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Science News Archive 2017 - Page 52


Page 52 of 461

Sight-saving imaging technology secures funding

The University of Liverpool's Ultra-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (Ultra-OCT) system is developing a state-of-the-art imaging technology to revolutionise the detection, diagnosis, and management of corneal eye conditions. The system boasts a resolution of 2 micrometres and can scan 1,000 times faster than existing OCT machines.

Species in the north are more vulnerable to climate change

New research challenges common perception that polar species are best at adapting to changing temperatures. Acclimation is most effective at temperate latitudes, with slow seasonal changes allowing for optimal adaptation. This could alter our understanding of which species are most vulnerable to climate change.

SourceLund University·JournalThe American Naturalist·DateNov 16, 2017

Desert solar to fuel centuries of air travel

Researchers have demonstrated the full process of making kerosene, the jet fuel used by commercial airlines, using a high-temperature thermal solar reactor to create syngas. The feedstock is essentially unlimited, providing a potentially game-changing alternative to fossil fuels.

SourceSolarPACES·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateNov 15, 2017

Storing mine waste -- safety is no accident UN finds

The United Nations report emphasizes the need for mining companies to prioritize safety over economic considerations in managing mine waste. The report's recommendations include improving tailings dam government regulation and exploring alternative solutions to building massive dams that can cause devastating environmental damage.

Nanomaterials

Researchers at LMU München precisely tune carbon dot's properties by introducing nitrogen atoms, enabling diverse applications. The study reveals that the physicochemical characteristics can be simply and precisely controlled, opening up new possibilities for energy conversion and bio-imaging.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 15, 2017

Children's exposure to secondhand smoke may be vastly underestimated by parents

A new study suggests that parents who smoke mistakenly rely on their own physical senses to gauge the presence of tobacco smoke in the air, leading to misconceptions about when and where children are exposed. This lack of awareness can result in inadequate measures being taken to protect children from secondhand smoke.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalNicotine & Tobacco Research·DateNov 15, 2017

Counterfeits and product piracy can be prevented by security features, such as printed 3-D microstructures

Researchers at KIT have developed innovative fluorescent 3D structures to improve counterfeit protection in products like bank notes, pharmaceuticals, and car spare parts. These new security features can be easily integrated into various applications to prevent product piracy and counterfeiting.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateNov 15, 2017

Ionic 'solar cell' could provide on-demand water desalination

Researchers have developed an 'ionic analog to the electronic pn-junction solar cell' that harnesses light to generate ionic electricity, with potential applications in desalination and brain-machine interfaces. The technology shows promise for producing electricity to turn brackish water drinkable upon exposure to sunlight.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·DateNov 15, 2017

Pulling iron out of waste printer toner

A team of researchers has created a process to transform residual toner powder from discarded printer cartridges into iron, offering an environmentally friendly way to reuse electronic waste. The method involves heating the toner powder to 1550 °C, resulting in a product with 98% pure iron.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateNov 15, 2017

Heavy drinking and smoking linked to visible signs of aging

Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health found that heavy drinking and smoking are associated with visible signs of physical ageing. Light to moderate drinking was not linked to biological ageing or slowing down the visible ageing process.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateNov 15, 2017

Improving clinical trials with machine learning

A new study from University College London suggests that machine learning can improve clinical trials by analyzing complex brain anatomy and detecting subtle changes in drug effects. The research used large-scale data from patients with stroke to test the concept of machine learning capable of modeling the human brain in its full compl...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalBrain·DateNov 15, 2017

A polymer 'love hormone' sensor for the early detection of autism

A Polish Academy of Sciences team has developed a polymer 'love hormone' sensor that can detect micromolar concentrations of oxytocin, a biomarker associated with autism. The sensor's sensitivity is expected to increase to nanomolar levels, allowing for early diagnosis and potentially dramatic treatment efficacy improvements.