Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive December 2015 - Page 4


Page 4 of 32

Algorithm helps turn smartphones into 3-D scanners

Researchers at Brown University have developed an algorithm that allows off-the-shelf cameras to capture high-quality 3D images without synchronized projector and camera hardware. The technique uses a structured light flash and can assemble images pixel by pixel to create accurate 3D models.

SourceBrown University·DateDec 22, 2015

Ringing in a new way to measure and modulate trapped light

Scientists at NIST create non-invasive technique to map trapped light vibrations and fine-tune resonator frequency, enabling ultrasensitive sensors and identical resonances. The focused lithium-ion-beam technique allows for high-resolution imaging without disturbing near-fields.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature Photonics·DateDec 22, 2015
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Chronic kidney disease prevalence varies greatly across Europe

The study found substantial variation in CKD prevalence across European countries, ranging from 3% to 17%, which may be due to factors other than diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The findings could guide future projections of the CKD burden in Europe and inform prevention and disease management strategies.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 22, 2015

The components of imitation

Researchers investigate brain structure involved in imitation after stroke or brain injury, discovering the importance of similarity between observed action and produced movement. Lesions in the left hemisphere affect anatomical match, while those in the right hemisphere impact spatial translation.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateDec 22, 2015

Baghdad seismometer detects car bombs, mortar fire and more during Iraq war

Scientists used a Baghdad seismometer to capture data on car bombs and mortar fire during the Iraq war. They identified distinct seismic signatures for different types of military operations in urban terrain, such as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and mortar fire.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateDec 22, 2015

Beneficial bacteria in Hawaiian squid attracted to fatty acids

Researchers have discovered a novel receptor in Vibrio fischeri that senses fatty acids, allowing the bacterium to migrate towards these compounds. This finding sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and its luminescent bacteria.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateDec 22, 2015

Less financial burden for cancer patients with paid sick leave, study finds

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that paid sick leave can significantly reduce the financial burden on cancer patients. The study, which surveyed over 1,300 patients with stage 3 colorectal cancer, showed that those with paid sick leave were nearly twice as likely to retain their jobs af...

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA·DateDec 22, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

FIU scientists discover how arsenic builds up in plant seeds

Researchers at FIU's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine have identified how arsenic accumulates in plant seeds like rice, which is a major source of dietary arsenic. The discovery has the potential to develop new cultivation methods with less arsenic in the grain.

SourceFlorida International University·JournalNature Plants·DateDec 22, 2015

Mazes and brains: When preconception trumps logic

The study found that brain regions associated with expectation can override objective reality, highlighting the importance of preconceptions in navigation. Researchers hope to apply this knowledge to develop new non-linguistic communication tools.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 22, 2015
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.

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.

Are you Facebook dependent?

A new study by University of Akron researchers found that people who use Facebook to meet new friends are most dependent on the platform. The study also discovered personality traits common among specific types of Facebook users, such as extroverts and those with high self-esteem.

SourceUniversity of Akron·DateDec 22, 2015

Largest study of Ebola survivors finds vision, hearing, joint pain problems

A large study of Ebola survivors found that many reported complications such as vision and hearing problems, as well as joint pain, months after recovery. The study suggests that the virus may persist in certain bodily fluids and highlights the need for follow-up care in West Africa.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateDec 22, 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.

Mutation of BAP1 gene passed down over centuries

A study published in PLOS Genetics found that members of four unrelated US families shared an identical BAP1 gene mutation, which increases cancer risk. The researchers traced the ancestral connection back to a couple who immigrated from Germany in the early 1700s.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii Cancer Center·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateDec 22, 2015

Even before ACA, cancer survivors in non-expansion states had less health-care access

Even before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), cancer survivors in non-expansion states had limited access to healthcare. The study analyzed data from the 2012 and 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and found that these survivors were less likely to have a personal doctor, receive an annual checkup, or see a doctor due to cost.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Cancer Survivorship·DateDec 22, 2015

An Open Science plan: Wikidata for Research

The project aims to integrate research workflows with Wikidata to facilitate open science and collaboration across disciplines. Key findings include ongoing efforts to handle scholarly references through Wikidata, which can now be queried for information like city data and female mayors.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalResearch Ideas and Outcomes·DateDec 22, 2015

Seven healthy heart measures may reduce heart failure risk

A study found that people scoring well on the Life's Simple 7 checklist for a healthy heart have lower risk of developing heart failure. The measures include managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels, as well as getting physically active, eating better, losing weight, and quitting smoking.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·DateDec 22, 2015
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Researchers identify molecule with anti-inflammatory properties in maple syrup

Researchers identified quebecol, a molecule in maple syrup with anti-inflammatory properties, and its derivatives show promise as potential treatments for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. The discovery could lead to a new class of anti-inflammatory agents with reduced side effects.

SourceUniversité Laval·JournalBioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters·DateDec 22, 2015

Are you a 'harbinger of failure'?

A MIT study found that a group of consumers have an unerring knack for buying failed products, time after time. The 'harbingers of failure' tend to purchase all kinds of flop-worthy products, including those with strong initial sales but ultimately poor market reception.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateDec 22, 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.

Mental time travel: An exclusively human capacity

A new theoretical model proposes that humans have an exclusively human capacity for mental time travel, composed of episodic memory and scenario construction. However, no definitive evidence supports foresightful behavior in animals, suggesting they may not possess the same level of mental time travel capabilities.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews·DateDec 22, 2015

Vitamin D levels linked to weight-loss surgery outcomes

A new Johns Hopkins study of over 930,000 patient records found that patients undergoing bariatric surgery during winter months fared worse than those in the summer due to lower vitamin D levels. The researchers also noticed a disproportionate number of complications occurred north of latitude 37 degrees.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalObesity Science & Practice·DateDec 22, 2015

Fighting rice fungus

A study published by University of Delaware plant scientists has identified a stress hormone that appears to increase the virulence of the rice blast fungus. The research may lead to new control methods for the devastating disease.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateDec 22, 2015

Unusual drug generates exciting results in mouse models of metastatic breast cancer

A team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has discovered a novel drug that targets an abnormal RNA molecule called Malat1 in metastatic breast cancer. The drug reduces tumor growth by 70% and prevents metastasis, suggesting that targeting this RNA may be a promising therapeutic approach for treating aggressive breast cancer.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateDec 22, 2015

Brain tumor revealed by treatment-resistant depression

A woman with treatment-resistant depression was found to have a brain tumor after symptoms persisted for six months despite antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication. The tumor, located in her left frontal lobe, was later treated successfully with emergency surgery, resulting in the disappearance of depressive symptoms.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Case Reports·DateDec 22, 2015
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.

Cool roofs in China offer enhanced benefits during heat waves

A new Berkeley Lab study found that cool roofs in Guangzhou, China, can lower average urban midday temperatures by 1.2 degrees Celsius during heat waves, a 50% increase over typical summer conditions. This reduction in temperature also decreases the intensity of the urban heat island effect.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 22, 2015

Rare diseases: De novo mutation leading to Fanconi anemia identified

An international team of researchers has established the cause of rare Fanconi Anemia: a de novo mutation in the RAD51 gene. The mutation leads to chromosome instability, bone marrow failure, leukemia, and solid tumors, resulting in a significantly reduced life expectancy.

SourceUniversity of Luxembourg·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 22, 2015

Opioid dependency peaks among younger age group

A Michigan State University study reveals that 14- and 15-year-olds are at a higher risk of becoming dependent on prescription drugs within a year after using them beyond the prescribed amount. The research also confirms that peak risk for starting to use prescription painkillers is seen at 16 and 17 years old.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPeerJ·DateDec 22, 2015

The mechanism of an AIDS vaccine candidate filmed in vivo

Researchers have filmed in vivo the process by which an AIDS vaccine candidate recruits immune cells to destroy infected cells. The study, published in Nature Medicine, shows how the vaccine induces the formation of the inflammasome, a complex assembly of proteins that triggers an immune response.

SourceInstitut Pasteur·JournalNature Methods·DateDec 22, 2015
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.

Blocking fat transport linked to longevity

A new study reveals that blocking the production of a naturally occurring protein responsible for transporting fats around the body increases life span in nematodes and mice. The research suggests that this protein, VIT, hinders essential cell functions and prevents the reuse of fats for healthier purposes.

SourceBrown University·JournalAutophagy·DateDec 22, 2015

Mystery of heat loss from the Earth's crust has been solved

Scientists at the National Oceanography Centre have discovered a new type of hydrothermal vent system, which could improve understanding of how the Earth's interior cools. The unique system, driven by hot rock and faults, was found to release significant amounts of heat and chemicals into the crust.

SourceNational Oceanography Centre, UK·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 22, 2015

NREL research advances hydrogen production efforts

Researchers at NREL have developed a new photoelectrochemical process for producing hydrogen that uses molecular catalysts instead of precious metals. The new method is more efficient and cost-effective, making it a promising solution for scalable hydrogen production.

SourceDOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateDec 22, 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.

Low rate of job retention following colorectal cancer diagnosis

A study published in JAMA found that nearly half of working individuals with stage III colorectal cancer lost their jobs due to their diagnosis. However, those with access to paid sick leave were more likely to retain their jobs and experience reduced personal financial burdens. The study highlights the importance of providing paid sic...

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateDec 22, 2015

World's first clinical guidelines for chronic fungal lung infections

The European Respiratory Society and ESCMID have published the world's first clinical guidelines for chronic fungal lung infections, describing key features of the disease and providing comprehensive treatment recommendations. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis affects an estimated 240,000 people in Europe and 3 million worldwide.

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·DateDec 22, 2015

Increased toxicity due to migration?

Researchers have discovered that newly introduced populations of the invasive seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla in North America and Europe contain significantly higher levels of toxic compounds, including Prostaglandin. This increase in toxicity poses a risk for food safety and may lead to more frequent cases of human intoxication.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalHarmful Algae·DateDec 22, 2015
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.

Forensic seismology tested on 2006 munitions depot 'cook-off' in Baghdad

Seismologists used a network of instruments deployed in Iraq to analyze the seismic patterns of explosions, including mortars, rockets, IEDs, helicopters, and drones. The analysis allowed them to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the 'cook-off' explosion.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateDec 22, 2015

Extremely rare muscle rupture in a professional goalkeeper

A 33-year-old professional goalkeeper suffered an extremely rare complete rupture of his teres major muscle while playing a football match. He recovered after conservative treatment and physiotherapy, eventually returning to competition level without pain or limitation.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Case Reports·DateDec 22, 2015

Chinese rover analyzes moon rocks: First new 'ground truth' in 40 years

The Chang'e-3 mission provided 'ground truth' for lunar volcanism, with basalts found to be unlike those returned by Apollo and Luna missions. The findings suggest the Moon's upper mantle is composed of diverse minerals, providing clues to its formation and evolution.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 22, 2015
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.

£10 million grant awarded for Barts Heart Centre

The £10.2m investment will focus on genomic diagnoses, innovative therapeutics, heart failure, and device innovation to tackle cardiovascular healthcare issues globally. The Barts Heart Centre aims to become the go-to academic medical centre for research and treatment of cardiovascular disease in Europe.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·DateDec 22, 2015

Mixing modern materials? NIST math app helps you manage your mashup

Scientists at NIST developed a new recipe development tool using advanced math to predict the capabilities of polymer-nanoparticle mixtures. By modeling particle shapes more realistically, they created virtual nanoparticles that can analyze real-world particles and make general statements about their behavior in mixes.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateDec 22, 2015
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.

Screening male kidney transplant candidates for prostate cancer may do more harm than good

Researchers have found that screening male kidney transplant candidates for prostate cancer does not prolong their survival and may even delay receiving a transplant. Elevated PSA levels detected through screening were associated with a reduced likelihood of receiving a transplant regardless of the patient's age or PSA level.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 22, 2015

Scientists discover that salty sea spray affects clouds

Sea spray from oceans sends aerosols into the atmosphere, affecting cloud formation and duration. The unique ice nucleating particles in sea spray initiate the formation of ice in clouds, impacting their composition.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 22, 2015