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Science News Archive 2013 - Page 95


Page 95 of 352

Tick tock: Marine animals with at least 2 clocks

Research reveals that marine animals have multiple independent clocks, including a 24-hour circadian clock and a tidal clock that regulates daily cycles. The findings suggest that these clocks may be standard operating equipment in animals, with the tidal clock playing a crucial role in coastal organisms.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 26, 2013

Colonizing songbirds lost sense of syntax

Researchers found that as European songbirds colonized islands, their songs became less structured. The study suggests a genetic component to the loss of syntax, and may be due to the effects of small population sizes on cultural transmission.

SourceDuke University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 26, 2013

The spliceosome: More than meets the eye

Researchers from Brandeis University and UMMS discovered that the spliceosome's major components can attach in any order, eliminating the need for precise communication. This breakthrough sheds light on the process of RNA splicing, a crucial step in protein synthesis, and holds promise for understanding diseases like cystic fibrosis.

SourceBrandeis University·JournalCell·DateSep 26, 2013
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Spirals of light may lead to better electronics

Researchers at Caltech developed a miniature chip-based resonator that stabilizes electrical currents and optical signals, paving the way for improvements in communications, navigation, and remote sensing. The new technology uses an Archimedean spiral to minimize energy surges and improve frequency stability.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 26, 2013

In prostate cancer prognosis, telomere length may matter

Researchers found that men with variable telomere length in cancer cells and shorter telomeres in stromal cells were more likely to develop metastatic disease and die sooner from their prostate cancer. This combination could be a marker for prostate cancer prognosis.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCancer Discovery·DateSep 26, 2013

Several NASA spacecraft track energy through space

Scientists tracked energy from the sun to Earth's magnetosphere using eight NASA spacecraft, including ARTEMIS and THEMIS. The research provides insights into substorms and their impact on space weather, with energy flows lasting up to half an hour and covering areas 10 times larger than Earth.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalScience·DateSep 26, 2013

Bone hormone influences brain development and cognition

Researchers found that osteocalcin, a bone-derived hormone, plays a powerful role in prenatal brain development and cognitive functions such as learning, memory, anxiety, and depression. Osteocalcin promotes the birth of neurons, increases neurotransmitter synthesis, and affects behavior in adult mice.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalCell·DateSep 26, 2013

Scientists find a martian igneous rock that is surprisingly Earth-like

A team of MSL scientists analyzed a martian rock called Jake_M, which is highly enriched in sodium and potassium, making it chemically alkaline. The analysis suggests that parts of Mars may be more like Earth than previously thought, with the rock possibly forming from partial melting of rocks deep inside the planet.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateSep 26, 2013
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.

Scripps research institute scientists discover important wound-healing process

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discovered a critical role of dendritic epidermal T cells in producing interleukin-17A to promote wound healing. The study found that these skin-resident immune cells function as 'first responders' to skin injuries by producing IL-17A, which wards off infection and promotes wound healing.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 26, 2013

Astronomers uncover a 'transformer' pulsar

Astronomers have discovered a millisecond pulsar with a unique dual identity, shifting between X-ray and radio emission in a phenomenon never before observed. The discovery represents a long-sought intermediate phase in the life of these powerful objects, offering a rare opportunity to study a pulsar's magnetic field in action.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature·DateSep 25, 2013

Long-term study reveals: The deep Greenland Sea is warming faster than the world ocean

A long-term study has revealed that the deep Greenland Sea is warming at a rate ten times higher than the global ocean, with potential consequences for European climate. The warming is caused by changes in the interplay of two processes: cooling from above and warming from below.

SourceAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 25, 2013
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

The failing freezer: How soil microbes affect global climate

A UA-led international collaboration studies how microbes release greenhouse gases as they access nutrients in thawing permafrost soils. The team aims to explain the relationships between microbial processes and climate change, with potential implications for solving the 'big biology problem' in climate change.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·DateSep 25, 2013

Magnetic field may shape 'blooming' star

Astronomers are closer to understanding the formation of planetary nebulas after discovering a star in the southern sky with a strong magnetic field. The 'blooming' star is creating a jet of charged particles that glow with radio waves, and researchers believe the magnetic field may play a key role in shaping its symmetrical jets.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 25, 2013
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Genetic makeup and diet interact with the microbiome to impact health

Research shows that genetic factors and dietary choices interact to shape the microbiome in the host intestine. This combination determines the presence and activity of specific microbes, which can affect digestive health and increase the risk for conditions like Crohn's disease.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2013

Recent highlights in Molecular Biology and Evolution

A study has identified 114 genes on the X chromosome that have escaped silencing, including 76 previously unknown. These genes are often associated with mental impairment and may hold clues to better management of XXX syndrome.

SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateSep 25, 2013
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Survey reveals improving salary and employment picture for chemists

The American Chemical Society's annual survey shows that salaries and employment for chemists are improving, with full-time jobs reaching a five-year high and median salaries increasing. However, disparities persist, including lower earnings for women and regional differences in job opportunities.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateSep 25, 2013

Tweets reveal news readership patterns around the world

Researchers analyzed tweets from eight national newspapers across the US, UK, Spain, Brazil, and Germany to study global news reading habits. They found that different countries have stronger preferences for specific types of articles, such as opinion and world news in the US and Britain, and local and national news in Spain.

SourceSAGE·JournalSAGE Open·DateSep 25, 2013
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

A first: Stanford engineers build computer using carbon nanotube technology

A team of Stanford engineers has built a basic computer using carbon nanotubes, demonstrating their potential as a successor to silicon chips. The achievement showcases the efficiency and low-power switching capabilities of CNTs, which could lead to smaller, faster, and cheaper electronic devices.

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature·DateSep 25, 2013

Researchers use nanoparticles to deliver vaccines to lungs

Researchers have developed nanoparticles that can protect vaccines from being cleared by the lungs, allowing them to generate a strong immune response in both the lungs and distant mucosal surfaces. The technology has shown promise in preventing infections such as influenza and HIV, as well as delivering cancer vaccines.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateSep 25, 2013

Astronomers find missing link pulsar

A team of astronomers has identified a pulsar that switches between emitting X-rays and radio waves, offering the first direct evidence of one kind of pulsar transforming into another. This phenomenon was observed in a small cluster of stars 18,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalNature·DateSep 25, 2013

Seeing light in a new light

Researchers at Harvard University and MIT have successfully bound photons together to form a new type of matter, dubbed photonic molecules. This breakthrough challenges traditional understanding of light as massless particles that don't interact with each other.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateSep 25, 2013
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.

Study shows over 200 mobile apps related to dermatology

A study published in JAMA Dermatology found over 200 mobile apps related to dermatology, but most are free with no guarantees of accuracy. Doctors advise users to use common sense and cross-reference apps with other sources before relying on them.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJAMA Dermatology·DateSep 25, 2013

New study offers hope for halting incurable citrus disease

A new study has provided hope for halting the incurable citrus greening disease by understanding its impact on trees before infection. The researchers used DNA sequencing technologies to reveal metabolic imbalances and hormonal disruptions caused by the bacterial disease.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 25, 2013

False alarm on hepatitis virus highlights challenges of pathogen sleuthing

Researchers found a novel hepatitis virus that was mistakenly believed to be a genuine disease-causing agent. The team used next-generation DNA sequencing and data mining to track down the true source of the contamination, which was traced back to tiny oceanic algae called diatoms.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJournal of Virology·DateSep 25, 2013
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.

New multifunctional topological insulator material with combined superconductivity

Researchers have discovered a new material that combines the properties of topological insulators and superconductors, with a large energy gap and potential applications in quantum computing and spintronics. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of next-generation electronic devices.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 25, 2013

With carbon nanotubes, a path to flexible, low-cost sensors

Researchers at TUM have developed a new family of electronic devices using carbon nanotubes, enabling rapid gas detection and low power consumption. These sensors can be integrated into food packaging to gauge freshness or built into electronic skin for robotic applications.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalCarbon·DateSep 25, 2013

Fetching faces and friendly foxes

Researchers selectively bred silver foxes for friendly behavior, resulting in faster maturation, more attractive features, and changes in hormone levels that affect physical development. These findings suggest that human preference for beautiful faces may be linked to an individual's approachability and sociability.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalThe Quarterly Review of Biology·DateSep 25, 2013
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.

Family Resiliency Center helps study how food-bank clients afford basic non-food items

A nationwide Feed America study revealed that one in three low-income families had difficulty affording basic household necessities. The University of Illinois Family Resiliency Center contributed to the study by conducting interviews with food-bank clients about essential household products and strategies for obtaining them.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·DateSep 25, 2013

Sheep's mucosa shows the way to more effective medicine for severe neurological diseases

Scientists have made breakthroughs in delivering medicines to the brain via the nose, with improved liposomes and polymers allowing for more efficient transport of active substances. The new method could lead to reduced side effects and improved treatment outcomes for patients with neurological diseases.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences·DateSep 25, 2013

Seeing the forest and the trees

Researchers developed a novel robotic camera mount and software to study plant movements across wide panoramas. The technique captures interactions between environment and plants in a single sequence, enabling the visualization of changes over time.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateSep 25, 2013
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.

3D mapping is a 'Pisa' cake for Aussie scientists

Australian researchers have developed a breakthrough 3D mapping system, Zebedee, which enables the creation of detailed maps of complex sites like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The technology has been used to produce the first comprehensive 3D map of the tower's interior, capturing small details in the stairs and stonework.

SourceCSIRO Australia·DateSep 25, 2013

Discovery offers bio-solution to severe canola crop losses

A University of Calgary-led research team has discovered a gene regulatory network that controls seed 'de-greening' in canola, a major cash crop in Alberta. The breakthrough offers a solution to a long-standing problem causing millions of dollars in annual losses.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2013

Eating fish, nuts may not help thinking skills after all

A new study published in Neurology suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may not have a protective effect on cognitive decline in older women. Despite initial hopes, the research did not find a difference between high and low levels of omega-3s in thinking skills.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateSep 25, 2013

NASA satellites see Typhoon Pabuk's shrinking eye close

Typhoon Pabuk's eye shrunk to 25 nautical miles in diameter after high clouds covered the center, reducing visibility on NASA satellite imagery. The storm is expected to remain at sea and transition into an extra-tropical storm by Sept. 27.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 25, 2013
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.

Restricting antibiotics could be key to fighting 'superbug'

Researchers mapped C.diff cases in Oxfordshire and found most cases weren't hospital-borne, but rather acquired elsewhere. Restricting antibiotic use may be more effective in reducing C.diff infections than infection control measures.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 25, 2013

New mechanism for protein misfolding may link to ALS

Scientists found that BMAA inserts itself into neuroproteins by seizing transfer RNA, causing misfolding and aggregation. Adding extra L-Serine can prevent this process, offering a potential prevention method for ALS.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 25, 2013

Alpine archaeology reveals high life through the ages

A 14-year study in the Parc National des Écrins reveals human occupation and activity from Mesolithic to Post-Medieval periods, with complex Bronze Age structures and evidence of pastoralism. The research highlights the role of climate and human activity in shaping Alpine landscapes.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalQuaternary International·DateSep 25, 2013

New 'Smart Rounds' improves safety of radiation therapy

A new process called 'Smart Rounds' optimizes the safety and efficacy of radiation therapy by formalizing multidisciplinary reviews at the beginning of treatment planning. This leads to safer, more individualized radiation treatment plans and better utilization of medical resources.

SourceNorthwell Health·DateSep 25, 2013

China's synthetic gas plants would be greenhouse giants

A new study by Duke University researchers finds that China's planned synthetic gas plants would produce massive greenhouse gas emissions, using up to 100 times the water as shale gas production. The plants' carbon dioxide emissions would be seven times higher than traditional natural gas plants and lock in high emissions for decades.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateSep 25, 2013
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.

Why won't she leave him? Abused women often fear for pets left behind

A University of Illinois study found that 34% of abused women delayed leaving their homes because they were concerned about their pets. The study recommends that shelters provide resources and support for pet owners, including counseling and temporary pet care.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Interpersonal Violence·DateSep 25, 2013

Tiny antennas let long light waves see in infrared

Researchers at the University of Illinois developed nano-antennas that can detect molecules resonating in the infrared spectrum. The antennas concentrate long-wavelength light into ultra-subwavelength volumes, enhancing detection of small materials with standard IR spectrometers.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNano Letters·DateSep 25, 2013

Ancient soils reveal clues to early life on Earth

Researchers found evidence of low atmospheric oxygen concentrations in 3.8 billion-year-old soils from South Africa, challenging previous estimates that oxygen began accumulating in the atmosphere around 2.3 billion years ago. The discovery supports a longer antiquity for oxygen-producing photosynthesis and aerobic life.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalNature·DateSep 25, 2013
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.

Turning plastic bags into high-tech materials

Researchers have developed a process to transform non-biodegradable plastic grocery bags into carbon nanotube membranes, offering potential solutions for environmental pollution and producing high-added value products. The innovative method uses waste plastic as a carbon source, eliminating the need for complex processes and equipment.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalCarbon·DateSep 25, 2013