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Science News Archive September 2017


Page 24 of 39

Innate immunity

Researchers discovered that cGAS forms a ladder-like complex with cytoplasmic DNA to detect infections. The length of the DNA is critical for this process, and only longer DNA strands activate the innate immune system.

Surgeons have major influence on breast cancer treatment

A new study published in JAMA Surgery found that surgeons played a major role in determining whether patients receive aggressive breast cancer surgery. The study revealed that surgeons' attitudes towards breast conservation and CPM had a significant impact on the likelihood of patients receiving this procedure.

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.

Squirrels use 'chunking' to organize their favorite nuts

Fox squirrels separate each cache into quasi subfolders for different types of nuts, suggesting they use flexible strategies to store food depending on how they acquire it. This cognitive strategy allows them to maximize their ability to remember where they've stored their most prized treats.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Novel genetic mutation discovered in Parkinson's disease patient

A unique mutation in the ACMSD gene has been identified in a 74-year-old man with Parkinson's disease, which may be linked to an increased risk of neurodegeneration. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of the disease and potentially inform the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Reducing leather pollution with molten salts

Researchers develop eco-friendly leather processing method using molten salts to remove hair and open fibers, reducing pollution output and treatment time. The new process eliminates the use of harsh chemicals like lime and sodium sulfide.

Suicide attempts on the rise in US, finds study

A study by Columbia University Medical Center found that US suicide attempts have increased, especially among younger, disadvantaged adults with mental health issues. The study also revealed significant risk factors for attempted and completed suicides, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention efforts.

Unintentional drug use continues among molly users in EDM party scene

Researchers found that nearly half of ecstasy users tested positive for drugs they denied using, particularly new stimulants like 'bath salts'. The study highlights the risks of unintentional drug use in EDM environments and emphasizes the need for harm reduction efforts and evidence-based information on adulteration.

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.

When music makes male faces more attractive

Research suggests that listening to highly stimulating and complex music can increase female perceptions of male attractiveness and willingness to date. The findings challenge Darwin's theory on the origin of music, which proposes that it emerged through sexual selection.

Improved model of energy highway along protein strands

A new mathematical model describes how polarons can be displaced in a directed way with minimum energy loss in linear peptide chains, accounting for the energy transport mechanism in proteins. The model predicts that a constant electric field can initiate and sustain polaron motion along polypeptide chains.

LED lights safer, more effective in producing Vitamin D3 than sunlight

Research published in Scientific Reports shows that RayVio's UV LED is more efficient than sunlight at producing vitamin D3 in skin samples. The study found that skin exposed to the LED for just 0.52 minutes produced more than twice as much vitamin D3 as samples exposed to 32.5 minutes of sunlight.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A new alternative to 'practice makes perfect'

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that brief memory reactivations can replace extensive practice and training as a basis of procedural learning. By leveraging this novel approach, individuals can improve their learning with just several brief but highly efficient reactivations of a learned memory.

Differences in aggression among people with dementia

Researchers found that individuals with frontotemporal dementia were physically aggressive earlier and exhibited more severe behavior towards strangers compared to those with Alzheimer's disease. The study of 281 deceased patients revealed a significant difference in the manifestation of aggression between the two groups.

Inferno world with titanium skies

A team of astronomers has detected titanium oxide in the atmosphere of WASP-19b, an exoplanet with a temperature of 2000 degrees Celsius. The discovery was made using ESO's VLT and allows for more accurate modeling of exoplanet atmospheres.

Are we missing the warning signs to prevent lone terrorist attacks?

Researchers identified five specific warning behaviors in the Berlin attacker prior to the 2016 attack, which could inform future threat assessments. The study explores how better awareness of these signs and understanding of perpetrator radicalization might improve prevention.

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.

In-utero treatment reverses cleft palate in mice

Researchers at University of Utah Health discovered a molecular pathway responsible for cleft palate formation and identified a new treatment to reverse this defect in mouse pups in-utero. The Wnt-based treatment restored palate fusion in all tested pups without adverse health effects.

Wondering if that mole is cancerous? Look at illustrations, not photos

A recent study published in the Journal of Health Communication found that illustrations are more effective than photos in helping people spot problematic moles during skin self-examinations. The research uses eye-tracking technology to show that participants fixate on atypical moles longer with illustrated visuals, leading to increase...

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.

Water conservation can have unintended consequences

Researchers at UC Riverside found that indoor residential conservation during droughts can diminish the quantity and quality of influent available for treatment in wastewater reuse systems. This can lead to reliability issues and increased pollutants in treated wastewater, hindering its use for irrigation or other purposes.

Test strips for cancer detection get upgraded with nanoparticle bling

Researchers at Michigan Technological University have developed test strips for cancer detection that can identify minute concentrations of biomarkers using nanoparticles. The new technology adds a thin skin of platinum to gold nanoparticles, making it easier to observe changes on the test strip and increasing accuracy.

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.

Privacy streams helps developers create privacy friendly apps

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University created a service called PrivacyStreams that enables app developers to access smartphone data without revealing private information. The service allows developers to sample and transform personal data into desired outputs, ensuring users' privacy is maintained.

The benefits and pitfalls of urban green spaces

Urban green spaces play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health, despite management challenges and limitations in data availability. Recent discussions highlight the need for effective strategies to manage human-affected ecosystems and balance urban development with environmental conservation.

New supernova analysis reframes dark energy debate

A new study finds a model universe with no dark energy provides a slightly better fit to Type Ia supernovae data than the standard dark energy model. The 'timescape cosmology' challenges current understanding of the Universe's expansion, highlighting the need for more data and better supernova precision.

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.

Asthma drug from the garden center

Researchers at the University of Bonn have developed a new compound extracted from coralberry leaves that effectively relieves bronchial spasms and may be more effective than common asthma medication salbutamol. The study was conducted in mice, but further human trials are needed before its application.

Fish food for marine farms harbor antibiotic resistance genes

Researchers found 132 antibiotic-resistant genes in commercially available fishmeal, which can boost the growth of harmful bacteria in marine farm sediment. This discovery suggests that fishmeal could be a reservoir for these genes, promoting their distribution globally.

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-NOAA satellite shows extent of Irma's remnants

The NASA-NOAA satellite captured images of Hurricane Irma's remnant clouds and rains covering a quarter of the continental US. The satellite data showed the extent of the storm's impact, with moderate to locally heavy rain expected in the Mid-South and Southeast regions.

Study examines suicide attempts among adults in the United States

A new study examines suicide attempts among US adults, revealing a disproportionate increase in risk for younger adults with less formal education and those with common personality, mood, and anxiety disorders. The findings highlight the need for targeted clinical and public health focus on these vulnerable groups.

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.

Researchers develop new strategy to target KRAS mutant cancer

Researchers have identified a new strategy to target KRAS mutant cancer using a Galectin-3 inhibitor. The study found that binding of the protein to a specific cell surface receptor amplifies the advantages driven by mutant KRAS, creating a unique vulnerability that can be targeted with an existing drug.

How do sports news shows disguise sexism against women's sports?

A study spanning 25 years found that sexist coverage of women's sports is often subtle, with women's athletes receiving less air time, fast-paced language, and game footage compared to men's sports. The study attributes this to 'gender bland sexism' in the industry.

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.

Treating acute pain in opioid-dependent patients -- Review and recommendations

A review suggests using a holistic and multimodal approach to treat acute pain in patients with opioid dependence. The recommended strategies include education for healthcare providers and patients, screening tools to assess risk factors, and psychological tools such as relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy.

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.

Artificial 'skin' gives robotic hand a sense of touch

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new form of stretchable electronics that can serve as an artificial skin, allowing a robotic hand to sense temperature differences. The breakthrough enables the creation of biomedical devices such as health monitors and medical implants with improved functionality.

NASA's GPM sees Typhoon Talim threatening islands of Japan

Typhoon Talim produces heavy precipitation in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with storms dropping rain at rates of over 76 mm/hour and 120 mm/hour. The typhoon is expected to intensify as it moves towards Japan, with winds forecast to reach 115 knots.