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Science News Archive April 2015


Page 27 of 36

A pathfinder for optogenetics

A new priority program funded by the German Research Foundation will develop next-generation optogenetic tools with higher light sensitivity. The program aims to expand optogenetics' application in basic research and medicine, particularly for treating vision and hearing impairments, Parkinson's disease, and cardiac diseases.

Two INRS professors appointed to the Global Young Academy

INRS Professors Patrizio Antici and Tiago Falk have been appointed to the Global Young Academy for their groundbreaking research in health, materials science, and cultural heritage. Their work aims to develop new technologies and solutions for society's pressing challenges.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Unravelling relativistic effects in the heaviest actinide element

The international collaboration measured lawrencium's first ionization potential with a novel technique, achieving excellent agreement with theoretical calculations that include relativistic effects. This validation confirms Lr's position in the Periodic Table and opens new perspectives for studying superheavy elements.

Engineers now understand how complex carbon nanostructures form

Engineers can now predict how complex carbon nanostructures form through a new understanding of the forces involved. By analyzing these structures, designers can create nanotube forests with desired mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, leading to breakthroughs in various industries.

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.

Researchers find new approach to treat drug-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer

Researchers have identified various ways that HER2-positive breast cancer tumors resist therapy and discovered a potential combination therapy to overcome multiple mechanisms of resistance. A novel combination of lapatinib and a BET bromodomain inhibitor was found to block the growth of cancer cells, making the activity of lapatinib du...

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.

Our sun came late to the Milky Way's star-birth party

The Milky Way's star formation rate peaked 10 billion years ago, but our sun formed about 5 billion years ago. This may have fostered the growth of our solar system's planets by enriching the galaxy with heavier elements.

Quantum physics -- hot and cold at the same time

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology discovered that a cloud of atoms can exhibit multiple temperatures at once. The experiment utilized a microchip to cool the gas near absolute zero, allowing scientists to measure its behavior. This breakthrough helps understand the fundamental laws of quantum physics and their relationship...

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.

Mountain gorillas enter the genomic age

Researchers analyzed whole genomes of seven mountain gorillas, revealing genetic adaptations to small populations and a surprisingly low number of harmful genetic variations. This new understanding provides valuable insight into how apes adapt genetically to living in small populations.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Combined sewer systems lead to risk of illness after heavy rains

A study found that combined sewer overflows can lead to a significant increase in emergency room visits for gastrointestinal illnesses, contaminating drinking water sources. The researchers analyzed data from three areas with combined sewer systems and found a 13% increase in ER visits after extreme precipitation events.

Dynamic dead zones alter fish catches in Lake Erie

Scientists discovered that Lake Erie's dead zones are variable and move erratically, affecting fish distributions and catch rates. Fish like yellow perch cluster at the edges of these areas, making it essential to determine effective fishing strategies.

New Ebola study points to potential drug target

Researchers have found that the Ebola virus uses a protein called VP35 to remove its genetic material's protective coat, allowing it to replicate. Disrupting this process could potentially stop the spread of the disease.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Ferromanganese crusts record past climates

Scientists have discovered that ferromanganese crusts, up to 26 cm thick, record past climate changes in the Arctic. The crusts' slow growth rates and geochemical fingerprints of their source regions provide valuable information on ocean currents and climate conditions over millions of years.

Chancellor helps OSC dedicate Ruby Cluster

The Ohio Supercomputer Center has dedicated the Ruby Cluster, a high-performance computing system built with HP-Intel Xeon Phi technology, to honor Ruby Dee. The cluster boasts an estimated peak performance of 144 TeraFLOPS and will support research collaboration, commercialization, and workforce development across Ohio.

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.

Brain scan study shows clot-busting drug benefits stroke patients

A recent study published in The Lancet Neurology has found that a clot-busting drug called alteplase can benefit stroke patients without increasing the risk of bleeding. Researchers analyzed over 3,000 people and discovered that patients with early tissue damage from strokes still benefit from receiving the drug.

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.

Flip-flopping black holes spin to the end of the dance

Researchers at RIT studied binary spinning black hole interactions, revealing a long-term spin dynamic that continuously flips the spin until merger. This process may affect the growth of black holes surrounded by accretion disks and alter galactic and supermassive binary black holes.

How the brain balances risk-taking and learning

Researchers found that a neural circuit evaluates environmental variability to prompt animals to explore new locations. The circuit uses information from the animal's senses to determine predictability, triggering dopamine release and increased risk-taking behavior. This discovery could lead to better therapies for neurodegenerative an...

Can facial plastic surgery make you more likeable?

A study of facial rejuvenation surgery finds that women who undergo certain procedures are perceived as more likeable, attractive and feminine. The study suggests that facial appearance plays a role in social perception, rooted in evolution, and may impact personality traits such as extroversion and trustworthiness.

Shakespeare's plays reveal his psychological signature

A study by Ryan Boyd and James Pennebaker uses psychological theory to analyze Shakespeare's plays, revealing a unique psychological profile that strongly identifies him as the author of Double Falsehood. The analysis also sheds light on Theobald's character, contradicting previous accounts.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Microbes help produce serotonin in gut

Researchers at Caltech discovered that certain bacteria in the gut are essential for producing peripheral serotonin. The study found that mice with normal gut microbes had higher levels of serotonin than those without, and that specific species of bacteria elevated serotonin levels.

Dealing with death in deployment

A new University of Utah study found that exposure to killing and death while deployed is correlated with a 43% increased suicide risk compared to general deployment. The research suggests that seeing death and killing contributes to feelings of guilt, shame, regret, and negative self-perceptions.

Touch-sensing neurons are multitaskers

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that touch-sensing neurons integrate position and touch information as soon as it reaches the brain, challenging long-held views on how this is done. This integration enables complex sensory processing and informs efforts to improve prosthetic limbs.

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.

Road salt guidelines need review to protect food chain in lakes: York U study

A recent York University study suggests that lake and highway authorities consider adjusting road salt use protocols to protect aquatic life such as the water flea, by taking the nutritional status of the lakes into account. The study found a direct relationship between how well-fed the animals were and their sensitivity to road salt.

NIH funds 9 antimicrobial resistance diagnostics projects

The NIH has awarded $11 million to develop diagnostic tools for hospital-associated pathogens, including those resistant to most antimicrobials. The goal is to provide rapid and efficient tests that can detect the presence of these bacteria in three hours or less.

Drug regulations tied to fewer prescriptions of effective gout drug

A retrospective cohort study of nearly 217,000 patients with gout found that prescription rates for effective gout treatment decreased after the FDA increased prices. The study also showed significant increases in monthly total prescription bills, highlighting the negative impact of regulatory actions on access to affordable medications.

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.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

The benefits of storytelling in video games

A new study suggests that non-violent video games with storytelling can have prosocial benefits, improving emotional intelligence and social skills. The research found that immersive gaming experiences foster theory of mind and empathy, which can be helpful in treating disorders like autism.

Hormones that guide root growth rates revealed

Researchers from Carnegie Institution for Science discovered that brassinosteroids and auxin hormones work antagonistically to regulate root cell elongation, affecting the rate of root growth. This finding could lead to engineering more-efficient crops with idealized root growth and water uptake.

Exceptionally preserved fossil gives voice to ancient terror bird

A new species of terror bird, Llallawavis scagliai, has been discovered with exceptionally preserved fossils revealing details about its anatomy and sensory capabilities. The study provides insights into the evolution, behavior, and ecology of this group of fossil birds.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Inbreeding in mountain gorillas may contribute to save the species

Research suggests that inbreeding has genetically benefited mountain gorillas by eliminating deleterious variations, contributing to their survival. This discovery challenges the assumption that low genetic diversity makes these animals more susceptible to environmental changes and diseases.

First report of a new crop virus in North America

Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a new mastrevirus, SgMaV-1, infecting switchgrass in North America. The virus is closely related to known pathogens in Australia and may be transmitted by leafhoppers, posing risks to staple food crops like corn and wheat.