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Science News for September 19, 2014


Graphene sensor tracks down cancer biomarkers

A graphene biosensor has been developed to detect cancer risk biomarkers, such as 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), with high sensitivity and speed. The sensor is capable of detecting concentrations as low as 0.1 ng mL-1, outperforming conventional detection methods.

SourceIOP Publishing·Journal2D Materials·DateSep 19, 2014

Milestone in chemical studies of superheavy elements

For the first time, a chemical bond was established between seaborgium and a carbon atom, opening perspectives for detailed investigations of chemical behavior at the end of the periodic table. The study focused on gaseous properties and adsorption to a silicon dioxide surface, comparing with similar compounds of neighboring elements.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience·DateSep 19, 2014
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Patients with advanced, incurable cancer denied palliative care

A new research study reveals that many patients with advanced, incurable cancer do not receive palliative care, despite the presence of designated centres promoting integrated oncology and care. The study found significant gaps in palliative care delivery, highlighting the need for increased budget allocation.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateSep 19, 2014

Even without kids, couples eat frequent family meals

A new study found that couples and adult-only households eat family meals on most days of the week, mirroring patterns seen in families with children. The research analyzed data from over 14,000 Ohio adults, suggesting that frequent family meal consumption may have health benefits for all adults, not just those with minors.

SourceOhio State University·JournalPublic Health Nutrition·DateSep 19, 2014

NASA sees Tropical Storm playing polo with western Mexico

Tropical Storm Polo is moving northwest towards western Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and slow weakening expected. The storm is expected to pass south of the Baja California peninsula on Saturday, but a deviation to the north could bring stronger winds to southern Baja California.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 19, 2014

For legume plants, a new route from shoot to root

Researchers discovered a new route for legume plants to communicate with their symbiotic bacteria. The study found that cytokinins, signaling molecules, are transmitted from leaves to roots to control the number of bacterial-holding nodules. This innovation allows legumes to balance energy production and nodule development.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 19, 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.

Monster galaxies gain weight by eating smaller neighbors

Research by Australian scientists reveals massive galaxies are eating smaller ones to gain weight, but their star-formation process is inefficient. Dr. Aaron Robotham explains that gravity allows larger galaxies to pull in smaller neighbors, and the Milky Way will follow suit, eventually merging with Andromeda.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 19, 2014

Dwindling wind may tip predator-prey balance

Research by Brandon Barton suggests that slower natural wind speeds could reduce the number of soybean aphids on plants, allowing lady beetles to hunt more effectively. This could lead to a decrease in pesticide required for crop protection.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalEcology·DateSep 19, 2014
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.

Fingertip sensor gives robot unprecedented dexterity

Researchers equipped a robot with a novel tactile sensor, allowing it to grasp and manipulate objects in unprecedented ways. The sensor uses optics and computer-vision algorithms to infer the three-dimensional structure of surfaces, giving the robot feedback in real-time.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateSep 19, 2014

Scientists discover an on-off switch for aging cells

Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered a 'switch' in cells that can be turned on and off to control telomerase activity. This switch could help keep telomerase levels low, potentially slowing aging and regenerating vital organs.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalGenes & Development·DateSep 19, 2014

NASA, NOAA satellites show Odile's remnant romp through southern US

The TRMM satellite detected heavy rainfall rates over 111 mm/h near El Paso, Texas, with thunderstorm tops reaching up to 13 km. The GOES-West infrared image showed a large area of clouds associated with the remnants over New Mexico and Texas, posing a flash flood threat for parts of the region.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 19, 2014

Soft robotics 'toolkit' features everything a robot-maker needs

The Soft Robotics Toolkit offers downloadable plans, how-to videos, and case studies to assist users in designing, fabricating, modeling, characterizing, and controlling soft robotic devices. The toolkit aims to stimulate innovation and learning in the field of soft robotics.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalSoft Robotics·DateSep 19, 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.

Mayo researchers reveal pathway that contributes to Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered a defect in the Wnt signaling pathway that contributes to both overproduction of toxic protein and loss of communication between neurons in Alzheimer's patients. Targeting this specific defect with drugs may rejuvenate or rescue the pathway, potentially preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalNeuron·DateSep 19, 2014

Reflected smartphone transmissions enable gesture control

University of Washington researchers create a system that uses reflected smartphone signals to recognize and respond to hand gestures, enabling users to interact with their phones beyond touchscreens. The technology has an accuracy rate of 87% and could improve battery life.

SourceUniversity of Washington·DateSep 19, 2014

New research points to graphene as a flexible, low-cost touchscreen solution

Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed graphene-treated nanowires as a cost-effective alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) for touchscreen technology. This innovative material can produce flexible displays at a fraction of the current cost, making it an attractive option for manufacturers.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateSep 19, 2014

A better way to track emerging cell therapies using MRIs

A new technique uses perfluorocarbon tracers in combination with MRI to track therapeutic immune cells injected into patients with colorectal cancer. The study found that only half of the delivered cell vaccine remained at the inoculation site after 24 hours, but the technology shows promise for tracking other cell types and diseases.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalMagnetic Resonance in Medicine·DateSep 19, 2014
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.

New hadrosaur noses into spotlight

A new hadrosaur species, Rhinorex condrupus, with a unique nasal profile has been discovered in Utah. The species lived approximately 75 million years ago and is believed to have weighed over 8,500 lbs., helping fill gaps about habitat segregation during the Late Cretaceous period.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Systematic Palaeontology·DateSep 19, 2014

Quick-change materials break the silicon speed limit for computers

Researchers have developed phase-change materials that can switch between crystalline and glassy phases to enable fast logic-processing operations. These new devices could process speeds up to 500-1,000 times faster than current silicon-based computers while using less energy.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 19, 2014

Lymphatic fluid used for first time to detect bovine paratuberculosis

Researchers have developed a new method for detecting bovine paratuberculosis using lymphatic fluid, which yields more positive results than traditional methods. The test has shown to be effective in identifying infected animals, with about 70% of tested animals being culled from their herds after one year.

SourceUniversity of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna·JournalVeterinary Microbiology·DateSep 19, 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.

Long-distance communication from leaves to roots

Cytokinins, produced in legume leaves, play a crucial role in regulating root nodule numbers by signaling from the roots to the leaves. This discovery sheds new light on the symbiotic balance between rhizobia and legumes.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 19, 2014

Environmental pollutants make worms susceptible to cold

Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have found that nonylphenol inhibits earthworms' ability to protect cells from cold damage, making them more vulnerable. The study also revealed that phenanthrene has an opposite effect, increasing cell membrane fluidity and resistance to cold in both earthworms and springtails.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateSep 19, 2014

A refined approach to proteins at low resolution

Advances in X-ray technology enabled refinement of previously intractable proteins like the ribosome and viruses. The Deformable Elastic Network (DEN) approach optimizes protein structure prediction by adjusting features to fit diffraction data, reducing ambiguities.

SourceInternational Union of Crystallography·DateSep 19, 2014

NASA catches a weaker Edouard, headed toward Azores

Tropical Storm Edouard is weakening, with maximum sustained winds at near 60 mph, and expected to become post-tropical later on Sept. 19. It will then head east and impact the western Azores Islands over the weekend of Sept. 20-21 before turning south.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 19, 2014
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.

Domestic violence likely more frequent for same-sex couples

A review of literature suggests that same-sex couples are more likely to experience domestic violence, affecting 25-75% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. The additional stress of being a sexual minority exacerbates the issue, leading to reluctance in addressing domestic violence.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Sex & Marital Therapy·DateSep 19, 2014

New cancer drug target involving lipid chemical messengers

Researchers have discovered a new cancer drug target, TIPE3, which promotes tumor growth by hijacking lipid signaling pathways. Abnormal expression of TIPE3 has been linked to various types of cancer, including lung, colon, and ovarian cancers, making it a potential therapeutic target for treating malignant diseases.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalCancer Cell·DateSep 19, 2014