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Science News for September 4, 2015


Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Climate change could leave Pacific Northwest amphibians high and dry

Climate change is causing significant habitat loss for Pacific Northwest amphibians, including the Cascades frog, which may become extinct by 2080. The study forecasts that more than half of intermediate wetlands will convert to fast-drying ephemeral wetlands, threatening these unique species.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 4, 2015

New nanomaterial maintains conductivity in three dimensions

Researchers create a one-step process to make seamless carbon-based nanomaterials that possess superior thermal, electrical and mechanical properties in three dimensions. The material enables high efficiency batteries, supercapacitors, and solar cells, and has potential for applications such as energy storage, sensors, and wearable ele...

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 4, 2015

Scientists unlock the secrets of a heat-loving microbe

Researchers discovered how Sulfolobus, a superbug that thrives in 80°C environments, transfers its genetic material to new cells during cell division. This finding sheds light on the origins of life and may lead to breakthroughs in understanding life beyond Earth.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalScience·DateSep 4, 2015
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.

Fourth wheat gene is key to flowering and climate adaptation

The discovery of the VRN-D4 gene and its three counterpart genes is crucial for understanding vernalization and developing wheat varieties adapted to different regions or changing environments. The study also shows how ancient wheat from Pakistan and India influenced the spring growth habit in some wheat varieties.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 4, 2015

Computer graphics: Less computing time for sand

A new multi-scale process adapts simulation to the structure of light transport in granular media on various scales. This enables efficient computation of photorealistic representation in images and animations, accelerating computation by a factor of ten compared to conventional path tracing.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·DateSep 4, 2015

Plants also suffer from stress

A team of researchers has identified a protein family that helps plants grow on salt, revealing a mechanism for improving plant growth under salt stress conditions. The study found that these proteins support the cellulose synthase machinery during cellulose synthesis, helping plants maintain biomass production under salt.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalCell·DateSep 4, 2015

GVSU professor, student help discover one-million-year-old monkey fossil

A team of scientists, including a GVSU professor and alumni, discovered a 1-million-year-old monkey fossil in the Dominican Republic. The species, Antillothrix bernensis, was found to be morphologically consistent with previously collected material but dated to 1.3 million years ago.

SourceGrand Valley State University·JournalJournal of Human Evolution·DateSep 4, 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.

Decontamination exterminates antibiotic-resistant bacteria from pig farm

A study by American Society for Microbiology found that decontamination protocols effectively eliminated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria from a pig farm. The protocol involved high-pressure cleaning, disinfection, and treatment with complex solutions.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateSep 4, 2015

SfN announces winners of Brain Awareness Video Contest

The Society for Neuroscience has announced the winners of its fifth annual Brain Awareness Video Contest, featuring nine winning videos that explain complex neuroscience concepts in an engaging way. The contest winners, including Matthew Sugrim and Guillaume Riesen, have received awards and recognition for their innovative videos.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·DateSep 4, 2015

Community ecology can advance the fight against infectious diseases

Researchers demonstrate how community ecology can provide new analytical tools for understanding diseases and their impacts on multiple hosts and vectors. The approach highlights the need for a broad contextual understanding of diseases and identifies strategies such as managing symbiotic microbial communities and preserving biodiversity.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalScience·DateSep 4, 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.

Nanoporous gold sponge makes DNA detector

Researchers from UC Davis developed a novel sensor coating material using nanoporous gold to detect nucleic acids in complex biological samples. The method enables sensitive detection of DNA without requiring purification, enabling faster and more efficient process for field applications.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateSep 4, 2015

The multiferroic sandwich

Scientists at SISSA and Northwestern University propose a new model for creating multiferroic materials that combine magnetism and ferroelectricity in the same substance. Theoretical study shows promise for controlling ferroelectricity with magnetism, paving the way for new technologies.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 4, 2015

Highly effective seasickness treatment on the horizon

Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new seasickness treatment using a mild electrical current applied to the scalp. The treatment reduces responses in an area of the brain responsible for processing motion signals, helping prevent symptoms of motion sickness. Short-term use is expected to be safe and effective.

SourceImperial College London·JournalNeurology·DateSep 4, 2015

Typhoon Kilo's eye gets a NASA style close-up

Typhoon Kilo's maximum sustained winds reached near 86.3 mph on September 4, 2015, with the storm centered near 23.4 North latitude and 175.7 East longitude. NASA's MODIS instrument aboard Aqua satellite provided a close-up of Typhoon Kilo's eye on September 3, revealing high clouds covering most of it.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 4, 2015
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Saint Louis University enrolls first US patient in rare heart disease trial

A Phase 3 clinical trial has been launched to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel RNAi investigational agent for treating patients with transthyretin-mediated familial amyloidotic cardiomyopathy (FAC). The first US patient, Leon Silas, 76, was enrolled in the study after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2011.

SourceSaint Louis University·DateSep 4, 2015

Real competitors enhance thrill of auctions

A KIT study with over 450 test persons found that social competition and time pressure drive up prices in online auctions. Physiological measurements show human contenders influence behavior on electronic markets.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalJournal of Retailing·DateSep 4, 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.

Common antidepressant may change brain

Researchers found that the antidepressant sertraline increased the volume of one brain region in depressed subjects, while decreasing two brain areas in non-depressed subjects. The study used middle-aged female monkeys to replicate human depression and tested the effects of sertraline on brain volumes.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalNeuropharmacology·DateSep 4, 2015

Polar bears may survive ice melt, with or without seals

New calculations indicate that polar bears can survive on land-based food sources, such as caribou and snow goose eggs, to avoid starvation due to ice melt. The research found that these alternative food sources provide enough calories for bears to sustain themselves during extended stays on land.

SourceAmerican Museum of Natural History·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 4, 2015

Farthest galaxy detected

A team of Caltech researchers detects a galaxy called EGS8p7, which is more than 13.2 billion years old, making it the farthest galaxy ever found. The detection challenges our understanding of the universe's evolution, particularly reionization.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateSep 4, 2015

GPM sees weakening Tropical Storm Ignacio headed toward Canada

Tropical Storm Ignacio is weakening as it moves over colder Pacific waters, with the Global Precipitation Measurement mission analyzing its precipitation patterns. The storm has decreased in intensity from a category four hurricane to a strong tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 4, 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.

Inexpensive drug saves blood and money: Study

A study at St. Michael's Hospital found that using an inexpensive drug, tranexamic acid, can reduce the number of red blood cell transfusions during hip and knee replacement surgeries by over 40%. The use of this drug did not increase adverse events or hospital stays.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalCanadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d anesthésie·DateSep 4, 2015

Vestibular organ -- signal replicas make a flexible sensor

Researchers found that the vestibular organ can adapt its sensitivity to movement signals, allowing for smooth balance and posture control. This is achieved through a process where the spinal cord sends efferent signals to the hair cells in the inner ear, reducing their sensitivity.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 4, 2015

NASA sees Tropical Depression Fred fading, new storm developing

Tropical Depression Fred is weakening due to strong upper-level winds, while a new low-pressure area called System 91L is moving westward across the tropical Atlantic. Forecasters expect System 91L to have a 40% chance of development in the next two days and 60% in five days.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 4, 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.

Rice researchers demo solar water-splitting technology

Researchers have developed a system that captures energy from 'hot electrons' to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen, offering a promising means of harnessing renewable energy. The process uses light-activated gold nanoparticles and efficiently increases solar-to-electric power-conversion efficiencies.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateSep 4, 2015
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.