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Science News Archive June 2014


Page 21 of 33

White bread helps boost some of the gut's 'good' microbes

A study published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that white bread promotes the growth of Lactobacillus, a group of beneficial gut bacteria. The researchers also discovered that considering the whole diet, not just individual ingredients, is critical for maintaining a good balance of gut microbes.

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.

Mining data archives yields haul of 'red nuggets'

A team of astronomers led by Ivana Damjanov has found a treasure trove of compact, densely packed 'red nugget' galaxies in online archives. These galaxies are abundant in the middle-aged universe, providing new constraints on theoretical models of galaxy formation and evolution.

New fossil find pinpoints the origin of jaws in vertebrates

The discovery of fossilized fish specimens from the Cambrian period sheds new light on the evolution of vertebrates. The fossils show pairs of exceptionally well-preserved arches near the front of their body, which led to the evolution of jaws in vertebrates.

How fire ant architects connect to build balls

Fire ants form complex networks of connections between their bodies and limbs, aligning their bodies perpendicularly and pushing against each other to reduce density. The ants actively control spacing and orientation within self-assemblages, using their legs to grip neighbours and increase buoyancy.

How Earth avoided global warming, last time around

A team of French scientists has proposed a model explaining the sudden drop in atmospheric CO2 levels 300 million years ago, when a massive mountain range formed in Pangea. The formation of these mountains led to physical erosion and rock weathering, removing CO2 from the atmosphere and preventing severe greenhouse effects.

NSF funds effort to market UT Arlington arsenic analyzer

A team of researchers at UT Arlington has developed an affordable and environmentally friendly field analyzer for detecting arsenic levels in water. The device can detect sub-part per billion levels of arsenic without using toxic chemicals, addressing a major public health concern worldwide.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

First articles published in new Journal of Medical Imaging

The Journal of Medical Imaging has launched with freely accessible articles on new research in cancer diagnosis, image quality assessment, and other topics. The journal covers fundamental and translational research in medical imaging, spanning physics, tomographic reconstruction algorithms, computer-aided diagnosis, and more.

A key step toward a safer strep vaccine

A recent study has identified a molecular pathway that could lead to a safer and more effective strep vaccine. The research discovered the genes responsible for producing a molecule that defines Group A Streptococcus, which causes over 700 million infections worldwide each year.

MU researcher receives $330,000 NSF grant to study African languages

A University of Missouri researcher has received a four-year grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate the complexity of four distinct Luyia varieties in western Kenya. The study aims to document their linguistic properties and promote the value of these languages among their speakers.

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.

Tree ant family tree reveals ant swimming evolution

Tropical ants have developed swimming abilities to navigate flooded forests, with over 50% of species exhibiting this trait. The ants' swimming techniques, such as using one leg to propel themselves forward and the other for stability, were analyzed in a study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology.

Health of Hispanic moms and babies a growing concern, new report says

A new report from the March of Dimes reveals that Hispanic women are more likely to have a baby with a neural tube birth defect and nearly a quarter of all preterm births in the US are Hispanic. Thalia, a global ambassador for the organization, is urging Hispanic women to be informed about pregnancy and baby health.

Map of universe questioned; dwarf galaxies don't fit standard model

A new study questions the accepted model of galaxy formation, suggesting that dwarf galaxies may have formed from another galaxy through a tidal interaction. The research criticizes three recent papers that found satellite galaxies to support the standard model, instead finding 'serious issues' with their methods.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Diet higher in protein may be linked to lower risk of stroke

A meta-analysis found that people with higher protein diets, especially from fish, may have a lower risk of stroke. The study analyzed data from seven studies involving over 254,000 participants and found that moderate protein intake was associated with a 20% lower risk of stroke.

Going inside an ant raft

Ants use mandibles and legs to create waterproof rafts with strong internal connections. The CT scan reveals that ants can connect with up to 14 neighbors, creating a porous and buoyant structure.

Motherhood is no picnic for sea otter moms

A recent study found that sea otter females must provide 930 MJ of energy to raise a pup to independence, equivalent to 96% increase in daily metabolic rate. This extreme exertion may contribute to poor condition and high mortality rates among sea otter mothers.

Nearby satellite galaxies don't fit standard model

Recent study finds satellite dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way and Andromeda do not behave as predicted by the standard model of galaxy formation. The galaxies are instead found in huge disks, moving in the same direction, like planets in our solar system. This mismatch raises concerns about the accuracy of the standard model of cosmology.

Sun emits 3 X-class flares in 2 days

The sun experienced three X-class flares in two days, with the third flare peaking at 5:06 a.m. EDT on June 11, 2014. The solar activity was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and originated from an active region on the sun.

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.

TB dogma upended: Even uninfected cells trigger immune defenses

Researchers found that even uninfected cells can trigger immune defenses against TB by transferring immune-stimulating proteins from infected dendritic cells. This discovery could lead to more effective vaccines, including the BCG vaccine for TB, which works on a similar principle.

It's the last bite that keeps you coming back for more

Research by Emily Garbinsky and colleagues reveals that memories for the last bites of a food drive decisions about when to eat it again. Smaller portion sizes lead to faster repeat consumption. The findings have implications for companies and consumers, suggesting strategies like thinking back to initial bites could encourage re-purch...

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.

Weather app puts kids in the pilot seat

A team of OU students created Storm Evader, an iPad app teaching elementary and middle school students about weather patterns by navigating a plane during severe weather events. The app encourages problem-solving and research-based decision-making, appealing to both kids and adults.

New data clarify relationship between diet and disease activity

New studies have found that daily intake of monounsaturated fatty acids is an independent predictor of remission in patients with RA, while excessive cholesterol levels increase cartilage damage in OA. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce inflammatory activity and improve function in RA patients.

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.

Famine fear won't sway minds on GM crops

A study found that consumers were no more likely to support genetically modified crops for disease resistance when presented with stories of the Irish Potato Famine. Preconceived views about the risks and benefits of agricultural genetic engineering played a significant role in shaping consumer opinions. The research suggests that gene...

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.

Sports teams may lose out from having 'too much talent'

Research led by INSEAD Professor Roderick Swaab found that too many individuals with top talent can undermine players' willingness to coordinate, compromising effective teamwork and overall team performance. In contrast, most people believe that piling on more top talent is the key to team success.

Making new species without sex

Scientists at Max Planck Institute have successfully generated new plant species through grafting, allowing for the transfer of entire genetic material between two species. The resulting plants exhibit improved growth rates and increased fitness compared to their parent species.

Poor cardiovascular health linked to memory, learning deficits

A study found that people with poor cardiovascular health are more likely to experience cognitive decline, including learning and memory problems. Researchers analyzed data from 17,761 individuals aged 45 and older, finding that those with the lowest cardiovascular health scores had impaired cognitive function.

Fungal protein found to cross blood-brain barrier

A fungal protein has been found to cross the blood-brain barrier, allowing it to infect the brain and cause deadly meningitis. This discovery opens up new avenues for treating brain infections and cancers by targeting the protein or using it as a drug delivery system.

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.

Forest loss starves fish

Research reveals that debris from forests supplements the diets of microscopic zooplankton and fish that feed on them, leading to larger and stronger fish. The study found that areas with more forest cover have fatter fish, while those with less forest cover have smaller and weaker fish.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Foaling mares are totally relaxed -- no stress

Foaling mares in horses show minimal stress response during labor, contrary to human mothers. The study, published in Theriogenology, suggests that the parasympathetic nervous system plays a dominant role in regulating foaling, allowing for a state of relaxation and calmness.

Expert CLABSI guidance adds real world implementation strategies

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America releases practical recommendations to help acute care hospitals prioritize prevention efforts and reduce central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). The guidance includes evidence-based strategies such as engaging healthcare personnel, educating staff, and standardizing c...

New paper amplifies hypothesis on human language's deep origins

Researchers propose that human language evolved by integrating finite-state components from birdsong and primate communication systems. This 'integration hypothesis' suggests that the melodic part of human language comes from birdsong and the pragmatic parts from primates, with these elements combining around 100,000 years ago.

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.

Guarding against 'Carmageddon' cyberattacks

Researchers at Vanderbilt University are developing tools to identify and counter cyber attacks on smart transportation systems, which could mitigate the impact of a potential 'Carmageddon' attack. The goal is to create algorithms that can automatically detect intrusions and take effective steps to counteract them.

New study finds Internet not responsible for dying newspapers

A recent study by University of Chicago Booth School of Business Professor Matthew Gentzkow challenges the notion that the internet is responsible for the decline of newspapers. The research highlights three false premises in assumptions about journalism and finds that online ad rates are often compared incorrectly.

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.

Higher disease activity scores in obese RA patients

A recent EULAR study found that obese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher disease activity scores than non-obese patients, irrespective of their disease stage. This suggests that treatment to target protocols may result in obese patients being treated more aggressively than non-obese patients.

Gigantic explosions buried in dust

Scientists have used ALMA to detect radio emission from molecular gas in two dark LGRB hosts, revealing a dust-rich environment with low molecular gas levels. This supports the hypothesis that dust absorbs afterglow radiation, causing dark gamma-ray bursts.

Infant nutrition and development of type 1 diabetes

A large-scale study of over 2,100 infants found that delaying exposure to complex foreign proteins in cow's milk does not reduce the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The study, led by Professor Mikael Knip, explored whether an early dietary modification could affect the disease process.

Company man or family man? Fatherhood and identity in the office

A study by Beth Humberd and colleagues found that working fathers juggle four primary images of themselves as fathers, influenced by work demands and interactions with colleagues. The findings suggest that employers must acknowledge the changing role of men in fatherhood and support their caregiving responsibilities.

UTMB surgeon receives global award in burn care

Dr. Herndon has made significant contributions to burn care, including discoveries related to metabolic responses and increased caloric needs after burns. He is recognized as one of the elite surgeons globally, with numerous publications and a prestigious award from the International Burn Foundation.

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.

A common hypertension treatment may reduce PTSD symptoms

Researchers at Emory University discovered that individuals diagnosed with PTSD treated with ARBs or ACE inhibitors exhibited fewer PTSD-like symptoms. The study found that the medication losartan enhanced fear memory extinction, a process disrupted in individuals with PTSD.