A large storm system is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to southern California, with rainfall totals reaching up to 6 inches in coastal areas and 10 inches in mountain locations. A second storm system is also heading towards the east, bringing flash flood risks and rapid runoff to fire-scarred areas.
A Northwestern University and Los Alamos National Laboratory team developed a novel workflow to design new materials with useful electronic properties. By combining machine learning and density functional theory calculations, they created design guidelines for ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity.
SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers discovered that disruption in Schwann cells, which make myelin, leads to hidden hearing loss. This finding may help diagnose and treat the condition, which affects individuals exposed to high levels of noise. The discovery could lead to new treatments for hidden hearing loss.
SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
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.
Brown University researchers demonstrate the efficacy of using herbaceous plant specimens from the late 19th century to track changes in heavy metal concentrations over time. Despite challenges, including mercury contamination, they show significant reductions in lead concentrations and highlight broader trends in heavy metal accumulat...
SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalApplications in Plant Sciences·DateFeb 17, 2017
Rhoda Au's e-cognitive health initiative collects data from over 2,200 participants using wearable devices, smartphone apps, and in-home devices to detect subtle changes in daily behavior that may indicate cognitive decline. The goal is to identify early signs of Alzheimer's and dementia, improving diagnosis and treatment options.
AVN-322 is a highly selective 5-HT6R antagonist that displays high binding affinity to the receptor and potency in blocking functional cell responses. In preclinical studies, AVN-322 showed improved cognition-enhancing effects and demonstrated antipsychotic potential.
SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalCurrent Alzheimer Research·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers have successfully protected mice against Zika by injecting synthetic messenger RNA that encodes for virus proteins into the animals. The vaccine triggers an immune response and prevents viral replication in 95% of the mice.
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.
Researchers found a faster way for six-legged robots to move on flat ground without adhesive pads, dubbed the 'bipod' gait. This locomotor strategy is more efficient than traditional tripod gait used by insects.
SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new study found that lower vitamin D levels in blood increase the risk of clinical relapse in UC patients. Patients with higher vitamin D levels when in remission were less likely to experience a relapse.
SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new automated system, called CRAQ, detects cracks in the steel components of nuclear power plants using an advanced algorithm and machine learning technique. The system outperformed two others under development, providing more robust results by processing multiple video frames and filtering out falsely detected cracks.
SourcePurdue University·JournalComputer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new study on environmental modeling reveals that climate change is only one of many inter-related threats to natural systems supporting human societies. The research argues that incorporating inequality, consumption, and population into climate models would provide a more realistic guide for policymaking and sustainable development.
SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNational Science Review·DateFeb 17, 2017
A study analyzing over 1.5 million Medicare records found that ICU care for COPD, heart failure, and heart attack patients may not be more beneficial than regular hospital care, with significant differences in cost of care.
SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateFeb 17, 2017
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.
Researchers sequenced over 1,000 stick insect genomes to study early phases of speciation, finding that genetic differences across the genome are crucial for distinguishing between species. The study suggests that rapid reversals of speciation can occur when distinct species cross paths again.
SourceUtah State University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 17, 2017
Most US radiologists receive favorable satisfaction scores from their patients, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology. The study analyzed over 1,800 reviews and found that patients tend to have either strongly positive or strongly negative opinions about their radiologists.
SourceHarvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers have developed a new method to characterise internal structures of natural materials and replicate their interaction with light using 3D printing of ceramics. This technique enables the design of new materials with different functionalities dependent on need.
A systematic review of existing literature suggests that antibiotics are an effective alternative to surgery for acute non-complicated appendicitis in children. No safety concerns were reported, but a recurrence rate of 14% was noted.
SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateFeb 17, 2017
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.
A new study found that fathers' brain activity increases when viewing photos of their toddlers, suggesting a link between the hormone oxytocin and paternal nurturing. The research also suggests that oxytocin may be used to normalize deficits in paternal motivation, such as in men suffering from post-partum depression.
SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalHormones and Behavior·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers at KFU's bionanotechnology lab used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to create 3D images of nematode cuticles. The study revealed new insights into the surface anatomy of Caenorhabditis elegans, a widely used model organism in genetics and biology research.
Digital fabrication in architecture promises substantial contributions to sustainability and productivity, enabling new forms of architectural expression. Researchers are developing interdisciplinary research connections to form a digital building culture, leveraging domain-specific robotic technology and advanced materials.
SourceETH Zurich/Swiss Federal Institute of Technology·DateFeb 17, 2017
The study examines the impact of ultrafast laser pulses on ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 thin films with epitaxial grown BiFeO3 coating layers. Researchers observe distinct oscillations in magnetization precession, which are attributed to the suppression of anisotropy by BFO coating layers and exchange interaction across the interface.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
A study by the University of Central Florida found that peer milk-sharing parents take precautions to keep their children safe, with 35.4% using all five safe practices and 40.6% using at least four. Despite this, researchers suggest more study is needed, particularly for online classifieds where milk is exchanged for money.
SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalJournal of Human Lactation·DateFeb 17, 2017
The study found that when a gun is used in domestic disputes, women are less likely to incur injury but substantially more likely to be frightened. This highlights the coercive control aspect of using a gun to intimidate and maintain power dynamics.
Regulatory agencies struggle to balance public concerns with their authority, as society demands clearer guidelines for advanced technologies like gene editing. Arizona State University expert Gary Marchant proposes incorporating ethical and social aspects into regulations.
A University of Missouri-Columbia professor developed a mandatory medical school curriculum focusing on indigenous health, addressing significant health inequalities among Native Americans. The curriculum was implemented in 2014 and has been recognized as a model for other universities to follow.
SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalAcademic Medicine·DateFeb 17, 2017
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.
Researchers have successfully delivered a gold catalyst to a target organ in a mouse, enabling in vivo metal-complex catalysis. This innovation paves the way for potential biomedical applications, including therapy and diagnostics.
SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new framework developed by the University of Queensland has improved the accuracy of biodiversity models in ecology, conservation biology, and global change research. The framework assesses species interactions and detects higher-order interactions that were previously overlooked.
SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 17, 2017
The NIST study identified 27 low-GWP fluids, but all are at least slightly flammable, posing a challenge for replacing current refrigerants. The findings highlight the need for trade-offs in selecting replacement refrigerants, considering factors like safety codes and environmental impact.
SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new study confirms PAK4's role in enabling pancreatic cancer cells to grow and spread, highlighting potential new targets for therapy. Researchers found a close relationship between PAK4 and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway, which could lead to combination therapies targeting both.
A study published in eLife found that differences in gene activity between the left and right hemispheres are responsible for handedness. The researchers also discovered that environmental influences during pregnancy can affect the development of precursors to handedness.
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 genomic study in the lower Congo River finds that fishes are evolving into distinct species due to the intense hydraulics of the river's rapids and deep canyons. The researchers discovered that fishes living less than a mile away from their relatives are exchanging few genes, indicating strong genetic separation.
SourceAmerican Museum of Natural History·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers found that stem cells collected directly from human fat (ASCs) can make more proteins, replicating and maintaining their stability. This discovery holds promise for new therapies against aging-related diseases, with the goal of understanding how ASCs maintain an open chromatin profile with aging.
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalStem Cells·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new model developed by Georgia Tech professor Eva Lee recommends response strategies for infectious diseases like Zika, with a focus on early intervention and containment methods. The model suggests that 20% compliance rate can reduce total infections by half in Brazil during the Zika outbreak.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have discovered a molecular phenomenon where a guanosine derivative changes its supramolecular structure upon transitioning from solution to solid state and vice versa. This defies chemical precedent, suggesting a complex interplay between molecular interactions in different environments.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalChemistry - A European Journal·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers created a material that reduces signal losses in photonic devices, boosting the efficiency of lasers and other light-based technologies. The discovery addresses a key challenge in photonics by incorporating a semiconductor material into plasmonic metamaterials.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
Chemical engineers and chemists at Pitt and Penn State create a system that utilizes chemical reactions to drive fluid flow, enabling controllable transport of particles and cells. This breakthrough could lead to rapid and efficient chemical assays.
SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers at MIT have designed a power converter that maintains efficiency across a wide range of current levels, reducing resting power consumption by 50%. The converter uses a variable clock and advanced control circuitry to accommodate high-power transmissions, enabling new possibilities for energy-harvesting devices.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers found that local atmospheric conditions and ocean circulation are the main drivers of ocean temperature changes in the critical depth range, leading to increased melting. The study used a five-year record to track the interactions between ocean and atmosphere, revealing an annual cycle in heat exchange that drives melting.
SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers have identified 3207 consistent confusions in English listeners, revealing types of word misperceptions in noise. The corpus provides valuable insights into speech perception processes and their technical clinical applications.
SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateFeb 17, 2017
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.
Gene drives have the potential to address persistent problems like eradicating mosquito-borne diseases and conserving endangered species. However, they also pose risks to entire ecosystems, highlighting the need for careful public engagement and regulatory policies.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have discovered a strong link between yeast in babies' guts and an increased risk of developing asthma. The presence of Pichia, a microscopic fungus or yeast, was more strongly linked to asthma than previously identified gut bacteria.
A new biocompatible 3D tracking system has shown promising results in improving the accuracy of robot-assisted surgery. The system, which uses near-infrared fluorescent markers, enables accurate tracking of tissue and surgical tools with millimeter accuracy.
SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·DateFeb 17, 2017
A team of UA researchers used RFID tags to study bumblebee behavior, discovering that individual workers specialize on one food source per day. The results show vast variations in foraging activity among bees, with the most active foragers making 40 times more trips than less active workers.
SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 17, 2017
A panel of experts will examine the pros and cons of seafloor mining, its engineering feasibility, and legal and societal implications at the AAAS meeting. Current exploration contracts have been signed by 27 countries, with the first project set to begin in 2019.
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
A new study found that diversity training programs can have immediate positive effects on participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, but long-term results are often inconsistent. The research suggests that training is most effective when it is mandatory, delivered over time, and combined with other initiatives.
SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPsychological Bulletin·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute have successfully developed egg-free surrogate chickens using gene-editing techniques. These genetically modified hens can carry and deliver eggs from other breeds, aiming to boost breeding of endangered birds and improve commercial chicken production.
SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalDevelopment·DateFeb 17, 2017
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a new technique using liquid metals to create ultra-thin electronic chips, paving the way for the next generation of electronics. The process enables the production of large wafers just 1.5 nanometres in depth, increasing processing power and reducing costs.
SourceRMIT University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new study from the Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas reveals that a gist reasoning test is more sensitive than traditional tests in identifying cognitive deficits in TBI patients. The test, which requires participants to summarize complex texts, accurately identified 84.7% of chronic TBI cases.
SourceCenter for BrainHealth·JournalJournal of Applied Biobehavioral Research·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new study found that international collaboration in scientific research has grown dramatically, with more than doubling of cross-border studies between 1990 and 2015. The fields of soil science and virology saw the highest growth rates, with a 550% increase in collaborating partners in soil science.
SourceOhio State University·JournalScientometrics·DateFeb 17, 2017
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.
A new study by Northeastern University psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett found that the neurotransmitter dopamine plays a crucial role in human bonding. The research, which used a novel technology to scan mothers' brains while interacting with their infants, showed that strong social relationships can improve outcomes for individuals w...
SourceNortheastern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 17, 2017
An international team of physicists has made a breakthrough in understanding heat transport at the nanoscale by studying a chain of gold atoms. The study confirms the validity of the Wiedemann-Franz law, which describes the relationship between electric and thermal conductance.
SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience·DateFeb 17, 2017
A new study by MIT Professor César Hidalgo and colleagues found that the complexity of a country's exports is a strong predictor of its level of economic equality. The researchers analyzed data from 1996 to 2008 and found that countries with more diverse export portfolios and higher technological infrastructure tend to have greater inc...
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalWorld Development·DateFeb 17, 2017
Scientists conclude that the organics are most likely native to Ceres, originating from its interior. The discovery has broad implications for astrobiology and suggests that Ceres contains key ingredients for life.
SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalScience·DateFeb 16, 2017
Researchers found that NHS performance data showed clear evidence of health system failures, including missed targets and staff shortages. The analysis suggests that the cuts resulted in a substantial increase in mortality, particularly among older populations.
SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateFeb 16, 2017
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.
Researchers at NYU Tandon are developing a deep learning system that enables self-driving cars to navigate and respond to changing road conditions. The system uses data from onboard sensors and information from HERE HD Live Map, a cloud-based service for automated driving.
A new facial recognition system, LemurFaceID, can correctly identify individual lemurs using photos of their faces, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods. The system shows high accuracy in identifying lemurs across different species, with potential applications for conservation and research.
SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Zoology·DateFeb 16, 2017
Drs. Marco Gallo and Greg Delgoffe receive ACGT Young Investigator Grants to study glioblastoma and metastatic melanoma, focusing on gene therapy and T cell metabolism to boost immune responses against cancer.
A study found that adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with acute leukemia had significantly worse survival rates if not treated at specialized cancer centers. AYAs treated at these centers had outcomes comparable to children, suggesting treatment quality can mitigate poor outcomes.
SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·DateFeb 16, 2017
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.
A large study found that long-term estrogen-based hormone therapy reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease and improved cognitive function in postmenopausal women. The protective effect may depend on starting hormone therapy at the time of menopause, when neurons are healthy.
SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalNeurology·DateFeb 16, 2017
Scientists successfully delivered CRISPR-Cas9 to the eyes of mice with wet AMD, modifying the VEGF gene and reducing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) by 58%. This breakthrough could lead to a new therapeutic modality for non-hereditary degenerative diseases.
SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalGenome Research·DateFeb 16, 2017
The use of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology is restricted due to competing claims over foundational patent rights. Exclusive licenses granted to spinoff companies formed by institutions and researchers could bottleneck the development of human therapeutics.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateFeb 16, 2017