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Science News Archive March 2015


Page 37 of 38

The more friends you drink with ... the more you drink

A new study published in Addiction found that individuals tend to consume more alcohol when surrounded by friends, especially among young adult males. The research used internet-based questionnaires to survey nearly 200 drinkers in Switzerland, finding a positive correlation between social group size and drinking frequency.

Important step towards quantum computing: Metals at atomic scale

Researchers have found that electric current flows unimpeded through tiny channels on the surface of certain metals, reducing energy losses and enabling novel information processing techniques. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of new electronic devices and quantum computing systems.

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.

Maternal health in India much worse than previously thought

A new study reveals that over 40% of Indian women are underweight before pregnancy, leading to lower birth weights and potential long-term consequences. The findings highlight the need for improved maternal nutrition monitoring in India, where social status and patriarchal societies contribute to health disparities.

Low sugar uptake in brain appears to exacerbate Alzheimer's disease

A deficiency in GLUT1 protein worsens Alzheimer's disease symptoms by breaking down blood-brain barrier, while targeting this protein may help prevent the disease progression among those at risk. Researchers found that GLUT1 deficiency led to neuronal dysfunction and behavioral changes.

Psychology has important role in changing cancer landscape

Research highlights psychology's contributions to cancer risk reduction, treatment adherence, quality of life, and survivorship. Psychological science helps individuals modify unhealthy behaviors that can lead to disease, and enhances the lives of people who have survived or are living with cancer.

Licorice manufacturers encouraged to state daily limit of consumption

A 10-year-old boy developed seizures and hypertension after consuming excessive licorice sweets. The case study highlights the dangers of overconsumption of glycyrrhizic acid in licorice, a risk particularly high for children with low body weight. Manufacturers are urged to state recommended daily limits as a safety measure.

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.

Democratizing synthetic biology

A new protein production method developed by Northwestern University researchers makes cell-free protein synthesis faster and cheaper, addressing a technological gap in the field. The approach uses standard lab equipment and produces crude extract catalysts in less time, enabling more researchers to enter the field.

Parasite provides clues to evolution of plant diseases

A recent study by researchers at The Sainsbury Laboratory has shed new light on the evolution of plant diseases using a generalist parasite, Albugo candida. The parasite's ability to suppress host immunity allows it to adapt to different host species and expand its range.

UC research partnership explores how to best harness solar power

Researchers at UC have made significant advances in harnessing solar power by developing more efficient solar cells using polymer materials. The new technology has increased the cell's efficiency by three-fold, making it a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells.

TSRI scientists find clues to cancer drug failure

Researchers at TSRI have published two studies showing how ABC transporters like P-gp change shape and react to therapeutic drugs. The findings provide clues for designing better molecules to inhibit or evade multidrug resistance.

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.

Society of Interventional Radiology selects 23 Fellows

The Society of Interventional Radiology has selected 23 new Fellows, recognizing their achievements in research, teaching, and leadership in the field. The SIR Fellowship is a prestigious honor conferred to members who have demonstrated excellence in advancing medical practice through image-guided treatments.

Risks of taking paracetamol long-term may have been underestimated by clinicians

Researchers found a consistent dose-response relationship between paracetamol and adverse events, including mortality, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal problems. This suggests that clinicians should reevaluate the drug's effectiveness and tolerability for certain conditions, particularly when analgesic benefit is uncertain.

Sad movies are fattening

A study from the Cornell Food & Brand Lab found that movie-goers watching tearjerkers ate 28-55% more popcorn during the Thanksgiving holiday. This increased consumption was attributed to emotional eating triggered by sad movies.

Disease-carrying fleas abound on New York City's rats

A study found that fleas on rats in New York City can transmit plague pathogens, as well as several other diseases. Public health officials are advised to monitor city rats and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to prevent the spread of disease.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Water in smog may reveal pollution sources

Researchers have found combustion water in Salt Lake City's winter inversions, with cars and home heating being the largest sources. The study provides a new method for measuring greenhouse gas emissions and studying urban weather.

Warming temperatures implicated in recent California droughts

A new study by Stanford scientists links California's recent droughts to rising temperatures, finding that warm and dry conditions are twice as likely to produce severe droughts. Climate change is also expected to increase the frequency of multi-year droughts in the coming decades.

Pens filled with high-tech inks for do-it-yourself sensors

Researchers developed bio-inks that react with chemicals, allowing the creation of reusable glucose sensors on skin and leaves. The pens can also detect pollutants and hazardous materials, enabling potential applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and security. Future steps include connecting sensors wirelessly to monitor...

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.

Smart crystallization

Researchers have developed a novel nucleating agent that improves crystal quality for reluctant proteins and boosts the probability of success in high-throughput trials. The modified molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) is suitable for automated optimization, making it a potent tool for structural biologists.

Breakthrough in OLED technology

Researchers in California and Japan develop OLEDs with finely patterned structures, producing bright, low-power light sources. The key finding is confining charge transport and recombination to nanoscale areas, extending electroluminescent efficiency by almost two orders of magnitude.

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.

Family log of spring's arrival helps predict climate-driven change

A 200-year record of spring's arrival is helping scientists understand how woodland plants respond to rising autumn temperatures, which could affect species survival. Researchers predict that oak trees will leaf earlier than birch trees within a few decades due to warmer autumns.

A change in thought on Earth's core formation

Researchers found that iron vaporizes at lower impact speeds than previously thought, leading to a shift in understanding of Earth's core formation process. This change affects estimates of the timing of Earth's core formation, with new information suggesting a more rapid process.

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.

The rub with friction

Researchers at Brandeis University have discovered that friction forces are nearly 1,000 times greater than previously thought at the microscopic level. This breakthrough understanding of friction is an important step toward designing next-generation microscopic and nanotechnologies.

Colon + septic tank = unique, at times stinky, study

UC Riverside researchers develop unique model system to study environmental effects of copper nanoparticles. The studies show that properly functioning septic tanks can eliminate toxicity of nanoparticles, providing encouraging results for human health and ecosystem implications.

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.

Kids who lack sympathy more likely to share with virtuous friends

A recent study published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology found that children who struggle with sympathy are more likely to share resources with peers they respect. The research suggests a compensatory relationship between sympathy and respect, helping kids navigate prosocial solutions even when empathy is lacking.

Understanding lung disease in aboriginal Australians

A new study found that Aboriginal Australians have low forced vital capacity due to environmental and socioeconomic factors. This discovery challenges the previous notion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) being more common among Aboriginal Australians.

UW researchers develop new approach to diagnosing TB -- oral swabs

Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new approach to diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) using oral swab samples, greatly improving on standard diagnostics. The method was tested in 20 healthy individuals and 20 TB patients, detecting TB in 18 out of 20 confirmed cases.

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.

US spends more on cancer care, saves fewer lives than Western Europe

A recent study by Samir Soneji found that the US spends significantly more on cancer treatment than Western European countries, yet mortality rates have decreased only modestly since 1970. The study suggests that much of this spending may be unnecessary and not leading to significant quality-adjusted-life-year gains.

Glass coating improves battery performance

Researchers at University of California - Riverside developed a glass cage-like coating and graphene oxide to improve lithium-sulfur battery performance. The silica-caged sulfur particles provided substantially higher battery performance, and incorporating mildly reduced graphene oxide improved the design further.

Teenager with stroke symptoms actually had Lyme disease

A teenager returned from a discotheque with classic stroke symptoms was actually diagnosed with Lyme disease due to elevated white blood cell counts in spinal fluid. The patient improved immediately after antibacterial and antiviral treatment began.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Mutation may cause early loss of sperm supply

A study by Brown University biologists reveals that the loss of a gene in male mice leads to premature exhaustion of their fertility, with mice being fertile at first but quickly depleting their limited sperm supply. The research provides fundamental insights into sperm generation and has implications for understanding human fertility.

On-board school bus filtration system reduces pollutants by 88 percent

A new on-board air filtration system developed for school buses reduces exposure to vehicular pollutants by up to 88%, making it cleaner way to transport children. The HECA filtration system could protect the 25 million American children who commute on school buses nearly every day from harmful exposures.

UT research: Conservation organizations need to keep up with nature

A new paper suggests that conservation organizations need to be bolder in their adaptation efforts due to the rapid ecological changes caused by climate change and other global changes. By adapting like the organisms they seek to protect, these organizations can conserve something that won't stay still.

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.

Scientists override the body's inflammatory response

Researchers have deciphered the mechanism of interleukin 37 (IL-37), a powerful inhibitor of inflammation, revealing its ability to regulate and control inflammation by binding to specific receptors on target cells. The findings hold promise for developing new drugs to treat inflammatory diseases such as stroke, heart attack, and autoi...

Income inequality is taking a toll on the health of American workers

Research at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health finds that income inequality affects worker health, with stagnant wages and increased healthcare costs contributing to high stress, cardiovascular disease, and lower life expectancy. The study highlights the need for policies addressing workplace conditions and improving working-class h...

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.

New technique improves forecasts for Canada's prized salmon fishery

A new forecasting method, empirical dynamic modeling (EDM), has improved predictions for Fraser River sockeye salmon in British Columbia. The EDM technique uses archives of field data to drive predictions, outperforming traditional management forecast tools with a smaller error margin.

Case study: Nebraska's Ebola isolation and decontamination approach

The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit implements a rigorous process to handle Ebola patients, including two blood samples confirmed undetectable for the virus before discharge. Environmental decontamination involves 48-hour isolation followed by manual disinfection, UVGI, and multiple air exchanges.

Supersonic electrons could produce future solar fuel

Researchers at Lund University successfully tracked supersonic electrons through a light-converting molecule, finding that the conversion of light to chemical energy happens rapidly without energy loss as heat. The study provides insights into constructing molecules for artificial photosynthesis, paving the way for solar fuel production.

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.

The first ever photograph of light as a particle and a wave

Researchers at EPFL have captured a single snapshot of light exhibiting both wave-like and particle properties using electrons to image the phenomenon. The experiment demonstrates the simultaneous observation of quantization and interference pattern of a plasmonic near-field.