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Science News Archive 2016 - Page 423


Page 423 of 423

How to train your bacterium

Researchers induce self-photosensitization of M. thermoacetica with cadmium sulfide nanoparticles, enabling photosynthesis and synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles for efficient solar-to-chemical production.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateJan 4, 2016

Self-esteem gender gap more pronounced in western nations

Research by American Psychological Association found that self-esteem tends to increase with age, but the gender gap is more significant in Western industrialized countries. The study analyzed data from over 985,000 men and women ages 16-45 from 48 countries, revealing that specific cultural influences shape self-esteem development in ...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJan 4, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New guide highlights the properties of diverse drug targets

The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2015/2016 provides an overview of 1,700 human drug targets, focusing on those exploited in the clinic or with future therapeutic potential. The guide combines evidence-based data with summaries of molecular targets, allowing users to rapidly gain insight into their function and comparative pharmacology.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·DateJan 4, 2016

Checklist completed for cultivars of Salix L. (willow)

A comprehensive resource for willow cultivars has been compiled, featuring 854 cultivar epithets with accompanying information. The checklist is expected to serve a diverse constituency of users and promote the effective utilization of germplasm in horticulture and ecosystem services.

SourceAmerican Society for Horticultural Science·JournalHortScience·DateJan 4, 2016

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awards Stevens Institute and Penn Nursing grant for joint project

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded a grant to Stevens Institute and Penn Nursing to use policy flight simulators to determine the usability and effectiveness of the Transitional Care Model. The goal is to accelerate decisions to implement the TCM, which addresses negative effects associated with common breakdowns in care.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Nursing·DateJan 4, 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.

The brain-computer duel: Do we have free will?

Researchers from Charité's Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience tested whether people can cancel decisions based on brain waves. They found that a person's decisions are not at the mercy of unconscious and early brain waves, but can actively intervene in the decision-making process.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016

Critical clues on cartilage

A team of researchers has shed new light on the relationships between cartilage structure and function, revealing microdomains that behave differently from surrounding tissue. This discovery paves the way for more effective treatments of meniscus tears and osteoarthritis.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Materials·DateJan 4, 2016

Aging stars stop slowing down, scientists discover

Aging stars stop slowing down as their magnetic field interacts with a wind of particles flowing away from its surface, according to research published in Nature. This discovery challenges previous theories on stellar rotation and has implications for understanding how the Sun influences its local environment, including planets.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature·DateJan 4, 2016
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.

Cardiovascular disease in adult survivors of childhood cancer

Cardiovascular disease is prevalent among adult survivors of childhood cancer, presenting at an earlier age and causing substantial morbidity. The American College of Physicians emphasizes the need for systematic assessment and potential value of routine physical exams to identify cardiac abnormalities.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJan 4, 2016

Pediatric sickle cell study stopped early due to positive results

A new study suggests that hydroxyurea can be effective in reducing the risk of stroke for some children with sickle cell disease. The Transcranial Doppler with Transfusions Changing to Hydroxyurea (TWiTCH) study, stopped early due to positive preliminary results, showed that transitioning from regular blood transfusions to daily doses ...

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalThe Lancet·DateJan 4, 2016

The origins of abiotic species

Researchers at University of Groningen find self-replicating molecules that diversify into distinct sets, sparking debate on life's molecular roots. The study reveals a process similar to biological speciation, but occurring at the molecular level.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Chemistry·DateJan 4, 2016

Map shows hotspots for bat-human virus transmission risk

A new study has identified the factors contributing to the transmission of zoonotic diseases from bats to humans, highlighting areas at high risk in West Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and South East Asia. The research used data spanning over 110 years to create a global map showing hotspots for bat-human virus transmission risk.

SourceUniversity College London·DateJan 4, 2016
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.

NUS study shows the causes of mangrove deforestation in Southeast Asia

A recent NUS study examines the factors leading to mangrove deforestation in Southeast Asia between 2000 and 2012. The researchers found that rice agriculture in Myanmar and oil palm plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia are major drivers of this deforestation, posing future threats to the region's mangrove ecosystems.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016

Using genes to understand the brain's building blocks

Researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science have developed a taxonomy of cells in the mouse visual cortex based on single-cell gene expression, identifying 42 neuronal and 7 non-neuronal cell types. This study provides a basic understanding of brain function by categorizing cellular building blocks.

SourceAllen Institute·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJan 4, 2016

Rotational clock for stars needs recalibration

New research indicates that stars older than the Sun spin less than expected, affecting age calculations. This discovery has significant implications for understanding stellar aging and predicting future changes in our own Solar System.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·DateJan 4, 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.

Students with influence over peers reduce school bullying by 30 percent

Researchers found that students who are socially influential can shape their peers' behaviors and social norms, leading to a 30% reduction in student conflict reports. The Roots program, which engages these student influencers in spreading anti-conflict messages, is a promising solution to curb school bullying.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016

Enough oxygen long before animals rose

Studies have shown that oxygen levels in the deep ocean were at least 4% of modern concentrations 1.4 billion years ago, indicating that animals could exist and evolve with this amount of oxygen. Despite this, animals did not appear on Earth until about 600 million years ago.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016

New Year's resolutions for 2016: Fight your obesity genes with exercise

A physically active lifestyle can substantially decrease the genetic effect of the major obesity gene FTO on body weight in a multiethnic population. Researchers at McMaster University found that physical activity can blunt the effect of inherited obesity genes by up to 75 per cent.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 4, 2016
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.

Social networks as important as exercise and diet across the span of our lives

A new UNC-Chapel Hill study shows that social relationships reduce health risk across the lifespan. The research found that strong social connections are vital for overall well-being, particularly in adolescence and old age, while quality of relationships matters in middle adulthood.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016

Challenges to conserving freshwater mussels in Europe

Research reveals significant disparities in data quality and quantity among European countries and species, hindering effective conservation efforts for the region's 16 recognized freshwater mussels. The study highlights the need for standardized monitoring and management protocols to conserve this vulnerable group and its habitats.

SourceWiley·JournalBiological Reviews·DateJan 4, 2016

Beam-beam compensation scheme doubles proton-proton collision rates at RHIC

Scientists have successfully implemented an innovative scheme to increase proton collision rates at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), resulting in doubled peak and average luminosity measures. This enables researchers to collect more data to answer important questions about proton spin and nuclear physics.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 4, 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.

Peering into the Amazon's future

A new model suggests a more nuanced response to climate change in the Amazon forest, with individual trees experiencing water stress, leading to a gradual shift from high-biomass forests to low-biomass ecosystems. This approach better captures ecosystem heterogeneity and predicts a less drastic transition.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016

BU study: Effects of obesity on death rates understated in prior research

A new Boston University study found that most obesity research relying on one-time measures of body mass index (BMI) overlooks the health impacts of weight change over time. The researchers argue that using 'weight histories' in studies clarifies the risks of obesity and shows they are much higher than appreciated.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 4, 2016

Improving access to clinical trials when biopsies are required

A new study reveals that mandatory tumor tissue requirements in clinical trials delay treatment and reduce patient enrollment. Trials without these requirements show faster treatment initiation and higher enrollment rates.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateJan 4, 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.

Biggest database for cancer drug discovery goes 3-D

The canSAR database has been upgraded with 3D protein structures and maps of cancer communication networks, allowing scientists to design new treatments more effectively. The updated database will enable researchers to identify key targets for future cancer drug discovery and develop innovative drugs more rapidly.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateJan 3, 2016

Coulomb blockade in organic conductors found, a world first

A team at Osaka University has successfully demonstrated experimental evidence and theoretical calculations to show that Coulomb blockade occurs on two-dimensional organic conducting polymer films. This breakthrough could revolutionize our understanding and design properties of organic and molecular devices.

SourceOsaka University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 3, 2016

It's official! Element 113 was discovered at RIKEN

A RIKEN group led by Kosuke Morita has discovered element 113, the first superheavy element found in Asia. The discovery was confirmed through a series of experiments that demonstrated the decay chain of the new element.

SourceRIKEN·JournalPure and Applied Chemistry·DateJan 3, 2016

Sugar in western diets increases risk for breast cancer tumors and metastasis

A recent study at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that dietary sugar, particularly fructose, can increase the risk of breast cancer tumors and lung metastasis in mice. The research suggests that high sugar intake activates an inflammatory pathway called 12-LOX, leading to increased tumor growth and spread.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalCancer Research·DateJan 1, 2016
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Three hits to fight lung cancer

Researchers have discovered a triple therapy approach that could make treatment-resistant lung cancers susceptible to therapy. The combination of two experimental drugs and radiation therapy was found to be effective in mice with KRAS-related gene mutations.

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateJan 1, 2016

Prions made in SISSA

Scientists at SISSA create synthetic prion series for the first time, allowing precise control over their pathogenic behavior. The study verifies that these synthetic prions cause illness comparable to natural ones, paving the way for potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateJan 1, 2016