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Science News for May 1, 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.

Inanimate beads behave in lifelike ways

Scientists have created microbe-sized beads that can sense their environment and move upstream through purely physical means. The beads meet two essential requirements of life: metabolism and mobility. This discovery is an important step toward developing biomimetic microsystems that can respond to environmental changes.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 1, 2015

Study finds housing market cycles have become longer

A statistical analysis of data from 20 industrial countries reveals that housing market pricing cycles have become longer over the last four decades. Longer down phases can lead to dire consequences on national and international economies.

SourceAmerican Statistical Association·JournalJournal of Business and Economic Statistics·DateMay 1, 2015

Good things in store for retailers

Adding physical stores to online retailers led to a net revenue increase of 20% and more frequent purchases, according to recent research. Consumers made more frequent contact with the firm, resulting in improved customer retention.

SourceJournal of Retailing at New York University·JournalJournal of Retailing·DateMay 1, 2015

Citizen science helps predict spread of sudden oak death

A joint study reveals the power of citizen science in predicting the emergence and spread of sudden oak death, a fungus-like disease that has felled hundreds of thousands of trees in California. The SOD Blitz model, created using crowdsourced data, correctly predicts the presence of the pathogen 74% of the time.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateMay 1, 2015
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.

Mixing energy drinks, alcohol tied to abusive drinking in teens

Researchers found that teens aged 15-17 who mixed energy drinks with alcohol were four times more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. The study highlights the potential risks of combining these substances, particularly among adolescents.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2015

BMJ provides resources to support disaster relief efforts in Nepal

BMJ has opened its online resources, including The BMJ and BMJ Journals, decision support tools from BMJ Best Practice, and learning resources from BMJ Learning, to support doctors and healthcare institutions in Nepal. Free access is available for three months for anyone with an IP range originating in Nepal.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateMay 1, 2015

How to reset a diseased cell

Scientists at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine demonstrate ability to reprogram large parts of a cell's signaling network by manipulating key hub in communication networks. This approach shows potential to slow or reverse disease progression, including cancer driven by abnormal cell signaling.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 1, 2015

Global decline of large herbivores may lead to an 'empty landscape'

The world's largest herbivores are declining due to habitat change and hunting, leading to a 'empty landscape' in diverse ecosystems. This loss of species poses significant ecological, social, and economic costs, including reduced food for large carnivores and altered nutrient cycles.

SourceOregon State University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 1, 2015

Lymphatic pump treatment enhances antibiotic effectiveness for treating pneumonia

A new study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that lymphatic pump treatment (LPT) significantly improves treatment outcomes for pneumonia when combined with antibiotics. LPT removes bacteria from the lungs and enhances the efficacy of antibiotics, leading to a 60% success rate among infected rats.

SourceAmerican Osteopathic Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·DateMay 1, 2015
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Heritage destruction in conflict zones provides archaeological opportunities

Researchers at the University of Leicester and American University of Beirut investigate a Graeco-Roman temple in Lebanon, uncovering valuable information from a site devastated by conflict. The study reveals that even badly damaged sites can provide important historical insights, challenging the notion that they are irreparably lost.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalAntiquity·DateMay 1, 2015

The future is now: Reining in procrastination

Researchers found that thinking of the future as now can motivate individuals to accomplish their goals. By considering deadlines in days instead of months or years, people are more likely to start working on their objectives. This shift in time metrics reduces procrastination and increases willingness to save for long-term goals.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 1, 2015

First-year undergrad identifies method to potentially save money in health care

A first-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago discovered a significant decrease in coronary revascularization interventions following the implementation of AUC, resulting in potential cost savings of over $2.3 billion nationwide. The study suggests that informed decision-making among physicians can lead to decreased costs whi...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·DateMay 1, 2015

NIH launches research to gaze deeply into your eyes

The National Eye Institute is committing $20.7 million to five bold projects that will develop new technology to image cells of the eye in unprecedented detail. The goal is to restore vision by regenerating neurons and neural connections in the eye and visual system.

SourceNIH/National Eye Institute·DateMay 1, 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.

UNC researchers create DNA repair map of the entire human genome

Researchers at UNC School of Medicine have created a method to find where DNA repair happens throughout the entire human genome. This breakthrough could lead to better and more effective cancer drugs or improvements in existing ones.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalGenes & Development·DateMay 1, 2015

International team discovers elusive new bird in China

A new bird species, the Sichuan bush warbler, has been discovered in central China by an international team of scientists. The bird is characterized by its distinctive low-pitched drawn-out buzz and shorter click song, and can be found in dense brush and tea plantations at lower elevations.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalAvian Research·DateMay 1, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A practical gel that simply 'clicks' for biomedical applications

A novel, truly biocompatible alginate hydrogel has been developed using 'click chemistry' that can be synthesized quickly and reliably. The gel is designed to release drugs or cells in a controlled manner, making it suitable for applications such as wound healing and tumor treatment.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalBiomaterials·DateMay 1, 2015

Species' evolutionary choice: Disperse or adapt?

New research reveals that minor changes in environment can trigger dramatic shifts in evolutionary strategy as a generalist species disperses into a heterogeneous landscape. This can lead to a positive feedback loop where reduced dispersal triggers further specialization.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalEvolution·DateMay 1, 2015

Prolonged statin use may lower risk of lung cancer death

A study published in Cancer Epidemiology & Biomarkers & Prevention found that prolonged statin use after a lung cancer diagnosis was associated with a reduced risk of dying from lung cancer. Patients who used at least 12 prescriptions of statins had a 19% lower risk of lung cancer-specific deaths.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·DateMay 1, 2015

Ocean fronts improve climate and fishery production, study finds

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that ocean fronts increase total ecosystem biomass and fisheries production. By incorporating front dynamics into current climate models, researchers found that these regions can aggregate food and resources, leading to higher productivity in the ocean.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 1, 2015

UC Riverside receives major funding for research on big data and visualization

The five-year research project will train underrepresented minority students in STEM fields to address a critical shortfall in the workforce essential for future NASA missions. The project will include undergraduate training, research, and doctoral studies, aiming to develop new approaches to visualize and analyze massive data sets.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateMay 1, 2015
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.

Lousy sockeye are lousy competitors

Fraser River sockeye salmon infected with sea lice are less successful at consuming food than their lightly infected counterparts, according to a recent study. The research suggests that sea lice may indirectly affect the survival of juvenile sockeye through reduced foraging success.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences·DateMay 1, 2015

School reform in post-Katrina New Orleans harmful to black community, scholars say

Researchers found that education reform in New Orleans exacerbated economic and cultural inequities for black students, parents, and educators. The takeover of public schools by charter operators led to the loss of beloved neighborhood schools, jobs, and a black veteran teacher at one school.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalQualitative Inquiry·DateMay 1, 2015

Patients with gastrointestinal tumors at higher risk of other cancers

Researchers found that patients with GIST are at higher risk of developing other sarcomas, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, melanoma, and various types of colorectal, esophageal, pancreatic, and renal cell cancers. This association was particularly notable in smaller tumor sizes.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCancer·DateMay 1, 2015
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.

Study finds guidance improves food safety practices at school, community gardens

Researchers developed guidelines for managing food safety risks in school and community gardens. A pilot study shows that the guidelines lead to significant improvements in handwashing, water supply safety, and hazard assessment. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of simple yet crucial measures in reducing foodborne illness risk.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalFood Protection Trends·DateMay 1, 2015

US clinics avoiding government oversight of 'stem cell' treatments

Clinics across the US are advertising stem cell treatments with claims of regulatory compliance, despite lacking proper oversight from the FDA. Proponents charge thousands for cosmetic and disease treatments, despite little evidence of safety and efficacy.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateMay 1, 2015

Low-allergen soybean could have high impact

Researchers have developed a new variety of low-allergenic soybean that lacks key allergenic and anti-nutritional proteins, making it suitable for use in infant formulas, livestock feed, and aquaculture. The 'Triple Null' soybean has the potential to reduce processing costs and make animal feed production more efficient.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPlant Breeding·DateMay 1, 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.