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Science News Archive August 2014


Page 22 of 31

Challenges and strategies for women pursuing STEM careers

A new study by Mary Jean Amon reveals that social support systems play a key role in helping women persevere in male-dominated STEM fields. The study found that women in these fields often face conflicting role expectations, feelings of lack of authority, and interpersonal cues indicating gender bias.

Inequality -- a key issue of economic research

Experts like Joseph Stiglitz, Eric Maskin, and James Mirrlees address the paradox of high wealth and income stagnation, arguing that policies and politics also contribute to inequality. The Lindau Meeting on Economic Sciences brings together scientists from around the world to discuss counteractive measures.

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.

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for Aug. 12, 2014

A commentary published in Annals of Internal Medicine reveals the history of 'miraculous' Ebola virus serotherapy, inspired by 19th century discoveries. Additionally, two systematic reviews address challenges of interpreting troponin levels in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Synthetic molecule makes cancer self-destruct

Researchers have created a synthetic ion transporter that can cause cancer cells to self-destruct by disrupting the delicate balance of ions within their cell membranes. The molecule, which was discovered after two decades of research, confirms a hypothesis that could lead to new anticancer drugs and benefit patients with cystic fibrosis.

Want to kill creativity of women in teams? Fire up the competition

A new study from Washington University in St. Louis finds that competition can harm the creative output of female-led groups, but not male-led ones. Women contribute less to team creativity when teams are competing against each other, while men become more creative under similar conditions.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Keeping filler ingredients out of your cup of coffee

Researchers developed a highly accurate test to detect surprise ingredients that are neither sweet nor flavorful in ground, roasted coffee. The test uses liquid chromatography and statistical tools to identify unwanted additives, such as grains or plant parts, with 95% accuracy.

Not only in DNA's hands

Scientists have identified key DNA sequences and regulatory proteins controlling blood stem cell fate, revealing a more dynamic process than previously thought. The discovery has implications for developing diagnostic tools, personalized medicine, and regenerative therapies.

Taking astronomy to the next level

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will image the entire visible sky twice per week, providing a vast amount of information on short-lived transient events, dark matter, and dark energy. The project is a partnership among NSF, DOE, and private contributors, with operational support from researchers worldwide.

Sugary bugs subvert antibodies

Researchers discovered that a specific type of IgG2 antibody protects Pseudomonas aeruginosa by binding to extra-long sugars on the bacterial surface. This protection can lead to reduced antibacterial capacity and worsened disease outcomes in immunized individuals.

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.

Genevieve downgraded to a tropical storm

Genevieve has been downgraded to a tropical storm, tracking northwestward at 8 knots per hour. Maximum sustained winds of 70 knots and gusts up to 85 knots are expected, making it far southeast of the Aleutian islands within 2-3 days.

Venom gets good buzz as potential cancer-fighter (video)

Scientists have devised a method to target venom proteins specifically to malignant cells while sparing healthy ones, reducing or eliminating side effects. The approach involves using tiny nanometer-sized particles to treat breast and melanoma cancer cells in the laboratory.

Fertile discovery

Researchers discovered that synthetic PAWP can initiate fertilization, promising a new method for diagnosing and treating male factor infertility. The protein's potential as a molecular marker for diagnosis and improvement of fertility treatments is being explored.

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.

Sensitive acid sensor controls insulin production

A new implantable molecular device measures blood pH and triggers insulin production to regulate metabolic processes. The device, tested in mice with type 1 diabetes, successfully compensated for acidosis and restored normal blood sugar levels.

Malaria medicine chloroquine inhibits tumor growth and metastases

Chloroquine has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and metastases by normalizing abnormal blood vessels in tumors. This results in an increased barrier function blocking cancer cell dissemination and enhanced tumor perfusion increasing the response of the tumor to chemotherapy.

Two NREL scientists named to highly cited researcher list

NREL researchers Art Nozik and Keith Emery have been included in the Thomson Reuters' Highly Cited Researcher list, citing over 22,000 and 10,000 times respectively. Their work has greatly increased solar cell efficiency and established NREL as a leader in photovoltaics measurements.

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.

Reconstructions show how some of the earliest animals lived -- and died

Researchers at the University of Cambridge created detailed reconstructions of ancient organisms called rangeomorphs, which were among the earliest large animals on Earth. The creatures thrived in ocean environments during the Ediacaran period but went extinct due to changing conditions and competition from emerging animal groups.

Aberrant mTOR signaling impairs whole body physiology

Research at the University of Basel reveals that aberrant mTOR signaling in the liver affects not only hepatic metabolism but also entire body physiology. The study found that activation of mTORC1 in the liver reduces locomotor activity, body temperature, and lipid metabolism.

A vaccine alternative protects mice against malaria

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have found a potential new path toward malaria immunization by injecting a vaccine-like compound into mice. The approach, known as Vector Immunoprophylaxis (VIP), triggers the creation of antibodies that prevent malaria in 70% of mice.

CRI scientists pinpoint gene likely to promote childhood cancers

CRI scientists have identified a gene that contributes to the development of several childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma and hepatoblastoma. The study found that overproduction of Lin28b specifically causes hepatoblastoma, while blocking it impairs cancer growth.

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.

Focal blood-brain-barrier disruption with high-frequency pulsed electric fields

Researchers developed a technique using high-frequency pulsed electric fields to open the blood-brain-barrier, allowing effective treatment of brain cancer and neurological disorders. The technology, called VEIN pulses, can be applied without causing muscle contractions, enabling potential treatments under conscious sedation.

Bioengineers make functional 3-D brain-like tissue model

The Tufts team created a modular design that replicated fundamental features relevant to the brain's tissue-level physiological functions. The model exhibits biochemical and electrophysiological responses, offering new options for studying brain function, disease, and trauma, and treatment.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Beaumont awarded research grant from National Cancer Institute

Beaumont Health System receives a five-year National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program grant to conduct cancer research and clinical trials in Michigan communities. The program aims to reduce cancer disparities and improve patient outcomes.

Blood cells are a new and unexpected source of neurons in crayfish

Researchers have found that blood cells in crayfish can differentiate into neurons, challenging our understanding of neural development and regeneration. This discovery has significant implications for the treatment of neurological diseases such as clinical depression and neurodegenerative disorders.

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.

Megascale icebergs run aground

Researchers found five lineaments at a depth of 1,200 meters on the Hovgaard Ridge, providing insights into the Arctic's glacial past and freshwater export to the North Atlantic. The discovery supports a hypothesis that large icebergs carried frozen fresh water into the Atlantic, influencing global circulation patterns.

All-you-can-eat at the end of the universe

Researchers propose a solution for the rapid growth of ancient quasars, where small black holes zigzagged through dense gas streams, pulling in material and feeding on it rapidly. This mechanism allowed the black holes to grow at an exponential rate, eventually leading to massive growth rates.

Testosterone in healthy men increases their brains' response to threat

A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that testosterone increases the brain's reactivity to threat cues in healthy men. The study used a novel two-step pharmacological challenge paradigm and found that testosterone increased activity in brain structures involved in threat processing and aggressive behavior.

Keeping viruses at bay

An international team of researchers from the University of Bonn Hospital and the London Research Institute have now discovered that our immunosensory system attacks viruses on a molecular level. This means a healthy organism can keep rotaviruses, a common cause of diarrheal epidemics, at bay.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Devil's Elbow Complex in Washington state

The Devil's Elbow Complex is a four-wildfire system burning over 17,000 acres on the Colville Indian Reservation. The fires, sparked by lightning, have merged and are fuel-driven, producing pyrocumulus clouds. Active fire behavior is expected, with evacuations in place for nearby communities.

How breast cancer usurps the powers of mammary stem cells

Researchers discovered that breast cancer cells exploit a signaling pathway used by normal mammary stem cells during pregnancy to produce faster-growing, more aggressive tumors. This connection may contribute to the increased short-term risk of highly aggressive breast cancers following each pregnancy.

Elusive viral 'machine' architecture finally rendered

Scientists at Brown University have finally rendered the elusive viral 'machine' architecture of the lambda virus, mapping protein-DNA interactions that enable its genetic recombination mechanisms. The team's groundbreaking work provides a detailed understanding of how the virus integrates and extracts DNA from host cells.

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.

A global temperature conundrum: Cooling or warming climate?

Scientists have found a discrepancy between global temperature trends over the last 10,000 years, with some data suggesting cooling and climate models predicting warming. The Holocene temperature conundrum has important implications for understanding climate change and evaluating climate models.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Scientists demonstrate long-sought drug candidate can halt tumor growth

Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have successfully disrupted MYC, a cancer regulator thought to be undruggable, using a credit card-like molecule called KJ-Pyr-9. This breakthrough discovery shows the drug candidate can stop tumor growth in animal models and may offer new hope for cancer treatment.

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.

An easier way to manipulate malaria genes

MIT researchers have developed a new genome-editing technique using CRISPR to disrupt malaria genes with up to 100% success rate in weeks. This approach could accelerate the identification of novel therapeutic targets for malaria drugs and vaccines.

Crime rates may fluctuate depending on authority in charge

A new Israeli study found that crime dropped after transferring authority over jails from police to the Prison Authority, leading to more arrests and longer detention periods. The study suggests that similar reforms in California may result in an increase in crime rates.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Julio embarking on weakening trend

Hurricane Julio is expected to weaken slightly over the next 48 hours, down to tropical storm strength by tonight. The storm will pass north of the Hawaiian islands, bringing large swells that produce dangerous surf conditions.

Clues emerge to genetic architecture of cognitive abilities in children

A large new genetic study in thousands of children and adolescents offers early glimpses of the overall patterns and connections among cognitive abilities such as language reasoning, reading skill, and types of memory. The findings may lead to new tools in understanding human cognitive development and neuropsychiatric disorders.