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Science News Archive 2016


Page 92 of 423

Diversified management provides multiple benefits in boreal forests

Researchers found that reducing timber revenues can increase biodiversity indicators and improve landscape multifunctionality. Combining forest growth simulations with multiobjective optimization, they concluded that diversified forest management planning is necessary to resolve conflicts between objectives.

Plant discovered that neither photosynthesizes nor blooms

A new species of plant, Gastrodia kuroshimensis, has been discovered in Japan, exhibiting unique characteristics of non-photosynthesis and cleistogamy. This discovery provides an opportunity to investigate the ecological significance and evolutionary history of complete cleistogamy.

Finding needles in chemical haystacks

A team of chemists has developed a process to identify new catalysts for synthesizing drugs more efficiently and cheaply. By examining libraries of drugs, they found highly effective ligands that can improve reactions beyond those reported nearly four years ago.

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.

Research to help develop next-generation food crops

Researchers at Australian National University are developing next-generation food crops that can produce bigger yields and resist drought better than current crops. Crops like sorghum and millet use a more efficient form of photosynthesis, allowing them to thrive in extreme conditions.

Cocoa compound linked to some cardiovascular biomarker improvements

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials found potential beneficial effects of flavanol-rich cocoa on cardiometabolic health. Flavanol intake may reduce dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation, which are major subclinical risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases.

Researchers use temperature to control droplet movement

Researchers developed a new way to drive fluid droplets across surfaces in a precisely controlled manner using temperature differences. The method opens up possibilities for highly adaptable microfluidic devices and de-icing technologies.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Study finds knowingly taking placebo pills eases pain

A study found that patients who knowingly took a placebo pill alongside traditional treatment for lower back pain saw more improvement than those given treatment alone. The placebo effect was triggered by the patient-clinician relationship and ritual of taking pills, rather than conscious expectation of an active medicine.

Study finds surface texture of gallium nitride affects cell behavior

Researchers at North Carolina State University have determined that the surface texture of gallium nitride (GaN) materials can influence the health of nearby cells. The study found that altering the surface texture of GaN materials, such as making them rough or smooth, can cause metabolic changes in cells.

Spinning semen provides a measurement of fertility

Researchers have developed a method to quantify semen activity based on its spinning motion, providing an objective ranking for artificial insemination. The technique measures the collective rotation of sperm in a semen drop, which is faster and more reliable than current subjective rankings.

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.

ENSO threatens food supply in southern Africa

Research from Lund University finds that ENSO leads to increased shortages of food and animal feed in rural areas of eastern and southern Africa. The study calculates the impact of carbon dioxide absorption by vegetation on food production and predicts a worsening situation as weather phenomena become more frequent.

Notre Dame researchers to lead NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity study

Researchers will investigate how adaptations in one insect species allow others to follow, generating new biodiversity. The study focuses on the apple maggot fly and its parasitoid wasps, exploring how shifting life histories impact species interactions and ecosystem diversity.

Healthy knees

The study aims to examine the biochemical and biomechanical bases for osteoarthritis development after ACL surgery. Researchers plan to analyze gait mechanics, electromyography, qMRI, and finite element modeling to understand knee unloading and cartilage stress distribution.

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.

A team of physicists dispels Rayleigh's curse

A team of physicists has broken Rayleigh's limit, achieving resolutions up to 17 times lower than previously thought. This discovery opens doors to significant improvement in imaging systems and challenges traditional Optics textbooks.

Soy protein early in life may help prevent bone loss in adulthood

A new study published in The FASEB Journal found that early life exposure to a diet high in soy protein isolate can protect against serious bone loss during adulthood. This is the first time scientists have used an animal model to show concrete evidence of a protective effect of an early-life soy protein isolate diet on adult bone loss.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Creative staff lead to satisfied customers says study

A study by University of East Anglia found that organisations with more creative employees enjoy higher levels of customer satisfaction. The study recommends investing in developing the creative capabilities of customer service employees through tailored HR practices, including workshops and training.

Sedative may prevent delirium after an operation

A study of 700 patients aged 65 or older found that sedating them with a mild sedative after surgery reduced the risk of post-operative delirium by nearly two-thirds. The condition, which can cause confusion and hallucinations, affects up to one in three people who have major operations.

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.

NASA sees large Hurricane Nicole moving past Bermuda

Hurricane Nicole strengthened to a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph before landfall in Bermuda. The storm's large ocean swells were spreading northward along the U.S. East Coast and into Atlantic Canada.

How the gut microbiome may help us prevent IBD

A recent study links a disease-associated microbial state to increased risk of developing IBD in genetically- and environmentally-susceptible individuals. Another study found that exposure to high altitude conditions triggers local acid sensing pathways leading to disease progression in IBD patients. Meanwhile, research highlights the ...

Lego-like wall produces acoustic holograms

Researchers at Duke University have developed a simple, energy-efficient way to create three-dimensional acoustic holograms using Lego-like metamaterials. The technique manipulates sound waves into desired patterns, enabling applications such as improving sound quality in speakers and creating realistic ultrasound images.

DOE grant focuses on next generation anion exchange membranes

Researchers from Penn State and industry partners aim to create low-cost, durable anion exchange membranes with novel cations for commercial-scale applications in fuel cells and electrolyzers. They will focus on stable polymers meeting ARPA-E requirements for resistance and cost.

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.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Early detection method hopes to prevent psychosis

Researchers developed a new probability model to detect psychosis risk with 70% accuracy, combining medical history, clinical assessment, and biomarkers of fatty acids. This could lead to timely treatment and prevention of psychotic episodes.

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.

Researchers tackle land loss-climate change connection

Coastal Louisiana's unique situation allows scientists to study future global sea level rise effects on wetland-dominated coastlines. The region experiences a relative sea level rise rate of 13 millimeters per year, with extensive coastal wetland loss and rapid erosion of carbon-rich peat soils.

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.

Female chimpanzees don't fight for 'queen bee' status

A study of wild chimpanzees found that female chimps maintain a stable social rank throughout their lives, whereas males' ranks fluctuate as they age. This unique strategy suggests that females consider long-term reproductive success over short-term gains.

Small-scale agriculture threatens the rainforest

A recent study by Lund University reveals that small-scale farmers in Indonesia are leading to biodiversity decline and ecosystem disruption. The researchers found that the adoption of monoculture farming practices results in short-term financial gains but long-term environmental costs.

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.

JILA's superradiant laser may one day boost atomic clocks

The superradiant laser uses synchronized emissions of light from strontium atoms to improve atomic clock performance and create precise 'rulers' for space science. The laser's output is expected to be less sensitive to noise, making it sharper as a precision tool.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Genetic diversity crucial to Florida scrub-jay's survival

The Florida Scrub-jay study reveals that genetic diversity is vital to the species' survival, relying on immigrants from smaller satellite populations for genetic material in mating. The loss of these small populations has led to increased inbreeding and a decline in offspring survival rates.

A new spin on superconductivity

Researchers have made a breakthrough in transmitting spin information through superconducting materials, solving a major challenge for quantum computing. The discovery could lead to the development of more powerful computers capable of processing multiple spin states simultaneously.

America ranks in top 10 in empathy

A study ranking nations by empathy places the US at No. 7, behind countries like Peru and Saudi Arabia. The researchers analyzed online surveys of over 104,000 people, finding that Americans are struggling to form meaningful close relationships due to changing psychological states.

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.

Substance with the potential to postpone aging

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found that adding the substance NAD+ to mice and roundworms can extend life and delay aging processes. The study suggests that NAD+ plays a key role in maintaining cellular health and repairing genes, with potential benefits for patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Greenland ice is melting 7 percent faster than previously thought

A new study reveals that Greenland's ice sheet lost nearly 2,700 gigatons of ice from 2003-2013, 7.6% more than previously thought, due to mantle softening caused by the Iceland hotspot. This correction refines understanding of modern ice loss patterns and their evolution.

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.