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Science News Archive April 2015


Page 5 of 36

Diverse sea creatures evolved to reach same swimming solution

A new study reveals that diverse sea creatures have evolved to swim with elongated fins using the same mechanical motion, maximizing speed and ensuring survival. The researchers found a consistent ratio of 20, known as the optimal specific wavelength (OSW), which is a key finding in understanding convergent evolution.

Elderly crickets are set in their ways, study finds

A new study published in Behavioural Ecology found that elderly crickets' behavior becomes more entrenched with age, making them less responsive to changing environmental conditions. This suggests that older individuals may struggle to adapt to changes in climate, habitat, or diet, potentially affecting their survival prospects.

Switching on one-shot learning in the brain

Scientists have discovered that uncertainty in causal relationships is the main factor in determining one-shot learning. The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex evaluates such uncertainty and activates one-shot learning when needed. This finding could lead to new approaches for helping people learn more efficiently.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Strong evidence for coronal heating theory presented at 2015 TESS meeting

Researchers present strong evidence for the coronal heating theory, suggesting that tiny explosive bursts of heat called nanoflares are responsible for heating the sun's atmosphere. The new findings come from NASA's EUNIS sounding rocket mission and NuSTAR X-ray observations, providing insight into the solar corona.

New blueberry species found in the Colombian forests

Researchers have identified five new species of blueberry relatives in Colombia, showcasing the country's rich biodiversity. The newly discovered species exhibit unique morphological characteristics and are found primarily in the Western Cordillera and Chocó biogeographic region.

Tracking exploding lithium-ion batteries in real-time

A UCL-led team used high-energy synchrotron X-rays and thermal imaging to track lithium-ion battery damage in real-time. The study found that internal structural damage can spread to neighboring batteries, causing severe failure.

Megacity metabolism: Is your city consuming a balanced diet?

A comprehensive survey of resources used and removed in the world's largest metropolitan areas reveals that megacities consume significantly more energy and produce more solid waste than other regions. Despite having a relatively small percentage of the global population, megacities generate a substantial proportion of global GDP.

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.

The victimization quandary: To help victims we have to stop blaming them

A study by Rutgers University-Newark researchers found that emotional disclosure reduces victim blaming, with witnesses who express disturbing thoughts and feelings blaming victims less than those who suppress their emotions. The research suggests people can best help victims by addressing their own emotional needs.

Age at autism diagnosis differs between boys, girls

A study found girls with ASD were diagnosed at a mean age of 4 years compared to 3.8 years for boys, while girls with Asperger's syndrome were diagnosed at 7.6 years versus 7.1 years for boys. Girls struggled more with social cognition and had less severe mannerisms.

Polygamy increases risk of heart disease by more than 4-fold

A prospective multicentre observational study examined the relationship between polygamy and cardiovascular health. Men with multiple wives had a higher risk of coronary artery disease, left main disease, and multivessel disease, with risks increasing by up to 4-fold.

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.

Pneumonectomy or lobectomy?

A study of over 8000 patients found that surgeons with higher volumes are less likely to perform high-risk pneumonectomies, leading to better long-term survival. The researchers suggest that surgeon experience is an important factor in determining surgical outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer patients.

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.

New material for creating artificial blood vessels

Researchers at TU Wien and MedUni Vienna have developed artificial blood vessels that are biocompatible and can be broken down by the body. The new material has excellent mechanical properties and allows for the growth of natural tissue, making it a promising solution for bypass operations.

Improving the effect of HIV drugs by the use of a vaccine

A vaccine targeting the viral protein Tat shows promise in boosting an HIV-infected patient's immune system, increasing CD4+ T cell count and reducing latent virus DNA load. The results suggest a new treatment scenario to investigate intensified antiretroviral therapy with a vaccine.

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.

Engineering a better future for the Mississippi Delta

The Mississippi Delta is facing an uncertain future due to the combined effects of sea-level rise and land subsidence. The study uses precise GPS data and tide gauge records to measure subsidence rates, revealing that parts of the delta may not be viable in the long term.

Embracing the 5G era

Recent research on 5G has systematically overviewed latest progress on network architecture and promising techniques, including NOMA, MIMO, and cognitive radio. The study highlights potential key areas of research to overcome the spectrum crisis in global wireless communications.

New method provides direct SI traceability for sound pressure

Scientists at NPL have developed a new optical method for directly measuring sound pressure, providing direct traceability to fundamental SI base units. This method can be used to calibrate any acoustic device without assumptions regarding geometry and sound field characteristics.

Human hunting weapons may not have caused the demise of the Neanderthals

A new study published in the Journal of Human Evolution suggests that technological innovations in hunting weapons may not have been a driving force behind the colonization of Europe by anatomically modern humans. The researchers found that stone tools used by humans around 40,000 years ago appeared in Europe earlier than previously th...

Cal-BRAIN selects 16 California research projects for seed grants

The Cal-BRAIN program awards $1.92 million in seed grants to 16 interdisciplinary teams at 10 UC campuses and other institutions to advance neurotechnology research. The projects focus on measuring brain activity through various strategies, aiming to improve treatments for brain disorders.

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.

Genetic markers for fetal overgrowth syndrome discovered

Genetic markers have been identified for large offspring syndrome (LOS) in cattle, a condition that can cause physical abnormalities and fatalities in newborn calves. This discovery may lead to safer assisted reproduction procedures by allowing breeders to avoid genetically predisposed embryos.

Not much size difference between male and female Australopithecines

Researchers challenge previous convention that males were much larger than females in the early hominid species Australopithecus afarensis. The study uses Lucy and Kadanuumuu as templates to determine size variation and finds moderate levels of sexual dimorphism within human-like species

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Heat makes electrons' spin in magnetic superconductors

Researchers from Finland and Europe have discovered a method to convert heat into spin current in magnetic superconductors, enabling faster data writing processes. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize memory technology, making it more efficient and faster.

NASA sees weekend Texas severe storms in 3-D

Severe thunderstorms swept through central Texas on April 26, 2015, generating heavy rainfall and large hail. The GPM Core Observatory satellite captured a 3D view of the storms, revealing some reaching altitudes above 7.7 miles.

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.

Rubber from dandelions

Researchers at TUM and IME identified a protein complex on rubber particles responsible for the formation of polyisoprene, the main component of rubber. The study found two key proteins necessary for natural rubber biosynthesis in dandelion plants. This discovery brings biotechnological manufacturing of rubber closer.

Study: A minority of women seek health care after military sexual assault

A study of over 1,300 women service members and veterans found that fewer than a third sought post-assault health care, despite growing awareness and efforts to deter sexual crimes. Researchers identified embarrassment, confidentiality concerns, and adverse career impacts as key factors preventing servicewomen from seeking care.

Framing time in days instead of years could spur action toward goals

Researchers found that measuring time in days instead of years can make future events feel closer and prompt people to start planning earlier. Participants planned to save four times sooner when considering time in days compared to years, even after accounting for age, income, and education.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Women show persistent memory impairment after concussion

A recent study found that women are at a higher risk of persistent memory impairment after a concussion, with brain scans revealing reduced activation in working memory circuits. The study's findings suggest that female gender may be a risk factor for working memory impairment after mild traumatic brain injury.

New technique for exploring structural dynamics of nanoworld

Researchers developed a hybrid approach combining core-loss spectroscopy and ultrafast four-dimensional electron microscopy to visualize structural dynamics of atomic-scale materials. The technique revealed tiny electronic changes in individual atoms within a material on ultrafast time scales.

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.

Endangered corals smothered by sponges on overfished Caribbean reefs

A recent survey of Caribbean reefs found that overfishing removes the predators of sponges, resulting in a greater than threefold increase in coral overgrowth by sponges. This is particularly concerning for corals already threatened by warming seawater temperatures and diseases.

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.

Childhood bullying causes worse long-term mental health problems than maltreatment

A new study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that children who experienced bullying had worse long-term mental health problems than those who were maltreated by adults. The research, led by Professor Dieter Wolke, analyzed data from over 5,000 participants and found that being both bullied and maltreated increased the risk of o...

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.

Silicon: An important element in rice production

Research highlights silicon's importance in rice production, enhancing resistance to pests, pathogens, and abiotic stresses. Recycling of rice straw is crucial for maintaining silicon availability, particularly in regions with low soil weathering.

Heroin use spikes among whites who abuse prescription painkillers

A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that past-year heroin use rose significantly among individuals taking opioids like oxycontin, particularly among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. The rate of heroin use for non-Hispanic whites increased by 75% in 2008-2011 compared to earlier years.

Researchers train computers to identify gene interactions in human tissues

Scientists have developed a computer system that can analyze large databases of gene-activity measurements to identify genes that are turned on in specific cell types. This allows researchers to refine their analysis through thousands of measurements, providing more information about human diseases than current techniques.

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.