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Science News Archive June 2012


Page 4 of 29

Most new pesticides have roots in natural substances

A new analysis found that over two-thirds of recently approved pesticide active ingredients have roots in natural substances. Scientists have discovered that biological and natural products-based pesticides are a rich source of new active ingredients.

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.

'Broken heart syndrome' protects the heart from adrenaline overload

Researchers have found that 'broken heart syndrome,' a condition causing temporary heart failure after severe emotional stress, may actually protect the heart from extremely high levels of adrenaline. The study suggests a switch in the heart's response to adrenaline might have evolved to prevent overstimulation.

Picking the pig with the perfect pins

Researchers at Newcastle University used biomechanical motion capture to analyze pigs' gait and identify those at risk of becoming lame. The study aims to develop a farmer-friendly system to predict leg problems and reduce lameness, improving health and welfare on UK farms.

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.

Lung nodule matching software dramatically increases radiologists' efficiency

A new study has found that lung nodule matching software can significantly improve radiologists' efficiency, with an average increase of almost two-fold compared to manual matching. The software correctly matched nodules at an accuracy rate of 79-92% while reducing the time required for matching from 1 second to under 6 minutes.

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.

Kids who cook hungrier for healthy food choices

A survey of Grade 5 students in Alberta found that kids who help with meal preparation are more likely to eat healthier foods and have better diets. Children who cooked showed a greater preference for both fruits and vegetables, and were more confident about making healthier food choices.

The perception of corruption in Spain is above the European average

A study by the Rey Juan Carlos University found that objective corruption data for Spain is higher in politics than administrative-official institutions, but Spaniards perceive corruption as a major issue. The researchers attribute this discrepancy to cultural and institutional factors.

Researchers develop new method for analyzing cell function

BioImageXD is an open-source software that enables the analysis of cell and tissue functions by rendering microscopic images into three-dimensional models. The software allows scientists to study how molecules move on cell surfaces, bond together, and analyze cancer cells' behavior.

More accurate diagnostic test may reduce deaths

A novel diagnostic test has been developed to accurately detect Group B Streptococcal infection in babies, allowing for quicker treatment and potentially reducing mortality rates. The test detects the presence of a specific gene in the bacteria, which is an important disease-causing factor.

Spinal cord, heal thyself

Researchers found that a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury, while a Western diet caused measurable walking problems. The study suggests that dietary supplements may help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Facebook makes us feel good about ourselves

A study published in Computers in Human Behavior found that editing social media profiles on Facebook increases self-esteem, while using MySpace leads to higher levels of narcissism. Researchers also discovered that the differences in site format between MySpace and Facebook may contribute to these findings.

Reaching, researching between stars

Researchers use Lonestar supercomputer to create nearly 100,000 models of one galaxy, representing the range of possible ways stars can move. They find that dark matter is more spread out at the edge of the galaxy than previously thought, with a fluffier distribution but the same total amount.

Who has power over food?

Raj Patel argues that understanding hunger and malnutrition requires examining systems and institutions holding power over food. Food sovereignty is advocated as a means to achieve food security and eradicate undernourishment, prioritizing women's rights and community control.

Countering crowd control collapse

Researchers found that crowd disasters are not caused by individual panic, but rather amplifying feedback and cascading effects. They introduced a new scale to assess criticality of conditions in the crowd, aiming to prevent disasters before they occur.

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.

Study suggests touch therapy helps reduce pain, nausea in cancer patients

A study by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center found that cancer patients experienced significant improvements in pain, stress, and nausea after one Jin Shin Jyutsu session. The study included 159 patients who reported a mean decrease of three points for stress and two points for both pain and nausea.

Seeing inside tissue

Caltech engineers enable focusing of light deep into biological tissue, opening up possibilities for non-invasive diagnoses and treatments. The technique uses ultrasound waves to shift the frequency of light, allowing for image creation without scattering effects.

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.

What's the best way to treat problem alcohol use?

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has released comprehensive reviews of the most effective treatments for alcohol dependence, emphasizing medication and psychosocial therapies. These interventions have been shown to be effective in treating problem alcohol use and concurrent disorders.

Study challenges the notion that a calorie is just a calorie

A new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association suggests that reducing refined carbohydrates may help maintain weight loss better than reducing fat. Diets with low glycemic index or very-low carbohydrate consumption showed similar metabolic benefits to low-fat diets without negative effects on stress and inflammation.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Reminders of mortality increase concern for environmental legacy

A study published in Psychological Science found that reminding people of their mortality motivates them to behave in ways that ensure their personal legacy, leaving a positive impact on the environment. Participants who were primed with thoughts of death gave more money to charities serving impoverished communities in the future.

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.

Immediate rewards for good scores can boost student performance

A study at the University of Chicago shows that offering immediate rewards for good scores can dramatically improve test performance, particularly for low-performing students. Researchers found that non-financial rewards, such as trophies, were more effective for younger students than financial rewards.

First 3-D nanoscale optical cavities from metamaterials

Researchers at Berkeley Lab develop 3D optical cavities with potential to generate intense nanolaser beams, suitable for various technologies including LEDs and optical sensing. The unique electromagnetic properties of these cavities enable new approaches for designing nano-scale optical cavities.

Regular, moderate, coffee drinking may reduce heart failure risk

Moderate coffee consumption as part of a daily routine may be linked with a significantly lower risk of heart failure. The study found that moderate coffee drinking reduces the risk by as much as 11 percent, while excessive consumption has no benefit and may even be dangerous.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Make me an offer, say online shoppers

A Michigan State University study found that online shoppers tend to be happier when they receive an offer rather than making one. This can have significant impacts on the fast-growing e-commerce industry. By putting customers in the receiver role, businesses may be able to fill more hotel rooms and airplane seats.

Storm researcher calls for new air safety guidelines

New research highlights the impact of atmospheric gravity waves caused by thunderstorms on air safety, leading to a call for rewritten guidelines. The study reveals that thunderstorms can produce unexpected turbulence more than 100km away from storm cells, posing risks to passengers.

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.

Stanford scientists spark new interest in the century-old Edison battery

Researchers have created an ultrafast nickel-iron battery that can be fully charged in about 2 minutes and discharged in less than 30 seconds. The new battery uses graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes to improve performance, making it suitable for applications such as electric vehicles and emergency situations.

Duplicate spending on veterans' care costs billions

A new study found that the federal government made $13 billion in duplicative payments to provide health-care services to veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. The researchers analyzed over 1 million veteran records and found that 61% used both VA and Medicare Advantage coverage.

Social media power youth political participation

The study found that large proportions of young people across racial and ethnic groups have access to the Internet and use online social media regularly. Participatory politics are an important dimension of politics, with 41% of young people engaging in at least one act during the prior 12 months.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Better surfaces could help dissipate heat

A new analysis of surface textures reveals that microscale roughening can improve heat transfer by more than doubling the maximum dissipation. The research found that a simple roughening of the surface improved heat transfer as much as previous techniques used to produce nanoscale patterns, and provides a theoretical framework for anal...

Prairie cordgrass: Highly underrated

Researchers have identified prairie cordgrass as a promising alternative to switchgrass for biomass production due to its high yield potential and environmental sustainability. The grass has been found to be well-suited for marginal land, particularly in wet environments, making it an attractive option for conservation efforts.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Phthalate, environmental chemical is linked to higher rates of childhood obesity

Children with higher phthalate levels have nearly five times the odds of being obese compared to those with lower levels, according to a new study. The research found that elevated DEHP levels correlated with body mass index and percentage of fat mass, increasing obesity risk independently of physical activity and daily calorie intake.

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.

Sleep apnea with polycystic ovary syndrome raises risk of prediabetes

A new study finds that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who also have obstructive sleep apnea are at greater risk of metabolic disturbances, including prediabetes. The study's results indicate a strong relationship between sleep apnea severity and diabetes risk in PCOS patients.

Penn researchers show 'neural fingerprints' of memory associations

University of Pennsylvania researchers have made progress in deciphering the neural processes behind human thought. Using brain recordings, they identified unique patterns that reflect how people associate words in their memories. These patterns, known as 'neural fingerprints', can potentially be used to read out individual's memory or...

Nanodiamonds cut through dirt to bring back 'bling' to low-temperature laundry

Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered that nanodiamonds can help remove crystallized fat from surfaces in eco-friendly low-temperature laundry cycles. This breakthrough could lead to significant energy savings and reduced wear on washing machines, as it allows for higher temperatures to be used more frequently.

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.