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Science News Archive August 2012


Page 14 of 29

Marital separation an alternative to divorce for poor people

A nationwide study suggests that long-term separations are often a low-cost alternative to divorce for disadvantaged couples. Researchers found that about 80% of respondents who went through marital separation ultimately divorced, with those in racial and ethnic minorities, low family income, and education more likely to remain separated.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Red wine compound could help seniors walk away from mobility problems

Scientists discovered that resveratrol, a natural compound found in red wine, may help improve mobility and prevent life-threatening falls among older people. The study showed that resveratrol decreased motor deficiencies in aging mice, leading to increased quality of life and reduced hospitalization risk.

The wasp that never cries wolf

Researchers found a direct relationship between the brightness of European paper wasps' colours and the size of their poison glands. This colouration serves as an honest signal to predators that the wasp is strong and healthy, potentially wasting energy on bright patterns.

Work has more benefits than just a paycheck for moms

Women who work full-time after having children are healthier at age 40 than those who stay at home or have intermittent employment. Working provides a sense of purpose and autonomy, leading to better mental and physical health. Conversely, persistent unemployment is linked to greater stress and poor health outcomes.

'DNA wires' could help physicians diagnose disease

Scientists have discovered that DNA can act as a wire to detect genetic damage and identify people at risk for certain diseases. The discovery could lead to the development of medical diagnostic devices and biosensors that can pick up on changes in DNA that may lead to cancer and other diseases.

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.

A new route to dissipationless electronics

Researchers at RIKEN have demonstrated a new material that can eliminate loss in electrical power transmission, opening the door to energy-efficient electronics. The discovery uses magnetic topological insulators, which exhibit unique properties that allow for dissipationless electricity channels.

New space-age insulating material for homes, clothing and other everyday uses

Scientists have developed a new flexible aerogel material that is up to 500 times stronger than traditional silica aerogels, with improved thermal conductivity and potential applications in super-insulating clothing, refrigerators, and buildings. The material could also be used for heat shields on spacecraft and insulation for spacesuits.

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.

Study examines the relationship between marriage and alcohol

Married men tend to consume fewer drinks than single, divorced, or widowed men due to their wives' lower levels of drinking. In contrast, long-term married women often consume more drinks than recently divorced or widowed women, who may experience increased drinking after a divorce.

Stanford Engineers win NASA Early Career awards

Senesky and Pavone, Stanford assistant professors, receive $200,000/year grants for research on extreme environments and spacecraft motion planning. The awards support development of materials and electronics for future NASA space programs.

Molecular code cracked

Researchers cracked the molecular code for pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, which recognize and bind specific RNA molecules. This discovery enables the potential for new treatments of genetic diseases and precise control over gene expression.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

National education policy -- oh, how it's changed

The author analyzed congressional hearings from 1965 and 2001 to show how policymakers' views on parental involvement have shifted. In the past, parents were seen as part of the problem, while schools were expected to solve issues through extra funding.

Sociologist examines the challenges of women in professional football

Research by Jennifer Carter reveals women's lack of access to proper fitting gear, inadequate coaching guidance, and limited knowledge of core training. This affects their ability to manage pain, injuries, and conditioning, highlighting the need for more equitable opportunities in the sport.

Constructive conflict in the superconductor

Physicists at Max Planck Institute find competition between superconductivity and charge density waves in copper oxide ceramics, improving understanding of zero-resistance transport. The discovery could explain unusual interactions between superconducting and magnetic materials.

Studies shed light on why species stay or go in response to climate change

New studies reveal that changes in precipitation play a significant role in driving bird species out of their normal range, contradicting the conventional reliance on temperature. The research also found a sharp decrease in range for the Belding's ground squirrel, but identified areas where the species found refuge.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Princeton study reveals the brain's mysterious switchboard operator

A mysterious region in the human brain, called the pulvinar, acts as a switchboard operator that sorts through external stimuli and focuses on relevant information. This discovery could lead to new ways of understanding and treating attention-related disorders like ADHD and schizophrenia.

HASTAC wins NSF grant to study its own social network

HASTAC has received a $294,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study its own social network, focusing on effective ways to support interdisciplinary collaborations. The study will analyze six years' worth of data from the HASTAC website, examining mentoring and virtual peer connections.

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.

Trained NHS therapists can help insomniacs

A training program for NHS therapists has been shown to be successful in treating insomnia. Insomnia sufferers may have greater access to this treatment, which is a more effective alternative to sleeping pills.

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.

A urine based 'potion' can act as a CO2 absorbent

A Spanish researcher proposes using urine as a CO2 absorbent, producing ammonium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate when combined with olive waste water. The mixture can absorb various grams of CO2 per liter and reduce emissions by 1% in a stable manner.

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.

Longer time to find new job, less pay for moms laid off during recession

A recent recession has disproportionately affected married mothers, with them spending more time between jobs and earning less after re-employment. The study found that married moms take up to 17 weeks longer to find a new job compared to married dads, with women experiencing a $175 decrease in weekly earnings.

Photographic cholesterol test

Researchers in India have developed a non-invasive approach to determine total cholesterol levels using image processing and a database of known cholesterol levels. The test uses a digital camera to capture the back of a patient's hand and compares it with images in a database for accurate cholesterol readings.

Study: College students lose respect for peers who hook up too much

A study found that nearly half of college students hold egalitarian conservative attitudes, judging men and women with similar sexual histories equally. Women are more likely to lose respect for peers who hook up frequently, while men's attitudes vary by demographic factors such as athletic involvement and religious affiliation.

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.

Magnetic turbulence trumps collisions to heat solar wind

Research by University of Warwick physicist Dr Kareem Osman reveals that magnetic turbulence is the key to the solar wind's surprising heat. The study shows how turbulence in current sheets heats and accelerates plasma, accounting for 50% of the solar wind's internal energy.

Study reveals new molecular target for melanoma treatment

A laboratory study reveals that Elesclomol triggers cell death in metastatic melanoma cells by suppressing oxidative phosphorylation. The research also suggests a two-pronged strategy to target both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation for effective cancer treatment.

Foreclosure crisis and metropolitan crime rates

A recent study by Indiana University researchers found no association between housing-mortgage stress and crime rates in US metropolitan areas. Despite anecdotal evidence, the research indicates that higher levels of housing-mortgage stress do not correlate with violent or property crime rates.

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.

MIT-developed 'microthrusters' could propel small satellites

A new thruster design, developed by MIT, uses 500 microscopic tips to create a small puff of charged particles that can help propel small satellites forward. The microthrusters have the potential to enable CubeSats to change orbits and reduce space clutter by propelling them down to lower orbits where they can burn up.

Study explores the impact of corruption and military organization on civilians

A new study reveals that praetorian militaries and national-level corruption significantly increase child mortality rates, particularly in democracies with weak civil societies. The researchers found highly praetorian countries, such as Afghanistan and Democratic Republic of Congo, to have the highest child mortality rates.

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.

War is not necessarily the cause of post-traumatic stress disorder

A large-scale survey of Danish soldiers found that many exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before being deployed to Afghanistan. The study revealed that childhood traumas were a significant factor in their mental state, and that war itself was not the primary cause of PTSD.

SIAM awards undergraduates for exemplary mathematical modeling

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) recognizes excellence in mathematical modeling among undergraduate teams globally. The annual Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) inspires students to develop solutions to open-ended problems, with winners receiving cash awards and SIAM membership.

Writing the book in DNA

Researchers encoded George Church's book 'Regenesis' in DNA using novel strategy and next-generation sequencing technology. The team stored 54,898 unique DNA sequences, each with an address to guide reassembly, for a total of 70 billion copies.

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.

New public-private partnership aims to help revitalize manufacturing

The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) is a new public-private partnership aiming to revitalize American manufacturing. The consortium, led by Penn State, will receive $30 million in federal funding and create an environment for education and training in advanced additive manufacturing skills.

Regions vary in paying prisoners to participate in research

A national study shows inconsistency in how and when incentives are used for research participants under criminal justice supervision. The study highlights the need for a standardized approach to equitable incentive practices for offenders across all correctional jurisdictions.

A GPS in your DNA

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a method for determining more precise geographical locations of an individual's ancestral origins using genetic traits. By analyzing DNA samples from 1,157 people across Europe, they were able to accurately determine two separate points on the map for an individual's mother and father.

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 form of carbon observed

Scientists at Carnegie Institution have observed a new form of very hard carbon clusters that are unusual in their mix of crystalline and disordered structure. These clusters can indent diamond, indicating they are superhard, and their unique structure has potential applications for various uses.

Ohioans love their lakes, but are concerned for their future

A new report reveals that Ohio residents prioritize the preservation of Lake Erie as a natural resource, with nearly half willing to pay higher taxes to protect it. However, concerns over contaminants such as blue-green algal blooms and mercury contamination pose a risk to public health.

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.