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Science News Archive 2018 - Page 3


Page 3 of 473

Climate resilience of European wheat

A decline in European wheat's climate resilience is reported, as analyzed from farmers' field data and trials. Wheat cultivar diversity hotspot exists in Slovakia, but deserts are found in Czechia, Germany, Italy, and Spain

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018

Academic success and social relationships

Researchers surveyed 226 engineering students finding that socially isolated students received lower grades compared to those developing more friendships and collaborations. Friendships can evolve into collaborative academic relationships, improving academic success.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018

Estimates of global migration

Research estimates that approximately 1.2% of the global population migrates every five years, resulting in up to 87 million people moving each year. Notably, around one-quarter of all migrations involve return journeys to individuals' countries of birth.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Socioeconomic status and the developing brain

A longitudinal neuroimaging study of over 600 healthy young people found positive associations between socioeconomic status and the size and surface area of brain regions involved in cognitive functions. Greater childhood SES was associated with larger volumes of subcortical regions, extending previous research on SES and cortical morp...

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·DateDec 24, 2018

Catheter ablation superior to standard drug

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found catheter ablation superior to conventional drug therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure. The procedure was associated with reduced all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, and improved quality of life.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 24, 2018

How climate affects forest biodiversity

A global study analyzed 421 tree communities to understand how climate affects functional traits in forests. Climate factors like temperature variability and vapor pressure have the greatest impact on trait diversity across all species.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018

Brain activity predicts fear of pain

Researchers used machine learning to translate brain activity into fear of pain questionnaire scores, revealing distinct neural patterns for different constructs. The study may reconcile self-reported emotions and their neural underpinnings, providing new insights into pain-related fear.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournaleNeuro·DateDec 24, 2018
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.

Dust and social change in Mesopotamia

A study found a significant increase in dust in northern Iran around 4,200 years ago, suggesting a period of drying and relatively arid climate conditions. This event coincided with the decline of the Akkadian Empire and the abandonment of North Mesopotamian settlements.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018

Communication interception can be traced through meteor trails

Physicists at Kazan Federal University developed a refined simulation of joint reception areas for meteor radio reflections. The study reveals that unpredictable nature of meteors makes signal interception challenging, with practical possibilities disappearing at 30 km distances.

SourceKazan Federal University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation·DateDec 24, 2018

Cost-efficiency of high-yield urban gardens

Urban gardens in Australia achieve high yields comparable to commercial farms, yet face challenges due to higher material and labor costs. The study emphasizes the need for judicious management of inputs to ensure sustainability.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018
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.

Genetic legacy of state centralization

A study analyzing genome-wide data from 693 individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo found that present-day Kuba are genetically diverse and similar to neighboring groups, suggesting historical unification during state centralization. This research underscores the potential of genomics to reconstruct societal histories.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018

New global migration estimates show rates steady since 1990, high return migration

Researchers have developed a new statistical method to estimate migration flows between countries, revealing higher rates of migration and return migration. The pseudo-Bayes approach provides more accurate estimates than previous methods, with rates fluctuating between 1.1 and 1.3 percent of global population from 1990 to 2015.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018

Sustainable 'plastics' are on the horizon

A new process produces 'plastic' from marine microorganisms that completely recycle into organic waste, providing a biodegradable and non-toxic material. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the world's efforts to clean the oceans without affecting arable land or using fresh water.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalBioresource Technology·DateDec 24, 2018
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.

Climate change and electricity consumption in China

Climate change is projected to significantly impact electricity consumption in China's Yangtze River Delta, with daily consumption increasing by 14.5% for every 1°C rise in temperature above 25°C. By the end of the century, annual mean and peak consumption are expected to increase by approximately 9.2% and 36.1%, respectively.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 24, 2018

Hotter days will boost Chinese residential electric use

A new study from Duke University and Fudan University found that China's residential electricity consumption will increase by 9% for every degree Celsius rise in global mean surface temperature. Peak usage is projected to rise by 36%, with estimates suggesting a minimum of 72% increase, driven mainly by hotter days.

SourceDuke University·DateDec 24, 2018

Breast cancer drug impairs brain function

A study using monkeys with the breast cancer drug letrozole found significant behavioral changes and impaired brain function, including hot flashes, increased anxiety, and spatial memory issues. The research highlights the importance of studying the effects of estrogen-reducing treatments on the nervous system.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·DateDec 24, 2018
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.

U-M howler monkey study examines mechanisms of new species formation

A University of Michigan study reveals that hybridization between black and mantled howler monkeys is playing a direct role in completing the speciation process by enhancing genetic differences. The researchers found evidence for multiple forms of natural selection, including reinforcement, driving species differences.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateDec 22, 2018

Influences of maternal diabetes on fetal heart development

Research suggests that maternal hyperglycemia is a primary teratogen in all forms of diabetes, causing birth defects through dysregulation of epigenetic processes and oxidative stress. The study highlights the importance of understanding the gene-environment interactions involved in fetal heart development.

SourceNationwide Children's Hospital·JournalBirth Defects Research·DateDec 21, 2018
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.

Kidney patients are the most complex patients

A study reveals that nephrologists treat the most complex patients, with kidney disease patients having the highest number of comorbidities and medication needs. The findings highlight the need for better financial funding and awareness for kidney diseases in European healthcare systems.

SourceERA – European Renal Association·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 21, 2018

Forget-me-not: Scientists pinpoint memory mechanism in plants

Researchers have discovered a mechanism that enables flowering plants to 'remember' changes in their environment, triggering flowering in response to stress or seasonal changes. The PRC2 complex, containing the VRN2 protein, detects environmental signals and becomes stable under challenging conditions.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 21, 2018

Simple method rescues stressed liver cells

Scientists from Uppsala University have devised a simple method to rescue stressed liver cells by temporarily reducing cellular stress. This approach allows suboptimal human hepatocytes to be revived with restored functionality, increasing the availability of high-quality cells for laboratory experiments.

SourceUppsala University·JournalArchives of Toxicology·DateDec 21, 2018

Paramedics can safely evaluate psychiatric patients' medical condition in the field

Researchers found that paramedics can effectively identify acute psychiatric crises and divert them to specialized psychiatric facilities, reducing wait times for treatment. Over a five-year period, 22,000 psychiatric patients were treated at these facilities after being medically cleared by paramedics.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateDec 21, 2018
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.

Laser diode combats counterfeit oil

Researchers at UCM have designed a laser sensor that can detect counterfeit olive oil labelled as extra virgin or protected designation of origin. The tool uses laser diodes to distinguish between adulterated and pure oils due to differences in fluorescence.

SourceUniversidad Complutense de Madrid·JournalTalanta·DateDec 21, 2018

Strong interactions produce a dance between light and sound

A team of researchers has successfully demonstrated the 'strong-coupling regime' between light and high-frequency acoustic vibrations in a tiny glass structure. By overcoming friction-like processes, they were able to observe signatures of the light-sound dance and pave the way for future experiments at near-absolute zero temperatures.

SourceImperial College London·JournalOptica·DateDec 21, 2018

Droughts boost emissions as hydropower dries up

A new study from Stanford University finds that droughts cause a 10% increase in carbon dioxide emissions from power generation in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington between 2001 and 2015. Drought-induced shifts in energy sources led to an additional 100 million tons of carbon dioxide across 11 western states.

SourceStanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateDec 21, 2018
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.

Dust threatens Utah's 'greatest snow on earth'

A University of Utah study found that a single dust storm in 2017 accelerated snowmelt in the Wasatch Mountains by 25 percent. Dust deposition was linked to declining water levels in the Great Salt Lake, which may lead to more frequent and severe snowmelt events.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateDec 21, 2018

What do we see in a mirror?

Aalto University scientists develop gradient metasurfaces that can appear 'bright' at one direction and 'dark' for the opposite direction, breaking conventional symmetric responses of mirrors. This innovation uses evanescent fields engineering to engineer contrast ratios in angle spectrum.

SourceAalto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 21, 2018

Preparation, characterization and in vitro biological activity of Soyasapogenol B

Soyasapogenol B (SSB) is a bioactive agent that can be loaded into Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) for targeted delivery. The SSB-loaded MWCNT systems exhibited controlled and sustained drug release profiles, with minimal cytotoxicity to normal melanocytes, liver cells, and breast carcinoma cells.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalCurrent Bioactive Compounds·DateDec 21, 2018
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.

Statins are more effective for those who follow the Mediterranean diet

Researchers found that statins combined with a Mediterranean diet reduced cardiovascular mortality, particularly in those who had already experienced a heart attack or stroke. The study suggests that the Mediterranean diet may facilitate the beneficial effect of statins by reducing subclinical inflammation.

SourceIstituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed I.R.C.C.S.·JournalInternational Journal of Cardiology·DateDec 21, 2018

Bees can count with just four nerve cells in their brains

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London discovered that bees can solve simple counting tasks with minimal brainpower, using a miniature 'brain' with just four nerve cells. This finding suggests that intelligence and cognitive abilities do not require large brains, but rather efficient algorithms and specific strategies.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournaliScience·DateDec 21, 2018

Huge reserves of iron in Western Siberia might originate from under an ancient sea

Researchers from Tomsk Polytechnic University propose a new origin for the Bakchar deposit, suggesting that hydrothermal fluids and brine migration through marine sediments could be the source of its massive iron reserves. The study challenges the long-held theory that iron came from eroded mountainous areas.

SourceTomsk Polytechnic University·JournalMarine and Petroleum Geology·DateDec 21, 2018

What really happens at femtosecond junctions?

The latest version of Hussar software simulates the interaction of ultra-short laser pulses with unprecedented accuracy and speed. It allows researchers to model non-collinear beam intersections, enabling the design of innovative optical experiments and devices.

SourceInstitute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 21, 2018
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.

Study examines primary drivers of increased hospitalizations of homeless individuals

Researchers analyzed over 185,000 hospitalizations for homeless individuals and 32 million for non-homeless individuals between 2007 and 2013. The study found that more than 50% of hospitalizations among homeless individuals were related to mental illness and substance use disorder, differing starkly from non-homeless individuals.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalMedical Care·DateDec 21, 2018

How kindergartens serve as 'gendergartens'

Researchers found that kindergartens transmit social norms on femininity and masculinity to children, including expectations of girls' behavior and interests. The hidden curriculum in preschool education can limit girls' development as individuals, favoring traditional feminine roles.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalThe Journal of Social Policy Studies·DateDec 21, 2018
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.

Why Hong Kong, Japan and Iceland are the best countries for human development

A new Human Life Indicator (HLI) has been proposed as a simpler alternative to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI), taking into account inequality-adjusted life expectancy at birth. This index produces significant changes in development rankings, with countries like Japan and Spain rising to the top.

SourceBocconi University·JournalPopulation and Development Review·DateDec 21, 2018

'Frozen' copper behaves as noble metal in catalysis: study

Researchers have found that copper's electron structure can be altered, enabling it to act as a noble metal in catalyzing the preliminary hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate into methyl glycolate with high selectivity. The 'frozen' state of copper at zero valence is crucial for this process.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 21, 2018

Cholesterol-lowering drugs reduce brown adipose tissue

Research reveals that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs decrease the formation of brown adipose tissue in adults. Brown adipose tissue plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature and insulin sensitivity. The study found that people taking statins have significantly lower rates of brown adipose tissue compared to non-statins users.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalCell Metabolism·DateDec 21, 2018

Surfer's ear points to ancient pearl divers in Panama

Researchers found seven cases of surfers' ear in males and one in a female skull from sites near the Gulf of Panama. The bony growths are believed to be caused by cold water or stress in the ear canal, similar to bone spurs.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology·DateDec 21, 2018
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.

New T-wave detector uses waves of the electronic sea in graphene

Researchers created a graphene-based terahertz detector that detects waves, enabling faster Wi-Fi and new medical diagnostic methods. The detector uses plasmons to detect terahertz radiation, overcoming the issue of wave resonance.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 21, 2018

Antibiotic overuse is high for common urology procedures

A new study found that antibiotics are being overused in up to 50% of patients undergoing common urological procedures, with extended use following the procedure being the main issue. This excessive use can promote antibiotic resistance and expose patients to potential harm.

SourceUniversity of Iowa Health Care·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 21, 2018

College binge drinkers are posting while drunk, 'addicted' to social media

A new study reveals that college students who binge drink are more likely to post on social media while intoxicated, exhibiting signs of social media addiction. This behavior can lead to negative consequences, including regret and harm to personal and professional relationships.

SourceJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·DateDec 21, 2018

Description of rotating molecules made easy

An interdisciplinary team of scientists developed a new method to describe molecular rotations in solvents, paving the way for controlling chemical reactions. The technique, based on Feynman diagrams, delivers precise results and has potential to simulate molecular behavior.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 21, 2018
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.