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Science News for May 19, 2013


Study finds that sleep apnea and Alzheimer's are linked

A new study found a link between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and Alzheimer's disease risk factors in cognitively normal elderly patients. Lean SDB patients showed biomarkers of AD risk, including increased P-Tau and T-Tau levels, glucose hypometabolism, and hippocampal atrophy.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·DateMay 19, 2013

Researchers identify a potential new risk for sleep apnea: Asthma

Researchers have identified a potential new risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea: asthma. The study, which followed 1,500 participants over eight years, found that patients with asthma were 1.70 times more likely to develop sleep apnea. Childhood-onset asthma was associated with an even stronger link to sleep apnea.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·DateMay 19, 2013

New theory on genesis of osteoarthritis comes with successful therapy in mice

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that blocking critical bone regulation protein halts OA progression in mice, suggesting a new therapeutic approach to joint replacement surgery. The theory proposes that initial harm to cartilage causes excessive bone growth, leading to disease exacerbation.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateMay 19, 2013
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Archaeological genetics: It's not all as old as it at first seems

A recent study published in Investigative Genetics found that the genomic diversity of the Dutch population follows a southeast-to-northwest gradient, with the population separated into four geographic groups. The researchers propose that this pattern is due to recent movement within the last 2000 years, rather than ancient events.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalInvestigative Genetics·DateMay 19, 2013

Sea level influenced tropical climate during the last ice age

Researchers used geological proxies and computer models to understand how sea level affected rainfall patterns in the Indo-Pacific warm pool during the last ice age. The study found that lowered sea levels led to reduced convection over a region of the warm pool, resulting in drier climates in some areas and wetter climates in others.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii ‑ SOEST·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 19, 2013

Kinks and curves at the nanoscale

New research finds that coherent twin boundaries in metals contain tiny kink-like steps and curvatures, making them stronger but also more electrically resistant. This discovery challenges previous understanding of these materials and could lead to improved engineering designs for high-strength applications.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalNature Materials·DateMay 19, 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.

Scientists explore roots of future tropical rainfall

A new study published in Nature Geoscience investigates the ability of climate models to simulate tropical climate change by analyzing preserved geological evidence from the Last Glacial Maximum. The research reveals that only one model reproduces the rainfall patterns found from the geological evidence, with implications for simulatin...

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 19, 2013

Heat-related deaths in Manhattan projected to rise

A new study projects that heat-related deaths in Manhattan will increase by 20 percent by the 2020s and potentially up to 90 percent or more by the 2080s. Higher winter temperatures may offset some of these deaths, but overall temperature-related mortality is expected to rise.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMay 19, 2013

Immune protein could stop diabetes in its tracks

Researchers have identified an immune protein called CD52 that can suppress the immune response and prevent or reverse type 1 diabetes. This discovery has wider implications for treating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

SourceWalter and Eliza Hall Institute·JournalNature Immunology·DateMay 19, 2013

Bacteria use hydrogen, carbon dioxide to produce electricity

Researchers engineered bacteria to produce electricity solely from hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide, enabling the growth of a biorenewable energy source. The breakthrough utilizes Geobacter species, which can transfer electrons over long distances via conductive filaments.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·DateMay 19, 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.

Engineered microbes grow in the dark

Scientists at the University of California, Davis have successfully engineered a strain of photosynthetic cyanobacteria to grow without light. This breakthrough allows for cost-effective and controllable biofuel production in diurnal conditions.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·DateMay 19, 2013

Why we need to put the fish back into fisheries

A recent study found that traditional fisheries targeting large predators like cod have declined, while shellfish such as prawns and scallops have increased in value. However, this shift is at risk due to disease, species invasions, and climate change, which threaten the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalFish and Fisheries·DateMay 19, 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.

Commonly used catheters double risk of blood clots in ICU and cancer patients

A University of Michigan Health System study found that peripherally inserted central catheters more than double the risk of blood clots in critically ill patients and those with cancer. The device is often used for IV medication delivery and has lower infection risks, but may not be suitable for all patients.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 19, 2013

Competition in the quantum world

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck and Complutense University of Madrid use a quantum simulator to study quantum mechanical phase transitions in many-body systems. They observe how competition between two processes takes place, leading to fragile long-range correlations between distant particles.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·DateMay 19, 2013

Lovelorn frogs bag closest crooner

In a surprise twist, female strawberry poison frogs in Costa Rica prioritize the nearest singing male over physical appearance and vocal quality. The research found that females fail to discriminate between different call rates or frequencies, instead opting for the closest speaker.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalFrontiers in Zoology·DateMay 19, 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.