Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for November 23, 2017


The piezoelectric effect of lysozyme was experimentally proved

Scientists from Ural Federal University and the University of Limerick proved that lysozyme exhibits piezoelectric properties, generating electric charges that can power pacemakers and stimulate nerve endings. This discovery has implications for various biomedical applications, including biosensors for disease detection.

SourceUral Federal University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateNov 23, 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.

The world needs to rethink the value of water

A new four-part framework is proposed to value water for sustainable development, guiding better policy and practice. The framework highlights the need to measure, value, trade off, and manage water effectively to achieve safely-managed drinking water and sanitation.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2017

Effects of ethnocentrism on consumers

The study investigates how consumer ethnocentrism influences the purchase of food products with local, regional, or traditional features. It finds that consumers highly value these products and their levels of ethnocentrism are sometimes related to effective purchases.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalFood Quality and Preference·DateNov 23, 2017

Infants understand that more desirable rewards require more effort

A new study found that infants attribute more value to rewards that are harder to attain, indicating they can grasp concepts of reward and cost. Infants gaze longer at scenarios where the character chooses a less desirable reward over a more accessible one, suggesting they understand that greater effort is needed for better outcomes.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 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.

Analysis reveals barriers to routine HIV testing in high-income countries

Low rates of routine HIV testing were reported in emergency departments and acute medical units in the UK and US, with operational and patient-specific factors hindering uptake. The study identifies providers' fears about offering HIV testing as a major barrier, stemming from perceived lack of knowledge about HIV.

SourceWiley·JournalHIV Medicine·DateNov 23, 2017

Meadows beat out shrubs when it comes to storing carbon

A study by Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that meadows store significantly more carbon than shrubs in high-latitude alpine zones. This discovery could have implications for carbon storage and global warming, particularly in regions where climate change is altering vegetation patterns.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalEcosystems·DateNov 23, 2017

Scientists find key to regenerating blood vessels

A new study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute identifies a crucial signaling pathway for angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. The findings may improve current strategies to increase blood flow in ischemic tissues associated with atherosclerosis and diabetes.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 23, 2017

Research reveals China's reversing emission flows

Research reveals China's reversing emission flows due to changes in economic development patterns and international trade. The study found that emission flows have changed greatly in both domestic and foreign trade.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 23, 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.

Helpers at the nest may allow mother birds to lay smaller eggs

In cooperatively breeding species, females tend to produce smaller eggs when help with rearing offspring is at hand. This reduction in egg size allows breeding females to conserve energy and increase their chances of survival to the next year or having the next set of offspring sooner.

SourceSt. John's College, University of Cambridge·JournalPeerJ·DateNov 23, 2017

New batteries with better performance and improved safety

The new battery prototype uses a solid electrolyte and metal anode, enabling the storage of more energy while maintaining high safety levels. The researchers have tested the battery over 250 cycles, with 85% of its energy capacity still functional after that period.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateNov 23, 2017

New CO2 device for unmanned ocean vessels

A new instrument called CaPASOS will be used to measure CO2 levels in the air and surface of the ocean in remote regions. This will provide valuable data on carbon dioxide uptake by the ocean and its impact on climate change.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·DateNov 23, 2017

Light facilitates n-doping of organic semiconductors

Researchers develop new method to dope organic semiconductors with n-type donor molecules using a two-step process involving the use of light. This approach enables significant increases in conductivity, making it suitable for applications such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalNature Materials·DateNov 23, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Tumor-associated bacteria hitches a ride to metastatic sites

A new study confirms presence of Fusobacterium in liver metastases of colon cancer patients, correlating with tumor growth and colonization. The bacteria travels with metastatic tumor cells to distant organs, potentially aiding their colonization.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2017

Ocean floor mud reveals secrets of past European climate

Scientists from Cardiff University analyzed sediment samples from the North Atlantic Ocean, finding changes in ocean circulation that impacted heat transport to Europe. They linked these changes to historical records of colder and warmer climates, shedding light on past climate variations.

SourceCardiff University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 23, 2017

Climate change could increase volcano eruptions

Scientists at the University of Leeds warn that climate change could lead to more frequent volcanic eruptions in Iceland as glaciers melt. The study found a time lag of roughly 600 years between climate events and decreased volcanic activity, suggesting a similar delay may occur with warming temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalGeology·DateNov 23, 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.

Push to twist: Achieving the classically impossible in human-made material

Scientists create 3D metamaterials that twist when compressed using computer simulations and laser microprinting. The material can respond in a chiral way, challenging classical solid mechanics, and could have applications in space missions, optics, and prosthetics.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2017

Max-Planck-Princeton partnership in fusion research confirmed

The Max-Planck-Princeton Center has made significant progress in fusion research, investigating plasmas in astrophysics and advancing understanding of magnetic reconnection. New computer codes and experimentation have improved simulations, resolving long-standing questions about solar wind heating and magnetic field behavior.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (IPP)·DateNov 23, 2017

Neurobiology: The chemistry of memory

Researchers found that reduced levels of Staufen2 are associated with a specific impairment of memory in rats. The study shows that Staufen2 plays a crucial role in conveying messenger RNAs to synapses, which is essential for learning and memory formation.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalGenome Biology·DateNov 23, 2017

World's smallest tape recorder is built from microbes

Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have developed a microscopic data recorder using CRISPR-Cas technology, allowing bacteria to monitor their surroundings and record temporal changes. The system has proven its ability to handle multiple signals and record for days.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2017

When friends become objects

Researchers found that Facebook users with strong materialistic values use the platform more frequently and engage deeper, objectifying their friends. The Social Online Self-Regulation Theory proposes self-regulation as the key to social media usage, aiming for a neutral attitude towards platforms.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalHeliyon·DateNov 23, 2017
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

'Lost' 99 percent of ocean microplastics to be identified with dye?

A new method developed by researchers at the University of Warwick uses fluorescent dye to detect small microplastics in oceans, challenging current estimates that only 1% of plastic waste is found. The method reveals a significant abundance of polypropylene microplastics, highlighting the impact of consumer habits on ocean health.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateNov 23, 2017

Galapagos study finds that new species can develop in as little as 2 generations

Researchers from Princeton University and Uppsala University report a new species of bird developed on Daphne Major island after interbreeding between two distinct species. The study reveals that the emergence of this new species occurred in just two generations, highlighting a critical step in speciation through hybridization.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2017

How badly do you want something? Babies can tell

A new study from MIT and Harvard University found that babies as young as 10 months can integrate information about costs and benefits to calculate the value of a goal. By observing an agent's effort to achieve a goal, 10-month-old infants inferred the amount of value they placed on it.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2017

Comparison of primate brains hints at what makes us human

A comparative analysis of primate brains found that humans exhibit unique differences in dopamine gene expression, particularly in the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine. These differences may contribute to aspects of cognition and behavior such as working memory, reasoning, and intelligence.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2017
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.