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Science News for October 23, 2015


ACL injuries increase among school-aged children and adolescents

A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics reveals a significant increase in ACL tears among youths, particularly high school students, over the past two decades. The incidence rose by 2.3% per year, with females experiencing most ACL tears at age 16 and males peaking at age 17.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateOct 23, 2015

NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite sees record-breaking Hurricane Patricia

Hurricane Patricia broke records as the strongest eastern North Pacific hurricane on record, with a minimum central pressure of 880 millibars and maximum sustained winds near 200 mph. The storm is expected to produce catastrophic impacts in southwestern Mexico, including life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 23, 2015
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.

Signs of faster ageing process identified through gene research

Researchers have identified 1,450 genes linked to ageing, as well as a connection between these genes and lifestyle factors. The study found that individuals with a biological age older than their actual age are more likely to have conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2015

Most parents form vaccination preferences before becoming pregnant

A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that nearly three-quarters of mothers and fathers start developing vaccine preferences for their newborns before they know they are having a baby. Parents who were more educated and had previously discussed vaccines with their partner were more likely to form these early preferences.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateOct 23, 2015

Bacteriophage treatment decontaminates infant formula

A new phage treatment has shown strong anti-microbial activity against Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can kill up to 40% of infected infants. The treatment, CR5, killed the bacteria quickly and effectively, without producing toxins or virulence factors.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateOct 23, 2015

NASA sees Hurricane Olaf still a major hurricane

Hurricane Olaf remains a major hurricane with sustained winds near 115 mph, moving northward towards the Hawaiian Islands. Swells generated by the storm will produce life-threatening surf along east-facing shores.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 23, 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.

Failing to account for climate change in mining land reclamation may cost billions: Study

Researchers at the University of Waterloo propose a six-step process to improve success rates for ecological reclamation projects and control mine closure costs. The study highlights the need for a more pragmatic approach to reclamation planning that takes into account projected climate change, which could lead to billions in additiona...

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalNature Climate Change·DateOct 23, 2015

NASA satellite sees Typhoon Champi elongating

Typhoon Champi is experiencing vertical wind shear, resulting in its elongation. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts the storm will weaken and transition to an extra-tropical system on October 24.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 23, 2015

UT Dallas researcher receives NSF grant to update conflict database

A UT Dallas political science professor has received a grant from the NSF to extend coverage of the Correlates of War Projects' Militarized Interstate Dispute (MID) data through 2017. The project aims to collect data quickly and efficiently using new methods, including crowdsourcing.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·DateOct 23, 2015
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.

Alzheimer risk impairs 'satnav' function of the brain

Young adults with genetically increased Alzheimer's risk show altered activation patterns in the entorhinal cortex, a key region for spatial navigation. This alteration may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's dementia in the long term.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScience·DateOct 23, 2015

Study finds injuries from nonpowder guns severe among children

A new study reveals that nonpowder firearms like airsoft and paintball guns can cause severe injuries in pediatric patients. Twenty-nine percent of the children treated for nonpowder gun injuries required surgery, highlighting the need for stricter regulations on muzzle velocities to prevent such incidents.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateOct 23, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Depression too often reduced to a checklist of symptoms

A large-scale study reveals that certain depression symptoms play a bigger role in driving the condition than others. The researchers suggest focusing treatment efforts on these key symptoms to improve patient outcomes.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateOct 23, 2015

TUM scientists identify molecular mechanism behind early flowering

Researchers discovered a molecular mechanism that triggers early flowering in thale cress under cool temperatures, allowing for accurate prediction and future modification of plant flowering behavior. This study provides insights into the impact of climate change on plant ecology and has potential applications for crop breeding.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 23, 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.

Archives of Atlantic philanthropies given to Cornell Library

The Atlantic Philanthropies' archives will be housed permanently at Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections. The collection documents roughly $8 billion in grants made by the foundation over three decades, providing a valuable resource for philanthropists and historians.

SourceCornell University·DateOct 23, 2015

Manipulating wrinkles could lead to graphene semiconductors

Researchers at RIKEN have discovered that wrinkles in graphene can form a junction-like structure, changing its electronic properties from zero-gap conductor to semiconductor and back. By manipulating the carbon structure using scanning tunneling microscopy, they have opened up new possibilities for graphene engineering.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2015

Japanese sea defense guidelines could assist other tsunami-prone nations, study suggests

A study by Plymouth University suggests that Japan's new sea defense plans could be shared with other nations to improve their preparedness for tsunamis. The research analyzed Japan's history of coastal defense design and measures taken since 2011, highlighting the country's progress in mitigating tsunami impacts.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction·DateOct 23, 2015

NSF awards $2 milion to UT Dallas for international conflict projects

The University of Texas at Dallas will collaborate with researchers to create a research tool that uses big data to provide updated information on civil protests and unrest, as well as study Colombia's efforts to protect its power grid from attacks. The project aims to drive decisions on foreign policy, international relations, civil w...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·DateOct 23, 2015

NASA analyzes record-breaking Hurricane Patricia

Hurricane Patricia intensified rapidly off Mexico's southwestern coast, breaking records for the strongest Eastern North Pacific hurricane. NASA satellites and instruments tracked its rapid intensification, revealing frigid cloud top temperatures that enabled heavy rainfall.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 23, 2015
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.

Sensing small molecules may revolutionize drug design

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a new technique for studying the interactions between small molecules and membrane proteins, allowing for precise control over binding kinetics. This breakthrough has broad implications for basic research and drug design, potentially reducing development time and cost.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 23, 2015
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.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Steaming out some of luminol's wrinkles

Researchers at the University of South Carolina have developed a new technique called 'steam thermography' that can detect blood spots in crime scenes more effectively than luminol. The method uses thermal imaging and a hand steamer to highlight where blood is present, even in highly diluted samples.

SourceUniversity of South Carolina·DateOct 23, 2015

Tropical Depression 26W moving faster than spinning

Tropical Depression 26W was experiencing wind shear and speeding up as it transitioned from a tropical to an extra-tropical cyclone. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects the storm to continue weakening over open waters of the western North Pacific Ocean.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateOct 23, 2015
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.

New DNA research reveals undiscovered white dots on the map

Researchers have discovered a new function of Histone H1 that helps summon repair proteins, leading to improved understanding of how cells protect and repair DNA damages. This discovery may eventually result in targeted treatments for diseases such as cancer and immune deficiency syndrome.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalNature·DateOct 23, 2015

A new algorithm to predict the dynamic language of proteins

Researchers have developed a computational method to predict protein dynamics based on co-evolutionary studies, which explains changes in shape or structure to interact with other compounds. This study is crucial for designing drugs and researching genetic diseases like cancer, resulting in higher complexity than current methods.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2015

Photons open the gateway for quantum networks

Scientists at the Niels Bohr Institute have developed a photon contact that can control the transport of photons in a circuit. This breakthrough enables the creation of complex quantum photonic circuits and paves the way for the development of quantum networks based on photons.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Niels Bohr Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2015
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.

Faster optimization

Researchers have developed a new cutting-plane algorithm that improves upon existing methods, offering huge efficiency gains for specific optimization problems. The algorithm has been applied to various types of problems, including submodular minimization and semidefinite programming, resulting in significant speedups.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateOct 23, 2015

Researchers catch Comet Lovejoy giving away alcohol

Comet Lovejoy released large amounts of ethyl alcohol and glycolaldehyde into space, adding to evidence that comets could be a source of complex organic molecules necessary for life. The discovery supports the idea that comets carried sophisticated chemistry to Earth during its early stages.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 23, 2015

Sarcoidosis: Surface marker allows new diagnostic approaches

A new strategy to determine monocyte subsets involved in diseases has been developed, which may improve the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The analysis of an additional marker molecule called slan allows a more precise determination of monocyte subgroups.

SourceHelmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH))·JournalBlood·DateOct 23, 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.

Capacitor breakthrough

Researchers at the University of Delaware have successfully developed a new method to increase the energy storage ability of dielectric capacitors using nanotechnology. The innovation achieves an energy density of about two watt hours per kilogram, significantly higher than existing structures.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 23, 2015

Potato harvest reduced by half

A new study reveals that potato waste in Switzerland can be reduced significantly through improved cultivation methods and quality standards. The researchers found that 53% of conventionally produced table potatoes are wasted, while organic production leads to a higher waste proportion.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalWaste Management·DateOct 23, 2015

New methane organisms discovered

Researchers have discovered two new organisms that play an unknown role in greenhouse gas emissions and consumption, belonging to a previously unexplored group called Bathyarchaeota. The discovery expands our understanding of life on Earth and suggests we are missing other organisms involved in carbon cycling and methane production.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScience·DateOct 23, 2015
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Blocking enzymes in hair follicles promotes hair growth

Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that inhibiting the Janus kinase (JAK) family of enzymes promotes hair growth in mice and human hair follicles. The study suggests that JAK inhibitors, approved for blood diseases and rheumatoid arthritis, could be used to restore hair growth in humans.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 23, 2015
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

A longer look at treatments for leg length discrepancies

A study by Eric J. Peng found that each extra inch of adult height correlates with an average increase in yearly income, with men earning $1,660 more per year for every inch above 64 inches and women earning $1,186 more per year for every inch above 59 inches.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateOct 23, 2015

Upgrading the quantum computer

Researchers at University of Innsbruck propose new quantum computer architecture that detaches logical qubit from physical implementation, overcoming challenges in adiabatic quantum computation. This approach enables scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computing.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 23, 2015

Deadly fish virus still present in Wisconsin lake

Researchers have found that a deadly fish virus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv), is still circulating in Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. Despite efforts to slow its spread, the virus can survive in infected fish, potentially leading to future outbreaks.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalJournal of Clinical Microbiology·DateOct 23, 2015

Mini-kidney organoids re-create disease in lab dishes

Researchers have grown mini-kidney organoids in a laboratory by combining stem cell biology with leading-edge gene-editing techniques. These engineered mini-kidneys contain tubules, filtering cells and blood vessel cells, and can mimic both healthy and diseased kidneys.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2015
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.