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Science News Archive 2016


Page 151 of 423

Origin of the turtle shell lies in digging

Researchers found that ancient turtles' shells evolved from broadened ribs for burrowing, not protection, in a study published in Current Biology. The discovery sheds light on the earliest beginnings of the turtle shell's unique structure.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New model sheds light on secondary bacterial pneumonia

Researchers have developed a new model to study the phenomenon of secondary bacterial pneumonia caused by S. aureus and influenza A virus. The model, which simulates the natural pathogenesis of infection, reveals that viral infection induces bacteria to disseminate to the lungs.

Study may lead to better breast cancer drugs

Researchers have identified key proteins involved in regulating gene expression in blood cells, which could lead to the development of more effective breast cancer treatments. The study's findings may also help explain how existing drugs work inside human cells.

Sex hormones skew outcomes in clinical trials -- here's how

A growing number of scientists argue that sex hormones and other variables affect how therapeutics behave, necessitating male and female inclusion in trials. Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can significantly impact research, making it essential to consider these differences when testing drugs or transplant tolerance.

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.

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.

1967 solar storm nearly took US to brink of war

A solar storm in May 1967 jammed radar and radio communications at the height of the Cold War, prompting a potential military conflict. However, thanks to the U.S. Air Force's space weather forecasting efforts, the military action was prevented, and the nation avoided a disastrous nuclear exchange.

African-American surgical patients benefit in universally insured health system

Research found no significant differences in post-operative complications or mortality between African American and white patients treated in a universally insured military health system. In contrast, uninsured or Medicaid-receiving African Americans experienced significantly higher odds of mortality, complications, and readmission aft...

Talking back: Countering terrorist narratives may reduce recruitment

Researchers suggest that analyzing and countering terrorist narratives can be an effective way to reduce recruitment. By understanding the processes used by terrorists to persuade people to join their groups, experts can craft counter-narratives that contradict these themes and promote alternative messages.

NREL technique leads to improved perovskite solar cells

Researchers at NREL and Shanghai Jiao Tong University develop a method to treat perovskite films with MABr solution, repairing defects and improving efficiency. The new approach boosts the efficiency of perovskite solar cells to up to 19% and demonstrates improved reproducibility.

Report: People buy most of their junk food at the supermarket

A study found that nearly half of US adults consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily, and two-thirds eat discretionary foods like cookies and candy. Despite supermarket access, these unhealthy choices persist, suggesting a need to address junk food marketing and nutrition education.

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.

New study shows breast tumors evolve in response to hormone therapy

A new study analyzes breast tumors before and after hormone-reduction therapy, revealing the genetic complexity of these tumors and their varying responses to estrogen-deprivation treatments. The findings suggest that analyzing a single sample is insufficient for understanding how a patient should be treated.

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.

Diet designed to lower blood pressure also reduces risk of kidney disease

A study published in American Journal of Kidney Diseases found that following a DASH-style diet can lower the risk of developing chronic kidney disease over two decades. The diet, which emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, was also shown to reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.

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.

1 in 5 are discharged from hospital with unstable vital signs

A new study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found that nearly 20% of hospitalized adults are discharged with one or more vital sign instabilities. Patients who had vital sign abnormalities on the day of discharge had higher rates of hospital readmission and death within 30 days.

NIH awards $9 million grant for study on health disparities in HIV prevention

A research team from Penn Nursing, University of Michigan School of Nursing and Emory's School of Public Health is awarded a $9 million grant to test an HIV prevention intervention for adolescent men who have sex with men. The iCON intervention offers life skills training and community-based resources through an online app.

LISA best strategy to prevent chronic lung disease in preterm infants

The study compared seven ventilation strategies and found that LISA, a non-invasive ventilation strategy, was the most effective in preventing death and/or chronic lung disease in preterm infants. On average, LISA resulted in 164 fewer preterm babies dying or having long-term breathing problems.

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.

Double whammy for important Baltic seaweed

A study by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel reveals that climate change and eutrophication could lead to a decline in bladder wrack, a crucial species in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. Rising temperatures and increased nutrient supply have negative effects on the seaweed's biomass, while smaller species of algae benefit from ...

Developmental psychology: Little strategists

A study by Markus Paulus found that preschoolers (3-5 years) expect reciprocity in social interactions, even before it's explicitly taught. This strategic behavior is rooted in the understanding of relative amounts of social capital they build with others.

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.

'Fixing' blood vessel cells to diagnose blood clotting disorders

A new device replicates the crucial interface between endothelial cells and circulating blood, enabling the diagnosis of blood clotting disorders and monitoring of anti-platelet therapy. The device uses chemically fixed human endothelial cells to mimic cellular and vascular flow conditions, increasing robustness and diagnostic accuracy.

Research reveals patient can have more than one breast cancer, points at treatments

Researchers found that treating human breast cancer tumors with estrogen-deprivation therapy changes the spectrum of mutations in the tumor population. This suggests using this information to improve cancer treatment. The study also discovered 'collision tumors' - separate tumors of different origin growing closely together, undiagnose...

Stem cells of worms and humans more similar than expected

Researchers identified new mechanisms controlling stem cell properties in flatworms, including alternative splicing processes that operate only in stem cells. The study also reveals a previously unknown interaction between proteins MBNL and CELF, which may have implications for human regenerative medicine.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Slowly pulling proteins apart reveals unexpected path to stability

Researchers at Duke University used single-molecule force-spectroscopy to study Protein S, a large protein found in nature. They discovered a previously unknown stable conformation made possible by the interaction between two domains, which may help explain why some proteins are more stable than others.

In search of neurobiological factors for schizophrenia

A study found that individuals with smaller hippocampi are more likely to have a combination of genetic risk factors associated with an increased risk of psychosis. This discovery may lead to the development of personalized treatment strategies for schizophrenia.

Eat Mediterranean: Your brain will reap the benefit

A Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve cognitive function and slow down cognitive decline. The diet's focus on plant-based foods, low dairy intake, and olive oil as a primary source of fat may contribute to its benefits.

Team digs deep to answer water-safety questions

Researchers at Clemson University are launching a new study using their developed 'microcosm' method to investigate how solvents degrade in rock, which could help determine the need for costly cleanups. The study aims to simulate groundwater flow and test how much solvent is released from rock cores at different sites.

Warmer climate could lower dengue risk

Researchers at Australian National University predict that a warmer climate could lead to a decrease in dengue transmission in certain regions, such as northeast Australia. This finding is relevant to other mosquito-borne viruses like Zika, and highlights the need for continued monitoring of global health impacts.

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.

US diabetic kidney disease rate unchanged

A study by University of Washington researchers found that the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease has remained relatively stable over 30 years, but its clinical manifestations have changed significantly. Albuminuria rates decreased, while reduced glomerular filtration rate increased.

Researchers successfully test modified stun gun with heart monitoring capability

Researchers successfully combined a heart monitoring device with an existing CEW to detect and store cardiac rhythms, producing both incapacitating charges and interpretable EKG signals. The modified prototype demonstrates the potential for safety measures like cardiac biomonitoring to be incorporated into law enforcement devices.

New breakthrough in understanding dystonia

Researchers at VIB-KU Leuven have unraveled the mechanism by which DYT1 dystonia causes cellular defects, linking it to dysregulation of lipids. The findings may lead to new medical approaches to overcome this poorly understood condition.

The 6 steps to extinction

Scientists propose a new framework to understand plant extinctions, identifying six thresholds that species cross before becoming extinct. The study highlights the slow pace of plant extinction and the need for urgent action to protect declining native species.

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.

The long hunted sterile neutrino cannot be traced

Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute analyzed thousands of neutrinos in the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. They could not find any signs of a sterile neutrino, which would help explain dark matter and the imbalance of matter over antimatter in the universe.

DNA dominos on a chip

Researchers at TU Munich and Weizmann Institute successfully recreated DNA condensation on a biochip, replicating the tightly packed structure found in cell nuclei and viruses. This breakthrough enables better understanding of biological processes and potential applications in artificial cells.

Higher weekly activity levels linked to lower risk of 5 chronic diseases

A study published in The BMJ found that higher total physical activity levels are strongly associated with a lower risk of five common chronic diseases. Most health gains occur at a level of 3000-4000 MET minutes a week, suggesting that current recommended minimum levels may not be sufficient to achieve larger reductions in risks.

Researchers immobilize underwater bubbles

A research team has developed a method to 'freeze' newly created microbubbles in their tracks, enabling potential applications in medicine, such as ultrasound contrast agents and gas embolotherapy. This breakthrough could also improve the nuclear industry by controlling microbubbles in liquid sodium coolant.

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.

Obesity on the rise in adults with a history of cancer

A study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that obesity prevalence increased from 22% to 32% among cancer survivors between 1997 and 2014. Colorectal and breast cancer survivors, as well as non-Hispanic blacks, were particularly affected.

Army medicine opens the door for vision prosthetic prototypes

Researchers have successfully developed three novel approaches to restoring vision in individuals with severe eye injuries. Dr. Rizzo's team aims to bypass the damaged optic nerve, while Dr. Weitz's team focuses on generating precise images without causing inaccurate visual field distortions. Meanwhile, Dr. Kao explores using optical p...

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.

Getting it 'just right' in the immune system

Researchers suggest that duration of T-cell interactions with dendritic cells may be key to matching immune response to infection severity. Understanding this process could lead to advancements in vaccine development and the study of autoimmune diseases.