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Science News Archive December 2013 - Page 13


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.

SourceCardiff University·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2013
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.

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.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 12, 2013

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 ...

SourceSam Houston State University·DateDec 12, 2013
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.

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.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2013
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

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.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalFunctional Ecology·DateDec 12, 2013

Systems medicine paves the way for improved treatment for leukemia patients

Researchers develop individualized systems medicine strategy to select effective cancer therapies for patients, understanding and predicting drug resistance. The approach aids in optimizing patient therapies, with promising results in treating chemoresistant adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalCancer Discovery·DateDec 12, 2013

Helping cancer researchers make sense of the deluge of genetic data

The Gene Expression Barcode 3.0 tool helps cancer researchers process and analyze massive amounts of genetic data from patients and mice, enabling the development of tailored treatments. The improved algorithm makes it faster and more accessible for researchers to use.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateDec 12, 2013

US ranks near bottom among industrialized nations in efficiency of health care spending

A study by UCLA and McGill researchers reveals that the US health care system is inefficient, ranking 22nd globally, with every dollar spent translating to less than half a month of increased life expectancy. The study also highlights significant gender disparities, with men experiencing greater gains in life expectancy than women.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateDec 12, 2013
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.

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.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceMonash University·JournalPhysics of The Earth and Planetary Interiors·DateDec 12, 2013
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.

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.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 12, 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.

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.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 12, 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.

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.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalLithosphere·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceThe Journal of Visualized Experiments·JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceLyon Science Transfert - Université de Lyon·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceNIH/National Human Genome Research Institute·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalClinical and Vaccine Immunology·DateDec 12, 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.

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.

SourceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalJournal of High Energy Physics·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalGlobal Food Security·DateDec 12, 2013
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

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.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 12, 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.

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.

SourceMcGill University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateDec 12, 2013

Wayne State discovers potential treatment for skin and corneal wound healing in diabetics

A team of Wayne State University researchers identified transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling as a major pathway affected by hyperglycemia in DM corneal epithelial cells. Adding TGFβ3 to the wound accelerated epithelial wound closure, providing new treatment options for diabetic wound healing.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalDiabetes·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·DateDec 12, 2013
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.

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.

SourceOhio State University·DateDec 12, 2013

Graphene-based nano-antennas may enable networks of tiny machines

Researchers developed graphene-based nano-antennas that can connect devices powered by small amounts of scavenged energy, enabling nanoscale communication. The antennas operate at lower frequencies than traditional metallic components, reducing power needs.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalIEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications·DateDec 12, 2013

NUS researchers develop novel bio-inspired method to grow high-quality graphene for high-end electronic devices

The NUS team has successfully developed a one-step method to grow and transfer high-quality graphene on silicon substrates, opening up opportunities for its use in photonics and electronics. The 'face-to-face transfer' method enables the technological application of graphene in optoelectronic modulators, transistors, and biosensors.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature·DateDec 12, 2013

Smashing science: Livermore scientists discover how explosives respond to shockwaves

Researchers combined ultrafast experimental measurements with theory to study the response of explosives to shockwaves. The results showed that a hydrogen peroxide sample began to tear apart within 50 picoseconds after being shocked, leading to significant temperature increases and pressure waves.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry A·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 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.

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.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateDec 12, 2013

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.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateDec 12, 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.

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.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·DateDec 12, 2013
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

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.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateDec 12, 2013