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Science News Archive 2015


Page 228 of 402

Companies are making cybersecurity a greater priority

A RAND Corporation study finds companies are paying more attention to cybersecurity, with CEOs listening to CISOs and new products improving security. However, CISOs worry about hackers' sophistication and the difficulty in quantifying data losses, making it hard to estimate costs.

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.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts down to US

Wildfires in Canada are releasing massive amounts of smoke that are drifting south into the US Midwest, affecting air quality. Exposure to this smoke is particularly hazardous for those with respiratory issues, elderly, and children due to its composition of carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and other chemicals.

Heart attack risk increases 16-21 percent with use of common antacid

A massive new study by Houston Methodist and Stanford University scientists found that adults using proton pump inhibitors are at a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack. The study examined 16 million clinical documents representing 2.9 million patients and showed no increased heart attack risk for those taking H2 blockers.

Five companies control more than half of academic publishing

A study by the University of Montreal found that five companies - Reed-Elsevier, Springer, Wiley-Blackwell, Taylor & Francis, and Sage - now publish more than 50% of academic articles. The large commercial publishers have huge sales with profit margins of nearly 40%, but question whether they are still necessary in today's digital era.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Interneurons find their way to the striatum

Interneurons from the medial ganglionic eminence migrate to the striatum through a mechanism involving Eph/ephrins signalling. The study reveals parallel mechanisms of target chemoattraction and off-target chemorepulsion for interneuron migration.

Genetic markers provide better brain cancer classification

A UCSF-Mayo Clinic team has identified three molecular markers that can classify gliomas more accurately than current methods. The study found that these markers are associated with distinct subgroups of gliomas varying in median survival times and characteristics.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Aerobic exercise seems to curb asthma severity and improves quality of life

Research suggests that aerobic exercise can curb asthma symptoms and improve quality of life by reducing bronchial hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory response. The study found significant improvements in symptom-free days, worsening symptom bouts, and quality of life scores among participants with moderate to severe asthma.

Interest in learning about skin cancer appears to increase during summer

Google searches for information on melanoma and skin cancer rose over summer months from 2010 to 2014. The correlation between these searches and actual melanoma incidence and mortality rates was limited, suggesting that increased search volumes do not necessarily translate to improved detection rates.

All change for bacterial outer membrane proteins

Researchers discovered how bacteria rapidly replace outer membrane proteins in response to changing growth conditions. This mechanism involves the formation of 'OMP islands' that regulate protein insertion, allowing bacteria to change their outer membrane coat in just two generations.

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.

Cutting carbon emissions could have indirect effects on hunger

A new study found that cutting greenhouse gas emissions may increase hunger risks due to indirect effects on food production and biofuel consumption. The researchers conclude that governments must address climate change while providing measures to alleviate hunger.

Plants may run out of time to grow under ongoing climate change

A new study suggests that climate change will lead to declines in plant growing days by 2100 due to warming, drought, and limited solar radiation. Tropical regions are expected to face significant reductions in suitable climate ranges, potentially affecting food security and human societies.

Social media should play greater role in disaster communication

Researchers found that social media can be a powerful tool for emergency preparedness and response, with Twitter playing a key role in spreading news. Social media use during disasters can help connect people with others who have experienced similar situations, providing emotional support and a sense of community.

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.

Obese patients at high risk of post-surgery complications

A recent UAlberta study reveals nearly half of severely obese patients require ICU admission and one in five do not survive after emergency surgery. The researchers attribute these findings to underlying health conditions, malnutrition, and impaired healing due to obesity.

Partial sleep deprivation linked to biological aging in older adults

A new study suggests that one night of partial sleep deprivation promotes biological aging in older adults by activating gene expression patterns consistent with increasing damage accumulation. The findings support the hypothesis that sleep deprivation may be associated with elevated disease risk by promoting molecular processes involv...

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.

When trees aren't 'green'

A recent study in Japan reveals that overcrowded, older tree plantations are a significant source of non-point nitrogen pollution. The findings highlight the need for better forest management practices to restore their ability to clean water rather than pollute it.

Chimpanzee flexibly use facial expressions and vocalizations

A study found that chimpanzees produce the same facial expressions when laugh sounds are present or absent, suggesting flexibility in their expression. The study also showed that facial expressions and vocalizations are used differently during social play.

2015 World Cultural Council Awards

Dr. Ewine van Dishoeck is awarded the Albert Einstein World Award of Science for her groundbreaking research on interstellar molecules, while Dr. Milton Masciadri receives the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts for his exceptional contributions to music and education.

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.

Genetically modified fish on the loose?

Researchers warn that genetically modified salmonids may outcompete wild-type fish due to enhanced feeding motivation. However, increased aggression could expose them to greater predation risk, reducing their overall fitness.

Pedophiles more likely to have physical irregularities

Research suggests pedophiles are more likely to have minor physical anomalies in the face and head, developing during the prenatal period. The study found a higher prevalence of these deviations among left-handed men, who may be more susceptible to disruptive events during fetal development.

Americans may be wasting more food than they think

A new nationally representative survey found that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe they waste less food than the national average, despite 31-40% of the American food supply being wasted. The top foods wasted are fruits and vegetables, with food waste costing Americans $161.6 billion annually.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

When modern Eurasia was born

The study confirms massive migrations led to huge changes in the European gene-pool, conferring admixture on modern populations. Genetic analysis reveals a new perception of family, property, and personhood emerged during this period, influencing language families and later developments in the Bronze Age.

A buffet of emerging biotech at 2015 BIO Innovation Zone

The 2015 BIO International Convention in Philadelphia featured the Innovation Zone, a 5,000-square-foot exhibit space dedicated to companies with cutting-edge biomedical technologies supported by NSF's Directorate for Engineering. The zone showcased over 75 companies, including those funded by the NSF Small Business Innovation Research...

University of Windsor sexual assault study reaches NEJM

A new University of Windsor-led study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a sexual assault resistance education program significantly reduced the likelihood of completed rape among first-year university women. The EAAA program, which consists of four three-hour sessions, helped women assess risk, overcome emotio...

Weekend screen time linked to poorer bone health in teen boys

Research published in BMJ Open found that weekend screen time is associated with lower bone mineral density in teen boys, while teenage girls with different body fat distribution may be protected from the negative effects of screen time on their bones. The study suggests that persisting associations between sedentary activities and bon...

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.

Nanoparticles target and kill cancer stem cells that drive tumor growth

Researchers have designed nanoparticles that specifically target cancer stem cells, which are tough to kill with conventional drugs. The treatment successfully killed CSCs and destroyed tumors in mice tests, with no obvious side effects. This therapy may help overcome the defenses of these hardy cells.

Boreal peatlands not a global warming time bomb

A new study challenges the notion that boreal peatlands are a potential source of carbon emissions from global warming. The researchers found that oxygen exposure time, rather than temperature increases, plays a more significant role in determining peat decomposition.

MIT team creates ultracold molecules

Researchers successfully cooled sodium potassium molecules to a temperature just above absolute zero, creating exotic states of matter with strong dipole moments. The ultracold molecules exhibited long lifetimes and resisted reactive collisions, paving the way for new discoveries in quantum mechanics.

Carotenoid levels in breast milk vary by country, diet

A study found that carotenoid levels in breast milk differ significantly by country, with Chinese women's milk having the highest levels of lutein and fatty acids. The US lagged behind China and Mexico due to lower fruit and vegetable consumption.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Coral colonies more genetically diverse than assumed

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum discovered that coral colonies have higher genetic diversity than assumed, with 24-47% of polyps being genetically different. This increased diversity may help corals adapt to environmental changes, but is it sufficient to compensate for the devastating effects of climate change?

Slip sliding away: Graphene and diamonds prove a slippery combination

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have found a way to create a material combination that demonstrates superlubricity, a highly-desirable property in which friction drops to near zero. The team used graphene and diamond nanoparticles to create a nanoscale phenomenon, but found that humidity inhibited the effect.

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.

Breast milk shared to help babies via online and offline communities

A study from the University of Central Florida found that breast milk sharing is a thriving practice, with many women exchanging milk through online communities. The majority of participants were college-educated and had household incomes above $70,000, using cross-nursing as an alternative to container-based exchanges.

Return trips feel shorter in hindsight

A study published in PLOS ONE found that participants estimated the length of a round-trip walk as shorter than the outward trip, even when the times were equal. This phenomenon, known as the return trip effect, may be related to our perception of time and awareness of the destination.

First-ever observation of the native capside of a retrovirus

Uruguayan researchers have observed the three-dimensional structure of the capsid of Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) with high resolution, revealing its flexibility and key regions. This breakthrough can lead to new antiviral medicines for diseases caused by retroviruses.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Tackling chronic sinusitis by addressing underlying factors

Researchers have developed a method to increase nitric oxide production in nasal passages, which is linked to chronic sinusitis. The approach involves boosting NO levels using low-molecular-weight peptides that were created from an already-approved drug compound.

Robot eyes will benefit from insect vision

Researchers apply insect vision principles to develop an 'active vision' system, which locks onto the background and lets the target move against it. This bio-inspired algorithm performs robustly, running up to 20 times faster than state-of-the-art engineering algorithms.

'Chromosome shattering' seen in plants, cancer

Researchers at UC Davis discover that chromosome shattering, a process previously only seen in animal cells, occurs in plant embryos when combining centromeres with weakened structures. This finding opens up new possibilities for plant breeding and could aid cancer researchers using the model plant Arabidopsis.

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.

Study discovers new method of classifying low-grade brain tumors

A new classification system has been developed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of low- and intermediate-grade gliomas (LGGs), reducing the reliance on subjective tumor appearance. The system uses molecular and genetic analysis to identify three distinct groups of LGGs with varying prognoses, offering a more objective approach.