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Science News for July 21, 2017


Ultrathin device harvests electricity from human motion

A Vanderbilt University team developed an ultrathin energy harvesting system that generates electricity from human motion, offering a potential solution for wearable devices and smart clothing. The device operates at low frequencies, making it suitable for slow movements like sitting or standing.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalACS Energy Letters·DateJul 21, 2017

Energy-efficient accelerator was 50 years in the making

The Cornell-Brookhaven ERL Test Accelerator, CBETA, combines two energy-saving technologies: energy recovery and permanent magnets. This innovation could lead to higher luminosity in colliding-beam experiments and produce brighter, more coherent radiation.

SourceCornell University·DateJul 21, 2017

Rush hour pollution may be more dangerous than you think

A Duke University study reveals that rush hour commutes may be more hazardous to human health than previously thought. The levels of particulate matter and chemicals causing oxidative stress found in car cabins were twice as high as roadside sensors, posing a significant risk to drivers' health.

SourceDuke University·JournalAtmospheric Environment·DateJul 21, 2017

Neural nets model audience reactions to movies

A new technique called factorized variational autoencoders (FVAEs) uses neural networks to predict a viewer's facial expressions for the remainder of the movie after observing an audience member for just a few minutes. The approach demonstrated impressive accuracy in predicting reactions, outperforming conventional methods.

SourceDisney Research·DateJul 21, 2017
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.

Rare discovery of 3 new toad species in Nevada's Great Basin

Scientists have discovered three new toad species in Nevada's Great Basin, with the Dixie Valley toad having unique physical features and a small population size. The finding is significant due to the rarity of toad discoveries in the United States.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Reno·JournalZootaxa·DateJul 21, 2017

Artificial intelligence suggests recipes based on food photos

Researchers from MIT's CSAIL developed an AI system called Pic2Recipe that can analyze photos of food and predict ingredients and suggest similar recipes. The system was trained on a database of over 1 million recipes and showed impressive results, particularly with desserts like cookies or muffins.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology, CSAIL·DateJul 21, 2017

Civil unrest after Freddie Gray's death harms health in Baltimore mothers

A new study found that civil unrest after Freddie Gray's death led to a significant spike in maternal depressive symptoms and concerns about daily routines. The research suggests chronic stress may undermine young children's health and well-being, highlighting the need for policies to protect mothers and children from community violence.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateJul 21, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

How enzymes produce hydrogen

Enzymes called [FeFe]-hydrogenases efficiently convert electrons and protons into hydrogen, offering a potential solution for biotechnological production of the energy source. The team's discovery reveals the crucial role of a complex structure called the H-cluster in facilitating this process.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 21, 2017

Name that scotch

Researchers developed a novel sensor array that can detect and differentiate among a diverse range of aldehydes and ketones, providing a sensitive, fast, and inexpensive method for identifying volatile compounds. The array allows for the detection of chemical toxins, safety inspections, and preventative screening in various fields.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 21, 2017

How physical exercise prevents dementia

A recent study by Goethe University Frankfurt reveals that regular physical exercise not only enhances fitness but also positively affects brain metabolism and memory. The SMART trial found stable cerebral choline concentrations in the training group, indicating a reduced risk of dementia.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature·DateJul 21, 2017

Sleep disorders may increase cognitive problems particularly in those at risk for Alzheimer's

Research suggests that sleep disorders are associated with diminished cognition in individuals carrying a genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, APOE-ε4 carriers showed greater cognitive deficits with various indices of sleep-disordered breathing compared to those without the allele. The study found increased over...

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateJul 21, 2017

In saliva, clues to a 'ghost' species of ancient human

Researchers have found evidence of archaic admixture in modern Sub-Saharan African populations through the study of a salivary protein called MUC7. This suggests that interbreeding between different early hominin species may not have been unusual, but rather the norm.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateJul 21, 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.

Scientists announce the quest for high-index materials

Researchers systematically examine available high-index materials for their resonances in visible and infrared ranges. Crystalline silicon is identified as the best material for dielectric antennas operating in visible range, while germanium outperforms other materials in infrared band.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalOptica·DateJul 21, 2017

Five times the computing power

FPGAs can now handle five times more calculations, saving industry huge sums and enabling new functionality without hardware replacement. Carl Ingemarsson's method optimizes signal routes in chips to achieve the boost.

SourceLinköping University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) Systems·DateJul 21, 2017

Micro- and nanotechnologies for quantitative biology and medicine

This special issue reports advancements in assay design, microfluidic technologies, and digital assays for improved quantification of rare mutations, molecular analysis, and mechanobiological studies. It also highlights improvements in tissue dissection and sample processing for cancer diagnostics and drug screening.

SourceSLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening)·JournalSLAS TECHNOLOGY·DateJul 21, 2017

Flashes of light on the dark matter

Researchers analyzed the interaction of cosmic web with distant quasar light to reveal properties of dark matter. The results support Cold Dark Matter theory and reject Fuzzy Dark Matter model.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 21, 2017
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.

Special focus on formation control of unmanned systems

The special focus on formation control of unmanned systems presents recent significant achievements in theoretical design and applications. Key findings include the use of consensus-based approaches for simultaneous attack problems and hybrid particle swarm optimization for multi-UAV formation reconfiguration.

SourceScience China Press·DateJul 21, 2017

Good fighters are bad runners

Research with house mice suggests that a strength in one area of Darwinian fitness may come at the expense of another. Good fighters and good runners had about the same body mass, despite differences in oxygen consumption during running. The findings give a clue as to how trade-offs may have shaped our evolution.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateJul 21, 2017

Sparkling springs aid quest for underground heat energy sources

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh analyzed naturally carbonated springs and found that oxygen's chemical fingerprint is influenced by CO2 gas, not heat from below. This discovery may help scientists narrow their search for sustainable geothermal energy sources.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalApplied Geochemistry·DateJul 21, 2017

NASA sees Tropical Storm Noru east of Japan

Tropical Storm Noru formed on July 21 near 28.0 degrees north latitude and 154.7 degrees east longitude, with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The system is expected to move west then become quasi-stationary over the next couple of days due to warm sea surface temperatures.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 21, 2017
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Computers using linguistic clues to deduce photo content

Researchers at Disney Research and UC Davis have developed a method for computer vision programs to understand spatial relationships in images based on caption sentence structure. This approach enables accurate visual localizations for language inputs, outperforming baseline systems that do not consider natural language structure.

SourceDisney Research·DateJul 21, 2017

On the path to vitamin A in rice

Scientists from the University of Freiburg successfully elucidated the three-dimensional structure of phytoene desaturase, a crucial enzyme in carotene production. This breakthrough offers insights into herbicide binding and reaction mechanisms, which may lead to new agents for crop protection and Golden Rice development.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalStructure·DateJul 21, 2017

The way of change is important!

A case study in Guangdong province finds green building development contributes to local economy but is limited by regional conditions. The research uses system dynamic theory to analyze the relationship between green building and regional economy.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Civil Engineering Journal·DateJul 21, 2017

Social media: Simplifying surveillance

A new study by LMU assesses the benefits and risks of social media monitoring apps, highlighting their use in verification and tracking individuals across multiple networks. While some see these tools as useful for journalists, others express concerns over personal privacy and potential misuse.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalDigital Journalism·DateJul 21, 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.

NASA notes 9th northwestern Pacific Tropical Cyclone

The 9th tropical depression of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean has formed and developed into a tropical storm, Tropical Storm Kulap. Located near 28.4 degrees north latitude and 177.7 degrees east longitude, Kulap is moving northwest at 19.5 mph with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 21, 2017

A genetic variation may increase tuberculosis susceptibility

Researchers discovered a single nucleotide polymorphism in the hepcidin promoter gene associated with increased susceptibility to extrapulmonary tuberculosis. This genetic variation leads to decreased hepcidin production, impairing macrophage function and allowing M. tuberculosis to spread to other areas of the body.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalGenetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers·DateJul 21, 2017

Sixth volume of the German Surname Atlas released

The sixth volume of the German Surname Atlas offers a comprehensive survey of surnames derived from given names in medieval Germany. The research provides valuable insights into the development of the spoken language and cultural history.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·DateJul 21, 2017
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.

Superluminous supernova marks the death of a star at cosmic high noon

Astronomers detected a rare superluminous supernova, one of the brightest ever seen, in a distant galaxy 10 billion light years away. The explosion occurred during the cosmic high noon period, when star formation peaked 3.5 billion years after the Big Bang.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 21, 2017

Offer of $100 boosts rates of colon cancer screenings

A new study suggests that a simple financial incentive of $100 can boost the rate of colon cancer screenings, increasing it from 1.6% to 3.7%. The study found that offering this inducement more than doubled the rate of screening when compared to a simple emailed request.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateJul 21, 2017

Spatial orientation: New model for the origin of grid cells

Researchers at LMU present a new theoretical model for the origin of grid cells in the brain, assigning a crucial role to the timing of signals from neurons called place cells. The model suggests that grid cells are generated through synaptic plasticity and transform temporal coordinated signaling into hexagonal patterns.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 21, 2017

Socioeconomic factors and severity of coronary artery disease

A study published in The Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal found that higher income is associated with a higher risk of significant coronary artery disease and multivessel disease in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Poor lifestyle practices and high stress levels are thought to contribute to this association.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal·DateJul 21, 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.

Vortex photons from electrons in circular motion

Researchers at IMS have shown theoretically and experimentally that high-energy electrons in circular/spiral motion radiate vortex photons across a broad wavelength range. This discovery indicates that vortex photons are ubiquitous in the universe, paving the way for a new research field.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 21, 2017

Study reveals most impactful neuroscience research

A study of 100 most-cited neuroscience articles reveals five top research topics: neurological disorders, prefrontal cortex, brain connectivity, brain mapping, and methodology studies. The study allows scientists to quickly identify impactful research in neuroscience.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateJul 21, 2017
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Alzheimer's drug may help treat traumatic brain injury

Researchers found that memantine significantly reduced blood levels of neuron-specific enolase, a marker of neuronal damage, in patients with moderate TBI. The study also showed marked improvements in Glasgow Coma Scale scores on day 3, indicating potential therapeutic benefits.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateJul 21, 2017

3-D scanning with water

A global team of computer scientists and engineers developed an innovative technique for reconstructing complex objects using water displacement. The method accurately captures hidden parts of an object, previously inaccessible to laser scanners.

SourceAssociation for Computing Machinery·DateJul 21, 2017
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

GOES Satellite sees Tropical Depression 09E form

Tropical Depression 09E formed off Mexico's southern coast, with NOAA's GOES-East satellite capturing its image on July 21. The depression is moving westward at 14 mph, with a high probability of strengthening into a tropical storm within the next two days.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 21, 2017

Superluminous supernova marks the death of a star at cosmic high noon

A team of astronomers discovered a rare superluminous supernova in a distant galaxy 10 billion years ago. The brilliant explosion, one of the brightest ever recorded, occurred at cosmic high noon when the rate of star formation was at its peak.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJul 21, 2017

India must rethink infrastructure needs for 100 new 'smart' cities to be sustainable

A new study suggests that India's planned 'smart' cities could have a detrimental impact on the environment if adequate infrastructure is not provided. The study analyzed the environmental implications of medium-rise housing replaced with high-rise towers, predicting significant extra demands on resources and increased waste output.

SourceUniversity of Lincoln·JournalJournal of Contemporary Urban Affairs·DateJul 21, 2017

COX-2 inhibitors may reverse IDO1-mediated immunosuppression in some cancers

In preclinical studies, tumors with constitutive IDO1 expression responded to COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib and improved T-cell infiltration, making them more likely to respond to anti-PD1 therapies. COX-2 inhibitors may reverse IDO1-mediated immunosuppression in some cancers.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Immunology Research·DateJul 21, 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.

Pharmacology: Probing the pores in membrane vesicles

Scientists at LMU Munich have developed a method to study ion channels in membrane vesicles with greater specificity. They screened compounds that selectively induce the enlargement of early and late endosomes, allowing them to characterize TRPML3 and TRPML1 channels.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Protocols·DateJul 21, 2017

Depression changes structure of the brain, study suggests

A major scanning study identified changes in white matter of the brain in people with depression, shedding light on the biology of the condition. The study used a cutting-edge technique to map brain structure and found reduced white matter integrity in those reporting depressive symptoms.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 21, 2017

Black swans in public administration

Professor Wolfgang Seibel's research on black swans in public administration focuses on rare organisational failures with severe consequences. He investigates structural flaws and systemic weaknesses within public administration to prevent such incidents.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·DateJul 21, 2017
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.

Assessing concussion symptom presentation may provide insight into rise in rates

Researchers analyzed concussion data from national high school surveillance system, finding a decrease in severe symptoms like amnesia and an increase in dizziness and light sensitivity. Clinicians may be over-diagnosing concussions, while diagnostic tools have shifted to more computerized and non-invasive methods.

SourceAmerican Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine·DateJul 21, 2017
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.