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Science News Archive 2015


Page 137 of 402

UM scientist earns grant to study carbon across North America

Researchers will investigate how disturbances like fire and insect infestation are changing the Earth's carbon absorption, and use models to optimize observation networks for detecting impact on ecosystem carbon balance. The project aims to understand how terrestrial landscapes are shifting from being a net carbon sink to a source.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

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International research project gets high level of funding

A team of researchers from the USA, England, Australia, and Germany will collaborate on a three-year project to better understand the information processing in germinal centres of lymph nodes. The goal is to gain insights into antibody formation and develop targeted therapeutics for infections.

Texas A&M team finds neuron responsible for alcoholism

A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience by Texas A&M Health Science Center researchers found that a specific type of brain cell plays a crucial role in addiction. The findings suggest that periodic consumption of alcohol alters the structure and function of these cells, leading to increased cravings and cycle of alcoholism.

First ancient genome recovered from the Mediterranean area

Researchers have sequenced the first complete ancient genome from the Mediterranean area, shedding light on the genetic changes of Neolithic migration in Southern Europe. The study reveals a common ancestral population among Mediterranean route farmers, who had distinct physical characteristics compared to inland route farmers.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

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Tracking down the causes of Alzheimer's

A specific group of genes controls calcium ion concentration, crucial for memory performance and Alzheimer's development. The study provides new insights into the origins of the neurodegenerative disorder.

Fire in the Amazon

A six-year controlled burn experiment in an Amazonian rainforest found that trees can survive initial fire disturbance but not repeated or coupled disturbances. The study highlights the potential for grassland incursion to fuel future burns and reduce forest carbon stocks by up to 90%.

Ancient new guinea pot makers surprising innovation

Archaeologists have found the oldest known pottery from Papua New Guinea, dating back 3,000 years, in a remote region of the highlands. The discovery sheds light on how technology spread among cultures and provides insights into early civilizations.

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.

Newly discovered protein may protect kidney cells from injury

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have discovered a new protein, TMIGD1, that protects kidney epithelial cells from injury. Increasing expression of this protein can reduce cell death and potentially prevent kidney failure. The findings could lead to the development of therapeutic agents that target these cells.

Decade-long Amazon rainforest burn yields new insight into wildfires

A decade-long study in the Amazon rainforest found that forests can withstand initial, low-intensity burns but are vulnerable to repeated fires, especially during drought years. The research also highlights the role of leaf-cutter ant colonies in creating natural fire breaks and mitigating forest damage.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

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From sounds to the meaning

Infants at 4 months old can associate words with objects, suggesting early knowledge of language's relation to the world. This ability is crucial for language acquisition and learning about surroundings.

Many North American birds may lose part of range under climate change scenarios

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that nearly 600 surveyed bird species in North America may lose more than half of their geographic range by the end of the century due to climate change. The researchers used correlative distribution modeling to assess potential range shifts under three different climate scenarios.

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Exposure to phthalates could be linked to pregnancy loss

A new study of over 300 women suggests that phthalate exposure may be associated with miscarriage, particularly between 5-13 weeks of pregnancy. Higher levels of urinary phthalate metabolites were found to be linked to pregnancy loss, supporting an association that warrants further research.

Food insecurity linked to adolescent obesity, metabolic syndrome

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association reveals a strong link between food insecurity and the development of metabolic diseases in children. The research found that adolescents from households with low to very low levels of food security were more likely to be overweight and have central obesity,...

NASA sees Tropical Storm Fred losing its punch

Satellite imagery shows Tropical Storm Fred losing its punch, with no strong thunderstorms developing in the storm. The RapidScat instrument measured the strongest winds tightly circling the center, but they are not indicative of a strengthening storm.

WSU scientists discover mechanism for air pollution-induced liver disease

Exposure to high-concentration airborne particulate matter PM2.5 has been shown to directly affect the liver, triggering liver fibrosis in animal models. The study highlights air pollution as an independent risk factor for liver fibrosis, with implications for medical care and health policy-making.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

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The symmetry of the universe

Researchers at the Large Hadron Collider investigate the properties of particles and their antiparticles to understand the universe's matter-antimatter asymmetry. The ALICE experiment confirms the CPT theorem with the most accurate measurements to date.

FSU researcher: Change in environment can lead to rapid evolution

A study published in Nature found that guppies evolved 135 genes in response to a new environment, with most changes affecting biological processes like metabolism and immune function. However, the initial response was often opposite to the eventual evolutionary change, suggesting that genes can adapt quickly in the short term.

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.

CT scan of Earth links deep mantle plumes with volcanic hotspots

A new CT scan of Earth's interior connects deep mantle plumes to surface volcanoes like Hawaii, showing plumes are five times wider than previously thought. The scan reveals the connections between lower-mantle plumes and volcanic hotspots, including anchors at the core-mantle boundary.

Making fuel from light

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have made breakthroughs in manipulating photosynthesis to create a robust and renewable energy source. By storing sunlight in chemical bonds, they can produce hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel that could power cars and households.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Flu study, on hold, yields new vaccine technology

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new method for making flu vaccines using cell culture, which could lead to faster and more efficient vaccine production. This technology could potentially replace traditional egg-based vaccine production methods, which are limited by avian influenza outbreaks.

Cellular recycling complexes may hold key to chemotherapy resistance

Researchers discover that altering protein recycling complexes in human cells enables cancer cells to resist treatment with proteasome inhibitors, a class of drugs used to kill cancer cells. The discovery highlights the potential for targeting this resistant state to develop new cancer treatments.

Blueberry extract could help fight gum disease and reduce antibiotic use

A recent study by American Chemical Society found that wild blueberry extract has antibacterial properties against Fusobacterium nucleatum, a key bacteria associated with periodontitis. The extract successfully inhibited the growth of F. nucleatum and its ability to form biofilms, blocking a molecular pathway involved in inflammation.

The power of film

A University of Iowa researcher found that local screenings of Gasland led to an increase in anti-fracking mobilizations and influenced local policymakers to ban hydraulic fracturing. The study used online searches, social media chatter, and mass media coverage to measure the impact of the documentary on public perception.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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Researchers identify a new approach for lowering harmful lipids

Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Science University have identified a new approach to lowering harmful lipids in blood circulation. The study found that LPCAT3 enzyme deficiency reduces lipid absorption and decreases levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids in the bloodstream.

New genetic mutation identified in melanoma cancer cells

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have discovered a genetic mutation in melanoma cancer cells that may predispose humans to developing the disease. The study highlights the importance of protein complex APC/C and its interactions with Cdh1 and PAX3, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for melanoma treatment.

Men in China face increasing tobacco-related cancer risks

Men in China face increasing tobacco-related cancer risks due to high cigarette smoking rates among teenagers and continued use in adulthood. The country now produces and consumes nearly 40% of the world's cigarettes, primarily driven by men's smoking habits.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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New symptom may help ID sleep apnea in older women

A new study suggests that nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, may be an additional symptom to look for when assessing post-menopausal women for obstructive sleep apnea. The study found a strong association between OSA risk factors and nocturnal enuresis in postmenopausal women.

Study shows that nutrient shortfalls are a serious and persistent health disparity

A recent study published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved reveals that Non-Hispanic Black Americans have significantly higher rates of nutrient shortfalls compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. The analysis, conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), found that Blacks we...

Microbial diversity insights are often strongly biased

Researchers found that high-throughput molecular methods used to analyze soil fungi often produce biased results due to limitations in taxonomic resolution and primer-template mismatches. Despite these biases, the study suggests that PCR-free methods have potential for understanding functional capacity of microorganisms.

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.

How protein tangles accumulate in the brain and cause neurological disorders

A recent study published in Neuron highlights a novel role for the appoptosin protein in initiating tau aggregation, a key component of brain lesions. Elevated levels of appoptosin increase caspase-mediated tau cleavage, leading to synaptic dysfunction and progressive deterioration of the central nervous system.

Risk of financial crisis higher than previously estimated

Researchers estimate systemic risk to be 90% higher than previous estimates by expanding layers of connectivity, including derivatives and foreign exchange. The new method provides a way to create systemic risk profiles for markets and individual institutions.

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.

How does your microbiome grow?

A new computational method suggests that analyzing the relative amounts of starting DNA and ending DNA can be translated into the growth rate for each strain of bacteria. This approach has been found to reveal intriguing links between bacterial growth rates and conditions such as type II diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

Understanding the deep sea is key to a sustainable blue economy

A new European Marine Board paper highlights the need for major progress in deep-sea research to underpin future management and exploitation of living and non-living deep-sea resources. The report identifies deficiencies in basic knowledge of deep-sea systems, which could hinder ecosystem-based management and limit sustainability.

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.

Studying the outliers

Scientists have identified a gene variant that slows Alzheimer's disease progression by preventing eotaxin levels from increasing with age. The study found that individuals carrying this variant experienced a modest delay in disease onset, suggesting a potential protective mechanism against the disease.

Male seahorse and human pregnancies remarkably alike

Researchers found male seahorses play a crucial role in nourishing and protecting embryos during pregnancy, delivering energy-rich lipids and calcium. Their gene expression during pregnancy was also similar to that of humans, suggesting a common genetic mechanism for managing pregnancy across species.

Why do certain hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of HIV?

Researchers found that DMPA use is associated with an increased risk of HIV infection, especially in women with vaginal infections or disturbed microbiota. The study suggests that hormonal contraceptives can exacerbate the suppression of immune systems, making women more vulnerable to HIV.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

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