescence levels.

Adolescents in substance abuse programs report using other's med marijuana

A recent study by University of Colorado researchers found that 73.8% of adolescents in substance abuse treatment used medical marijuana recommended to someone else. Regular use of medical marijuana began at a younger age among these patients, and they had more severe symptoms of marijuana abuse and conduct disorder.

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.

UC San Diego, Yale awarded collaborative NSF grant for Neuroscience Gateway

The project aims to make neuroscience-specific compute and software tools conveniently available to students and investigators. The NSG portal will offer a streamlined process for uploading models, retrieving and storing data, and specifying parameters for running high-performance computing-based neuronal simulations.

A new global warming culprit: Dam drawdowns

Researchers at Washington State University found that dams and reservoirs emit significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The study's findings suggest that managing drawdowns could reduce methane emissions and may even make decommissioning reservoirs a net sink for carbon.

Feeling fat may make you fat

A study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that normal-weight teenagers who perceive themselves as fat are more likely to become obese as adults. The researchers analyzed data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, finding a significant association between perceived weight and actual obesity.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Lower risk of serious side-effects in trials of new targeted drugs

Researchers found a significantly lower risk of life-threatening side-effects in patients taking part in Phase I trials of new-style targeted cancer therapies. The study also identified characteristics that put patients at higher risk, such as being sicker when joining the trial.

University of Tennessee professor receives NSF's CAREER Award

Jon Camden, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, has received a $600,000 CAREER grant to support his research in surface nonlinear spectroscopy. The project aims to develop new analytical methods for detecting molecules on nanoparticles.

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.

Making it easier to learn to read

Scientists identified a key neural mechanism causing dyslexia, which can be traced back to a malfunction of the medial geniculate body. This discovery provides a foundation for developing potential treatments and compensating strategies for individuals with dyslexia.

Coach could be key in helping stroke patients

A pilot study found that phone calls with a 'stroke coach' can help patients understand their medication regimens, reduce depression, and improve overall health status. The coaching program resulted in higher knowledge of medications and stroke symptoms among participants compared to a control group.

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.

GEN reports on recent progress in Alzheimer's research

Research on Alzheimer's disease is gaining momentum, with over 150 companies working on innovative approaches to tackle the debilitating disease. New therapies, such as Antisenilin and Gammagard, are in Phase III trials and show promise in addressing the underlying biology of the disease.

Corticosteroids not effective for treating acute sinusitis

A randomized controlled trial found that corticosteroids have no clinical benefit in treating acute sinusitis. Researchers from the Netherlands conducted a study involving 174 adults with clinically diagnosed acute rhinosinusitis and found that oral corticosteroids had no significant effect on facial pain or pressure.

New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections

A new disinfectant, Akwaton, has been shown to effectively destroy bacterial spores at extremely low concentrations. This is a significant improvement over existing chemical compounds that require higher concentrations and can be harmful to humans.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

New drug successfully halts fibrosis in animal model of liver disease

A study published in Hepatology reports a promising new therapy for liver fibrosis, a scarring process associated with chronic liver disease that can lead to organ failure. The NADPH oxidase inhibitor GKT137831 was found to suppress fibrotic gene expression and prevent further fibrosis in mouse models.

Doctors often don't disclose all possible risks to patients before treatment

A study analyzing malpractice claims in Australia found that doctors often fail to disclose significant risks to patients before treatment. The authors argue that this can lead to factual disagreements and disputes over informed consent, highlighting the need for improved communication between healthcare providers and patients.

Using millions of years of cell evolution in the fight against cancer

Scientists are exploring ways to target cancer cells by attacking defective genes before protein production, leveraging micro RNAs (miRNAs) and their interactions with messenger RNAs. miR-7 and miR-128 affected pathways related to cell adhesion, EMT, and cellular replication in ovarian cancer cells.

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.

NASA sees Tropical Storm Haikui closing in on China

Tropical Storm Haikui is heading towards landfall in southeastern China, bringing strong winds, flooding, and coastal erosion. The storm's size and shape are being monitored by NASA's Aqua satellite, which captured a detailed image of its ragged eye.

Chemists advance clear conductive thin films

Researchers from Brown University and ATMI Inc. report the best-ever transparency and conductivity performance for an ITO made using a chemical solution, potentially offering a low-cost method for manufacturers. The team created conductive films with 93% transparency and comparable conductivity to glass plates.

Advance in X-ray imaging shines light on nanomaterials

A new X-ray imaging technique has produced dramatic three-dimensional images of gold nanocrystals, revealing their structure for the first time. The improved image quality will likely lead to a better understanding of nanomaterials' properties.

Diseased trees new source of climate gas

Researchers at Yale University have discovered that diseased trees in forests can produce massive amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The estimated emission rate from an upland site is equivalent to burning 40 gallons of gasoline per hectare of forest per year.

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.

Searching for tumors or handguns can be like looking for food

A laboratory study conducted by Duke University psychologists found that the brains of humans, including radiologists and baggage screeners, evolved to solve foraging problems in similar ways. The researchers discovered that people with fewer targets to find gave up on a given screen sooner compared to those with more targets.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Few kids use recommended safety restraints in cars

New research found that many US children are not using age-appropriate safety restraints in cars, with minority groups facing higher risks. The study highlights the need for culturally specific programs to promote restraint use among minority children.

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.

TRPM7 protein key to breast cancer metastasis in animal models

Research finds that TRPM7 protein plays a critical role in breast cancer cell metastasis. High levels of TRPM7 expression are associated with poor patient outcomes and increased risk of distant metastases. The study suggests that targeting this protein could block metastasis, offering new therapeutic opportunities.

UCF nanoparticle discovery opens door for pharmaceuticals

Researchers at UCF have discovered a non-chemical method to create identical nanoparticles of any size in large quantities. The technique relies on heat to break molten fibers into spherical droplets, resulting in particles that can hold multiple types of materials locked in place.

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.

Notre Dame researcher is shedding light on how jaws evolve

A University of Notre Dame researcher has made significant discoveries about the evolution of jaws in mammals. The study found that animals consuming harder, tougher foods tend to have a lesser degree of jaw fusion, while those eating softer, smaller foods do not.

Why do infants get sick so often?

A U-M study reveals that natural killer cells, a crucial part of the immune system, are not fully matured until adulthood. By blocking a specific cell signaling pathway, infants' immune systems can be boosted, potentially reducing their susceptibility to infections.

Lawson research suggests breast cancer cells have discerning tastes

A study by Lawson Research Institute suggests that breast cancer stem cells have a preference for specific organs, such as the lung and brain, when spreading to other sites. Researchers hope to uncover the underlying factors driving this phenomenon and potentially develop new strategies to target these aggressive cells.

Patients want more risks disclosed before treatment

A study by University of Melbourne researchers found that doctors often fail to warn patients of risks affecting quality of life, particularly chronic pain and sexual dysfunction. To avoid 'he said/she said' disputes, keeping a clear record of consent discussions is key.

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.

Higgs transition of north and south poles of electrons in a magnet

Scientists at RIKEN have observed a Higgs transition of north and south poles of electrons in a magnet, Yb2Ti2O7, transitioning from fractionalized to stable monopoles. This discovery has significant implications for spintronics, as it enables the creation of dissipationless current.

Study finds a new pathway for invasive species – science teachers

A survey of nearly 2,000 US and Canadian science teachers found that one out of four released live animals into the wild, posing a significant risk to invasive species. The study highlights the need for educators and biological supply house owners to be aware of the potential consequences of releasing non-native species.

Should young men be vaccinated against human papilloma virus?

A comprehensive review of the recent medical literature evaluates the potential for reducing HPV-related illness burden by expanding routine vaccination to include young males. The authors present their recommendations on the cost-effectiveness of male HPV vaccination, which could lead to significant public health benefits.

Keeping the faith through souvenirs

A Concordia University study explores how Christian pilgrims give souvenirs to spark interest in religion and perpetuate their faith. Pilgrims believe gifts can open a conversation with God, fulfilling their desire to pass down their faith.

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.

Study questions value of calcium and vitamin D supplements

Researchers reviewed clinical trials on calcium and vitamin D supplements for men with prostate cancer undergoing hormone therapy, finding that these supplements did not prevent bone loss. The study suggests that these supplements may actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and aggressive prostate cancer.