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Science News Archive 2016 - Page 327


Page 327 of 423

CU study: Fires, drought in changing climate affecting high-altitude forests

A CU study found that large fires in the West followed by drought conditions are affecting high-elevation forests, leading to lower tree densities and increased patchiness. The research team measured tree species, numbers, sizes, and ages of post-fire seedlings in nearly 200 forest plots.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalGlobal Ecology and Biogeography·DateMar 21, 2016

Protecting 30 percent of the ocean has many benefits, study suggests

A study suggests that setting aside at least 30 percent of the ocean for protection could have numerous benefits for conservation, fisheries, and other stakeholders. The research found a surprising consensus among previous studies on an ambitious target for ocean protection.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalConservation Letters·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Global warming pushes wines into uncharted terroir

A study finds that global warming has largely removed drought from the centuries-old early-harvest equation, pushing French grape growers to adapt to hotter climates. As a result, some regions may no longer be suitable for traditional wine varieties, forcing vineyards to change their methods or relocate.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMar 21, 2016

New way to control particle motions on 2-D materials

Researchers have discovered a new way to manipulate plasmons on graphene and TMDs using circularly polarized light, enabling separation of particle streams without magnetic fields. This breakthrough could lead to novel electro-optical devices and applications in chip-scale optical isolation.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review B·DateMar 21, 2016

New gravity map gives best view yet inside Mars

The new gravity map provides a detailed view of Mars' interior, revealing a liquid outer core and massive seasonal precipitation. The improved resolution helps understand the formation of specific regions and confirms previous indications about Martian tides.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalIcarus·DateMar 21, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Why did we invent pottery?

Researchers found that pottery was used mainly for cooking marine and freshwater animal species, with little evidence of plant processing or deer cooking. This suggests cultural influences played a bigger role than expected in the widespread adoption of pottery.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 21, 2016

The evolution of altruistic defense in enslaved ants

New research reveals that kin selection drives altruistic defense in enslaved Temnothorax longispinosus ant workers. The study found that slaves rebel against their oppressors' offspring, benefiting relatives living nearby.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Evolutionary Biology·DateMar 21, 2016

Of warming and wine

Researchers analyzed over 500 years of harvest records, finding that climate change has caused winegrape harvests in France to occur two weeks earlier than in the past. The trend is expected to continue due to increasing temperatures, which can negatively impact wine quality.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMar 21, 2016

Truckers with sleep apnea who do not follow treatment have greater crash risk

Researchers have found that truckers with obstructive sleep apnea who do not adhere to treatment have a significantly higher crash risk. The study, which analyzed over 1,600 drivers, found that these drivers were more than five times as likely to be involved in a severe crash compared to those who followed the treatment program.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalSLEEP·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Lehigh scientists extend the reach of single crystals

Researchers at Lehigh University have made a breakthrough in creating single crystals from glasses, which could enable the use of disordered materials in high-tech applications like lasers and LEDs. The new method uses a novel heating strategy to convert glass into a single crystal without unwanted crystals forming.

SourceLehigh University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 21, 2016

Back to the essence of medical treatment in oncology

The new WHO Model List of Essential Medicines includes tumour-specific indications for 46 essential medicines, empowering oncologists to demand quality care. The list aims to reduce disparities in survival outcomes and bring cancer care to developing worlds.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalESMO Open·DateMar 21, 2016

Supporting the bioimaging revolution

EMPIAR provides valuable data for developing new approaches to data processing and interpretation, facilitating archiving and quality control. The resource accommodates large datasets, including four related 3D SEM entries showing different stages of infection by a malaria parasite.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory - European Bioinformatics Institute·JournalNature Methods·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Out-of-hospital births are on the rise

US out-of-hospital birth rates increased to nearly 1.5% of total births in 2014, with non-Hispanic white women experiencing the largest growth. Many women face difficulty accessing insurance coverage for out-of-hospital births, leading to high self-pay rates.

SourceWiley·JournalBirth·DateMar 21, 2016

The invisible world of human perception

A study published in Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics reveals that people can intentionally exclude objects from their mental model of their environment. Test observers were faster at finding a target when the objects matched the color of the rectangle, but not when they did not, indicating top-down control over attention.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Parasites reveal how evolution has molded an ancient nuclear structure

A research team has mapped the structure of a unique nuclear pore complex found in trypanosomes, an ancient parasite species diverged from yeast and humans. The study reveals that the architecture of the inner ring is similar across different eukaryotes, while the outer ring exhibits distinct features, suggesting an ancient origin.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 21, 2016

Tiny, ancient galaxy preserves record of catastrophic event

Astronomers discovered a tiny, ancient galaxy that contains seven stars with heavy elements formed through rapid neutron captures, a process more common in rare cosmic collisions. The findings suggest that the heaviest elements on Earth originated in neutron star mergers.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·DateMar 21, 2016

Seeing isn't required to gesture like a native speaker

A study comparing blind and sighted participants reveals that language learning shapes gesture patterns, with Turkish speakers producing more separated sentence units. The findings suggest that speech carries the imprint of the language, marking it as a source of cross-linguistic variation in gestures.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Biodiversity brings disease resistance: Novel study

A novel study has found that higher biodiversity reduces infectious disease severity in a Tibetan alpine meadow, supporting the dilution hypothesis. Artificial fertiliser weakens this effect, increasing disease load.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalEcology·DateMar 21, 2016

US heart disease rates decline overall; some Southern areas see less progress

US heart disease death rates have declined overall since the 1970s, but there are significant differences in rates among US counties, with weaker declines found south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The study's findings emphasize the importance of geography for heart disease prevention and treatment, suggesting that social and economic condit...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalCirculation·DateMar 21, 2016

Penn vet study identifies mechanism explaining female bias in autoimmunity

Researchers discovered that female lymphocytes lack proper X chromosome inactivation, leading to increased expression of immunity-related genes. This incomplete activation may contribute to autoimmune conditions like lupus, which affects 85% of female patients.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 21, 2016

Biological factors predict which viruses will cause human epidemics

A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identified biological factors predicting viral transmission efficiency among humans. Low host mortality and extended survival time increase a virus's ability to spread, while envelope structures and insect vectors hinder emergence.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Pumping up energy storage with metal oxides

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have discovered that certain metal oxides increase the capacity and cycling performance of lithium-ion batteries. The team created graphene-metal oxide nanocomposites and found two of them greatly improved reversible lithium storage capacity.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·DateMar 21, 2016

Details revealed for how plant creates anticancer compounds

Researchers at Kobe University have discovered a previously unknown mechanism regulating organic compound creation and distribution in plants. This finding could help develop new methods for synthesizing valuable compounds like those found in Catharanthus roseus.

SourceKobe University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 21, 2016

Review and view of future in cancer in adolescents, young adults

The narrative review discusses current status of adolescent and young adult cancer, highlighting areas for improvement and opportunities for progress. The authors emphasize the need for increased accrual to therapeutic clinical trials and enhanced investment in psychological support.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMar 21, 2016

Nanolight at the edge

Graphene-based technologies enable ultra-small optical nanodevices by capturing light in record-small volumes. The researchers identified two types of plasmons - edge and sheet modes - with unique properties that can channel electromagnetic energy in one dimension.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalNature Photonics·DateMar 21, 2016

Plants take on fungal tenants on demand

Researchers discovered that thale cress plant tolerates fungus when it needs help obtaining phosphate, rejecting it otherwise. The plant controls interaction through its immune system linked to a sensor for phosphate availability.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Stress management may enhance cardiac rehab, improve recovery

A new study found that adding stress management to cardiac rehabilitation programs significantly reduces cardiac events and improves recovery rates for heart patients. After a median follow-up of over three years, researchers found that patients who underwent cardiac rehab plus stress management achieved greater benefits than rehab alone.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalCirculation·DateMar 21, 2016

Breakthrough technology to improve cyber security

A research team at the University of Sydney has developed a major breakthrough in generating single photons, enabling the creation of secure cyber security systems. This innovation resolves a key issue holding back password exchange and can be scaled up to generate single photons with 100% probability.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 21, 2016

Uncovering bacterial role in platinum formation

Researchers have found that bacteria play a crucial role in the dispersion and re-concentration of platinum group elements in surface environments. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, suggests that bacterial processes can reform nuggets of platinum at the surface, shedding new light on the formation of these valuable metals.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 21, 2016
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Production of butter from shea trees in West Africa pushed back 1,000 years

Anthropologists at the University of Oregon have discovered evidence of shea tree harvesting dating back to A.D. 100 in western Burkina Faso, challenging previous estimates of around A.D. 1100. The study reveals a long history of sustainable farming practices and the importance of wild foods in early agricultural diets.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalJournal of Ethnobiology·DateMar 21, 2016

Old tourist photos show seabird's rise over the last century

Researchers analyzed old tourist photos to reconstruct the rise and fall of common guillemot populations on Stora Karlsö. The study found a significant increase in population size, with numbers more than five times bigger than in the early 20th century.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 21, 2016

Temple scientists eliminate HIV-1 from genome of human T-Cells

Researchers at Temple University Health System have successfully eliminated HIV-1 from the DNA of human T-cells using a specialized gene editing system. The technology not only removes the virus but also protects infected cells against reinfection, holding promise for an eventual cure for patients with HIV.

SourceTemple University Health System·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 21, 2016

IUPUI researchers use stem cells to identify cellular processes related to glaucoma

Researchers at IUPUI have successfully identified cellular processes related to glaucoma using stem cells derived from human skin cells. The study found that skin cells from individuals with glaucoma became unhealthy and died off faster than those of healthy individuals when reprogrammed into retinal ganglion cells.

SourceIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science·JournalStem Cells·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

New study may lead to improved treatment of type 2 diabetes

A new study discovered that a common genetic defect in beta cells may underlie both form of diabetes. The research found that genetics is critical for the survival of beta cells, and a genetic predisposition for fragile beta cells may lead to diabetes development.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalNature Genetics·DateMar 21, 2016

US adults get failing grade in healthy lifestyle behavior

A recent study found that US adults are struggling to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors, with only 2.7% meeting the criteria for a 'healthy lifestyle' and a low risk of cardiovascular disease. The study measured four key behaviors: good diet, moderate exercise, recommended body fat percentage, and non-smoking habits.

SourceOregon State University·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateMar 21, 2016

A quartet of genes controls growth of blood stem cells

A study by Lund University researchers has identified four key genes that govern the growth and multiplication of blood stem cells. The discovery sheds light on how to expand these cells for transplant and potentially develop new cancer treatments.

SourceLund University·JournalCell Reports·DateMar 21, 2016

Entanglement becomes easier to measure

Researchers have developed a new method to detect entanglement in many-particle systems, overcoming the challenge of scaling exponentially with system size. This breakthrough allows for the quantification of entanglement in macroscopic objects and has applications in quantum metrology, simulations, and solid-state physics.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Technicolor zebrafish reveal how skin heals

Scientists have developed a system to track individual cells in regenerating skin tissue using color-coding, enabling the study of cellular responses to injury and tissue regeneration. The Skinbow system uses technicolor zebrafish with permanent barcodes on their cells, allowing researchers to monitor cell movements and changes over time.

SourceDuke University·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateMar 21, 2016

Parsing conservation information on cycad species

The study analyzed cycad species in The Red List, verifying 303 accepted taxa and finding no canonical description of conservation metrics. The research revealed varying threat categories among genera and geographic regions.

SourceUniversity of Guam·JournalTropical Conservation Science·DateMar 21, 2016

New tool to improve blood pressure measurement

A new prediction model uses three separate readings and basic patient characteristics to provide an adjusted blood pressure reading with high accuracy. The model correctly classified 93% of cases, outperforming existing guidelines in identifying hypertension.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalHYPERTENSION·DateMar 21, 2016

DNA markers link season of birth and allergy risk

Researchers at the University of Southampton discovered specific DNA markers linked to seasonal births and allergic disease. Epigenetic marks present at birth were found to influence gene expression for up to 18 years later.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalAllergy·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Wrinkles and crumples make graphene better

Researchers from Brown University found that repeatedly crumpling sheets of graphene can improve its water-repelling properties and electrochemical behavior. The process creates complex architectures with interesting patterns, including superhydrophobic surfaces and enhanced electrodes for batteries and fuel cells.

SourceBrown University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMar 21, 2016

Adding stress management to cardiac rehab cuts new incidents in half

Research from Duke Health found that incorporating stress management into cardiac rehabilitation cuts risk of another heart incident in half. Patients who attended weekly stress-management groups had lower rates of cardiovascular events compared to those receiving only traditional cardiac rehabilitation.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalCirculation·DateMar 21, 2016

Fewer Americans now pray, believe in God

A recent study found that the percentage of Americans who prayed or believed in God reached an all-time low in 2014. The decline was particularly pronounced among young adults, with nearly twice as many saying they did not believe in God as compared to the early 1980s.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalSAGE Open·DateMar 21, 2016

Drought alters recovery of Rocky Mountain forests after fire

A new study published in Global Ecology and Biogeography finds that drought following wildfires hinders forest recovery in the Rocky Mountains. The research shows that forests are not adapting quickly enough to climate change, with subalpine tree species being negatively impacted by warm, dry conditions.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalGlobal Ecology and Biogeography·DateMar 21, 2016

Beyond DNA: TGen points the way to enhanced precision medicine with RNA sequencing

Researchers at TGen highlight the advantages of using RNA sequencing in disease detection and management, including its potential for non-invasive diagnosis and guiding treatment selection. The analysis reveals the promise of RNA-based measurements for broad application across diverse areas of human health.

SourceThe Translational Genomics Research Institute·JournalNature Reviews Genetics·DateMar 21, 2016
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.