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Science News Archive October 2016


Page 9 of 44

The gene of autumn colors

Hokkaido University researchers have identified a key enzyme involved in chlorophyll degradation and the formation of autumn colors. By understanding this process, scientists may uncover novel mechanisms for photosynthesis and discover new enzymes with potential applications.

Robotic cleaning technique could automate neuroscience research

A new robotic technique developed by Georgia Tech researchers enables the reuse of pipettes in patch-clamping, a method used to record signals from brain cells. The technique has been shown to produce results comparable to those obtained with fresh pipettes and holds promise for accelerating neuroscience research.

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.

NASA sees Hurricane Seymour becoming a major hurricane

Hurricane Seymour rapidly intensified into a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph and higher gusts. The storm's small eye is located approximately 565 miles south-southwest of Baja California, Mexico.

Kent State biologists receive NIH grants to study reproductive challenges

Researchers Srinivasan Vijayaraghavan and Doug Kline will study cellular mechanisms regulating sperm and egg formation, aiming to improve fertility treatments. They hope to understand protein interactions and cellular processes that make fertilization successful, leading to better outcomes for assisted reproductive programs.

Many kids not ready for kindergarten

A study by Michigan State University found that many children enter kindergarten unprepared for self-regulation, a critical skill for academic success. Around 20% of preschoolers showed little improvement in self-control, leaving them behind their peers.

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.

Carpenter ants: When social instructions may be dangerous

A study on carpenter ants found that social information can override an individual's assessment of a food source as toxic. Ants will collect toxic food if it is associated with a familiar odor, despite their own evaluation of its toxicity.

Making silicon-germanium core fibers a reality

Researchers have developed a method to create glass fibers with single-crystal silicon-germanium cores using laser recrystallization. This process enables the creation of functional materials for faster transistors and expands the capabilities of endoscopes.

First results of NSTX-U research operations

Researchers presented initial results from the upgraded NSTX-U facility, doubling magnetic field strength and plasma current. Key findings include surpassing predecessor's maximum magnetic field strength and reducing turbulence through heating power.

Terminally ill cancer patients fare poorly after surgery

A study by UC Davis researchers found that terminally ill cancer patients who undergo surgery experience longer hospital stays, readmissions, and discharge to extended care facilities. The study emphasizes the importance of discussing risks and benefits with patients before proposing surgery.

UCI and NASA document accelerated glacier melting in West Antarctica

Two new studies by UCI and NASA researchers found the fastest rates of glacier retreat ever observed in West Antarctica, shedding light on the interaction between ocean conditions and bedrock beneath glaciers. The studies provide crucial data for predicting future Antarctica ice loss and global sea level rise.

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.

How food affects political regimes

A better diet is associated with an increase in the middle class, leading to economic and political independence and fostering democratic values. Improved nutrition precedes democracy, contrary to conventional wisdom, and has a higher correlation with democratization than income growth and trade liberalization.

To help divorced parents, programs should address financial and parenting barriers

A new study from the University of Missouri suggests that co-parenting concerns differ by gender, impacting parents' ability to work together. The study found that fathers' parenting behaviors are most affected by financial and legal concerns, while mothers' co-parenting is influenced by concerns about their ex-spouse's mental instabil...

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Arousal exerts an unconscious influence on what we see

Researchers found that unconscious increases in arousal affect participants' confidence in their visual decisions. This effect is counteracted by artificially increased arousal, suggesting a complex relationship between conscious introspection and physiological states.

Structure of key DNA replication protein solved

A research team has solved the three-dimensional structure of PrimPol, a key protein that helps damaged cellular DNA repair itself. The knowledge gained from this study will likely aid in designing anti-cancer agents.

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.

Molecular origins of allergy to house dust mites discovered

Children develop IgE-antibodies to specific dust mite molecules early in life, often before disease onset, with 'molecular spreading' increasing risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma. Early sensitization and parental hay fever are key risk factors.

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.

Controlling ultrasound with 3-D printed devices

Researchers have developed a new 3-D printed device that can harness high-pressure ultrasound to manipulate tiny objects like particles, drops or biological tissue. This control enables precise applications in surgery, material analysis and scientific research.

Towards better metallic glasses

Metallic glasses have the potential to revolutionize many commercial applications due to their toughness and hardness. The researchers uncovered the mechanism by which fivefold symmetry inhibits crystallisation, making it an important step in developing metallic glasses for various applications.

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.

Here's when powerful people have trouble making a decision

Research at Ohio State University found that powerful individuals become more indecisive when torn between two equally good or bad choices, taking longer to make a decision. This effect is particularly pronounced for those who feel powerful and ambivalent about an issue.

Researchers use CRISPR to accelerate search for HIV cure

Using a high-throughput cell-editing platform, researchers have successfully mutated genes in human immune cells to make them resistant to HIV infection. The new system enables the rapid testing of gene mutations that confer resistance, which could potentially accelerate the quest for an HIV cure.

Scientists discover particles similar to Majorana fermions

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have fabricated and manipulated Majorana zero modes (MZMs) in an optical simulator, supporting non-Abelian statistics. The study provides a novel platform to investigate MZM properties and topological quantum computation.

UCI and NASA document accelerated glacier melting in West Antarctica

Two studies by UCI and NASA found the fastest rates of glacier retreat in West Antarctica, offering insights into ice melting and its impact on global sea level rise. The researchers used satellite data to measure changes in glacier grounding lines, revealing significant ice loss at the bottom of glaciers.

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.

MRI shows brain disruption in children with PTSD

A study using MRI found significant structural differences in the brains of children with PTSD compared to those without. The findings suggest a shift towards a more localized network structure, which may be a target for future treatments. This research could help develop new interventions for pediatric PTSD.

Study suggests approach to waking patients after surgery

Activating dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the brain causes active emergence from general anesthesia. This could lead to faster recovery times and reduced side effects for patients. The researchers are now conducting further experiments to confirm these findings and develop a new treatment.

Study reveals which genes are critical to a plant's response to drought

A VIB and Ghent University research team has identified key genes that enable plants to respond to drought stress. These core genes play a pivotal role in a plant's defense mechanism against drought, allowing for advanced breeding and genome engineering efforts to create drought-tolerant crop plants.

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.

Quantum leap in the reliability of mass spectrometry-based proteomics

Researchers in Mainz develop a novel method to benchmark and improve the performance of protein measurement techniques, ensuring consistent results across various analysis software packages. This breakthrough enables widespread adoption of mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics for disease diagnosis and research.

Ant genomics help reshape biological history of the Americas

Recent genomic study provides evidence that land bridges likely connected the Americas millions of years earlier than previously thought. Army ants were chosen for their unique biology, which allowed researchers to rule out aerial and aquatic dispersal when studying colonization of Central America.

STAT2: Much more than an antiviral protein

STAT2, a protein associated with viral infections, also inhibits cell growth and regulates cellular processes. This discovery offers insights into overcoming limitations of interferon therapies and developing novel tools for studying STAT2 functionality.

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.

Popular ultrasound treatment does not improve fracture healing

A large international study led by McMaster University researchers found that low-intensity ultrasound treatment after surgical repair of a bone fracture has no effect on recovery time or quality of life. The study involved 501 patients and showed that using either an active or placebo device did not improve outcomes.

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.

Species speed up adaptation to beat effects of warmer oceans

Research from the University of East Anglia found that some fish species, like the Winter Skate, are adapting to warmer oceans through epigenetic changes rather than genetic evolution. This allows them to cope with changing environmental conditions and may be vital for their survival in the face of climate change.

Supersonic phenomena, the key to extremely low heat loss nano-electronics

Researchers found that supersonic solitary waves in nano-electronics crystals can be used for electric charge or matter transport and energy storage with extremely low heat dissipation. These localized excitations could lead to the development of transistors without silicon, revolutionizing the field of nano-electronics.

Lessons learned from the Fukushima accident

The Fukushima Nuclear Power Station accident in Japan 2011 had significant societal impacts and raised questions about risk management. The article compares Fukushima to the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident in Ukraine, highlighting key differences and similarities.

Stem cells also rust

A Lund University research team identified high levels of reactive oxygen species in newly generated blood stem cells from pluripotent stem cells, damaging their function. The researchers developed a cocktail to reduce oxidative damage, resulting in over twenty times more blood stem cells that could grow.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Deep down fracking wells, microbial communities thrive

Researchers found microbes consuming fracking fluid, creating new compounds that support microbial communities below ground. The study provides insight into the complex interactions among microbes and their role in shaping the planet's environment.

How the African clawed frog got an extra pair of genes

Scientists have sequenced the entire genome of Xenopus laevis, an African clawed frog that inherited two sets of chromosomes from different species. The study provides insights into vertebrate evolution and sheds light on how tetraploidy emerged in animals.

State partnerships can promote increased bio-energy production, reduce emissions

A new study by the University of Missouri identifies effective ways for states to partner and share resources to boost renewable energy production through woody biomass. By working together, states can maximize energy output and reduce carbon emissions, providing policymakers with flexible options for meeting emission reduction targets.

TTUHSC El Paso receives $6 Million grant for new dental school

The university has received a $6 million grant from the Paso del Norte Health Foundation to support its new dental school. The school will focus on service education, providing hands-on experiences for students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings while serving underserved communities.

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.

Fat in feces points to early presence of colorectal cancer

Scientists have discovered a metabolic fingerprint in feces that matches changes in tumor tissues, suggesting a potential new diagnostic tool for early detection of colorectal cancer. The method uses ultrasensitive technology to identify molecules in the feces of mice and humans, with promising results for noninvasive testing.