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Science News for August 7, 2015


Big dinosaur discoveries in tiny toothy packages

Researchers have identified six additional species of carnivorous theropods from isolated teeth in the South Pyrenees Basin in Spain. The study quadrupled the known diversity of dinosaur fossils in the area, providing new insights into the evolution and extinction of these creatures.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalActa Palaeontologica Polonica·DateAug 7, 2015

New research may enhance display & LED lighting technology

Researchers at University of Illinois developed a method to extract more efficient polarized light from quantum dots, enhancing mobile phone, tablet, and computer displays, as well as LED lighting. This technology could lead to brighter, less expensive, and more efficient displays with reduced energy consumption.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 7, 2015
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.

Web-based patient-centered toolkit helps improve patient-provider communication

A new web-based patient-centered toolkit (PCTK) has been shown to improve patient-provider communication, enabling patients to engage in understanding their plan of care. The PCTK facilitated patient-generated messages and provided access to educational content specific to a patient's condition.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·DateAug 7, 2015

Candidate voice pitch influences voters

Researchers found that candidates with lower-pitched voices generally win elections, particularly against female opponents. However, the preference for leaders with lower voices also correlates with perceptions of strength and competence.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 7, 2015

Copper clusters capture and convert carbon dioxide to make fuel

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have identified a new catalyst that can efficiently capture and convert carbon dioxide into methanol, a liquid fuel. The copper tetramer, consisting of small clusters of four copper atoms, works by binding to carbon dioxide molecules and accelerating chemical reactions.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 7, 2015

Pupil shape linked to animals' ecological niche

A study of 214 species finds that vertical slits indicate ambush predators, while horizontally elongated pupils suggest grazing prey. Researchers believe this shapes allows for optimal vision in dim light and panoramic view.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 7, 2015

NASA sees a wider-eyed Typhoon Soudelor near Taiwan

Typhoon Soudelor's eye has expanded to 17-nautical-mile-wide, surrounding powerful thunderstorms. The storm made landfall in central Taiwan on August 7, with maximum sustained winds increasing to 105 knots (120.8 mph).

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateAug 7, 2015
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Charge density and optical properties of multicomponent crystals

Researchers design multicomponent materials by combining molecular and structural properties to form a 3D architecture. The spatial distribution of molecules and electronic properties of building blocks significantly impact optical properties. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using active pharmaceutical ingredients as building...

SourceInternational Union of Crystallography·JournalActa Crystallographica Section B·DateAug 7, 2015

Warning Area in Arctic airspace to aid research and exploration

A 700-mile-long airspace has been designated as a Warning Area in the Arctic to facilitate research and exploration while ensuring safety for scientists, oil companies, and pilots. The area will be used for various experiments, including search-and-rescue operations and tracking retreating sea ice.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·DateAug 7, 2015

UGA researcher calls for more natural baseline data collection in world's oceans

A UGA researcher is urging the academic community, federal responders, and the oil and gas industry to collect more baseline data in the world's oceans to establish critical environmental baselines. This data is essential for documenting anthropogenic perturbations, such as oil spills, and preparing for future disaster response.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalScience·DateAug 7, 2015

Researchers collaborate in development of brain-friendly interfaces

Researchers have developed a brain-friendly interface using an extracellular matrix environment, which can adapt to the mechanical properties of brain tissue and acquire neural recordings. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of limb loss and spinal cord injuries.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalMicrosystems & Nanoengineering·DateAug 7, 2015
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.

Land animals proliferate faster than aquatic counterparts

Vertebrates show variation in species numbers among groups, with land animals exhibiting higher diversification rates, suggests a study by UA evolutionary biologist John Wiens. Habitat is likely a more important variable than climate or metabolic rate explaining species richness.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalBiology Letters·DateAug 7, 2015

Pediatric brain tumors can be classified noninvasively at diagnosis

Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have developed a non-invasive method to classify pediatric brain tumors, allowing for early intervention. The technique uses magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to identify distinct metabolic features in medulloblastoma subgroups, enabling subgroup-specific therapy.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalNeuro-Oncology·DateAug 7, 2015

New endoscopic, non-surgical bariatric options show promise for treating obesity

The FDA has approved two new endoscopic bariatric therapies for treating obesity, providing patients with a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. Endoscopic bariatric therapies offer a viable option for patients who have been unsuccessful at weight loss with diet and exercise.

SourceAmerican Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy·JournalGastrointestinal Endoscopy·DateAug 7, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

ED counseling program fails to reduce partner violence or heavy drinking

A randomized clinical trial found that an ED-based counseling program did not significantly reduce excessive drinking and partner violence among women in abusive relationships. Despite initial results suggesting brief interventions could be effective, the study found no positive outcome among participants who received the intervention.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA·DateAug 7, 2015

Linking cell-population to whole-fish growth

A new approach uses cell cultures to predict chemical effects on fish growth, showing excellent agreement with in vivo experiments. The method combines cell population growth inhibition data with modeling of toxicological effects.

SourceSwiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology: Eawag·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 7, 2015
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.

Salt flat indicates some of the last vestiges of Martian surface water

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered evidence of an ancient lake on Mars that likely represents some of the last potentially habitable surface water ever to exist on the planet. The salt deposit, approximately 18 square miles in size, is believed to be around 3.6 billion years old.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalGeology·DateAug 7, 2015

Familiar drugs may block Ebola virus infection

Researchers found that Ebola and Marburg viruses use G protein-coupled receptors to enter cells, which can be blocked by existing drugs targeting these receptors. The study identified 20 GPCR antagonists effective against the two viruses, paving the way for potential therapeutics.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJournal of Virology·DateAug 7, 2015

'Caveman instincts' may favor deep-voiced politicians

A study found that voters naturally prefer leaders with lower-pitched voices, associating them with strength and competence rather than age. The researchers suggest this preference may stem from caveman instincts linking leadership ability to physical strength.

SourceDuke University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 7, 2015
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.

Fermilab experiment sees neutrinos change over 500 miles

The NOvA experiment has confirmed the detection of neutrino oscillations over a distance of 500 miles, verifying its massive particle detector is functioning as planned. The results show that muon neutrinos were disappearing and reappearing as electron neutrinos, providing evidence for the phenomenon.

SourceDOE/Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory·DateAug 7, 2015

NSF funds industry/university center for atomically thin coatings

The NSF-funded Industry/University Collaborative Research Center will design and develop advanced two-dimensional coatings to address fundamental scientific and technological challenges. The Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings (ATOMIC) aims to create spin-out companies and solve issues like corrosion, oxidation, and abr...

SourcePenn State·DateAug 7, 2015

How yeast doubled its genome -- by mating between species

A new study proposes that the common baker's yeast genome was duplicated by mating between two distinct species, contradicting the current widely accepted theory. The researchers used advanced computational methods to study the origins of the whole genome duplication in yeast.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 7, 2015
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.

Studying yeast provides new insight to genome evolution

Researchers propose a new theory on the origin of yeast's whole genome duplication, suggesting it was caused by hybridization between two species. This finding contradicts the current scientific consensus and provides new insight into the process of genome evolution.

SourceCenter for Genomic Regulation·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 7, 2015

How plants cope with stress, at the molecular level

Researchers aim to understand how plants cope with stress at the molecular level, focusing on the regulatory protein GSNOR and its role in nitric oxide regulation. The study has potential to uncover plant adaptation mechanisms and inform efforts to improve plant fertility.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·DateAug 7, 2015

NASA simulation indicates ancient flood volcanoes could have altered climate

Scientists analyzed a 14.7 million-year-old eruption in the Columbia River basalt formation, finding that it produced massive amounts of lava and gas that could have reached the stratosphere. This hypothetical scenario indicates that ancient flood volcanoes may have played a significant role in altering global climate patterns.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateAug 7, 2015
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.

Pouring fire on fuels at the nanoscale

Researchers at OIST have developed a way to prevent noble metal nanoparticles from compacting by encapsulating them individually in a porous shell made of a metal oxide. This technique improves the rate of electrochemical reactions in methanol fuel cells, leading to more efficient fuel cell performance.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNanoscale·DateAug 7, 2015

Switching mouse neural stem cells to a primate-like behavior

By expressing Pax6 in mouse basal progenitor cells, researchers mimicked the behavior of human brain cells, leading to increased cell division and a larger neocortex. This study contributes to understanding the molecular mechanisms behind brain expansion and cognitive functions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 7, 2015

Scientists adopt new strategy to find Huntington's disease therapies

A large international study has identified genetic factors that modify the age of onset for Huntington's disease symptoms. The research, supported by the NIH, used precision medicine to analyze over 4,000 patients' DNA and found associations with genes involved in DNA repair and mitochondrial function.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalCell·DateAug 7, 2015
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.

UM researchers head to the clouds to study Earth's climate

A team of University of Miami researchers conducted an airborne experiment on low-lying clouds in the Pacific Ocean to better understand their effects on global climate. The project uses advanced technologies like Doppler cloud radar and aerosol lidar to study cloud structure, aerosols, and precipitation.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·DateAug 7, 2015