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Science News for June 29, 2012


Clean cookstoves unaffordable to Bangladeshi women

A Yale study found that traditional stoves are preferred in rural Bangladesh over modern, cleaner alternatives due to affordability concerns. The demand for non-traditional cookstoves is low and highly sensitive to price, highlighting the need for affordable, effective solutions.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2012

Acoustic tweezers capture tiny creatures with ultrasound

Bioengineers and biochemists at Penn State developed acoustic tweezers that can manipulate living materials like blood cells and small organisms using sound waves. The device can precisely trap and move cellular-scale objects essential for fundamental biomedical research, offering a cost-effective alternative to optical tweezers.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2012

Britain's urban rivers bounce back

Urban rivers throughout England and Wales have experienced dramatic improvements in water quality and biodiversity over the past two decades. The range of invertebrates found has increased by around 20%, with insects such as mayflies and stoneflies making a comeback.

SourceCardiff University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJun 29, 2012

Curvy mountain belts

A team of researchers studied the Cantabrian Arc, a curved mountain range in Spain and northern Africa. They found that the curvy pattern was produced by the bending of an originally straight mountain range, supported by patterns of rotation of ancient geomagnetic field directions and analysis of faults and joints.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGSA Today·DateJun 29, 2012

NSF funds University of Miami, Navy Postgraduate School research in ocean dynamics

A new collaborative study between the University of Miami and Navy Postgraduate School will investigate critical oceanic processes involved in Large-Scale Eddy-Driven Patterns (LEDPs). The project aims to improve understanding of LEDPs, which can impact climate projections and transport heat, salinity, momentum, and carbon.

'Ambient' bullying gives employees urge to quit

Researchers surveyed 357 nurses and found those exposed to workplace bullying had a stronger urge to leave than targets of bullying directly. The study suggests indirect experiences have a significant impact on turnover intentions.

SourceSAGE·JournalHuman Relations·DateJun 29, 2012

SACLA draws acclaim for unique XFEL design

SACLA boasts the shortest wavelength in the world, an extremely broad wavelength range, and a high peak output of 10 GW. Its unique design and original Japanese technologies enable its remarkable performance despite a compact size of only 700 meters.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Photonics·DateJun 29, 2012

New fuel cell keeps going after the hydrogen runs out

Materials scientists at Harvard University have developed a solid-oxide fuel cell that can store electrochemical energy like a battery, allowing it to continue producing power for a short time after its fuel has run out. This innovation has significant implications for small-scale, portable energy applications, such as unmanned aerial ...

SourceHarvard University·JournalNano Letters·DateJun 29, 2012

University of Pittsburgh study reveals moderate doses of alcohol increase social bonding in groups

A University of Pittsburgh study reveals that moderate doses of alcohol enhance positive emotions and social bonding among group members, while also relieving negative emotions. The research, published in Psychological Science, used a social setting to assess the effects of alcohol on emotions and social interactions.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 29, 2012

Skin contact breast tumor detection

Researchers have developed a simple and cost-effective imaging device for breast tumor detection using a flexible wearable antenna system. The system shows promise of detecting breast cancer earlier than other methods by analyzing microwave signals from skin contact, reducing signal loss compared to traditional designs.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology·DateJun 29, 2012

GenSpera G-202 data in journal

The study published in Science Translational Medicine documents pre-clinical data and rationale for developing G-202 as a potential cancer therapy. G-202, combined with prodrug delivery, is effective at killing fast- and slow-growing cancers by targeting PSMA enzyme.

SourcePlanet Communications·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 29, 2012