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Science News for October 12, 2014


Icebergs once drifted to Florida, new climate model suggests

Iceberg scour marks on sea floor indicate meltwater and iceberg movement as far south as Miami and southern Florida. Researchers used high-resolution numerical models to simulate glacial meltwater floods, showing that massive icebergs could have drifted along the east coast of the United States.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Geoscience·DateOct 12, 2014

Britain on brink of freshwater species 'invasion' from south east Europe

A new study reveals five high-risk Ponto-Caspian species, including the quagga mussel and killer shrimp, have established themselves in Britain. The invasion is expected to lead to devastating consequences for native species, with up to twenty additional species projected to arrive in the near future.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·DateOct 12, 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.

City life key to harlequin ladybird invasion

A new study reveals that harlequin ladybird, an invasive alien species, prefers urban areas and sunnier habitats. The invasive species has outcompeted native ladybirds due to habitat deterioration and competition.

SourceUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology·JournalJournal of Biogeography·DateOct 12, 2014

Atomic map reveals clues to how cholesterol is made

Researchers have gained new insight into the complex molecular process of cholesterol production by mapping the structure of a key enzyme involved in the process. The study revealed two pockets within the enzyme's architecture that help spark the synthesis of cholesterol, with potential implications for the treatment of high cholesterol.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalNature·DateOct 12, 2014

Revving up fluorescence for superfast LEDs

Duke University researchers have developed a way to increase the photon emission rate of fluorescent molecules, reaching record levels. This breakthrough has significant implications for ultrafast LEDs and quantum cryptography, enabling secure communication that could not be hacked.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Photonics·DateOct 12, 2014
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Researchers compare efficacy of 'natural' bed bug pesticides

Two non-synthetic bed bug pesticides, EcoRaider and Bed Bug Patrol, showed promise in laboratory tests, killing over 90% of bed bugs. However, their effectiveness is likely to be much lower in real-world settings due to the difficulty of applying insecticides directly on hidden bed bugs.

SourceEntomological Society of America·JournalJournal of Economic Entomology·DateOct 12, 2014

Solid nanoparticles can deform like a liquid

Researchers found that metal nanoparticles appear to be liquid droplets on the outside but maintain a stable crystal configuration within. This phenomenon, known as Coble pseudoelasticity, could impact nanotechnology applications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 12, 2014

Australian teams set new records for silicon quantum computing

Two research teams at UNSW Australia have developed high-accuracy quantum bits in silicon, surpassing 99% accuracy. The breakthroughs are published simultaneously in Nature Nanotechnology and aim to build powerful quantum computers.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateOct 12, 2014
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.

NASA sees a weaker Typhoon Vongfong near Amami Oshima

NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP and Aqua satellites monitored Typhoon Vongfong's weakening, showing strongest thunderstorms in the northern quadrant. The storm is now forecasted to spread out and become an extra-tropical storm, tracking over Japan's islands.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 12, 2014

A novel platform for future spintronic technologies

Researchers have discovered a new way to control electron spin in an insulating material, paving the way for more efficient spintronics devices. This breakthrough could lead to the development of spin-polarized materials and directly observe elusive Majorana fermions.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 12, 2014

Bioinspired coating for medical devices repels blood and bacteria

Developed using FDA-approved materials, the coating prevents flowing blood from clotting for at least eight hours. It also suppresses biofilm formation and reduces bacterial adhesion, making it a potential solution to common medical device challenges.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateOct 12, 2014
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

NASA sees Cyclone Hudhud approaching India's coast

Cyclone Hudhud is forecast to peak near 115 knots before quickly weakening, dissipating over land on Monday. The storm has strengthened in the last day, indicated by cloud top temperatures dropping and stronger thunderstorms developing.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 12, 2014