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Science News for February 10, 2012


Putting the squeeze on planets outside our solar system

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory found a phase change in molten magnesium silicate that transforms to a more dense liquid with increasing pressure. This discovery provides insight into planet formation and suggests that extra-solar 'Super-Earth' planets may have different structures than Earth.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 10, 2012
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.

Sonic Cradle lands spot in TED exhibition

A Simon Fraser University graduate student project, Sonic Cradle, uses breathing sounds to shape musical patterns in a dark chamber, promoting relaxation and inner peace. The technology has the potential to provide psychological benefits without over-stimulation.

SourceSimon Fraser University·DateFeb 10, 2012

Study weighs risks and benefits of birthing facilities

A study by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine found that women who deliver or intend to deliver outside of hospitals have a lower risk of obstetric intervention. However, newborns intended for home births are at a higher risk of neonatal seizures compared to hospital births.

SourceSociety for Maternal-Fetal Medicine·DateFeb 10, 2012

Night, weekend delivery OK for babies with birth defects

Infants with birth defects delivered at night or over the weekend fared just as well as those delivered on a weekday, according to a new study. The finding is good news for all parties and suggests that delivery timing shouldn't be based on day of the week.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·DateFeb 10, 2012
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

NASA sees wide-eyed cyclone Jasmine

Cyclone Jasmine has maintained Category One hurricane status with maximum sustained winds near 75 knots (86 mph), and its eye is now about 60 nautical miles in diameter. The storm is moving southeast at 8 knots (9 mph) through an area of stable air, weakening the warm tropical cyclone.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateFeb 10, 2012

$5.5 million gift aids search for alternative energy

Scientists at the University of Missouri will use the donation to create the Sidney Kimmel Institute for Nuclear Renaissance, studying fundamental physics of unknown energy producing reactions. The goal is to discover a new, clean alternative form of energy with potential uses depending on the extracted energy and process consistency.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·DateFeb 10, 2012
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

3-D laser map shows earthquake zone before and after

Researchers create comprehensive 3-D map of earthquake zone using LiDAR technology, revealing details of fault ruptures and deformation. The study provides insights into how earthquakes change the landscape, shedding light on minor faults that contribute to major earthquakes.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalScience·DateFeb 10, 2012

Drug halts organ damage in inflammatory genetic disorder

A study published by the NIH shows that Kineret therapy is effective in stopping the progression of organ damage in people with neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). By preventing organ inflammation, scientists were able to preserve organ function in most patients.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases·JournalArthritis & Rheumatism·DateFeb 10, 2012

EEG pattern reflects brain's shift into low-energy, protective mode

A mathematical model predicts and explains the emergence of burst suppression, a low-activity state in response to reduced cellular energy. The study suggests that burst suppression may be used to guide induced coma and track recovery from brain injuries, offering new insights into brain neurochemistry and neurophysiology.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 10, 2012

Numeracy: The educational gift that keeps on giving?

A new study examines how numerate individuals process information differently, leading to more informed decisions. People who are numerate are less influenced by other information and see numbers as abstract symbols, allowing them to make better choices.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateFeb 10, 2012

New understanding of DNA repair could eventually lead to cancer therapy

Scientists at the University of Alberta have shed light on the structure and function of PNKP, a key DNA repair enzyme. By understanding how this enzyme repairs damaged DNA, researchers hope to develop new therapies that target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact.

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 10, 2012
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.

Arthritic knees, but not hips, have robust repair response

Researchers discovered that osteoarthritic knee joints have a constant state of repair, while hip joints do not. This suggests different treatment strategies may be needed for knee and hip osteoarthritis. A biomarker was identified to measure joint degeneration and repair response.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateFeb 10, 2012
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.

Researchers develop new method for creating tissue engineering scaffolds

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new method for creating scaffolds that are more flexible and less time-intensive than current technology. The process uses ceramic nanoparticles and elastic polymers to create highly interconnected pores that do not require the use of salt.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalTissue Engineering·DateFeb 10, 2012

Protein libraries in a snap

Manan Mehta developed a method to create circularly permuted proteins, which are useful for studying molecular evolution and designing biosensors. The new technique uses transposase engineering to create diverse protein variants with great control.

SourceRice University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateFeb 10, 2012

C-sections linked to breathing problems in preterm infants

A Yale University study found that C-section deliveries before 34 weeks of pregnancy for small-for-gestational-age babies are associated with higher odds of developing respiratory distress syndrome. The researchers analyzed data from 2,885 preterm babies and found a significant link between C-sections and breathing problems.

SourceYale University·DateFeb 10, 2012
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.

A mineral way to catalysis?

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that iron pyrite, commonly known as 'Fool's Gold', has catalytic properties. The study focused on the reactions between iron pyrite and nitrogen oxides, an extremely poisonous class of compounds produced by car engines and industrial power plants.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateFeb 10, 2012

Sleep breathing machine shows clear benefits in children with sleep apnea

Children with obstructive sleep apnea showed significant improvements in attention deficits, daytime sleepiness, and behavioral problems after treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. The study found benefits even when children only used PAP for a few hours a night.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateFeb 10, 2012
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.

Cochlear implants may be safe, effective for organ transplant patients

Researchers have found that cochlear implants can restore hearing in organ transplant patients without significant health risks. The study suggests that patients who wait at least six months after the transplant and take the right antibiotic before and after the procedure can achieve successful outcomes.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalAmerican Journal of Otolaryngology·DateFeb 10, 2012

UTHealth research: Both maternal and paternal age linked to autism

A recent study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found a joint association between maternal and paternal age and autism risk. Mothers with autistic children were on average 6.5 years older than non-autistic women, while fathers had an average age difference of 5.9 years.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateFeb 10, 2012

Curry spice component may help slow prostate tumor growth

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that curcumin suppresses nuclear receptor activators, which can bypass androgen deprivation therapy. Curcumin also reduced cell number and inhibited survival in prostate cancer cells, with similar results seen in mice studies.

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalCancer Research·DateFeb 10, 2012

AAOS focuses on disaster responders, both yesterday's and tomorrow's

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has established a new credentialing process for doctors who plan to travel internationally to disaster sites. The Disaster Responders Certification Program provides training and certification for orthopaedic surgeons, with three levels of certification available. A study reports long-term po...

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·DateFeb 10, 2012
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.

PAP therapy improves neurobehavioral outcomes in children with OSA

A new study published by the American Thoracic Society found that PAP therapy significantly improves neurobehavioral function in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Despite suboptimal adherence, patients showed improvements in attention deficits, behavior, and quality of life.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateFeb 10, 2012

New drugs schedule makes horse racing a sure thing

A new schedule pinpointing the length of time it takes for therapeutic drugs to work out of a horse's system has been developed, providing greater certainty for horse owners, trainers, and vets. This will enable them to make better-informed decisions about treatment regimes and reduce the risk of false positives.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·DateFeb 10, 2012

'It's not nutritious until it's eaten'

A study found that making one lunch line a convenience line with healthy grab-and-go foods increased sales of nutritious options by 18% and decreased consumption of unhealthy foods by nearly 28%. This approach helped students take more milk, leading to a share of healthier foods increasing from 33% to 36%.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalJournal of Public Health·DateFeb 10, 2012