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Science News Archive November 2017


Page 7 of 42

Why do more women have asthma than men? Blame hormones

A study by Vanderbilt University and Johns Hopkins researchers found that testosterone hinders an immune cell linked to asthma symptoms in women. This is due to the effects of testosterone on lung cells, which are more prevalent in asthmatic women than men.

In search of: Researchers explore the ocean for alternatives to opioids

A multi-disciplinary team of researchers is exploring natural compounds from marine organisms to develop non-opioid drugs for chronic pain management. The team aims to identify novel drugs with the beneficial effects of opioids but lack the adverse actions, such as addiction and respiratory depression.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Rotman School strategy professor receives Canada Research Chair

András Tilcsik, a professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, has been awarded a Canada Research Chair to investigate biases in organizational processes and policies for hiring. His research will provide evidence and information to help build more diverse and equitable workplaces.

There's a deeper fish in the sea

The new species, named Pseudoliparis swirei, thrives at depths of up to 8,000 meters and is found in groups feeding on tiny crustaceans and shrimp, adapting to extreme pressure with success.

Advances in MALDI mass spectrometry within drug discovery

This special issue highlights innovations in MALDI mass spectrometry for characterizing proteomes, detecting analytes, and screening non-covalent binding of small molecules to target proteins. MALDI imaging is used to study diseases and therapeutics, including the distribution of glycosphingolipids in a Gaucher Disease model mouse brain.

Harnessing the rattling motion of oxygen ions to convert T-rays to visible light

Researchers have successfully visualized terahertz radiation by converting it into bright, visible light using the rattling motion of oxygen ions in a cage-like structure. The crystal, called mayenite, is composed of calcium, aluminum, and oxygen, making it an inexpensive material with potential applications in T-ray detection.

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.

Marriage may help stave off dementia

A synthesis of 15 studies found that married people had a lower risk of developing dementia compared to lifelong singletons and widowers. The researchers suggest that marriage may promote healthier lifestyles and social engagement among couples, which can contribute to a lower risk of dementia.

Kant, Hume, and the retailer's dilemma

A study found that allowing unethical customers to open multiple accounts benefits both the retailer and ethical customers, increasing purchasing power and engagement.

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.

As private funding of biomedical research soars, new risks arise

The shift from public to private funding in biomedical research poses significant challenges, including collaborative research models, intellectual property rights, and oversight. Researchers must navigate conflicts between private benefactors, institutions, and scientists to ensure the integrity of research.

Discovery points the way to better and cheaper transparent conductors

Researchers have identified a factor limiting the conductivity of fluorine doped tin dioxide, a material used in touch screens, solar cells, and energy efficient windows. The discovery could lead to coatings with up to five times higher conductivity, reducing cost and enhancing performance.

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.

Research reveals the scale at which Earth's mantle composition varies

Scientists have discovered that heterogeneities in the Earth's mantle are at least a kilometer in size, enabling the survival of their chemical signature during magma transport. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of mantle convection and its impact on tectonic plate movement.

Fighting plant disease at warm temperatures keeps food on the table

Researchers found that high temperatures weaken plant defenses while strengthening bacterial attacks, making plants more vulnerable to infection. However, treatment with a chemical that mimics salicylic acid can effectively protect plants from infection at elevated temperatures.

When physics gives evolution a leg up by breaking one

Researchers at Georgia Tech found that physical stress drove the evolution of multicellular bodies in yeast cells, allowing them to grow larger and more robust. This process was mainly driven by forces within the cells' physical structures, which pushed the snowflakes to evolve towards bigger, tougher bodies.

Xenophobia strongly linked to Brexit, regardless of voter age, gender or education

Research found that British citizens who fear immigrants were more likely to have voted for Brexit, and that collective narcissism is a new predictor of political behavior. The study identifies three groups: authoritarians, social dominance orientation, and collective narcissists, with the latter group linked to a strong desire for pri...

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

New computational method introduced for lighting in computer graphics

Researchers at Aalto University developed a new computational method to address the challenge of computing realistic indirect illumination in real-time computer graphics. The novel method accurately computes indirect illumination using sparse radiance probes, enabling fast and accurate lighting simulations.

Male trout are now real males again

Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark found that widespread feminization among male brown trout in Danish streams had completely disappeared between 2004 and 2016. The improvement was attributed to better wastewater treatment practices, particularly the connection to municipal wastewater treatment plants.

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.

Ryk needs a chaperone

Researchers discovered Ryk's chaperone, Smek, which regulates key genes transforming stem cells into brain cells. The study sheds light on the mechanisms of brain development and may lead to new therapies for neurological diseases and brain cancer.

Dark ocean bacteria discovered to play large role in carbon capture

Researchers from Bigelow Laboratory discovered nitrite-oxidizing bacteria to be key players in the global carbon cycle, capturing more than 1.1 gigatons of CO2 annually. These large, relatively rare bacteria outperform archaea in carbon capture, highlighting a significant shift in our understanding of oceanic carbon cycling.

New discovery to accelerate development of salt-tolerant grapevines

A recent Australian discovery identified genes expressed in grapevine roots that limit sodium uptake, leading to more robust salt-tolerant rootstocks. This breakthrough allows for early screening of new genotypes at the seedling stage, supporting the local wine sector's sustainability.

Neurofeedback shows promise in treating tinnitus

Researchers used fMRI to study neurofeedback training's potential in treating tinnitus, finding a significant relationship between controlling the primary auditory cortex and attentional processes. The training involved participants focusing away from sound to decrease brain activity.

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.

Activity descriptors for electrocatalysts in energy storage applications

Scientists developed adsorption-energy-based activity descriptors to improve electrocatalytic activity in energy storage. The descriptors are linked to interfacial electronic coupling, providing a new method for selecting high-activity catalysts and understanding structure-activity relationships.

Worried about holiday weight gain? Your scale isn't giving you the whole picture

A new study used MRI imaging technology to plot diverse changes in body organ fat storage pools during 18 months of Mediterranean/low-carb and low-fat diets, with and without moderate physical exercise. The results showed that even with modest weight loss, the Med/LC diet was significantly superior to a low-fat diet in reducing some fa...

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.

Quest for new medicines could be helped by cell discovery

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have identified two molecules, SMAD2 and SMAD3, that enhance cellular reprogramming efficiency. This breakthrough could accelerate production of induced pluripotent stem cells for studying diseases like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

Studying heat transfer with computers is easier now

Researchers have developed a new method to study thermal transfer, enabling more efficient numerical simulations and revealing deeper mechanisms of heat flow. This breakthrough opens up important research possibilities and potential applications in various fields.

What can zebrafish teach us about our survival in the face of mutations?

Researchers have found that zebrafish can survive despite mutations by using workarounds such as regulating expression of related genes or skipping errors in DNA transcription. This study provides guidelines for designing targeted mutations and accelerating the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for human diseases.

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.

Cancer drug starts clinical trials in human brain-cancer patients

PAC-1, a cancer drug that targets procaspase-3, has been approved for use in a phase Ib trial of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. The drug has shown promise in pet dogs with brain cancers and is being tested in combination with temozolomide.

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.

Johns Hopkins biologist leads team that unlocks mystery of protein function

A team of scientists led by Johns Hopkins University biologist Vincent Hilser has cracked the mystery of proteins that emerged as a distinct type less than 30 years ago. They discovered how these 'intrinsically disordered proteins' regulate their activities and interact with other proteins, constituting the majority of proteins involve...

Parental diet affects offspring immunity: Meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of hundreds of studies found a close relationship between parents' diet and offspring immunity across various animal species. The study suggests that poor nutrition can negatively impact disease resistance and that the effects of a parental diet can be inherited and maintained in offspring even on a normal diet.

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.

Batteries with better performance and improved safety

Researchers from Empa and UNIGE have developed a new battery prototype that stores more energy while maintaining high safety levels. The battery uses a solid electrolyte and metallic sodium, which enables faster charging and increased storage capacity.

Price changes for seven foods could save thousands of lives per year, study says

A new study suggests that altering prices of seven dietary items could prevent an estimated 23,000 deaths per year in the US. The study found that subsidies for healthy foods and taxes on unhealthy foods could reduce deaths from stroke, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, especially among Americans with lower socioeconomic status.

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.

Ambush in a petri dish

A team of researchers from Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology has made a groundbreaking discovery about the chemical communication between algae and bacteria. The study reveals that a specific lipopeptide, orfamide A, plays a central role in this process.

Amputees can learn to control a robotic arm with their minds

Researchers have discovered that amputees can rewire their brains to control a robotic arm through electrodes implanted in the brain. The study found that chronic amputees can create new connections between brain areas, even years after an amputation, and that these connections become more robust with training.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Tracking down genetic influences on brain disorders

New findings help clarify genetic influence on brain disorders by analyzing 3 million genomic locations, revealing links to schizophrenia and other disorders. The study identifies specific variable locations in the genome that affect gene expression and DNA methylation.