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Science News Archive March 2015


Page 17 of 38

The new frontier in plasma medicine

Researchers developed new plasma models applicable to medicine using data on oxygen ion transport and interaction with water molecules. These models account for how discharges are created in water vapour, enabling the development of novel therapeutic treatments for wound healing and dermatology.

Unaweep Canyon and Earth's deep-time past

Unaweep Canyon, the only canyon with two mouths, formed in multiple stages ~300 million years ago. The inner gorge was incised by the Gunnison River as part of the incision of the Colorado Plateau, linking events on the northern and southern Plates. This study highlights the preservation of ancient landscapes from Earth's deep-time past.

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.

EU ban on ditching unwanted fish 'will be difficult for industry to comply with'

The EU's new Common Fisheries Policy aims to reduce waste and improve fish stocks, but a University of Strathclyde study suggests it may be difficult for the industry to comply. The study found that while overall catches have decreased, the proportion of catch discarded has increased due to an increase in small fish being caught.

30 years after C60: Fullerene chemistry with silicon

Researchers at Goethe University have successfully synthesised a silicon dodecahedron, a structurally similar compound to C60. The molecule features an Si20 Platonic solid and opens up new possibilities for the semiconductor industry.

Traffic fatalities spike during spring break

At popular spring break hotspots, traffic fatalities are significantly higher during the spring break weeks compared to other times of the year. The study found a 9.1% increase in weekly death tolls from car crashes and 16 more traffic deaths per year.

Natural sleep cycles identified in rural community -- new study finds

A study published in Scientific Reports identified a rural community in Brazil that still adheres to traditional sleep patterns, unlike many urban areas where artificial lighting has disrupted the natural day-night cycle. The researchers found that town residents and those living in the countryside have different preferred wake-up and ...

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Extent of moon's giant volcanic eruption is revealed

Researchers used data from NASA's Lunar Prospector spacecraft to map the radioactive element thorium from an unnamed volcano in the Compton-Belkovich Volcanic Complex. The study found debris from the eruption spread over a vast area, comparable to Scotland's size.

Is it dementia, or just normal aging? New tool may help triage

Researchers at Mayo Clinic developed a new scoring system to identify individuals at high risk of developing dementia. The study found that variables such as age, diabetes, heart health risk factors, slow gate, depression, and anxiety disorders are key contributors to the risk score.

Electronic waste has energy value

Researchers at the University of the Basque Country have developed a system to recover hydrogen from waste plastics in electronic boards. The technology has been patented and shows promise as a clean energy source.

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.

Melatonin can help you get a good night's sleep in a noisy environment

Researchers found that melatonin significantly improved sleep quality, reduced awakenings, and increased REM sleep compared to using earplugs and eye masks. Melatonin's effectiveness was attributed to its ability to boost brain activity, reduce anxiety, and promote cognitive restoration.

Ras protein regulates circadian rhythm

Researchers found that Ras activity determines circadian clock phase and induces phase-shifts in response to light. Artificially increased Ras activity alters the circadian rhythm.

Beetles beat out extinction

Researchers found that beetles have among the lowest family-level extinction rates due to their ability to adapt to changing environments. The study suggests that beetle diversity may be due to an historically low extinction rate rather than a high rate of new species emerging.

Buckyballs become bucky-bombs

Scientists have created buckybombs, nanoscale explosives that could target and eliminate cancer cells at the cellular level without affecting surrounding tissue. The new explosives were built by attaching nitrous oxide molecules to a Bucky-Ball and then heating it, triggering a controlled explosion.

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.

Sense of smell may reveal weight bias

Researchers found that visual cues associated with overweight people influence one's sense of smell, and participants with higher BMI tend to be more critical of heavier individuals. This study suggests that weight stigma may be more pervasive than previously thought, affecting everyday life in various ways.

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.

Fatal uncoupling in the epileptic brain

Researchers at the University of Bonn have discovered a new cause of temporal lobe epilepsy: astrocyte uncoupling. This leads to hyperexcitability of neurons and epileptic seizures. The study suggests that inflammation plays a role in uncoupling astrocytes, which can be reversed at an early stage.

Potential treatment identified for myotonic muscular dystrophy

A potential treatment for myotonic muscular dystrophy has been identified, using an experimental drug that improves muscle function and reduces symptoms in mice. The therapy targets excessive activity of a cellular protein called TWEAK and its receptor Fn14, which correlates with disease severity.

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.

Buyer's remorse -- model shows people demand all that bad news

A new model by Washington State University researchers suggests that consumers derive greater happiness from reading negative news than positive news. This tendency creates a societal preference for negative news stories, with news outlets responding by reporting more bad news to attract readers.

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.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Light as puppeteer

Scientists at OIST successfully demonstrated a more robust method for controlling single, micron-sized particles with light using higher order modes. The technique allows particles to move up to eight times faster along a microfiber, with applications in physics, biology, and quantum research.

Leaf odor attracts Drosophila suzukii

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology identified a leaf odor, beta-cyclocitral, that specifically attracts Drosophila suzukii, a devastating fruit crop pest. This specialization allows the fly to pinpoint ripe fruits by tracking the distinct leaf odor.

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.

NASA-JAXA's GPM satellite close-up of Cyclone Pam's rainfall

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite provided data on rain rates throughout Cyclone Pam, revealing a well-defined inner eyewall with intense precipitation features. The cyclone's maximum sustained winds were estimated at 135 knots (~155 mph), indicating a near category 4 storm.

Parasite turns shrimp into voracious cannibals

A new study found that a parasite significantly increases cannibalism among freshwater shrimp in Northern Ireland. Infected shrimp become voracious and consume their victims twice as much as uninfected animals. The research suggests that the parasite may be weakening the shrimp's resistance to invasive species.

Viewers vs. doers

A new study by the Cornell Food & Brand Lab found that women who watch cooking shows for entertainment and don't often cook tend to weigh less than those who watch for inspiration and cook from scratch. The researchers surveyed 501 women aged 20-35 and discovered a significant association between TV viewing habits and weight.

How we became nature -- Anthropocene

The Anthropocene epoch is characterized by human impact on the environment, including climate disruption, overpopulation, and pollution. The authors present evidence of a new geological era where human activities determine the planet's behavior.

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.

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.

Imperfect graphene opens door to better fuel cells

Researchers discovered that slightly imperfect single-layer graphene can shuttle protons from one side to the other in mere seconds, outperforming conventional membranes. This new mechanism could lead to improved fuel cell design and fast-charging batteries for transportation.

Emerging diseases likely to be more harmful in similar species

A study by University of Cambridge researchers found that closely-related fruit fly species show similar levels of virulence when infected with an RNA virus. The team's findings suggest a simple rule of thumb: if a pathogen causes high levels of mortality in one host, it may also be deadly in closely-related hosts.

Scientists unknowingly tweak experiments: ANU media release

A new study by ANU scientists found widespread p-hacking, a type of publication bias where researchers manipulate data to get desired results. This can lead to exaggerated conclusions and misleading information, especially when combining results from multiple studies.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Diet soda linked to increases in belly fat in older adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that diet soda intake is directly linked to greater abdominal obesity in adults 65 years of age and older. Increasing waist circumference was associated with escalating cardiometabolic risk in older adults.

A pinch of baking soda for better vision?

A new study suggests that bicarbonate modifies the visual signal generated by rod and cone photoreceptors, leading to improved tracking of moving objects while slightly reducing sensitivity to light. The researchers hope to explore the potential of controlling bicarbonate levels in the eye to slow or prevent eye diseases.

The secret to an effortless, split-second slime attack

Researchers at Harvard University have discovered the secret to the velvet worm's rapid and perfectly aimed slime attack, which could inspire new microfluidic devices. The unique anatomy of the worm's papillae and elasticity of its slime allow for a wide-spraying jet that entraps prey with great speed.

NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Bavi losing steam

Tropical Cyclone Bavi is losing steam due to moderate to strong southwesterly vertical wind shear, resulting in waning convection and developing thunderstorms. The storm is expected to dissipate in the next day or two as it tracks along the southern edge of a sub-tropical ridge.

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.

Hormones with statins may help women's hearts after menopause

A Swedish population study found that hormone therapy combined with statins significantly lowered the risk of death from any cause and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. The study compared over 40,000 women who took statins with those who used hormone therapy alone or had no treatment.

First in human nanotherapy brain cancer trial launched at CTRC

Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have launched a groundbreaking clinical trial using tiny radioactive liposomes to treat brain cancer. The technology has shown promising results with minimal side effects in the first patient, and the team expects to start the second patient soon.

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.