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Science News Archive August 2016


Page 12 of 38

LiH mediates low-temperature ammonia synthesis

Researchers discovered a new class of catalysts that enables ammonia synthesis under mild conditions, with LiH playing a crucial role. The discovery breaks the linear scaling relations between activation energy and binding strength, allowing for unprecedented high NH3 synthesis activities at low temperatures.

Stretchy supercapacitors power wearable electronics

Researchers developed stretchable micro-supercapacitors using graphene ribbons to store energy in wearable devices. The design allows for stretching without compromising electrochemical performance, enabling applications in smart T-shirts and soft robots.

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.

Modelling water uptake in wood opens up new design framework

A team of researchers from Germany and France has developed an equation of state for wood, which can predict water uptake in treated wood with a simple analytical model. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more environmentally friendly preservation treatments and bio-inspired smart actuators.

Direct and active parent involvement key to healthy living for kids

Research from Public Health Ontario reveals that parents who actively engage in their children's physical activity, healthy eating and screen time behaviours are more likely to meet Canadian guidelines. The study found that simple encouragement is not enough, with active parental support being essential for promoting healthy living.

Mutational tug of war over HIV's disease-inducing potential

Researchers found that nearly a third of HIV's immune target sites were 'pre-adapted' to the newly-infected partner, suggesting vaccine designers focus on conserved viral proteins. The study builds upon previous research using computer models and emphasizes the importance of finding this balance in vaccine development.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Penn medicine researchers predict sudden cardiac death risk

Researchers developed and validated a prediction model to determine sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk in adults without a history of cardiovascular disease. The study identified 12 independent risk markers that outperformed existing risk equations, providing a strong step toward distinguishing SCD risk across the general population.

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.

Prescriptions more affordable after policy changes

Researchers found significant increases in Americans able to afford prescriptions following Medicare Part D and Affordable Care Act implementation. Despite this, nearly 20 million adults struggle with prescription costs.

Castle to receive GSA's 2016 Elaine M. Brody Thought Leader Award

Castle is a professor at University of Pittsburgh, recognized for his work on nursing home staff turnover and long-term care staffing issues. He has received the prestigious award in acknowledgement of his outstanding career contributions to social research, policy, and practice.

Private detention of immigrants deters family visits, study finds

A new study found that immigrant parents detained in private facilities are nearly 60% less likely to receive visits from their children. The researchers analyzed survey data from 462 detainees with children, who were predominantly male and Hispanic, and had spent six months to over 4.5 years in detention.

Programmable routers could enable more resilient networks

Researchers at MIT have developed programmable routers that can implement diverse traffic management schemes, improving network resilience. The new design allows for flexible traffic management without compromising operating speeds, enabling innovation and rapid prototyping.

Early exposure to manganese causes attention deficits in rats

A new study by University of California - Santa Cruz researchers found that early exposure to high levels of manganese causes lasting attention deficits and impairments in rats. The findings support concerns about the adverse effects of excess manganese on children's development.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Cybersecurity researchers design a chip that checks for sabotage

Cybersecurity researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a unique chip that checks for sabotage and detects malicious circuitry. The chip uses an embedded module to prove its calculations are correct and an external module to validate those proofs, providing a safety net against hardware defects.

Chemicals banned decades ago linked to increased autism risk today

Research suggests that prenatal exposure to certain organochlorine chemicals may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder in children. The study found that children born after being exposed to high levels of these chemicals during pregnancy were 80% more likely to be diagnosed with autism.

UNH scientists unravel genetic ancestry of cultivated strawberry

Researchers at UNH have created a linkage map of Fragaria iinumae, a wild ancestor of the cultivated strawberry. This breakthrough provides a valuable resource for assembly of a reference genomic sequence, which will aid in breeding for desirable traits such as fruit quality and disease resistance.

Too much activity in certain areas of the brain is bad for memory and attention

Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that faulty inhibitory neurotransmission and excessive activity in the hippocampus impair memory and attention. The study highlights the importance of well-balanced neural activity within brain regions, suggesting that both too much and too little activity can cause impairments.

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.

Can the high cost of prescription drugs in the US Be contained?

Per capita spending on US prescription drugs is the highest in the world, driven by brand-name prices that can rise substantially during competition-free periods. The authors argue for limiting market exclusivity rights and ensuring timely generic drug availability to reduce costs.

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.

Fossilized rivers suggest warm, wet ancient Mars

A new study published in Geology reveals extensive fossilized river systems on Mars' Arabia Terra plain, indicating a warm and wet climate around 4 billion years ago. This discovery supports the idea that Mars was once more favorable for life than its current cold and dry environment.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

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.

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.

Drinking green tea to prevent artery explosion

A Kyoto University study found that green tea polyphenol reduces inflammation and promotes elastin production, protecting against aneurysm progression. The researchers suggest daily green tea intake as a new preventative strategy for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

NIST's compact gyroscope may turn heads

The NIST team has demonstrated a compact atomic gyroscope design that can measure rotation and acceleration with high accuracy. The device uses a cloud of laser-cooled atoms to simulate rotations, generating interference bands to detect the rotation rate and axis.

New approach to determining how atoms are arranged in materials

Researchers developed a novel approach to determine how atoms are arranged in materials using Bayesian statistical methods. This new method allows for a richer understanding of material variability, including thermal displacements and vibrations, enabling the characterization of materials from various techniques.

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.

Resolving the 'Hispanic paradox'

A new study by a UC Santa Barbara researcher reveals that Latinos age at a slower rate than other ethnic groups. The findings, published in Genome Biology, may one day help scientists understand how to slow the aging process for everyone.

Tech issues cause most drone accidents: Research

Research by RMIT University and others found technical problems caused 64% of drone accidents, prompting calls for improved airworthiness requirements and mandatory accident reporting. The study highlights the need for robust communications systems to prevent accidents in the rapidly growing drone industry.

New report details pre- and postnatal brain defects from Zika virus

The study found that nearly all babies with confirmed and presumed Zika infections had ventriculomegaly, gray and white matter volume loss, and cortical migrational abnormalities. Imaging exams also revealed intracranial calcifications and reduced tissue volume in the brain.

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.

Biological invasions threaten developing countries

A new study reveals that biological invasions are threatening the last remaining biodiversity strongholds in developing nations. Invasive species like Japanese Knotweed and grey squirrels are causing significant economic damage and compromising global biodiversity.

New study reveals adaptations for snub-nosed monkeys

Researchers sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 38 wild snub-nosed monkeys from four endangered species, revealing reduced genetic diversity and a similar number of harmful mutations. The study identified hypoxia-related genes that enable these primates to thrive in high-altitude environments.

Streamlining accelerated computing for industry

PyFR combines highly accurate numerical methods with flexible code implementation to solve complex fluid flow problems. The software achieves over 50% of Titan's theoretical peak performance, making it ideal for industries like aerospace and wind power.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Where can I buy a chair like that? This app will tell you

A new app developed by Cornell researchers uses artificial intelligence to identify furniture brands and retailers based on photos of products. The system was trained using crowdsourced images and can search a vast database of iconic images from manufacturers' catalogs or specialized websites.

Brief rapamycin therapy in middle-aged mice extends lives

Researchers at the University of Washington extended the lives of middle-aged mice by up to 60% with a brief rapamycin treatment. The study also highlights the need to understand how dose and gender influence side effects, revealing potential benefits for humans, particularly older adults.

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.

Is a messed-up microbiome linked to obesity? New U-M study casts doubt

A new study found no clear common characteristic of microbe populations in obese individuals, disappointing those hoping for a solution to weight loss through gut bacteria alteration. The researchers suggest that a more complex relationship exists between the microbiome and health, warranting further investigation.