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Science News Archive May 2015


Page 22 of 31

Robot pets to rise in an overpopulated world

As the global population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, robotic pets are becoming increasingly popular, offering alternatives for those who cannot have live pets. However, concerns arise about the ethics of relying on robots for companionship and potential impacts on human relationships with real animals.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Ease of weight loss influenced by individual biology

A new NIH study reveals that people with certain physiologies lose less weight when limiting calories. Those with a 'thrifty' metabolism, characterized by decreased energy expenditure during fasting, tend to lose less weight during calorie-reduced periods.

Vineyard habitats help butterflies return

Researchers at Washington State University found that vineyards with native plant habitats have three times the number of butterfly species and four times more butterflies than conventional vineyards. This conservation method helps reduce pesticide usage and promotes a sustainable agricultural industry.

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.

TSRI scientists link brain protein to binge-drinking behavior

Scientists at TSRI discovered that deleting the gene for a brain protein called GIRK3 in mice increased alcohol consumption and prevented the brain from signaling the rewarding properties of alcohol. In contrast, reintroducing GIRK3 reduced binge drinking.

Starved T cells allow hepatitis B to silently infect liver

Researchers at University College London have found that hepatitis B virus can persist in the liver by exploiting starved T cells. The study suggests that boosting the immune system and counteracting the liver's suppressive effect could potentially clear the infection.

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.

A turning point in the physics of blood

Researchers have developed a new equation that predicts the behavior of blood cells during flow, shedding light on mechanisms behind blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia. This theory could lead to innovative solutions for blood transfusions and disease treatment.

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.

A tale of two roads into protein unfolding

Researchers used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering to study the effects of high pressure and urea on protein unfolding. They found that while both methods cause proteins to unfold, they do so through different mechanisms, leading to distinct intermediate proteins.

PPPL physicist wins Early Career Research Program grant

Delgado-Aparicio's research aims to eliminate impurities that cool plasma and halt fusion reactions, crucial for ITER and NSTX-U experiments. His $2.6M grant will fund development of a complex diagnostic tool to analyze impurity reactions with plasma.

Water fleas genetically adapt to climate change

Biologists from KU Leuven found that water flea populations can rapidly adapt to rising temperatures and increased heat wave frequencies. The study, using 'resurrected' eggs, showed a 3.6°C increase in critical temperature for activity.

New Harvard research finds walnuts may help slow colon cancer growth

A new animal study from Harvard Medical School suggests that a walnut-enriched diet may slow colorectal tumor growth by altering gene expression. The study found that walnuts caused significant changes in the expression profile of micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) in localized colorectal cancer tissue.

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.

Personal microbiomes shown to contain unique 'fingerprints'

Researchers found that individual microbial communities are surprisingly unique and can be used to identify people over time. The study suggests that these microbiome 'fingerprints' could potentially expose sensitive information, but also offer new insights into human health and ecology.

Study may suggest new strategies for myelodysplastic syndromes treatment

Researchers discovered a direct link between telomere degeneration and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of blood cell disorders. The study found that DNA damage caused by dysfunctional telomeres resulted in repressed expression of the RNA splicing gene SRSF2, affecting CMPs' ability to differentiate.

Out with heavy metal

Researchers have developed a new friction stir welding process that can join aluminum sheets of varying thicknesses, yielding car doors that are 62% lighter and 25% cheaper. The process is ten times faster than current techniques, meeting high-volume assembly requirements.

Tortoise approach works best -- even for evolution

A team of researchers found that limiting migrations among populations of bacteria produced better adaptations and allowed for a wider variety of peaks, enabling the organisms to adapt to their environment more effectively. This 'tortoise-hare' pattern highlights the importance of slow and steady evolution in achieving long-term success.

Healing plants inspire new compounds for psychiatric drugs

Scientists at Northwestern University have synthesized four new chemical compounds with antipsychotic properties using natural products from plant species used in traditional healing practices in Nigeria. These compounds show promise in improving cognitive impairment in animal models, a partially effective treatment for schizophrenia.

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.

Ana makes landfall in South Carolina on Mother's Day

Ana made landfall north of Myrtle Beach, SC with sustained winds of 45 mph, transitioning to a tropical depression as it moves northward. Heavy rain and storm surges are expected in the storm's wake, posing dangers for beachgoers.

Mass murder, mental illness, and men

The article examines the link between mass murder and mental illness among perpetrators, who are predominantly men. Dr. Michael Stone discusses how a paranoid personality disorder contributes to this phenomenon and highlights the role of semiautomatic weapons in increasing random mass shootings in the US.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

The origins and future of Lake Eyre and the Murray-Darling Basin

Researchers from Monash University discovered the origins of Australia's two largest basins by reconstructing geological evolution and using seismic tomography models. The study found that both basins are located above a deep mantle slab, which is sinking into the Earth's interior.

Dying cells can protect their stem cells from destruction

Dying daughter cells release protein Pvf1, binding to nearby mother stem cells' receptors, preventing apoptosis. This allows stem cells to survive until they can regenerate damaged tissue. The discovery may lead to new cancer treatments by targeting protective signals in tumor-initiating cells.

New device could greatly improve speech and image recognition

Researchers have developed a magnonic holographic memory device that can recognize patterns and improve speech and image recognition hardware. The device uses spin waves to encode and decode information, allowing for parallel processing and potentially more efficient computation.

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.

Breaking through the blood-brain barrier

A team of scientists at San Diego State University has identified a molecular process that allows bacteria to bypass the brain's defenses and cause meningitis. The discovery could lead to new treatments for this deadly disease by controlling the expression of a key protein involved in breaking down the blood-brain barrier.

Ethicists propose solution for US organ shortage crisis in JAMA piece

Medical ethicists propose a solution to the US organ shortage crisis by introducing an 'uncontrolled donation after circulatory determination of death' (UDCDD) approach. This method considers deceased individuals for donation even outside hospitals, allowing families to decide later if they want to preserve organs for potential donation.

Space technology identifies vulnerable regions in West Africa

Researchers mapped regional droughts and land degradation using satellites, revealing improved land conditions across much of West Africa between 1982-2012. Soil moisture observations provided more accurate results than rainfall data, showing the importance of this factor in understanding vegetation dynamics.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Magic wavelengths

Researchers at JQI have discovered special wavelengths, known as 'magic wavelengths', that can trap and excite Rydberg atoms without disturbing them. This breakthrough enables the creation of qubits and interaction of atoms in a useful regime.

Losing streak: Competitive high-school sports linked to gambling

A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers links competitive high-school sports to problem gambling, particularly among male and female students. The study found that youths involved in intense cardiovascular activity were more likely to engage in regulated lotteries and other forms of gambling.

Group B Streptococcus breaches the blood-brain-barrier

A new study reveals Group B Streptococcus induces a protein that disrupts junctions between brain cells, increasing permeability and allowing the bacteria to breach the blood-brain barrier. Inhibition of this protein increases survival in zebrafish infected with GBS.

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.

Dopamine signals the value of delayed rewards

A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry found that dopamine signals the value of delayed rewards, revealing a sophisticated role in guiding decision-making behavior. The research used rodent models to examine the neurotransmitter's dynamic tracking of specific elements of value-based decision making.

Griffith research sheds new light on cause of CFS

New research from Griffith University uncovers significant genetic changes in receptors associated with immunological and cellular function, potentially shedding light on CFS/ME. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex illness's pathology.

Carbon emissions from peatlands may be less than expected

Duke University scientists have discovered a previously unknown dual mechanism that slows peat decay and reduces CO2 emissions from peatlands. The naturally occurring mechanism was found in 5,000-year-old pocosin bogs and may occur in other regions as well.

Repurposed anti-cholesterol drug could improve treatment-resistant anemias

Researchers have identified a cell receptor that, when stimulated by a cholesterol-lowering drug, increases red blood cell production in patients with treatment-resistant anemias like DBA. The combination of low amounts of glucocorticoids and the repurposed anti-cholesterol drug shows promising results in clinical trials.

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.

Solution to corrosive ocean mystery reveals future climate

A 55-million-year-old global warming event triggered a highly corrosive deep-water current in the North Atlantic Ocean. Researchers recreated the ocean basins and land masses of that time using a global climate model to understand how this event occurred.

May/June 2015 Annals of Family Medicine tip sheet

Research finds that family physicians with a broader scope of practice have patients with 10-15% lower costs and fewer hospitalizations. The study suggests comprehensiveness in family medicine is both measurable and important for bending the cost curve and achieving the nation's Triple Aim.

An important step in artificial intelligence

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara demonstrate a simple artificial neural circuit that performs image classification, using memristor technology to achieve brain-like efficiency. The breakthrough has potential applications in medical imaging, navigation systems, and search technologies.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

UNH scientists show 'breaking waves' perturb Earth's magnetic field

Kelvin-Helmholtz waves frequently occur at Earth's magnetopause, changing radiation belt energy levels and impacting spacecraft technology. Researchers used THEMIS data to find that these waves happen 20% of the time, providing new insights into the magnetosphere's basic physics.

Gene found that is essential to maintaining breast and cancer stem cells

Researchers have discovered a crucial gene, DNMT1, that maintains breast and cancer stem cells. High levels of DNMT1 expression are associated with increased risk of breast cancer, particularly in women over 30. Restoration of the opposing ISL1 gene significantly reduces stem cell populations and cancer growth.

NSF funds a unique program to train graduate STEM students

The NSF-funded COMET program aims to train graduate STEM students to use DFT intelligently, bridging the gap between fundamental assumptions and numerical methods. Students will also receive professional development training and international internship opportunities.

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.

Researchers examine the dangers bubbling up from hookah steam stones

New research from the University of Cincinnati found residues of chromium, arsenic, and cadmium in simulated hookah/steam stones smoking scenarios, raising concerns about the safety of these alternatives to cigarette smoking. The study suggests that most toxic metals came from charcoal used to heat the apparatus.