Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for April 18, 2014


Innovative strategy to facilitate organ repair

A team of researchers has developed a novel method for repairing soft-tissue organs and tissues using aqueous solutions of nanoparticles. In vivo experiments on rats showed that the method can close deep wounds rapidly without inflammation or necrosis, and successfully repair difficult-to-suture organs such as the liver.

SourceINSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale)·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateApr 18, 2014

Stanford researchers rethink 'natural' habitat for wildlife

A new study by Stanford researchers challenges the long-accepted island biogeography theory, which predicts a decline in species abundance in fragmented landscapes. Instead, they found that farmland and forest remnants in human-dominated landscapes can support higher species diversity and slow extinction rates.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature·DateApr 18, 2014

Treating depression in PD patients: New research

A study published in Psychiatry Research found that dopamine replacement therapy commonly used to treat motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease was associated with a decline in cognitive performance among depressed Parkinson patients. Mood in depressed Parkinson's patients was also worse while on dopaminergic medications.

SourceUniversity of Kentucky·JournalPsychiatry Research·DateApr 18, 2014
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.

Sun emits a mid-level solar flare

A mid-level solar flare, peaking at M7-class, was emitted by the sun on April 18, 2014. The radiation burst did not affect humans on Earth but may disturb communications signals and GPS.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 18, 2014

'Exotic' material is like a switch when super thin

Scientists at Cornell University have successfully switched a particular transition metal oxide from a metal to an insulator by making it less than a nanometer thick. This breakthrough discovery has the potential to revolutionize the development of ultra-thin electronic devices.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateApr 18, 2014

Impact glass stores biodata for millions of years

Asteroid and comet impacts can preserve the signatures of ancient life in Earthly impact debris. Researchers found fragments of leaves and preserved organic compounds in ancient impact glasses from Argentina, which could provide a snapshot of environmental conditions at the time of those impacts.

SourceBrown University·JournalGeology·DateApr 18, 2014

UT Dallas professor to develop framework to protect computers' cores

A new defense framework will be developed by UT Dallas professor Dr. Zhiqiang Lin to detect, diagnose and repair kernel malware attacks and enforce a prevention mechanism. The framework aims to detect malicious code sequences in the core of computer operating systems and prevent kernel malware infections.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·DateApr 18, 2014
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.

Counterfeit contraceptives found in South America

A survey of emergency contraceptive pills in Peru found that 28% were either substandard or falsified, posing serious health risks. Researchers developed a sophisticated approach using mass spectrometry to detect counterfeit drugs, highlighting a growing concern for women's health in developing nations.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 18, 2014

New research shows people are thinking about their health early in the week

A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people tend to think more about their health at the beginning of the week, with search volumes peaking on Mondays and Tuesdays. The researchers believe this pattern may be due to a desire for a 'health reset' after weekend indulgences.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateApr 18, 2014

More questions than answers as mystery of domestication deepens

Recent research suggests that domestication may be more complex than previously thought, with many species being domesticated less than expected. Studies on animal and plant domestication highlight the limitations of human agency in shaping organisms through selective breeding.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 18, 2014

Flipping the switch

Physicists at Harvard University have successfully created quantum switches that can be turned on and off using a single photon. This technological achievement could lead to the creation of highly secure quantum networks, enabling perfectly secure communications over long distances.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateApr 18, 2014
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.

Religious music brings benefit to seniors' mental health

Research by Baylor University and the University of Texas-San Antonio found that listening to gospel music decreases anxiety about death, while increases sense of control among seniors. The study, based on a nationwide survey, also showed positive associations between religious music and life satisfaction, self-esteem.

SourceThe Gerontological Society of America·JournalThe Gerontologist·DateApr 18, 2014

Chronic inflammation linked to 'high-grade' prostate cancer

A new study found that chronic inflammation in non-cancerous prostate tissue may increase a man's risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer by nearly twice. The study showed that men with signs of chronic inflammation had a higher risk of having an aggressive and rapidly growing prostate cancer.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·DateApr 18, 2014

Frozen in time: 3-million-year-old landscape still exists beneath the Greenland ice sheet

Researchers funded by NSF discover that some landscapes underlying the massive Greenland ice sheet may have remained undisturbed for almost 3 million years. The team analyzed chemical composition of silts from an ice core and found evidence of a continuous cover of Summit, Greenland, with minimal surface erosion during warmest periods.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalScience·DateApr 18, 2014

Researchers question published no-till soil organic carbon sequestration rates

A team of researchers found that some studies have shown no-till systems without cover crops may not increase soil organic carbon stocks as claimed. The review suggests that different definitions and methods can lead to conflicting findings, and the accuracy of determining soil organic carbon sequestration depends on the method used.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateApr 18, 2014

Gecko-like adhesives now useful for real world surfaces

Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new version of Geckskin, a gecko-like adhesive that can adhere to various surfaces like drywall and wood. The material exhibits the ability to stick and release on different surfaces, opening up possibilities for innovative technologies in homes, offices, or outdoors.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 18, 2014
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.

Ancient DNA offers clues to how barnyard chickens came to be

A study analyzing ancient chicken DNA found that traits like yellow skin only became widespread in the last 500 years, contradicting previous assumptions about domestication. Researchers compared DNA from 81 ancient chickens to those of modern chickens, revealing significant genetic differences.

SourceNational Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 18, 2014

Chronic inflammation may be linked to aggressive prostate cancer

A study found that chronic inflammation in benign prostate tissue was associated with high-grade prostate cancer. Men with at least one biopsy core showing inflammation had a 1.78 times higher odds of having prostate cancer and a 2.24 times higher odds of having aggressive disease.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·DateApr 18, 2014

Plants with dormant seeds give rise to more species

Researchers found that seed dormancy allows plants to adapt to their environment, resulting in increased species diversity. Plants with this ability are more likely to colonize new areas and thrive under changing conditions, a strategy that has been around since the earliest seeds.

SourceNational Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent)·JournalNew Phytologist·DateApr 18, 2014

Impurity size affects performance of emerging superconductive material

A recent study by North Carolina State University reveals that impurities can either hinder or improve the performance of a key superconductive material, Bi2212. The size of the impurities determines their effect, with nanoscale defects appearing to enhance superconductivity, while large-scale impurities weaken it.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 18, 2014
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.

Researchers find 3-million-year-old landscape beneath Greenland ice sheet

A team of scientists discovered a 3-million-year-old tundra landscape preserved under the Greenland Ice Sheet, suggesting the ice sheet has endured for longer than previously known. The findings indicate that even during warm periods, the center of Greenland remained stable, preventing the complete melting of the ice sheet.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalScience·DateApr 18, 2014

New study suggests a better way to deal with bad memories

Researchers found that thinking about non-emotional contextual details of a memory can alleviate the negative effects of these memories. This strategy, known as focusing on context, is a promising alternative to other emotion-regulation strategies.

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateApr 18, 2014

Finding turns neuroanatomy on its head

A new study by Harvard neuroscientists reveals that myelin, the electrical insulating material in nerve cells, is not uniformly distributed along axons. Instead, more evolved neurons in the cerebral cortex have intermittent myelin patterns, which may enable increased neuronal communication and complex behavior.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateApr 18, 2014

MRI, on a molecular scale

Scientists at Harvard University have created a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that can produce nano-scale images, potentially allowing researchers to peer into the atomic structure of individual molecules. The system uses a miniaturized magnet and quantum computing technology to achieve high spatial resolution.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateApr 18, 2014

Under some LED bulbs whites aren't 'whiter than white'

Researchers found that different LED light sources render white differently, affecting product appearance. Participants struggled to distinguish between cards under blue-pumped LEDs, highlighting the need for spectrum engineering to accurately render whiteness.

SourcePenn State·JournalLEUKOS The Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America·DateApr 18, 2014
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.