Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive May 2016


Page 32 of 38

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.

Gene replacement therapy offers viable treatment option for fatal disease

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a gene replacement therapy to treat and control Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress Type 1 (SMARD1). The therapy, administered in a single dose, has shown significant improvements in muscle strength, protein expression, and life span in SMARD1 mice. This study provi...

Recipients of 2016 Gruber Cosmology Prize announced

The Gruber Foundation Cosmology Prize recognizes the first observation of gravitational waves by the LIGO team, confirming a key prediction of Einstein's theory of general relativity. This achievement opens up new means of studying the universe and provides direct evidence for the existence of black holes.

Breastfeeding is good for yet another reason, researchers discover

Researchers at UC Berkeley discover that antibodies in mother's milk help promote a healthy balance between gut microbes and the mammalian host, preventing chronic inflammatory conditions. The study sheds light on how these antibodies interact with the newborn's immune system to establish lifelong immune responses.

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.

Advances in medical care have led to type 1 diabetes boom

Researchers found a direct correlation between increased life expectancy and the rise in type 1 diabetes cases globally. The study suggests that advances in medical care have reduced natural selection, allowing the underlying genetics of the disease to be passed from one generation to the next.

Technique rapidly reveals individual gene function

A team of researchers developed a CRISPR-based technique to rapidly identify gene variants, improving efforts to map genes and determine their function. The method induces mitotic recombination, allowing for detailed mapping of trait variants, as demonstrated by identifying a genetic mutation affecting yeast sensitivity to manganese.

Climate change may contribute to rising rates of chronic kidney disease

Research suggests that climate change and resulting water shortages are linked to an increase in chronic kidney disease caused by dehydration and heat stress. The study found that rural hot communities are disproportionately affected, with risks increasing for cognitive dysfunction, malnutrition, and other conditions.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Sea star juveniles abundant, but recovery is anything but guaranteed

A recent study by Oregon State University researchers found an unprecedented abundance of juvenile sea star offspring along the Oregon coast, but warns that a second wave of the deadly 'sea star wasting disease' could be disastrous. The disease nearly wiped out the population in 2014 and its impact on the ecosystem is still unknown.

Scientists are first to discover sensory system that detects air humidity

A research team from Northwestern University and Lund University has identified a sensory system in fruit flies that directly detects air humidity, allowing them to adapt to changing environments. Understanding this ability could lead to new tools for mosquito control and inform the prediction of species distribution under global warming.

Thinking differently could affect power of traumatic memories

A study from Kings College London and Oxford University found that training in concrete processing can reduce PTSD symptoms by altering the way people think about traumatic memories. Concrete processing involves focusing on how a situation is unfolding, whereas abstract processing involves analyzing why something is happening.

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.

UCI astronomers determine precise mass of a giant black hole

Researchers use ALMA's high-resolution data to map the rotation of cold molecular gas and dust orbiting a giant elliptical galaxy, determining the massive supermassive black hole at its center has a mass 660 million times greater than the Sun. The precise measurement is among the most accurate for a galaxy's central black hole.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Intestinal worms boost immune system in a surprising way

Researchers discovered that intestinal worm infections trigger a significant increase in lymph node size and B-cell production, leading to enhanced antibody response. The study provides new insights into the complex interactions between the host and parasites.

Exploiting male killing bacteria to control insects

Researchers discovered a key mechanism driving a bacterium that kills male insects, which could be exploited to control pest species. The study found that the bacteria targets the dosage compensation complex, leading to genome-wide misregulation of gene expression.

Study points to therapeutic target for common and aggressive ovarian cancer

A new study published in Cell Reports identifies microRNA molecule miR551b as a promising candidate biomarker and therapeutic target for treating ovarian cancers. The research found that targeting miR551b expression could block STAT3 activity, offering potential for treating the most common and deadly form of ovarian cancer.

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.

Scientists to use microbes and methane to create sustainable Omega 3

Researchers at the University of Nottingham are using synthetic biology and microorganisms to ferment methane gas into valuable nutritional supplements. The project, called PUFA, has the potential to provide an alternative source of Omega 3 fatty acids that are both sustainable and economical.

Starving cancer the key to new treatments

Researchers identified a vital supply route for cancer cells to obtain nutrients, blocking this pathway led to significant tumor growth reduction. The discovery offers new hope for developing targeted treatments with fewer side effects.

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.

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.

Antibody targets and destroys cells implicated in systemic lupus erythmatosis

A new antibody, CSL362, specifically targets and depletes plasmacytoid dendritic cells and basophils involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This depletion reduces production of type 1 IFN and prevents expansion of antibody-producing cells, showing promise as a potential therapeutic target for SLE treatment.

Improved insulin signaling reduces atherosclerosis in mouse models

Researchers found that increased insulin signaling reduces atherosclerosis development and improves aorta function in atherosclerosis-prone mice. The anti-atherogenic effects were linked to induction of nitric oxide and activation of downstream pathways, including endothelin receptor B (EDNRB).

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.

Molybdenum disulfide holds promise for light absorption

Researchers at Rice University have successfully absorbed 35-37% of incident light in atomically thin MoS2, paving the way for efficient and inexpensive photovoltaic solar panels. The team's findings enhance light absorption by 5.9 times compared to using MoS2 on a sapphire substrate.

First gene linked to temperature sex switch

A study in GENETICS identifies the first gene associated with temperature-dependent sex determination in reptiles, highlighting the role of genetic variation and climate change. The research found that a specific DNA sequence variation at the CIRBP gene influences sex ratio in snapping turtles.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

River shaping from floods happens in moderation

Researchers found that moderate floods have a significant impact on river shaping, increasing erosion rates. However, extreme floods have limited additional effect on channel geometry, suggesting that landscapes can stabilize over long-term climate shifts.

Why vultures matter -- and what we lose if they're gone

The primary threat to vultures is the presence of toxins in carrion they consume, leading to declines or extinctions of most vulture species worldwide. In their absence, other scavengers proliferate, causing a cascading effect on food webs and human populations.

A crack in the mystery of 'oobleck' -- friction thickens fluids

Researchers from NIST and Georgetown University have deciphered the mechanisms behind 'oobleck''s switch between liquid and solid states. They found that shear-thickening fluids are driven primarily by frictional contacts, with hydrodynamic forces playing a supporting role at lower concentrations.

A sex difference in sports interest: What does evolution say?

A recent review article synthesizes theoretical and empirical work on sex differences in sport involvement, finding females' underrepresentation reflects their lesser sports interest. The authors propose adaptive hypotheses for sports, including the importance of social skills and courtship displays.

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.

ALMA measures mass of black hole with extreme precision

A team of astronomers used ALMA to measure the speed of carbon monoxide gas orbiting a supermassive black hole, calculating its mass as 660 million times greater than our Sun. This precise measurement is crucial for understanding these cosmic behemoths and their role in galaxy evolution.

Potato plants trigger aboveground defenses in response to tuber attacks

Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute discovered that potato plants boost chemical defenses in their leaves when Guatemalan tuber moth larvae feed on their tubers. This response protects against leaf-eating pests like beet armyworms, allowing plants to maintain sugar production and grow more tubers. The study may help reduce pota...

Floods and coastal erosion may expose contents of UK landfills, study finds

A new study from Queen Mary University of London found that historic UK landfills in England and Wales contain high levels of contaminants that could harm marine life if eroded or flooded. The analysis of two landfill sites in Essex revealed pollutants at concentrations exceeding marine sediment quality guidelines, posing a significant...

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.

Type 2 diabetes drug trials unnecessarily exclude women

Research reveals that type 2 diabetes drug trials frequently exclude women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or may become pregnant without clear justification. The criteria most often excluded women who were currently pregnant or breastfeeding, but more than 50 studies excluded all women of childbearing potential.

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.

Bee model could be breakthrough for robot development

Researchers at the University of Sheffield developed a computer model to understand how bees use vision to avoid collisions. The model suggests that adding speed detection capabilities to existing motion-direction detecting circuits could enhance the navigation and routing algorithms for autonomous flying robotics.

Drug combination could help reduce risk of death in type 2 diabetes

A new study by Cardiff University found that combining insulin with metformin reduces mortality and heart attacks in people with type 2 diabetes. The researchers tracked 12,020 patients for three and a half years on average, finding no difference in cancer risk between single-insulin therapy and combination treatment.

SkinTrack technology turns arm into smartwatch touchpad

Carnegie Mellon researchers have developed SkinTrack technology that converts the entire lower arm into a touchpad, providing continuous touch tracking and discrete location detection. The system allows for functionality similar to buttons or slider controls, while maintaining high accuracy.

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.