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Science News Archive June 2012 - Page 2


Page 2 of 29

Good news for aging eyes

According to a Northwestern University study, the prevalence of visual impairment in adults aged 65 and older decreased by 58% between 1984 and 2010. Improved cataract surgery techniques and reduced smoking rates are likely contributing factors.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalOphthalmology·DateJun 28, 2012
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

How an ancestral fungus may have influenced coal formation

A study suggests that the evolution of fungi capable of breaking down lignin may have played a key role in ending coal deposits. The findings propose that this ability allowed for the complete breakdown of dead plant matter into carbon dioxide, releasing it into the atmosphere instead of accumulating as coal.

SourceDOE/Joint Genome Institute·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2012

Gene discovery helps explain how flu can cause severe infections

Researchers discovered a new gene in the influenza virus that helps control the body's response to infection, reducing the impact of the disease. The PA-X gene was found to be active in mice infected with flu, leading to recovery, while its malfunction led to an overactive immune system and worsened infections.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2012

What you eat can prevent arsenic overload

Research found that consuming more dietary vitamin B12 and animal protein lowered arsenic levels in toenails, while eating more vegetable and animal fat also had a protective effect. However, omega-3 fatty acids were associated with increased arsenic levels.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalNutrition Journal·DateJun 28, 2012

Programmable DNA scissors found for bacterial immune system

Researchers have discovered a new and effective means of editing genomes, revolutionizing the field of genomics. By programming RNA to direct protein cleavage at specific nucleotide sequences, scientists can now edit DNA with unprecedented precision.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2012
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.

Study provides first evidence of coevolution between invasive, native species

A University of Georgia study reveals that native clearweed plants have evolved resistance to invasive garlic mustard, and the invasive species is countering with its own chemical warfare. The study provides evidence of coevolution between native and invasive plant species, suggesting a potential for ecosystem equilibrium over time.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 28, 2012

Forty's a crowd

Researchers discovered that master regulator protein ATF6α brings a plethora of coactivators to gene expression sites, activating downstream genes involved in the ER stress response. The study suggests ways to dampen ER stress signaling molecularly and could reveal new targets for diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's Diseases.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJun 28, 2012

Caffeine boosts power for elderly muscles

A new study found that caffeine continues to enhance muscle performance in younger muscles but is less effective in older muscles. Researchers suggest that preserving muscle tone through physical activity could be key to maintaining health and functional capacity in the aging population.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology·DateJun 28, 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.

Flu immunity is affected by how many viruses actually cause the infection

A new study found that the number of viruses involved in a flu infection impacts the immune response, with high-dose infections generating stronger immunity and increased protection against reinfection. This discovery could lead to improved vaccine design and broader protection against emerging flu strains.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateJun 28, 2012

Adoption of advanced techniques could propel crop improvement

Researchers argue that adopting molecular phenotyping techniques like ionomics and genome-wide association mapping could broaden our understanding of complex interactions in plants. This knowledge could lead to more efficient crop improvement strategies, particularly for adapting to changing environmental conditions.

SourcePurdue University·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2012

Human model of Huntington's disease created from skin's stem cells

A team of scientists has generated a human model of Huntington's disease directly from the skin cells of affected patients, providing a new tool for researchers to study the disease and test potential therapies. The re-created neurons will help understand what disables and kills brain cells in people with HD.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJun 28, 2012
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.

Plasma startup creates high-energy light to make smaller microchips

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a plasma-based technology that produces high-energy light, which can be used to etch next-generation microchips with 13.5-nanometer wavelengths. This breakthrough has the potential to overcome the industry's current limitations and enable further miniaturization of electronics.

SourceUniversity of Washington·DateJun 28, 2012

U Alberta resets date of earliest animal life by 30 million years

Researchers at U of A have found fossilized tracks of a primitive bilaterian animal from 585 million years ago, indicating the presence of soft-bodied animals on Earth 30 million years earlier than previously thought. The discovery provides new insights into the evolution of animal life and its adaptation to environmental conditions.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2012

A slow trek towards starvation: Scott's polar tragedy revisited

A recent study has revealed that Scott's team starved to death due to insufficient calories and inadequate nutrition. The researchers found that the rations provided were too high in protein and low in fat, leading to a calorie deficit that was exacerbated by extreme physical exertion.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology·DateJun 28, 2012
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.

Study offers new insights into the effects of stress on pregnancy

A study by Princeton University researchers reveals that expectant mothers who experienced a hurricane or major tropical storm during pregnancy had children at elevated risk for abnormal health conditions at birth. The study controlled for other factors and found increased risk following exposure to weather-related stressors in the fir...

SourcePrinceton University·DateJun 28, 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.

Studying fish to learn about fat

Researchers at Carnegie Institution have developed a method to observe lipid metabolism in live zebrafish, revealing new aspects of lipid absorption that could improve human health. The technique enables scientists to study the process by which proteins mediate fatty acid uptake and cholesterol transport.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalChemistry & Biology·DateJun 28, 2012
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Saving the Baltic Sea

Researchers from Lund University call for abandonment of geo-engineering efforts to mix oxygen into the Deep Baltic due to unforeseen effects. The Baltic Sea is experiencing hypoxia, and while geo-engineering schemes promise short-term improvements, they are also potentially dangerous.

SourceLund University·JournalNature·DateJun 28, 2012

Looking for the next American hyrax?

Hyrax vocalizations encode information on identity, age, hormone levels, and social rank. Singing promotes self-presentation and facilitates communication among the group.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 28, 2012

A new source of maize hybrid vigor

Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that small RNAs play a significant role in regulating growth and mediating hybrid vigor in maize. By analyzing small RNA profiles of hybrids, they discovered that differences arise mainly from distinct siRNAs inherited from each parent.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 28, 2012

Pollutants could pose health risks for 5 sea turtle species

Researchers measured PFC concentrations in five sea turtle species and found high levels approaching toxic effects in other animals. Hawksbills had the second-highest PFOS concentration, while loggerheads and Kemp's ridleys approached levels linked to liver and neurobehavioral toxicity.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalEnvironmental Toxicology and Chemistry·DateJun 28, 2012
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.

Gladstone scientists use stem cell technology to tackle Huntington's disease

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have generated a human model of Huntington's disease from patient skin cells, providing a more accurate and faithful replication of the disease. This new model will help scientists better understand the development of Huntington's and identify potential therapeutic approaches.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJun 28, 2012

Searching for the origin of muscles

Researchers have discovered that ancient sea creatures like sponges and jellyfish possess the building blocks of striated muscles found in higher animals. Gene duplication is believed to be responsible for the emergence of muscle myosin, a crucial protein structure, which evolved independently in these organisms.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature·DateJun 28, 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.

Discovery may lead to new tomato varieties with vintage flavor and quality

A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the US tomato industry by introducing new varieties with improved flavor and quality. The study, published in Science, reveals two transcription factors responsible for the trait in wild and traditional tomatoes.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2012

Interacting mutations promote diversity

A new model suggests that frequency-dependent selection fosters genetic diversity by allowing different mutations to coexist and interact. This leads to higher diversity within populations, despite the potential decline in average fitness.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 28, 2012

Giant raft of data to help us understand disease

Scientists have assembled a massive catalogue of protein data using a new method, providing unprecedented insight into protein phosphorylation. This understanding brings researchers closer to unraveling the mechanisms of disease.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 28, 2012

Turning skin cells into brain cells

Scientists successfully converted skin cells from a patient with severe Huntington's disease into neurons that degenerate like those affected by the fatal disorder. This breakthrough enables researchers to test potential drug therapies on human brain cells in a dish.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJun 28, 2012

Understanding what's up with the Higgs boson

Higgs boson discovery is crucial for understanding particle masses. Experiments are reducing data to find patterns in particle decay, but low probabilities make some channels harder to detect. Sophisticated software filters events to record particles of interest.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·DateJun 28, 2012
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.

A group of fungi marked the end of the coal age 300 million years ago

A group of highly specialized fungi, identified through comparative analysis of 31 fungal genomes, developed a mechanism to efficiently decay plant biomass. These ancient organisms produced peroxidases that acted in synergy with other oxidative enzymes to degrade lignin, a polymer present in wood.

SourceSpanish National Research Council (CSIC)·JournalScience·DateJun 28, 2012

Earth's oldest known impact crater found in Greenland

A team of scientists from Cardiff University and GEUS discovered a 100km-wide, 3-billion-year-old impact crater in West Greenland. The crater's effects were visible deep within the Earth's crust, allowing researchers to study impact processes nearly a billion years further back.

SourceCardiff University·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateJun 28, 2012

BUSM researchers identify role of FOXO1 gene in Parkinson's disease

Researchers at BUSM found increased expression of FOXO1 gene in Parkinson's disease brain tissue samples. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with age at onset were also discovered, providing new insights into the genetic mechanisms of Parkinson's.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateJun 28, 2012

Scientists proved that 'blindsight' is used in everyday life scenes

Researchers demonstrate blindsight in monkeys in everyday environments, finding they turn eyes to conspicuous portions of motion, brightness, or color. This discovery may indicate hidden visual function recovery for patients with hemianopia.

SourceNational Institute for Physiological Sciences·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 28, 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.

Report shows overspending on cultural institutions in boom years

A new study from the Cultural Policy Center at the University of Chicago reveals that many cultural facilities built during a major building boom in the US faced unexpected challenges. Successful projects were driven by both artistic mission and clear need, with strong leadership and financial flexibility being key factors.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·DateJun 28, 2012

Math goes to the movies

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics hosts a free public event to explore the mathematics underlying movie special effects. Dr. Robert Bridson will discuss the math and physics behind 3D special effects used in movies and computer animations.

SourceSociety for Industrial and Applied Mathematics·DateJun 27, 2012
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Building a better Rift Valley fever vaccine

University of Texas Medical Branch researchers developed a more effective Rift Valley fever vaccine by removing the NSs gene and introducing a dominant negative PKR, improving immune response in large animals and health workers. The new vaccine strain offers enhanced differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalJournal of Virology·DateJun 27, 2012

Injecting life-saving oxygen into a vein

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed tiny gas-filled microparticles that can be injected into the bloodstream to quickly oxygenate blood. The infusion restored blood oxygen saturation to near-normal levels within seconds, even in animals with blocked airways.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 27, 2012

Sensitive test helps improve vaccine safety

A new test, RapidChek SELECTTM Salmonella, detects Salmonella Typhi shedding in stool with a 10-fold to 1000-fold improvement over traditional methods. This technology assesses the degree and duration of shedding after immunization, ensuring vaccine efficacy and community safety.

SourceArizona State University·JournalJournal of Microbiological Methods·DateJun 27, 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.

How much would our health benefit from leaving the car at home?

A new study estimates that replacing car journeys with walking for short trips could save 108 men's and 79 women's lives annually in Catalonia. This would also bring economic benefits of over €200 million, with annual savings of more than €200 million.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalEuropean Journal of Public Health·DateJun 27, 2012

When does a headache need an engineer to fix it?

The University of Akron has established a Conquer Chiari Research Center to improve diagnosis and treatment of Chiari malformation, a disorder causing head, neck, and shoulder pain. Researchers will use computational fluid dynamics to simulate brain fluid flow, helping determine if surgery is warranted.

SourceUniversity of Akron·DateJun 27, 2012

Stem cells can beat back diabetes: UBC research

Researchers at UBC successfully reversed diabetes in mice using stem cells, restoring insulin production and reversing the disease. The study re-created the 'feedback loop' that enables insulin levels to automatically rise or fall based on blood glucose levels.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalDiabetes·DateJun 27, 2012
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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