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Science News for September 20, 2013


Densest array of carbon nanotubes grown to date

Researchers from Cambridge University have devised a simple technique to grow carbon nanotubes at five times higher density than previous methods, enabling the potential replacement of metal electronic components in devices such as batteries and spacecraft.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateSep 20, 2013

Lithosphere interprets earth

Recent studies published in Lithosphere explore the tectonic history of ancient mountain chains, including the Central Iberian Massif, Arctic Alaska, and the Wet Mountains of Colorado. These findings shed light on the deformation mechanisms and crustal-scale magmatism across these regions.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalLithosphere·DateSep 20, 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.

Followers' actions affect organization's leadership capacity Wayne State researcher finds

A recent study published in The Review of Higher Education found that followers play a crucial role in shaping organizational leadership practices. Through grounded theory research, Dr. Michael Owens discovered that students' participation in program leadership is not just about receiving benefits but also about giving back to the orga...

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalThe Review of Higher Education·DateSep 20, 2013

Promising new alloy for resistive switching memory

Researchers in Singapore create conductive nano-filaments in amorphous titanium dioxide thin films for resistive switching applications. The high density of uniformly distributed nano-filaments implies the possibility of making high-density memory cells, offering great advantages over current technology.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAIP Advances·DateSep 20, 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.

NASA HS3 mission reveals Tropical Storm Humberto's hybrid core

The NASA HS3 mission has revealed that Tropical Storm Humberto had a hybrid core structure, characterized by both warm and cold cores at different levels. This discovery provides new insights into the processes underlying hurricane formation and intensity change in the Atlantic Ocean basin.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 20, 2013

Personality a key factor in health care use

Researchers found that certain personality characteristics, such as neuroticism and openness to experience, are correlated with increased use of expensive health care services like emergency room visits and nursing home stays. By understanding these patterns, healthcare providers can develop targeted interventions to reduce costs and i...

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalMilbank Quarterly·DateSep 20, 2013
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New rat genus discovered in the birthplace of the theory of evolution

A new genus of rat has been discovered in the Halmahera Island of Indonesia, highlighting the large amount of unknown biodiversity in the region and its conservation importance. The species, named Halmaheramys bokimekot, features unique characteristics and supports Wallace's idea of an important faunal breakup in this region.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalZoological Journal of the Linnean Society·DateSep 20, 2013

The higher the better?

Researchers analyzed data from four randomized trials to determine the most effective high-intensity training programme for CHD patients. VO2max increased by 11.9% after an average of 23.4 training sessions, with intensity above 92% HRmax showing greater effects.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalJournal of Science and Medicine in Sport·DateSep 20, 2013

Arctic sea ice minimum in 2013 is sixth lowest on record

The Arctic sea ice minimum extent for 2013 reached 1.97 million square miles, the sixth lowest on record, due to a late start of the melt season and cooler temperatures. The remaining sea ice cover is much thinner than it was in previous decades, with an average thickness of only 6.2 feet.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 20, 2013

Virginia Tech scientists show why traumatized trees don't 'bleed' to death

Researchers used a special microscope to reveal how nanostructures contain damage within microscopic cavities, allowing trees to seal off damaged cells. The bordered pits are filled with a mesh membrane of nanofibrils that radiate from a thickened central region, controlling sap flow and protecting trees.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateSep 20, 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.

University of Calgary launches Institute for Quantum Science and Technology

The University of Calgary has launched the Institute for Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), a unit dedicated to research, training, and outreach in quantum science. The IQST will focus on key research themes such as quantum optics, quantum information, and nanotechnology, with a goal of advancing transformative technology.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·DateSep 20, 2013

Stronger sexual impulses may explain why men cheat more than women, study reveals

A recent study suggests that men's stronger sexual impulses are a key factor in their higher rates of infidelity. Men experienced stronger impulses to pursue attractive partners, regardless of whether it was considered 'good' or 'bad', whereas women were more likely to exert self-control and resist these temptations.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateSep 20, 2013

Gap closed in the genetic map of kingdom fungi

Researchers have closed the genetic map of the fungal kingdom by sequencing the genome of Pyronema confluens, a basal filamentous ascomycete. The study reveals key differences between this species and higher ascomycetes, shedding light on the evolution of mating type genes and light-activated processes.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateSep 20, 2013

Getting rid of unwanted visitors

Researchers discovered that Baka pygmies have a low incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection, contradicting the assumption of an ancient bacterial population. The bacteria instead appear to be recent re-infections from neighboring populations.

SourceUniversity of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna·JournalPublication Library and Information Science·DateSep 20, 2013

Preventing and improving treatment of Alzheimer's disease

A new research chair will focus on developing innovative strategies for preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease, including early detection tools and less toxic therapeutic molecules. The goal is to improve patient quality of life and alleviate symptoms rather than control the disease.

SourceInstitut national de la recherche scientifique - INRS·DateSep 20, 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.

Microfluidic platform gives a clear look at a crucial step in cancer metastasis

Researchers developed a microfluidic device to study cancer cell extravasation, the process by which cells escape blood vessels. The device revealed that most arrested cells are trapped and eventually squeeze through, with their nuclei escaping even earlier than expected. Understanding this process can help identify therapies to preven...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalIntegrative Biology·DateSep 20, 2013

Geoscience Workforce Currents #75 and #76

The American Geosciences Institute released two reports on the effects of a workshop for underrepresented minority individuals seeking careers in academia. The workshop exposed attendees to federal-level resources, professional societies' offerings, and leadership opportunities, leading to positive changes in their behavior.

SourceAmerican Geosciences Institute·DateSep 20, 2013

Imaging technique detects pediatric liver disease without need for needle biopsy

A new imaging technique, MRE, can accurately detect fibrosis in children with chronic liver disease, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study showed high accuracy in detecting advanced fibrosis in obese patients, potentially reducing the need for costly and invasive liver biopsies.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateSep 20, 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.

New research on inherited herpesvirus may have implications for transplantation

A recent study found that inherited human herpesvirus 6 in telomeres can lead to unstable viral genomes and increased risk of reactivation. This research has significant implications for transplant patients who are often immunosuppressed, highlighting the need for screening donors for this inherited form of HHV-6.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateSep 20, 2013

Bold idea for 'big data'

Rice University researchers are developing a customized, energy-efficient optical network called BOLD to handle the growing amounts of data in various scientific fields. The new network will utilize optical switches with high capacity and low power consumption, enabling faster processing and analysis of large datasets.

SourceRice University·DateSep 20, 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.

TRMM satellite sees system 98W organizing near Guam, Marianas

The TRMM satellite has observed heavy rainfall and banding of thunderstorms around System 98W in the northwestern Pacific, indicating potential consolidation into a tropical depression. The system is expected to become a tropical depression within 24 hours as it moves northwards.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 20, 2013

Lifestyle influences metabolism via DNA methylation

Researchers analyzed blood samples from over 1800 participants and found that specific DNA segments were associated with altered metabolic processes. The study provides new insights into how lifestyle factors impact metabolism via epigenetic changes.

SourceHelmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH))·JournalHuman Molecular Genetics·DateSep 20, 2013

UC Davis researchers find Neandertals, not modern humans, made first bone tools

Researchers at UC Davis have found evidence that Neandertals, not modern humans, made the first specialized bone tools in Europe. The discoveries were made by undergraduate student Naomi Martisius and her adviser Teresa E. Steele, who identified the tools as part of a decade-long excavation project.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 20, 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.

Climate change: Polar bears change to diet with higher contaminant loads

Researchers found that polar bears have switched to sub-Arctic seals with higher contaminant loads, which contradicts the expected improvement in their condition. The shift is linked to climate change and the melting of Arctic sea ice, posing long-term risks to the polar bears' access to food.

SourceAarhus University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateSep 20, 2013

Blood pressure cuff may save lives in patients with acute heart attack

Remote ischemic conditioning using a blood pressure cuff reduces subsequent cardiac symptoms and mortality after acute heart attack. The procedure translates into a clinical benefit for patients, with new heart symptoms reduced by 51% and death caused by heart disease decreased by 61%.

SourceAarhus University·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·DateSep 20, 2013
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.