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Science News Archive December 2013


Page 13 of 27

Noble gas molecule discovered in space

A team of astronomers from Cardiff University has discovered a noble gas molecule, argon hydride, in the Crab Nebula. The find provides new insights into the chemistry of outer space and challenges previous assumptions about the conditions necessary for such molecules to form.

First rock dating experiment performed on Mars

Researchers at California Institute of Technology successfully dated a Martian rock using the Sample Analysis on Mars instrument, determining its age to be about 3.86-4.56 billion years old. This experiment provides valuable insights into Mars' geologic history and aids in searching for evidence of ancient life on the planet.

Simple mathematical formula describes human struggles

Researchers discovered a mathematical law that explains a wide range of human confrontations, including child-parent struggles, cyber-attacks, and civil unrest. The 'power-law' formula can be applied to make quantitative predictions about future attacks and create intervention strategies.

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.

Ballistics study leads to changes at federal agency

A team of researchers led by Sam Houston State University identified areas of improvement in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) database. The study found that criminal investigators rarely used ballistics reports to link weapons used in multiple crimes due to delays in reporting. To address this, the federal ...

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.

Hubble discovers water vapor venting from Jupiter's moon Europa

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has discovered water vapour erupting from the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa, in one or more localised plumes near its south pole. This finding strengthens Europa's position as a top candidate for potential habitability, but the origin and connection to subsurface liquid water are still unknown.

Stealth maneuver allows nectar bats to target insect prey

Researchers discovered that the Pallas long-tongued bat uses stealth echolocation to catch moth prey, employing high-frequency but low-intensity calls that evade the insects' auditory systems. This finding suggests that more bats may benefit from this stealthy approach, previously only known in the European barbastelle bat.

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.

Using air transportation data to predict pandemics

A new mathematical theory helps reconstruct outbreak origins with higher confidence and forecasts epidemic-spreading speed. The approach uses effective distances computed from air transportation network traffic intensities to visualize geographic spread of past diseases.

Global map to predict giant earthquakes

Researchers have developed a new global map to predict giant earthquakes at subduction zones, including the Australian region. The study identified several regions capable of producing massive earthquakes, while others are not predicted to experience such events.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Astronomers discover first noble gas molecules in space

Researchers discovered argon hydride ions in the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant, using ESA's Herschel Space Observatory. The findings support theories on how argon forms in nature and provide evidence for the formation of noble gas molecules in space.

Surprise: Duck-billed dinosaurs had fleshy 'cocks comb'

A rare mummified specimen of the duck-billed dinosaur Edmontosauraus regalis has revealed a fleshy comb on its head, similar to a rooster's red crest. This discovery dramatically alters our understanding of these gentle giants and raises the possibility of similar crests among other dinosaurs.

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.

Speeding up gene discovery

A new CRISPR approach enables researchers to study the entire genome at once, identifying genes essential for cell survival and potential cancer-causing genes. The technology could lead to more efficient and reliable alternatives to RNA interference, enabling targeted cancer treatments.

Fast radio bursts might come from nearby stars

A new study proposes that fast radio bursts come from flaring stars in the Milky Way, contradicting previous theories of distant galactic origins. The researchers analyzed six detected bursts and found a correlation with stellar flares, suggesting a closer origin.

Dec. 2013 Lithosphere now available online

This issue of Lithosphere features studies on the Great Slave Lake shear zone in northwest Canada, which provides insight into the deep structure of ancient mountain belts. The research also explores the tectonic development of the Tibetan Plateau, revealing that faults responsible for its formation are restricted within the crust.

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.

Where water is limited, researchers determine how much water is enough

Researchers have developed a precision instrument that can determine water loss in agricultural systems, enabling growers to make informed irrigation decisions and reducing water waste. The system provides real-time data on water use by plants versus evaporation, leading to significant water savings.

A powder to enhance NMR signals

Researchers have developed a powder to enhance NMR signals, enabling faster and more accurate structure determination by NMR and early cancer diagnosis by MRI. This innovation opens new perspectives for medical imaging and potential applications in human diagnosis.

With new study, aquatic comb jelly floats into new evolutionary position

A recent study published in Science reveals that comb jellies, a simple aquatic animal, possess complex cell types like neurons and muscles. The analysis of the Mnemiopsis leidyi genome shows that these cells may have evolved independently in comb jellies, after they diverged from other animals.

Whooping cough vaccine antigen disappearing from bacteria in US

The pertactin antigen, crucial to the effectiveness of the whooping cough vaccine, is now absent from more than half of US bacterial isolates. The absence of this antigen has significant implications for public health authorities and highlights the need to monitor circulating bacterial populations.

Following the path to bacterial virulence

Researchers followed the evolution of E. coli bacteria in the presence of macrophages, observing the rapid emergence of pathogenic traits. The study reveals that the movement of small DNA fragments drives bacterial adaptation to evade immune defenses.

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.

Collapse of the universe is closer than ever before

New calculations confirm the universe may collapse, with a higher risk than previously thought. A phase transition in the Higgs field could lead to a violent process where particles become extremely heavy and the universe ceases to exist.

Scientists map food security and self-provision of major cities

Several major cities have been mapped for their food security and self-provisioning, revealing varying degrees of dependence on national and global markets. Cities like Tokyo and Canberra struggle to feed themselves due to population growth and climate change, while Copenhagen's stable population has increased its local production.

5 Michigan universities awarded NSF partnership grant to improve academic success

A collaborative project between five Michigan universities aims to increase the academic success of underrepresented minority graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in STEM fields, as well as women graduate students. The project will strengthen mentoring relationships and engage students in interdisciplinary learning communities.

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.

What the past tells us about modern sea-level rise

Researchers used geological evidence to derive a natural background pattern of sea-level rise. Based on this, they found that modern sea-level rise is fast but within the 'natural range', with only half of observed changes expected by natural standards.

Health spending is more efficient for men than for women

A study by McGill University found significant disparities in health spending efficiency between men and women across 27 industrialized nations. The analysis showed that men experienced greater life expectancy gains per dollar spent on healthcare compared to women.

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.

Gates funding helps put global patent system under The Lens

The Lens, a public web facility, now contains comprehensive patent information from almost 100 million documents in 90 countries, linked to millions of scientific articles. This initiative aims to save innovators and companies millions in lawyers' fees and make the world of patents more accessible.

Can we turn unwanted carbon dioxide into electricity?

Researchers have developed a new geothermal power plant design that utilizes unwanted carbon dioxide to generate electricity. The innovative approach is at least twice as efficient as conventional geothermal methods and can store energy for days or months, making it available when needed on the grid.

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.

Quantum waves at the heart of organic solar cells

Researchers have observed the rapid formation and separation of charges in organic nanostructures, governed by quantum mechanics. This discovery takes them closer to mimicking photosynthesis and developing efficient organic solar cells.

Light and sound fire scientists' imaginations

Researchers have discovered new abilities to manipulate light and sound using structured polymers, which could lead to breakthroughs in computing, sensing technology, and soundproofing. The findings suggest the potential for creating thin soundproofing materials that can guide rather than absorb sound.

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.

Fatty acids crucial to embryonic development

Researchers have discovered that polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism plays a crucial role in embryonic development and tissue organization. The study found that ACSL4 enzyme activity regulates a specific protein in the Bmp signaling pathway, which is essential for proper embryo organization.

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.

UCSF receives $15 million for malaria elimination campaign

The UCSF Global Health Group will conduct research on community-based strategies to identify and clear the last remaining malaria parasites in areas close to elimination. The goal is to determine risk factors associated with malaria transmission and explore effective interventions for high-risk groups.

Should your surname carry a health warning?

Researchers found a significant link between the surname Brady and an increased risk of bradycardia, with patients named Brady more likely to require pacemakers compared to the general population. The study suggests that people may have a preference for careers connected to their name, influencing their health outcomes.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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