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Science News Archive 2015


Page 130 of 402

Invasion of non-native genotypes exposed by environmental DNA

A team of researchers from Kobe University has developed a novel method to quantify the proportion of native and non-native genotypes in aquatic species. By analyzing environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples, they were able to detect the presence of invasive non-native strains in rivers and reservoirs of western Japan.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Effects of MVA85A vaccine on tuberculosis

A systematic review of animal studies on MVA85A vaccine found insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness as a BCG booster. The delay in publishing the largest monkey trial with the longest follow-up also raised concerns about scientific integrity.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder -- review looks at treatment effectiveness

A comprehensive review of treatment options for PMDD identified selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as the first-line treatment, effective in reducing symptoms. For women who experience an inadequate response to SSRIs, alternative treatments such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and oral contraceptives are recommended.

Ebola virus disease in Liberia

Researchers mapped social vulnerability at the district level, identifying three clusters of most vulnerable districts containing over 1 million people. The study highlights the importance of addressing water quality, food insecurity, and access to medical care to prevent Ebola infections and deaths.

One step towards faster organic electronics

Researchers at Linköping University have discovered that disorder and short-range intermolecular aggregation can enhance the conductivity of conjugated polymers. This finding opens up new avenues for developing faster electronic components.

The secrets of NASA's Webb Telescope's 'deployable tower assembly'

The deployable tower assembly (DTA) is a crucial component of the James Webb Space Telescope, enabling its instruments to be separated from the spacecraft bus and sunshield after launch. This allows the sunshield to unfurl and shade the telescope and instruments from radiant heat and stray light.

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.

Last chance for oasis in China's desert

A team of international researchers has developed recommendations to preserve the local environment in China's Xinjiang region, which produces ten percent of global cotton production. Sustainable land use practices and reforestation are key to reducing soil salination and preserving groundwater supplies.

Finding iconicity in spoken languages

A new study reveals that iconicity is prevalent across the vocabulary of spoken languages, including English and Spanish. The researchers found that words learned in childhood are the most iconic, which helps children grasp the concept of a word. The study suggests that iconicity plays an important role in word learning and development.

Stress main cause of smoking after childbirth

A new report from the University of East Anglia found that mothers who quit smoking in pregnancy are more likely to light up again if they feel stressed and lack support. The study highlights the importance of partner support, social influences, and women's beliefs about smoking in preventing postpartum relapse.

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.

How to spawn an 'exceptional ring'

Physicists at MIT have found a phenomenon described as a 'ring of exceptional points' produced by the Dirac cone, potentially leading to applications in powerful lasers and precise optical sensors. The discovery represents the first experimental demonstration of this phenomenon.

Android widgets may boost effectiveness of sleep-monitoring apps

Researchers developed an Android sleep monitoring app widget, SleepTight, that boosted daily sleep diary information entry and self-reflection among users. The widget's visual reminders and lock screen placement increased user interaction with the data, leading to better understanding of sleep patterns and behavior.

Epicolactones -- the 8-step path

Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München develop efficient synthesis of epicolactone, a complex natural product produced by the endophytic fungus Epicoccum nigrum. The 8-step pathway reveals how the molecule is assembled and provides insight into its biochemical significance.

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.

Battery-free smart camera nodes automatically determine their own pose and location

Scientists have developed a network of energy-harvesting sensor nodes equipped with onboard cameras that can automatically determine each camera's pose and location. This capability enables large-scale sensor networks to operate without batteries or external power, making them ideal for the Internet of Things (IoT) applications such as...

NASA sees Tropical Storm Etau drench Japan

Tropical Storm Etau drenched central Japan with intense rainfall, with GPM satellite measurements showing up to 88 mm/h rain rates. The storm's remnants are expected to transition northwestward off the Japanese coast.

Ant communication: Secrets of the antennae

Researchers at Kobe University identified novel chemosensory proteins in ant antennae, revealing cooperative modes of operation and recognition of individual information. These findings provide a starting point for elucidating the molecular mechanisms supporting complex ant societies.

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.

Celeste: A new model for cataloging the universe

Celeste is a hierarchical model designed to catalog stars, galaxies and light sources in the universe, enabling astronomers to identify promising galaxies for spectrograph targeting and better understand Dark Energy. The model aims to improve data analysis methods, significantly reducing the time and effort spent working with image data.

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.

Astronomers discover how lowly dwarf galaxy becomes star-forming powerhouse

Researchers used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to locate compact regions within the nearby dwarf irregular galaxy Wolf--Lundmark--Melotte that can emulate larger galaxies' star-forming environments. These discoveries shed light on how dense star clusters can form in low-density, gas-poor galaxies.

Ocean life triggers ice formation in clouds

Researchers found that phytoplankton organic waste can stimulate cloud droplets to freeze into ice particles, affecting global climate and influencing temperature. This discovery helps improve weather models and climate predictions.

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.

Mindfulness may make memories less accurate

A new study suggests that mindfulness meditation can make memories less accurate, leading to confusion between real and imagined experiences. Participants who engaged in a 15-minute mindfulness meditation session were more likely to falsely recall words from a list, even when the list did not include the actual word.

Nearly half of testicular cancer risk comes from inherited genetic faults

A new study reveals that nearly half of testicular cancer risk comes from inherited genetic faults, significantly higher than in most other cancer types. The research suggests testing for specific genetic variants could help identify patients at substantially increased risk and potentially lead to prevention methods.

The Industrial Revolution put an end to 1,800 years of ocean cooling

Researchers investigated ocean temperature changes over centuries using climate models and fossil records. They found that volcanic eruptions caused progressive cooling until the Industrial Revolution, which marked a shift towards global warming. Understanding past climate patterns can provide insights into future climate changes.

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.

Tree planting can harm ecosystems

The world's grassy biomes are under threat from conversion to agriculture and tree planting, which can lead to ecosystem degradation. Protecting these areas is crucial for preserving biodiversity and carbon storage capabilities.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

NASA's RapidScat sees Typhoon Kilo hold strength

Typhoon Kilo is a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds near 75 mph, according to NASA's RapidScat data. The storm is moving northwest and is expected to transition to an extra-tropical storm as it moves into the Sea of Okhotsk.

ASTRO awards $33,500 in grants to 41 researchers at 2015 Annual Meeting

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has awarded a total of $33,500 to 41 researchers for their outstanding contributions to the field of radiation oncology. The awards recognize top-rated abstracts presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting, with recipients receiving cash honors and complimentary registration.

Study reveals need for better understanding of water use

A new study found that virtually all the water entering the Wabash River in Indiana is withdrawn and returned, highlighting a pressing need for improved understanding of water use. The research suggests that reusing wastewater for irrigation may be detrimental to rivers.

Researchers shed light on potential shield from Alzheimer's

A team of researchers at the University of Kansas has identified a potential neuroprotective mechanism for Alzheimer's disease, focusing on the ApoE2 gene. The study suggests that ApoE2 carriers may be resistant to Alzheimer's disease due to enhanced brain energy metabolism.

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.

Natural compound could reduce breast cancer risk in some women

Researchers found that luteolin can inhibit growth of human breast cancer cells and reduce blood vessel formation, a promising alternative for postmenopausal women at increased risk. The study suggests luteolin may be effective in reducing breast cancer risk when administered through IV supplements.

Brain plasticity in the most dreaded biblical disease

Researchers found changes in brain representation for affected muscles due to nerve damage caused by leprosy, indicating evidence of brain plasticity. The study may lead to new treatment strategies for individuals suffering from this ancient disease.

New Ebola test could help curb disease spread

A new Ebola test using magnetic nanoparticles is 100 times more sensitive than current tests and easier to use, enabling faster isolation of patients and prevention of disease spread. This technology has potential applications in diagnosing other infectious diseases like flu and detecting tumors.

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.

NFL fans and ESPN reporters overly optimistic about team prospects

A study from UCL and Oxford University found that US NFL fans and sports reporters have unrealistic expectations about their team's performance. The average number of wins predicted by fans was 9.59, while expert predictions were no better than a naive forecasting model.

Study finds children eat healthier at daycare centers than at home

A recent study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center found that preschool-age children consume more calories and fewer fruits, vegetables, and milk outside of child-care centers. The study suggests excess calorie consumption away from the center is significantly associated with being overweight.

Making IoT configuration more secure and easy to use

Researchers from the University of Southampton have identified easy-to-use techniques to configure IoT devices, making them more secure. Two interaction techniques were found to be noticeably more usable than others, including audio cable and Wi-Fi-only interactions.

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.

UNH scientist discovers new approach to managing parasitic roundworms

A University of New Hampshire scientist has discovered a promising target for combating plant parasitic nematodes, which cause significant crop damage worldwide. The phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE) inhibitor compound may provide a safer alternative to traditional chemical pesticides.