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Science News Archive May 2017


Page 23 of 42

Gas gives laser-induced graphene super properties

Rice University scientists discovered that laser-induced graphene can be made either superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic by adjusting the gas used in its formation. This property allows for applications such as separating water from oil and de-icing surfaces.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Outdoor air temperature linked to risk of gestational diabetes

A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found a direct link between outdoor air temperature and the risk of gestational diabetes. Women exposed to extremely cold temperatures had a 4.6% prevalence, increasing to 7.7% for hot temperatures

Corticosteroid treatment increases survival of preterm infants within hours

A new study suggests that corticosteroid treatments given to pregnant women just hours before delivery can significantly increase the survival rate of very preterm infants. The research found that antenatal corticosteroids reduced infant mortality and severe neonatal morbidity, particularly when administered shortly before birth.

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.

Physicist Johannes Henn receives ERC Consolidator Grant

Johannes Henn, a leading theorist in scattering amplitudes, will develop new methods to calculate properties of the Higgs boson with greater precision. His work aims to simplify mathematical structures and improve calculations in quantum field theory.

Naomi Halas wins Weizmann Women and Science Award

Rice University's Naomi Halas has made significant contributions to the field of plasmonics, profoundly influencing modern optics. She is the first person in university history to be elected to both National Academy of Sciences and Engineering.

Spinal muscular atrophy: New clues to cause and treatment

A study in mice suggests that abnormalities in sensory synapses may contribute to the disease, and increasing their activity can alleviate symptoms. The findings also indicate that targeting these synapses could be a new approach for treating spinal muscular atrophy.

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.

Tumor-trained T cells go on patrol

New study reveals that immune cells trained to recognize cancer can exit one tumor and move to another to attack cancerous cells. The research sheds light on how immune therapies for cancer might work and suggests new approaches to developing anti-cancer immune therapies.

ASU and NYU researchers look to boost crowdsourced brainstorming

ASU and NYU researchers created an online module to enhance crowdsourced brainstorming, finding that embedding peripheral micro-tasks improves idea breadth and depth. The study suggests that ideators' productivity and time of ideation impact the effectiveness of these tasks.

Cell changes drive breast cancer relapse

Researchers at EMBL found that residual breast cancer cells have specific traits that distinguish them from healthy cells and seem to cause relapse. The study suggests lipid metabolism as an exciting therapeutic target to reduce breast cancer recurrence.

NUS-led research teams uncover extraordinary properties of strontium niobate

Researchers from the National University of Singapore have discovered novel properties of strontium niobate, a material that displays both metallic type conduction and photocatalytic activity. The material exhibits an intrinsic plasmonic absorption, allowing it to absorb visible photons, which is exceptional among metals.

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.

Where you live may impact how much you drink

A University of Washington study found that neighborhoods with high poverty and disorganization tend to have residents who drink twice as much and binge-drink four times as frequently. The researchers suggest that improving neighborhood quality of life can lead to benefits, including reduced problem drinking.

Year-round flu vaccinations promote healthier infants in subtropics

Vaccinating pregnant mothers year-round against flu in Nepal reduced infant flu virus infection rates by an average of 30 percent, increasing birth weights by 15 percent. The study also found that expanding year-round flu vaccinations during pregnancy would benefit children in other tropical and subtropical parts of the world.

Nano fiber feels forces and hears sounds made by cells

Engineers at UC San Diego developed a nano-sized optical fiber that can detect forces down to 160 femtonewtons and hear sounds down to -30 decibels, with applications in detecting bacteria, monitoring cellular behavior, and creating mini stethoscopes.

Invention produces cleaner water with less energy and no filter

Researchers at Princeton University have developed a low-cost water treatment system that uses carbon dioxide to remove particles from dirty water. The system splits the water stream and filters out suspended particles based on their electrical charge, making it an effective method for cleaning water from ponds or rivers.

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.

Mountains of waste could lead to new US manufacturing, jobs

A Texas A&M research team has discovered a way to produce good quality carbon fiber from lignin, a structural part of plants that piles up as waste. The breakthrough could lead to the creation of new products like tennis rackets and cars, generating jobs and rural economic growth.

Wasted nutrients: The result of widespread food waste

A recent study found that discarded food in the US food supply chain contains large amounts of key nutrients like vitamin D, fiber, and potassium. The study estimates that around 1,217 calories per person per day are squandered, equivalent to 5.9g dietary fiber, which is 23% of the RDA for women.

Study expands understanding of how the brain encodes fear memory

Researchers at UCR have discovered that a specific population of hippocampal neurons project to both the amygdala and mPFC, facilitating coordinated neural activity in these areas. This finding could lead to the development of new therapeutics for reducing pathological fear in PTSD.

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.

Wasted food means wasted nutrients

A recent study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimates that US food waste contains approximately 1,217 calories, 33 grams of protein, and other essential nutrients. These lost nutrients are important for maintaining healthy diets, particularly dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, and vitamin D.

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.

Quantum reservoir for microwaves

Scientists at EPFL develop a microwave resonator coupled to a metallic micro-drum, creating a quantum reservoir that can shape the states of microwaves. The findings enable novel phenomena in cavity optomechanical systems.

Stretching the limits of elastic conductors

Researchers have developed a printable elastic conductor that retains high conductivity even after being stretched by five times its original length. The new material, made with silver nanoparticles, has potential applications in wearable devices and robots.

Diesels pollute more than lab tests detect

A new study reveals that diesel vehicles worldwide exceed emissions standards by 4.6 million tons, resulting in 38,000 premature deaths each year. The findings emphasize the need for stricter emission certification tests and real-world compliance measures to improve air quality.

Diverse rotations and poultry litter improves soybean yield

Research found that combining crop rotations with soil amendments like poultry litter can alleviate issues associated with continuous cropping. Incorporating corn once within a 4-year cycle resulted in 8% greater yields than continuous soybean.

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.

New finding affecting immune reconstitution related to B cells

Researchers discovered a disruption in B cell maturation preventing antibody production in children after bone marrow transplant, impairing their ability to fight infection. The study highlights the need for closer monitoring and targeted prophylaxis to address this critical immune issue.

BC's drug plan deductibles do not lower drug use for some seniors

A study published in CMAJ found that adding a modest 2% income-based deductible to British Columbia's public drug plan did not decrease prescription medication use among seniors. However, it reduced the number of people who qualified for public subsidy and decreased public drug spending.

Exposure to psychological domestic abuse most damaging to children's wellbeing

New research from University of Limerick finds growing up in home with psychological abuse has longer-term effects on children's wellbeing than physical domestic violence. Exposure to psychological abuse, including name-calling and manipulation, has detrimental impact on young people's satisfaction with social support.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Heat on for Australia's Great Barrier Reef when global temperatures hit 1.5C

Research suggests that a 1.5C temperature increase will lead to twice as many extreme ocean heat events like the 2016 Great Barrier Reef damage, while a 2C rise triples the odds of mass bleaching. The study models thousands of years under different scenarios and finds keeping temperatures below 1.5C reduces extreme events and costs.

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.

Prototype drug uses novel mechanism to treat lung cancers

Researchers developed a prototype drug that directly activates a tumor suppressor protein, preventing lung cancer tumors in mice. The study's findings suggest the potential for broad applicability to various human cancers, including breast, prostate, and childhood cancers.

Pig model to help research on human knee growth, injury treatment

Researchers created a pig model to study human knee growth and changes in ligament orientation during maturity. The model enables researchers to better understand joint injuries in children and teens, potentially informing new surgical approaches and clinical practice.

Virus study targets infection linked to birth defects

Researchers discovered a key molecule VCP linked to Human Cytomegalovirus replication, which can be blocked by chemicals to stop the virus from multiplying. This approach could lead to more powerful therapies and reduce the risk of resistance.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

NASA's EPIC view spots flashes on Earth

Scientists have identified the source of unexpected flashes of light reflecting off Earth's surface captured by NASA's EPIC camera. High-altitude ice crystals are the cause of these glints, which were previously thought to be limited to water on land or oceans.

WSU researchers deliver first 'nanotherapeutics' to tumor

Researchers have developed a new approach to deliver therapeutics into tumors using the white blood cells of our body. By attaching a nanoscale particle to an infection-fighting white blood cell, they can get a drug past the armor of blood vessels that typically shield a tumor.

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.

More genes turned on when plants compete

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a gene that is turned on when plants compete for resources, including nitrogen fixing bacteria. This finding has potential implications for reducing manmade fertilizer use in agriculture.

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.

Folk contraceptives lead researchers to drugs that block fertilization

Researchers have discovered two chemicals found in anti-fertility folk medicines that can block fertilization, potentially providing an effective alternative to hormone-based contraceptives. The chemicals, pristimerin and lupeol, work by stopping sperm's power kick, allowing for a new type of emergency contraceptive.