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Science News Archive July 2015


Page 4 of 34

Social groups and emotions

Researchers identified a link between cognitive deficits and lesions in areas processing emotions, suggesting a third category of knowledge representation for social groups. This discovery highlights the close relationship between social relations and emotional processing in the human brain.

First detection of lithium from an exploding star

Researchers have detected lithium in material ejected by a nova, resolving a long-standing puzzle about its abundance in young stars. The finding sheds light on the chemical evolution of the Milky Way and could inform models of the Big Bang.

Closing the gap on developing a vaccine for middle ear infections

A breakthrough discovery has been made in developing a vaccine for middle ear infections by identifying the molecular switch that controls a 'chameleon' bacteria. Researchers have found that this switch allows Haemophilus influenzae to adapt and evade the immune system, making it difficult to develop an effective vaccine.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Kent research could play major role in curbing illegal ivory sales

Researchers from the University of Kent have developed an automated data mining system that can mimic human expert classification of potentially illegal elephant ivory with high accuracy. The system has shown a 93% accuracy rate and is expected to significantly increase the detection of illegal ivory sales on eBay.

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.

Playing 'tag' with pollution lets scientists see who's 'it'

Researchers use climate model to tag soot sources and track its impact on the Tibetan Plateau, finding that soot from wildfires in India warms the region more than greenhouse gases. The study suggests that cutting emissions from central Asia's fossil fuel burning can have a significant impact on reducing soot levels on the plateau.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

New research will boost grasp of North American carbon cycle

Researchers are working to reduce uncertainty in carbon cycle science by harmonizing data on key components, including Mexico and the US. This will help better understand how diverse regions respond to climate change and improve confidence in models.

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.

Malic acid encourages sweet cherry cracking

A new study reveals that malic acid is the primary cause of sweet cherry cracking, even at low water uptake levels. The researchers found that artificial juices composed of malic acid or five abundant osmolytes reproduce the effect on fruit cracking.

Researchers design first artificial ribosome

Researchers created a tethered artificial ribosome called Ribo-T, which works nearly as well as the natural cellular component. The engineered ribosome enables production of new drugs and biomaterials, and may lead to better understanding of ribosome function.

Management strategies to reduce catfacing in peaches

A six-year study found that using narrow vegetation-free strips under trees can reduce damage from hemipteran insects, increasing tree growth and fruit yield. Supplemental irrigation also showed benefits in three of five years, with trees grown with irrigation having larger trunk cross-sectional areas.

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.

Vaccination rates in older adults fall short of targets

The Alliance for Aging Research released a white paper highlighting the factors driving low vaccination rates among seniors and offering recommendations for improvement. Vaccination rates are lower than target levels set by Healthy People 2020, resulting in significant health issues and deaths among older adults.

Linda J. S. Allen awarded AWM-SIAM Sonia Kovalevsky Lecture

Linda J.S. Allen, a renowned mathematician at Texas Tech University, has been recognized with the AWM-SIAM Sonia Kovalevsky Lecture award for her significant contributions to ordinary differential equations, difference equations, and stochastic models, particularly in the areas of infectious diseases and ecology.

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.

Black men are at double the risk of prostate cancer compared to white men

Black men in England face a double lifetime risk of being diagnosed with and dying from prostate cancer compared to their white counterparts. The study reveals that Asian men have half the lifetime risk, highlighting the need for targeted awareness-raising and informed decision-making about PSA tests.

Detecting small metallic contaminants in food via magnetization

Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology have developed a practical magnetic metallic contaminant detector using three high-Tc RF superconducting quantum interference devices for food inspection. The detection technique is based on recording the remnant magnetic field of a contaminant, providing a safe and high-resolution method.

An all-natural sunscreen derived from algae

Scientists created a novel sunscreen from algae's natural molecules, combined with chitosan, to protect against UV rays. The material is biocompatible, heat-stable, and absorbs both UVA and UVB radiation with high efficiency.

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.

Don't call them stiff: Metal organic frameworks show unexpected flexibility

Researchers have discovered that metal organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit dynamic behavior, shifting between different geometries over time. This finding could lead to the synthesis of brand-new types of materials with enhanced flexibility in applications such as antimicrobial agents, hydrogen-storage materials and solar-cell components.

Early prosocial behavior good predictor of kids' future

A nearly 20-year study found that kindergarteners' social-emotional skills are a significant predictor of their future success. Students demonstrating better prosocial behavior were more likely to graduate from college, be gainfully employed, and avoid arrest.

Could a sugar tax help combat obesity?

Experts weigh in on whether a sugar tax can help combat obesity, with some arguing it's a necessary step to reduce consumption and others claiming it would be economically ineffective. A sugar tax on all products may stimulate reformulated products, while taxes on specific food categories could change diets and improve health.

Can we restart the heart?

San Diego State University researchers have developed a way to use biotechnology to rejuvenate cardiac progenitor cells, which replicate indefinitely into new heart cells. By overexpressing an enzyme associated with cancer cell growth, they've shown promise in increasing cell proliferation and lifespan in mice, as well as human tissue.

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.

Ongoing recovery efforts take toll on hurricane survivors

A new study reveals that Hurricane Sandy's effects on New Jersey residents are still being felt two and a half years after the storm. The study found that 27% of residents with damaged homes experienced moderate or severe mental health distress, while mold was significantly associated with asthma and mental health distress.

Shoring up Tor

Researchers at MIT and QCRI demonstrate a vulnerability in Tor's design, allowing an adversary to infer a hidden server's location or the source of information reaching a user. However, they also propose defenses, which are being evaluated for inclusion in future versions of the Tor software, to prevent such attacks.

SIAM's Ralph E. Kleinman Prize goes to George Em Karniadakis

Brown University professor George Em Karniadakis has been awarded the Ralph E. Kleinman Prize by SIAM for his contributions to applied mathematics, specifically in computational fluid dynamics and stochastic modeling. The $5,000 prize recognizes his research bridging high-level mathematics with practical applications.

People walk slower, swerve when texting while distracted

A study found that adults who text while being cognitively distracted exhibit a more cautious gait, including increased obstacle clearance and decreased ability to walk in a straight line. The researchers suggest this adaptation may help prevent accidents when faced with cognitive challenges.

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.

Aquariums deliver health and wellbeing benefits

New research published in Environment & Behavior found that watching aquariums and fish tanks can improve physical and mental wellbeing. The study showed noticeable reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, with higher numbers of fish helping to maintain attention for longer.

Just say 'No' to drugs -- in water

A 16-year-old scientist has created a solution to remove pharmaceutical drugs from contaminated water, using a plastic adsorbent that can capture the chemicals. The innovative technique, tested over six years, shows promise for scaling up and applying it in real-world water treatment.

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.

Experts recommend tumor removal as first-line treatment for Cushing's syndrome

The Endocrine Society recommends tumor removal as the first-line treatment for endogenous Cushing's syndrome. This approach is optimal because it preserves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which is crucial for the body's central stress response. Other treatment options include medication and radiation therapy.

Failed stars host powerful aurora displays

Researchers discovered that brown dwarf stars, which are difficult to detect and classify, host powerful auroras similar to Earth's display. The study used radio and optical telescopes to observe a brown dwarf 20 light years away, providing evidence that these stars act like supersized planets.

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.

'Failed stars' host powerful auroral displays

A team of astronomers led by Gregg Hallinan has discovered that brown dwarfs, which are cool and dim objects, host powerful auroras near their magnetic poles. The findings suggest that these so-called failed stars behave more like giant planets with highly active magnetic fields.

Research with bite

A new study reveals that the distinctive, saw-like tooth structure of theropod dinosaurs enabled them to effectively process food, contributing to their success as predators. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of dinosaur dentition and has implications for our understanding of these ancient creatures.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Short wavelength plasmons observed in nanotubes

Berkeley Lab researchers have generated and detected plasmons with one of the strongest confinement factors ever, confining photon energy to a spatial dimension smaller than its wavelength. This breakthrough enables novel plasmonic devices with extraordinary sub-wavelength confinement.

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.

New study data show reduced intracranial pressure

A European clinical trial shows that therapeutic hypothermia can significantly decrease intracranial pressure in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. The study found a mean reduction of 4.3 mmHg at the first hour of body cooling, continuing throughout the 6-hour hypothermia therapy.

Illuminating mechanisms of repetitive thinking

This special series of articles explores the core psychological processes underlying maladaptive thought processes like worry and rumination. The research highlights cutting-edge methodologies and advances our understanding of these processes.