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Science News Archive August 2018


Page 17 of 41

NASA stares major Hurricane Lane in the eye

NASA's Terra satellite monitored Hurricane Lane's powerful storms, confirming strong thunderstorms capable of heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to make a turn toward the Hawaiian Islands, bringing large swells and excessive rainfall that could lead to flash flooding and mudslides.

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.

Annual pap test a 'thing of the past?'

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for cervical cancer every three to five years with primary hrHPV test alone or co-testing. This new approach aims to reduce participant burden and increase efficiency in cervical cancer screening.

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.

Less drain on freshwater supplies with seawater fuel discovery

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have found a way to produce Bioethanol using seawater and a novel marine yeast strain, reducing the need for freshwater resources. This breakthrough could help alleviate concerns over food crop and water usage, making it a more sustainable fuel alternative.

Fake news detector algorithm works better than a human

A University of Michigan-developed algorithm has been shown to accurately detect fake news stories up to 76% of the time, surpassing human performance. The system uses linguistic analysis and can be used to identify fake news articles that are too new to be debunked by cross-referencing their facts with other stories.

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.

Powerful molecules provide new findings about Huntington's disease

A direct link has been discovered between protein aggregation in nerve cells and the regulation of gene expression in Huntington's disease. The study found that impaired autophagy leads to accumulation of misfolded proteins, including AGO2, which disrupts cell function and signal pathways.

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.

Researchers shine a light on 150-year-old mystery

A team of researchers has discovered a way to measure the effect of light momentum on materials, shedding new light on a 150-year-old mystery. The study reveals that light momentum is converted into force through elastic waves on mirrors.

I hear what you say! Or do I?

A study published in Scientific Reports found that children's susceptibility to the McGurk effect decreases with age, while adults are more likely to be influenced by visual information. The research suggests a shift in sensory dominance across development, with reduced susceptibility in childhood and adult-like levels by 10 years of age.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Gut bacteria provide key to making universal blood (video)

Researchers have discovered a new family of enzymes in the human gut microbiome that can remove red blood cell antigens, enabling the conversion of type A and B blood into universal O-type blood. These enzymes are 30 times more effective than previously studied candidates, paving the way for potential clinical trials.

Standard hypothyroidism treatment falling short

A meta-analysis of 99 studies found that levothyroxine, a common medication for hypothyroidism, is inadequate in controlling high cholesterol levels. The study's findings suggest that patients may require additional therapies or adjustments to their treatment plans.

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.

Structural fluctuation evaluation in substances from measurement data

Researchers developed a new analytical method using sparse modeling to analyze atomic structure and structural fluctuation in materials. This method can determine radial structure and estimate Debye-Waller factor from measured data, indicating potential improvements in battery and electronic device performance.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Supercomputing simulations and machine learning help improve power plants

Researchers at University of Stuttgart are developing tools to make supercritical heat transfer more viable using high-performance computing and machine learning. They explore using carbon dioxide as a cleaner alternative to water in power plants, which could reduce hardware requirements by ten-fold.

Biological engineers discover new antibiotic candidates

Researchers at MIT have discovered fragments of a protein found in the stomach that can kill certain bacteria, including those resistant to antibiotics. The peptides show promise as new candidates for treating infections and may be used to develop synthetic antibiotics.

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.

Early monumental burial sites

A 5,000-year-old monumental cemetery near Lake Turkana in Kenya suggests alternative models for understanding the relationships between monuments and social change. The site's burial of diverse individuals with personalized ornamentation indicates no social stratification.

Precipitation and fire activity in the US west

A recent study found that summer precipitation declines contribute to increased wildfire activity in the western United States, particularly on wetting rain days. The research suggests that precipitation may drive wildfire activity through its effect on air moisture, with decreased rainfall forecasted to exacerbate future wildfires.

Proposal seeks to improve assessment of drug risks

A researcher proposes changes to the MCDHS, including addressing use and abuse separately, collecting input from a broader range of stakeholders, and targeting substance-specific experts. This could lead to a more robust understanding of drug risks and improved public health outcomes.

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.

Progress toward plugging an antibiotic pump

Using computer modeling, researchers have teased out the details of how an antibiotic pump works, revealing its 'lock' and mechanism. This breakthrough aims to develop new drugs that can plug the pump, potentially restoring antibiotics' effectiveness.

Could vitamin B3 treat acute kidney injury?

A multidisciplinary research team found a form of vitamin B3 has the potential to prevent acute kidney injury by boosting NAD+ levels in high-risk patients. The study suggests a non-invasive test and therapy for patients at risk for acute kidney injury.

Preventing life-threatening laryngeal swelling

Researchers have successfully tested a medicine that can treat hereditary angioedema by inhibiting the kallikrein enzyme, preventing severe swelling. The daily administration of the drug has been shown to prevent symptoms from developing, offering a new hope for patients suffering from this rare genetic disease.

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.

Metamolds: Molding a mold

Researchers from IST Austria have developed a tool that automatically finds the best way of designing molds, producing optimized silicone mold pieces. The method can lower the cost of this fabricating technique, making it accessible for everyone.

Potential gene therapy for inherited retinal degeneration

Researchers developed a single gene therapy vector that preserved retinal structure and function for over 8 months in a canine model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. The treatment had potential implications for treating inherited retinal degeneration associated with the rhodopsin gene.

Dengue vaccine efficacy and viral genetic diversity

A statistical analysis of two Phase 3 clinical trials reveals a decrease in dengue vaccine efficacy with increasing antigen amino acid mismatch in children aged 2-8. In contrast, older children showed broader protective responses with prior virus exposure.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Saliva could influence taste preferences

Salivary proteins could be part of a feedback loop that influences food taste and dietary choices. Researchers found that drinking bitter foods altered saliva protein composition, which corresponded to changes in sensory ratings.

Teens today spend more time on digital media, less time reading

A recent study published by the American Psychological Association found that teenagers are spending less time reading books, magazines, and newspapers, and more time on social media. The study analyzed data from over 1 million teenagers between 1976 and 2016, revealing a significant decline in traditional media consumption.

Near 2 million acres on fire in the United States

The West Coast of the United States is experiencing a massive wildfire season with over 1.9 million acres ablaze. The situation is exacerbated by warmer temperatures and dry conditions, leading to increased lightning strikes and potential for further blazes.

Study details effect of radiation exposure on hormone deficiencies

Researchers studied the correlation between radiation therapy dosage to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland and development of endocrine dysfunction in pediatric and young adult patients. The study found a strong association between radiation dose and age on the development of hormone deficiencies, supporting the benefits of advanced ...

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.

Can we have a fire in a highly vacuumed environment?

Researchers from Toyohashi University of Technology discovered that smoldering combustion can sustain even under nearly 1% atmospheric pressure, challenging conventional fire extinguishing methods. The study's findings suggest that vacuumed operations to extinguish fires in space may fail unless proper conditions are achieved.

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.

Quantum bugs, meet your new swatter

A Rice University scientist has developed a new method to diagnose quantum computers, reducing the need for expensive measurements. This approach uses compressed sensing to minimize data while ensuring accurate results, making it possible to validate even large-scale systems.

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.

Healthy diet linked to healthy cellular aging in women

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can promote healthy cellular aging in women. The researchers used telomere length as a measure of cellular aging and found that higher diet quality indices were associated with longer telomeres.