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Science News Archive June 2016


Page 36 of 40

Finding connections to nature in cities is key to healthy urban living

A recent Science perspective piece explores the tension between urban areas and human connection to nature. Research shows that reduced access to nature contributes to mental illnesses and mood disorders in city dwellers, highlighting the need for thoughtful urban design to incorporate natural elements.

What impact might Brexit have on UK agriculture?

UK policymakers face constraints due to WTO rules, EU accords, and regional priorities when devising a new farm policy post-Brexit. Brexit could affect the EU's agricultural policy and agri-food issues remain a major concern.

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.

Gene circuits in live cells can perform complex computations

Researchers at MIT have developed a technique to integrate both analogue and digital computation in living cells, enabling gene circuits capable of carrying out complex processing operations. The synthetic circuits can measure the level of an analogue input and decide whether it's within the right range to turn on an output.

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.

Repairing chronic wounds

Researchers at University of Delaware develop new biomaterials platform to stimulate growth factor expression and enhance chronic wound repair. The approach aims to provide a more efficient and localized production of growth factors, promoting full wound closure.

Type 2 diabetes drug could be beneficial for head and neck cancer patients

Researchers found that adding metformin to a chemotherapy and radiation treatment regimen for head and neck cancer patients showed improved outcomes, including better overall survival, compared to those not on metformin. However, faster escalation of metformin was poorly tolerated due to nausea, vomiting, and other side effects.

Walnuts may improve your colon health

Eating walnuts changes the gut microbiome in a way that suppresses colon cancer, with male mice developing 2.3 times fewer tumors when fed walnuts as part of a Western diet. This effect is likely due to walnut's anti-inflammatory properties and ability to promote a diverse gut flora.

Skaggs family gives $2 million for new TSRI graduate program endowment

The TSRI graduate program has received a new $2 million gift from the Skaggs family to support exceptional students in advanced training at the intersection of biology and chemistry. The gift will enhance research programs and provide financial support, including a first-year stipend and up to $5,000 in subsequent years.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

NASA studies details of a greening Arctic

A NASA study has found that nearly a third of the land cover in the Arctic is turning green, with western Alaska and Quebec experiencing significant changes between 1984 and 2012. The study used high-resolution Landsat data to track vegetation trends across a 4.1 million square-mile area.

Low risk of dengue infection predicted for foreign visitors to Rio Olympics

Researchers predict a low risk of dengue infection among foreign visitors to the Rio Olympics, with estimates suggesting as few as three symptomatic cases and potentially no asymptomatic infections at all. The predictions are based on sophisticated mathematical modeling techniques and data from Brazil's Health Ministry.

Highly tuned catalytic controls

Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a new process that triggers targeted reactions using red or near-infrared light or a tiny dose of an enzyme. This breakthrough has significant implications for medicine and engineering, particularly in drug delivery and tissue engineering.

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.

Pregnant women may need more information about medicine use

Research reveals pregnant women often avoid medication due to perceived risks, with UTIs being a significant concern. Women's fears and beliefs about medication use during pregnancy highlight the need for better information and training for pharmacists.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

European identity continues to grow

A new study finds that EU-15 citizens increasingly identify as European, with the proportion rising to 61% in 2013. The study also shows that younger cohorts are more likely to have multiple identities, which will continue to increase as they replace older generations.

Gut microbes' metabolite dampens proliferation of intestinal stem cells

Research at Washington University School of Medicine found that a metabolite produced by beneficial gut microbes restricts the proliferation of intestinal stem cells. This limits the intestine's ability to repair itself after injury or damage, potentially hampering treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Nanotubes' 'stuffing' as is

A scientist at Lomonosov Moscow State University studied the influence of carbon nanotube 'stuffing' on their electronic properties. The researcher identified four main reasons why this method is promising for tailoring electronic properties.

Lack of diagnosis creates added risks for those with dementia

A Johns Hopkins study found that undiagnosed dementia patients are nearly twice as likely to engage in potentially unsafe activities, such as driving and cooking. Those without a diagnosis, however, were less frequently engaging in these activities compared to those with possible or no dementia.

Genetic code of red blood cells discovered

The study found that only four genes are necessary to reprogram skin cells into producing red blood cells, offering a potential solution for blood transfusions and anaemia treatment. This breakthrough could lead to personalized red blood cells for patients with rare blood types.

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.

Dentin nanostructures -- a super-natural phenomenon

Researchers found that dentin's mechanical coupling between collagen protein fibers and mineral nanoparticles allows it to withstand extreme forces. The nanostructure design enables dentin to last longer than synthetic filling materials.

Scientists discover oldest plant root stem cells

Researchers at Oxford University have identified the oldest known population of plant root stem cells, preserved in a 320 million-year-old fossil. These ancient stem cells provide unique insights into the evolution of roots and their role in shaping the Earth's climate.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

New in the Hastings Center Report

The article explores the negative effects of medical industry gifts on physicians, arguing that well-intentioned actions can be perniciously infected by industry presence. It also examines Medicare's new policy on advance planning and its limitations, as well as the quarantine controversy surrounding Ebola nurse Kaci Hickox's case.

Scripps Florida scientists discover a new protein crucial to normal forgetting

Researchers uncover Scribble protein's role in orchestrating intracellular signaling processes for forgetting, which could lead to selective memory removal or inhibition of Alzheimer's disease progression. The study uses Drosophila fruit flies as a model, showing that reducing Scribble expression enhances memory retention.

Scientists experimentally confirm electron model in complex molecules

Researchers have experimentally confirmed a mathematical model describing the distribution of delocalized electrons in molecules and crystals. The study uses X-ray diffraction data to demonstrate the approach's ability to detect electron delocalization, paving the way for new understanding of chemical bonding.

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.

The rules of the game for children with ADHD

Researchers studied children with ADHD playing a game with changing rules, finding they struggled to adjust their behavior. Typically developing children adapted quickly, while those with ADHD showed only slight changes.

Reading between the genes

Researchers at TUM and MPI have developed a method to identify active regulatory DNA regions controlling genes. This breakthrough enables scientists to study how genes are controlled in different cell types, shedding light on gene regulation and its role in diseases.

Underwater 'lost city' found to be geological formation

Researchers found that an underwater site off the coast of Greece was actually a natural geological formation, not the ruins of a lost civilization. The site's unique structure was created by mineralization at hydrocarbon seeps, with microbes using methane as fuel to form a type of natural cement.

Researchers uncover how 'silent'genetic changes drive cancer

New research suggests that fluctuations in tRNA levels can have a dramatic impact on cellular function, driving metastatic breast cancer. The study found that two specific tRNAs were associated with increased metastasis, leading to changes in gene expression and protein production.

Microplastic particles threaten fish larvae

Larval fish exposed to microplastic particles displayed changed behaviors, such as ignoring natural food sources and failing to respond to predators. This led to increased mortality rates and potentially severe consequences for marine ecosystems.

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.

How to organize a cell: Novel insight from a fungus

Researchers have found that random distribution of organelles in cells is an energy-dependent activity, utilizing ATP to transport organelles along cytoskeleton fibers. This study has implications for understanding human disorders, such as Zellweger syndrome, and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research.

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.

A CRISPR system for editing RNA

A CRISPR system targeting RNA has been developed and tested, allowing for precise editing of single-stranded RNA. This breakthrough holds implications for various biological applications, including RNA modification and regulation.

Brain power

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have pinpointed a specific long non-coding RNA that regulates neural development and drives human brain expansion. The lncRNA, called lncND, binds to microRNAs and regulates the expression of Notch proteins, which are critical for cell differentiation and development.

Stampede 2 drives the frontiers of science and engineering forward

The University of Texas at Austin has received a $30 million NSF award to build and deploy Stampede 2, a new large-scale supercomputing system that will provide high-performance computing capabilities for thousands of researchers across the U.S. The system is expected to deliver peak performance of up to 18 Petaflops.

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.

FTIR and microarrays: Enabling more information from less sample

By combining FTIR spectroscopy with microarrays, researchers can extract detailed information about protein structures and bonding, allowing for precise quantification and analysis of proteins in minute amounts. This breakthrough enables label-free detection and high-throughput analysis of hundreds of proteins in a few minutes.

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.

Finely tuned electrical fields give wound healing a jolt

Researchers found that electrical fields enhanced macrophage migration and phagocytosis, cleaning the wound site and boosting healing ability. This discovery may have wide-reaching implications for diseases where macrophages play a role.

Swirling ammonia lies below Jupiter's thick clouds

New observations reveal a widespread view of activity below Jupiter's clouds, including hot spots and dry regions devoid of clouds and condensable gases. The detected ammonia plumes swell up in wave patterns, suggesting motion deep within the atmosphere.