Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive June 2015


Page 18 of 36

Families of orofacial clefting not at higher risk for dental anomalies

A study of children with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts and their relatives found that affected families do not have a significantly higher genetic risk for dental anomalies. Instead, the prevalence of dental anomalies is primarily due to physical consequences of the cleft and surgical interventions.

Surprisingly few 'busy bees' make global crops grow

A major international study reveals that only two percent of wild bee species are responsible for pollinating 80 percent of global crops. This finding underscores the importance of preserving biodiversity, particularly among common wild bee species such as the common eastern bumblebee and red-tailed bumblebee.

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.

Physiological responses reveal our political affiliations

A study from Aarhus University found that only those who are affectively and physiologically engaged in their party exhibit partisan bias. Party supporters' sympathy towards proposals is derived from emotional attachment to the party, not rational analysis.

Redrawing the brain's motor map

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have updated Penfield's motor homunculus by showing the neck's motor control region in the brain is between the shoulders and trunk. This finding may help guide future studies and medical interventions for cervical dystonia and other disorders involving abnormal head movements.

Trial compares antibiotics vs. appendectomy for treatment of appendicitis

A study comparing antibiotics vs. appendectomy found that antibiotic treatment was not more effective than surgery in treating uncomplicated appendicitis. However, most patients who received antibiotics did not require an appendectomy, and those who did did not experience significant complications.

Protein plays key role in spread of breast cancer

A study by researchers at Lund University found that high levels of ALK1 protein in blood vessels increase the risk of metastases. The drug Dalantercept can prevent this spread by blocking ALK1, offering new hope for breast cancer patients.

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.

Dengue mosquitoes hitch rides on Amazon river boats

A study by Emory University researchers found that large barges in the Amazon River are heavily infested with disease-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These mosquitoes can transmit dengue fever and other diseases, highlighting the need for mosquito control programs on aquatic transportation.

Re-booting the human gut

A Wyss Institute team is developing genetically engineered bacteria that can sense, report, and combat harmful microbial invaders in the human gut. The team aims to create a probiotic pill form of the microbes that could reduce the length of gastrointestinal illness, returning individuals to their activities sooner.

Lack of sleep affects long-term health

Research from the University of Copenhagen found that maintaining a good night's sleep helps maintain a healthy lifestyle. Smokers who slept normally were more likely to quit than those with disturbed sleep patterns. Improved sleep also reduced high-risk alcohol consumption and physical inactivity.

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.

Chapman University research on the diversity among nitrogen-fixing plants

Researchers at Chapman University found tremendous diversity in how nitrogen-fixing plants regulate their relationships with soil bacteria. Plants were grown across a gradient of nitrogen availability, revealing that some species can turn off nitrogen fixation under high soil conditions, while others do not regulate it.

Keeping a lid on inflammation

Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) play a critical role in shaping the immune response and maintaining self-tolerance. A recent study by LJI researchers identified a molecular pathway that maintains Treg cell stability and suppressive function, crucial for immune system balance. The discovery suggests that Treg cells may not be stable und...

Attention to angry faces can predict future depression

A new study published in Clinical Psychological Science found that women with a past history of depression who pay more attention to angry faces are at greatest risk for developing depression again over the next two years. Researchers used eye-tracking to analyze the attention of 160 women, including those with and without depression, ...

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Automating microbial genome sequence decontamination

A team at the DOE JGI has developed ProDeGe, a computational protocol for quick and automated removal of contaminant sequences from draft genomes. The tool classifies sequences as 'clean' or 'contaminant' and runs at a rate of 0.30 CPU core hours per megabase of sequence.

Speech recognition from brain activity

Scientists have successfully reconstructed basic units, words, and complete sentences of continuous speech from brain waves. The 'Brain-to-Text' system combines neuroscience, medicine, and informatics to extract the most likely word sequence from cortical information and linguistic knowledge.

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.

Truckies on the road to better health: Workplace intervention works

A Queensland University of Technology-led workplace intervention program helped truckies eat healthier, exercise more, and lose weight, resulting in a 15% decrease in drivers' BMI as obese. The program included healthy options in vending machines, free fruit supply, and the 10,000 steps challenge, leading to positive health outcomes an...

Longevity hormone is lower in stressed and depressed women

Women under chronic stress have significantly lower levels of klotho, a hormone that regulates aging and enhances cognition. The study found even lower levels of klotho in women with clinically significant depressive symptoms, suggesting a link between psychological influences and klotho.

Human cell models accelerate research into brown fat

Researchers created human cell lines to study gene expression in precursor cells, enabling the prediction of UCP1 expression and potential transformation of white fat cells into brown fat cells. This breakthrough offers a promising tool for developing personalized obesity treatments.

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.

Can personal devices interfere with hospital care?

A Concordia University study found that designated minimum separation distances (MSDs) can effectively reduce the risk of electromagnetic interference caused by wireless transmitters in hospitals. By complying with MSD policies, hospital staff can minimize the risk of device malfunctions and ensure patient safety.

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.

World spends more than $200 billion to make countries healthier

The world invested more than $200 billion to improve health in lower-income countries between 2000 and 2014. Despite a significant increase in funding after the Millennium Development Goals were established, global health financing stagnated between 2010 and 2014.

A third of the world's biggest groundwater basins are in distress

A third of the world's biggest groundwater basins are under stress, with many running out quickly without reliable data. The studies found major discrepancies in projected 'time to depletion' and highlighted the need for a coordinated global effort to determine remaining water reserves.

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.

Study shows benefit of higher quality screening colonoscopies

A study of over 57,000 screenings found that higher adenoma detection rates are associated with a 53-60% lower lifetime risk of colorectal cancer and death. However, the cost-effectiveness remains uncertain despite potential complications from more frequent colonoscopies.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

NASA sees Tropical Storm Bill making landfall in Texas

Tropical Storm Bill is expected to bring heavy rain and flash flooding to parts of Texas, particularly eastern Texas and Louisiana. The storm's center was located near latitude 28.2 North, longitude 96.4 West at 10 a.m. CDT on June 16.

Night driving restriction reduces young driver crashes

Research from Monash University and Harvard Medical School reveals that restricting teenagers from driving unsupervised at night can significantly reduce car crashes. The study found a 19% decrease in crash rates for drivers aged 16-17, as well as substantial reductions in nighttime crashes and fatal injuries.

Environmental activism works, study shows

A Michigan State University study found that environmental activism can mitigate the negative impacts of population growth and economic affluence on greenhouse gas emissions. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that states with strong green voices tend to have lower emissions.

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.

How an animal's biochemistry may support aggressive behavior

Winning fish in Siamese fighting fish battles can generate more muscle energy than losing fish, highlighting the crucial role of biochemical processes. The study reveals how energy metabolism affects aggression in animals, contradicting the assumption that only conspicuous traits like antlers drive success.

A new method of converting algal oil to transportation fuels

A new method of converting squalene from microalgae to gasoline or jet fuel has been developed by Tohoku University researchers. The process uses a highly dispersed ruthenium catalyst supported on cerium oxide, producing branched alkanes with high stability and low freezing points.

Theory turns to reality for nonlinear optical metamaterials

A research team at Georgia Institute of Technology has realized a nonlinear material with opposite refractive indices at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of light, as predicted theoretically. This discovery has significant implications for controlling light in information processing, sensing, and signal generation.

Elder abuse is common around the world

Elder abuse is a common issue globally, affecting up to 47% of older adults with dementia in North America. The prevalence varies widely across regions, with higher rates found in Asia and lower rates reported in some African countries.

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.

JCU team finds 'unprecedented' earthquake evidence in Africa

Researchers used innovative methods to examine the ground around Mbeya in Tanzania, finding evidence of fluidisation and massive ground deformation. This discovery could be used to model how structures might be affected by future earthquakes, providing a valuable tool for hazard assessment.

Researchers discover new enzyme, link to iron in vitamin A synthesis

A team of scientists has discovered a new enzyme that plays a critical role in the biosynthesis of vitamin A in plants and its unexpected dependence on heme iron. The findings could help increase the levels of provitamin A carotenoids in food crops, reducing global vitamin A deficiency.

Love and money: How low-income dads really provide

A study found that low-income noncustodial fathers spend an average of $60 a month on in-kind provisions, while those paying formal child support spend about $38 a month. The most disadvantaged dads tend to give a higher proportion of their support through gifts.

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.

New study finds battlegound state polling worked until 2012 election

A statistical analysis of poll performance in battleground states over the last three presidential elections shows polling firms produced estimates that were fairly accurate in 2004 and 2008, but underestimated support for President Obama in 2012. The authors attribute this to outdated sampling methodology that excluded cellphone-only ...

Small thunderstorms may add up to massive cyclones on Saturn

Researchers at MIT propose that Saturn's polar cyclones are caused by small thunderstorms building up angular momentum, leading to the formation of large and long-lasting vortices. The team developed a model that predicts which planets would form such cyclones based on two parameters: atmospheric energy and storm size.

ALK1 protein may play a role in breast cancer metastasis

Researchers found that high levels of ALK1 protein in breast tumor vasculature correlate with increased risk of metastatic disease. An investigational drug targeting ALK1 prevented disease spread in preclinical studies, offering a potential new therapeutic approach for treating metastatic breast cancer.

More dialysis patients living in poor neighborhoods

A recent study published in Hemodialysis International found that the association between poverty and kidney disease changes over time. Adults beginning dialysis are more likely to be living in a poor zip code, with rates increasing from 27.4% in 1995-2004 to 34% in 2005-2010.

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.

Patients struggle to stick to their diet when they choose a plan they like

A randomized trial found that patients assigned a diet they liked lost less weight and reported lower dietary adherence than those assigned a diet by their physician. The study suggests that choosing a diet based on food preferences may make it difficult for dieters to scale down on the amount they eat.