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Science News Archive May 2017


Page 20 of 42

Wallflower center pack baboons find place

A UC Davis study reveals that baboons position themselves strategically within their troop to optimize access to food and safety. Younger males tend to occupy central positions, while adult males take a more exposed role at the front of the group.

Looking beyond the breeding grounds

New research reveals a negative association between glyphosate application and local abundance of adult monarch butterflies in the Midwest. Habitat loss and climate change are also contributing factors to the species' decline.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Earth's atmosphere more chemically reactive in cold climates

A University of Washington study reveals that during large climate swings, oxidants shift in a different direction than expected, leading to changes in ozone and greenhouse gas levels. Researchers propose two possible explanations: a change in atmospheric circulation patterns and chemical reactions with halogens.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Conductive paper could enable future flexible electronics

Scientists have developed a conductive paper that can contribute to flexible electronics, enabling scalable production on a large scale. The material, which costs $1.30 per square meter, conducts electricity while maintaining durability, making it suitable for future flexible electronics.

The Gruber Foundation awards $1.5 million in prizes to 3 top scientists

The Gruber Foundation has awarded $1.5 million to three top scientists for their groundbreaking work in cosmology, genetics and neuroscience. Sandra Faber, Stephen Elledge, and Joshua Sanes have been recognized for their pioneering research on galaxy structure, DNA damage response pathway, and synapse formation.

Large volcanic eruption may have caused the first mass extinction

A team of scientists suggests that massive volcanic eruptions triggered the first mass extinction event, which occurred at the end of the Ordovician period. The researchers analyzed mercury levels in sedimentary rocks from North America and southern China, finding a correlation between Hg enrichments and the mass extinction.

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.

Medical care, health have improved for low-income adults under ACA

The study found that low-income adults in Kentucky and Arkansas experienced significant improvements in medical care and health after gaining insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. They reported reduced out-of-pocket spending, improved access to primary care and preventive services, and better self-reported health. Additio...

Destruction of a quantum monopole observed

Researchers successfully created and decayed isolated quantum monopoles, providing fundamental understanding of their dynamics. The observation reveals that one monopole can spontaneously transform into another in under a second.

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.

Blind people have brain map for 'visual' observations too

Researchers at KU Leuven found that blind individuals, including those without eyeballs, use the ventral-temporal cortex to categorize visual observations. This region is divided into smaller areas, each recognizing a particular category, such as faces, body parts, and objects.

A culprit of thyroid's diseases

Researchers identified VEGF-A as a key player in thyroid-vascular coordination, producing excess hormones and dense capillaries in hyperthyroidism. Blocking VEGFR2 could inhibit thyroid enlargement and remodeling.

UC San Diego chemists create the ultimate natural sunscreen

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed nanoparticles that mimic the behavior of natural melanosomes, protecting skin cells from UV radiation. These synthetic melanin-like nanoparticles show promise as artificial melanosomes for novel therapy development.

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.

Humans rely more on 'inferred' visual objects than 'real' ones

Researchers found that humans prefer internal visual information generated by the brain to external images from the real world. This bias was observed in a study where participants chose between identical visual objects one generated internally and another externally displayed.

Public divides over environmental regulation and energy policy

A Pew Research Center survey finds that Americans lean towards government regulations to encourage renewable energy consumption. While there is a close divide on cutting back environmental regulations, most believe protecting the environment from energy development should be a top priority. The public also supports increasing reliance ...

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.

Cities need to 'green up' to reduce the impact of air pollution

A new study published in Atmospheric Environment suggests that low hedges can be more effective than taller trees in reducing urban air pollution. Strategically placed low hedges can help mitigate the impact of traffic emissions in cityscapes with large buildings close to roads.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Don't count on your chickens counting

Research suggests that humans and nonhuman animals can discriminate between quantities, but this ability is grounded in biology and culture. Nunez proposes that 'quantical skills' may be more universal than previously thought, offering a new approach to education and problem-solving.

Making brain implants smaller could prolong their lifespan

Researchers at MIT have developed a new brain implant design that uses thin fibers to deliver drugs or electrical stimulation with less damage to the brain. The design reduces scarring, potentially allowing devices to remain in the brain for much longer.

Oddball enzyme provides easy path to synthetic biomaterials

Researchers have developed a new method using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzyme to produce precise, high molecular weight synthetic biomolecular structures. These structures can be tailored to create single-stranded DNA for self-assembling into ball-like containers for drug delivery or incorporating unnatural nucleotides.

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.

Nicotine enhances bees' activity

Scientists at Queen Mary University of London found that nicotine-laced nectar enhances bumblebees' learning of flower colors and creates addiction-like behavior. The study suggests plants may manipulate pollinator behavior using psychoactive substances like nicotine.

The brighter side of twisted polymers

Researchers at KAUST have developed a strategy to create highly fluorescent nanoparticles through molecular design of conjugated polymers. The twisted shape of the molecules produces smaller, brighter particles with tunable spectroscopic properties, opening up new opportunities for bio-imaging and nanomedicine.

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.

Immunotherapy against bee stings in some cases incomplete

Researchers found that commercial preparations for allergy shots often lack sufficient levels of key allergens, which could affect treatment success. Customized immunotherapy tailored to individual patients' reactions is a promising approach, but its development is still in its infancy.

Treatment in hospital by older doctors linked to higher death rates

A study published in The BMJ found that patients treated by older physicians have higher mortality rates than those cared for by younger physicians, except for those with high patient volumes. However, the researchers note that clinical skills and knowledge accumulated by more experienced physicians can lead to improved quality of care.

Venom becomes more potent as brown snakes age

Research led by University of Queensland scientist Associate Professor Bryan Fry reveals that brown snake venom attacks the nervous system in young snakes and circulatory system in older ones. This transformation allows the venom to become more potent and deadly, causing internal bleeding and death in humans.

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.

Under cyber attack: UH researchers look at how to catch a 'phisher'

A study by University of Houston researchers used publicly available emails from Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin to analyze the characteristics of phishing emails. The results showed that participants had a 52% accuracy rate in detecting real emails, while more complex grammar fooled 74% of them.

Interaction between the atomic nucleus and the electron on trial

Researchers measured transition between energy levels of lithium-like bismuth ions with unprecedented precision, contradicting existing theories. The discrepancy raises questions about the understanding of electron interaction with complex inner nuclear structures.

Key to 'superbug' antibiotic resistance discovered

A global health threat, superbugs are bacteria resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Monash University researchers identified the first important clues on how to counter superbug strategies, using electron microscopes and comparing data from antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus samples with non-resistant strains.

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.

Scientists propose better battery system for smart home use

Researchers have developed a new algorithm to optimize battery power consumption in smart home systems. The system learns to adapt to real-time electricity rates and minimizes grid power needed while extending battery life. Future work will investigate avoiding damage caused by frequent charging and discharging modes.

Bacteria harness the lotus effect to protect themselves

Researchers have discovered that bacterial biofilms adapt their surface texture to repel water, similar to leaves. The structure of these biofilms is influenced by nutrient supply, with some behaving like lotus leaves and others like rose petals.

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.

American chestnut rescue will succeed, but slower than expected

A new study published in New Forests finds that the American chestnut rescue effort will eventually succeed, but at a slower pace than anticipated. The research team reviewed decades of breeding records and transgenic experiments to conclude that it is just a matter of time before blight resistance is achieved.

Ginger may help fight obesity and related disorders

Recent studies have built a consensus that ginger has beneficial effects against obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. Ginger regulates fat metabolism, suppresses carbohydrate digestion, and modulates insulin secretion to help combat these conditions.

Findings do not support steroid injections for knee osteoarthritis

A study published in JAMA found that steroid injections did not improve symptoms or reduce cartilage damage in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. The treatment resulted in significant cartilage volume loss, but no significant difference in knee pain compared to a placebo injection.

How scientists turned a flag into a loudspeaker

Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a flexible, ultrathin device that can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and vice versa, enabling applications such as foldable loudspeakers, voice-activated security patches, and talking newspapers.

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.

Managing stress helps transistor performance

A new research technique introduces tensile stress into both the channel and drift region of transistors, resulting in improved performance. The technique, using CESLs, offers better frequency performance and driving capability than unstrained devices.

Medical abortions obtained through online telemedicine shown to be effective, safe

A new study published in The BMJ found that medical abortions conducted through online telemedicine were successful in 95% of cases, with low rates of complications. Women were able to identify symptoms of potential issues and seek medical attention when needed, suggesting a safe and effective option for those seeking abortion access.

Family TV viewing and SMS texting could help cut internet energy use

Researchers found that watching videos and listening to music are the most data-intensive activities, accounting for around half of mobile data demand. Changing user behavior, such as gathering together to watch streamed media or using SMS texting instead of instant messaging, could significantly reduce energy consumption.