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Science News Archive June 2014


Page 1 of 33

Study of animal urination could lead to better-engineered products

A Georgia Institute of Technology study discovered that larger animals urinate in the same time as smaller ones, due to the role of gravity in fluid flow. The research has potential applications in designing more efficient water systems and products, such as better-engineered tanks and fire hoses.

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.

It's a girl! Gene silencing technology alters sex of prawns

Israeli scientists developed a method to generate single-sex populations of prawns using gene silencing technology. This can boost commercial farm productivity and control invasive species. Non-reproducing prawns could also be used as sustainable bio-control agents against diseases and pests.

In human evolution, changes in skin's barrier set Northern Europeans apart

Researchers question long-held theory that Northern Europeans developed light skin for vitamin D production. Instead, genetic mutations compromising the skin's barrier function enabled survival at higher latitudes. High rates of filaggrin mutations in Northern European populations correlate with increased vitamin D levels.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Silver in the washing machine

A study by Empa found that silver-coated textiles release hardly any nano-particles during washing, unlike conventional coatings. The team also discovered that these textiles generally lose less silver during washing due to the smaller amount of silver incorporated into fabric with nano-coating.

Study helps unlock mystery of high-temp superconductors

Scientists have discovered a density wave structure in copper-oxide high-temperature superconductors, shedding light on their exotic properties. The breakthrough could lead to significant improvements in electricity delivery and technology.

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.

2014 SNMMI Annual Meeting highlights research and looks to future

The 2014 SNMMI Annual Meeting showcased over 100 scientific sessions, 750 oral presentations, and 1,155 posters on molecular imaging technologies, clinical applications, and translational research. The meeting also featured notable lectures and awards, including the Henry N. Wagner Jr. Lectureship and the Benedict Cassen Prize.

No link between fertility drugs and breast, ovarian and uterine cancers

A 30-year follow-up study found no link between fertility drugs and breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, except for extended use of clomiphene citrate. The study of 12,193 women treated for infertility showed a higher risk of invasive breast cancer with clomiphene use in 12 or more treatment cycles.

New insights on the factors that intensified the 2008 financial crisis

A Columbia Business School study examines fair value accounting's impact on the 2008 financial crisis, finding that investors' concerns about FVA overshadowed its benefits. The research reveals mixed reactions to FVA rule relaxations and highlights bank characteristics associated with positive stock market responses.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Green planning needed to maintain city buildings

New research highlights the erosion of building materials including stone, concrete and steel due to mix of pollutants and organic chemicals in green spaces. Experts recommend investing in green spaces to reduce greenhouse gases, cut pollution exposure and improve mental health benefits.

BMC study: Treat patients with addiction during, after hospitalization

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that providing hospitalized patients with addiction treatment during their stay and upon discharge significantly reduces the likelihood of relapse. Buprenorphine, an opioid substitute, was found to curb withdrawal symptoms and lead to fewer days of illicit drug use.

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.

The carbon footprint of flowering trees

A study by Charles R. Hall and Dewayne Ingram found that flowering trees have a total cost from seedling to end-of-life of $98.60, with labor costs accounting for $43.68. The research emphasizes the importance of life cycle assessment in understanding the inputs and impacts of systems producing field-grown trees.

Earth-Kind roses analyzed for salt tolerance

Researchers evaluated 18 Earth-Kind rose varieties for salt tolerance in two locations, finding that 'Belinda's Dream', 'Climbing Pinkie', and 'Mrs. Dudley Cross' were the most tolerant. The study recommends these cultivars for landscapes with high soil salinity.

Tropical countries' growing wealth may aid conservation

A new study finds that tropical countries with rising middle-class incomes are willing to pay more for conservation, but government actions lag behind. Public surveys in Malaysia showed people willing to pay $437 a year per hectare to protect forests from logging and poaching.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Up in flames: Evidence confirms combustion theory

Researchers at Berkeley Lab and University of Hawaii confirm hydrogen abstraction-acetylene addition mechanism in combustion theory. The study has implications for designing cleaner-burning fuels and fine-tuning carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets.

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.

Body odor reveals malarial infection

Researchers found that malaria parasites manipulate host body odor to make infected individuals more attractive to hungry mosquitoes. Even after symptoms have subsided, the scent of infected mice remained elevated for life, suggesting a lifelong impact on the disease.

Cellular team players

Researchers at Technical University of Munich used FRET methodology to observe interaction between Hsp90, P23 and ATP. They found that P23 strengthens ATP bonding, increasing energy production. This breakthrough reveals the importance of cooperation in cellular energy generation.

Researchers unzip nanotubes by shooting them at 15,000 mph

Researchers at Rice University have found a way to unzip carbon nanotubes into graphene nanoribbons without using chemicals, by firing them at high speeds. The process works by hitting the nanotubes broadside or lengthwise, resulting in ribbons with ragged edges that can be used for strength and electrical properties.

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.

Research team pursues techniques to improve elusive stem cell therapy

A Harvard research team found that transplanting mesenchymal stem cells with blood vessel-forming cells improves results in mice. The co-transplantation method keeps the mesenchymal stem cells alive longer, enabling them to display their full regenerative potential and generate new bone or fat tissue.

Research reveals a gender gap in the nation's biology labs

A new study found that women are greatly underrepresented in the labs of high-achieving male biology professors, despite being overrepresented overall. This discrepancy may be due to self-selection or unconscious bias, and institutions can take steps to address these issues by making their labs more welcoming to female scientists.

Bacterial colonies evolve amazing diversity

Researchers tracked bacterial colonies using experimental tools to observe massive phenotypic diversification in aging Escherichia coli colonies. They found diverse metabolic capacities, stress resistance, and improved biofilm production among survivors of senescent colonies.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

More carbohydrates make trees more resistant to drought

A study found that trees with higher carbohydrate storage are more resistant to drought, providing insights for reforestation efforts. Researchers in Malaysia manipulated carbohydrate levels and observed improved drought survival rates in seedlings.

First pediatric autism study conducted entirely online

The study found that the Internet-based trial was a valuable platform for conducting the randomized clinical trial and proved to be both cost and time effective. The researchers successfully enrolled 57 children from 28 states into the trial, which was completed in three months with a high completion rate.

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.

Common herbal supplement can cause dangerous interactions

A study by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that St. John's wort use was associated with 28% of potentially harmful combinations in analyzed data. The herbal supplement can reduce the effectiveness of various medications, leading to impaired treatment outcomes and increased risk of conditions like serotonin syndrome.

Research proves shock wave from explosives causes significant eye damage

A recent study by UTSA researchers reveals that the shock wave from explosive blasts can cause significant eye damage, leading to partial or total blindness. The optic nerve is particularly vulnerable to injury, even at low pressures, and may be a contributing factor to visual deficits associated with traumatic brain injuries.

Efficacy doubts over pre-IVF hysteroscopy

A large multicentre trial found no significant improvement in IVF success rates for women who underwent outpatient hysteroscopy before further IVF treatment. The study suggests that endometrial scratching, not routine hysteroscopy, may be responsible for the previously reported improvements.

Forelimb bone data predicts predator style

A new classification system can predict hunting behaviors of mammals from forelimb bone measurements. The system distinguishes between ambush predators, pursuit predators, and pouncing predators with high accuracy. It was developed based on analysis of 62 specimens of 37 species, including the Thylacine.

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.

Adults can undo heart disease risk

A Northwestern Medicine study found that adults who adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors in their 30s and 40s can control and potentially reverse coronary artery disease. The study also showed that losing healthy habits as they age leads to a measurable negative impact on heart health.

One-third of knee replacements classified as inappropriate

A recent study reveals that over one third of knee replacement surgeries in the US were deemed inappropriate, citing variation in knee pain and functional loss. The findings emphasize the need for standardized patient selection criteria among medical professionals to ensure effective use of this procedure.

Cocaine addiction: Phase-specific biology and treatment?

Researchers found that impulsivity plays a crucial role in cocaine addiction, with highly impulsive rats taking longer to develop habits. The study identified specific phases of addiction where dopamine receptor blockers may be effective in treating compulsive cocaine use.

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.

It may take guts to cure diabetes

Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have successfully retrained human gastrointestinal cells to produce insulin in response to glucose. This breakthrough could potentially replace damaged cells lost in type 1 diabetes, offering a new avenue for treating the condition.

WSU researchers chart an ancient baby boom

Researchers charted an ancient baby boom in the southwestern US among Native Americans between 500 to 1300 A.D. Birth rates likely exceeded the highest in the world today, driven by early features of civilization such as farming and food storage. However, a crash followed, offering a warning sign about the dangers of overpopulation.

Bosses use private social media more than staff

Researchers found that managers are more likely to privately browse social media during work hours, contradicting their negative views on the practice. The study revealed that top executives' longer working hours and blurred lines between work and leisure contribute to this behavior.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

New research study shows huge savings for health care

A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that current standard medical guidelines for childhood cancer survivors can be reduced, saving large cost-savings and little reduction in overall quality of patient care. The study suggests that screenings can be safely done cost-effectively and improve the quantity of patie...

Scientists develop force sensor from carbon nanotubes

Researchers from Russia, Belarus and Spain create a microscopic force sensor based on carbon nanotubes, allowing accurate control over coaxial cylinders in two-layer nanotubes. The device can measure forces as small as tenths of a nN, opening up potential applications beyond micro scales.

Evolution of life's operating system revealed in detail

Researchers model primordial ribosomes using modern structures, showing how new structures were added to the surface without altering the core. The study reveals the universal biology of translation, with distinct fingerprints in ribosomes across species.

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.