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Science News for December 31, 2018


Origin of magnetite in Hadean zircons

Researchers found that magnetite in Hadean zircons is likely a secondary deposit, formed after crystallization, precluding analysis of the Earth's earliest magnetic field. The presence of secondary magnetite indicates that a magnetic field may have existed during the Hadean Eon, but more evidence is needed to confirm this.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2018

Canagliflozin not associated with increased risk for fracture

A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, is not associated with an increased risk of nonvertebral fractures among patients with type 2 diabetes. The research, which analyzed data from over 70 million patients, suggests that caution may still be necessary when prescribing canaglifloz...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 31, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Skill acquisition and STEM specialization

Analysis of nearly 120,000 immigrants suggests that STEM specialization develops early in life, influenced by math course preferences and language skills at immigration. This pattern is more pronounced among those with lower initial English proficiency.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2018

A new 'atlas' of genetic influences on osteoporosis

Researchers have created an atlas of genetic factors associated with estimated bone mineral density, explaining 20% of the genetic variance linked to osteoporosis. The study identifies over 500 genetic determinants, providing promising targets for novel therapeutics to prevent or treat the disease.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Genetics·DateDec 31, 2018
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.

Snowball Earth and great unconformity

The study suggests that late Proterozoic 'snowball Earth' events triggered rapid glacial erosion, transferring sediment from continents to ocean basins. This process may be linked to the formation of the Great Unconformity.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2018

Tumors backfire on chemotherapy

Researchers found that chemotherapy can induce tumors to release exosomes containing a protein that stimulates immune cells to attract cancerous cells, leading to metastasis. Neutralizing this protein or blocking immune cells may improve the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateDec 31, 2018

Early protostar already has a warped disk

Researchers have observed a warped disk around an infant protostar, suggesting that misalignment of planetary orbits could be caused by distortions in the planet-forming disk. The discovery provides new insights into how planets form and could explain why many extrasolar systems have planets not lined up in a single plane.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateDec 31, 2018

Patients now living a median 6.8 years after stage IV ALK+ lung cancer diagnosis

A new study found that patients with stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer have a median overall survival of 6.8 years, significantly higher than the 2 percent five-year survival rate for all NSCLC patients. This optimistic outlook is attributed to targeted therapies and careful surveillance.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateDec 31, 2018
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Surface ozone trends in China

Summer surface ozone levels in China rose in four major cities between 2013 and 2017 due to decreasing particulate matter emissions. This increase can slow the natural cleanup of hydroperoxy radicals from aerosols, sparking concerns about anthropogenic ozone precursor emissions.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2018

Scientists produce 'designer triacylglycerols' in industrial microalgae

Researchers have discovered novel diacylglyceryl transferases that selectively assemble essential fatty acids into microalgal TAGs. By modulating the ratio of these enzymes, they created a strain bank with customized FA compositions, offering potential for 'designer' TAGs with tailored health benefits.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalMolecular Plant·DateDec 31, 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.

The immune system's fountain of youth

Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science found that clearing senescent cells, which contribute to inflammation and aging, improves health outcomes in mice. The study, led by Prof. Valery Krizhanovsky and Dr. Yossi Ovadya, offers hope for potential anti-aging therapies.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 31, 2018

Infectious disease burden and research intensity

High research intensity relative to published global disease burden was found for influenza, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis, while paratyphoid fever had low research intensity. Certain neglected tropical diseases such as Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and leprosy also showed high research intensity.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 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.

Global mangrove dispersal patterns

A high-resolution ocean current model reveals significant connectivity between mangrove regions, including trans-Pacific dispersal via archipelagos. The study also highlights the importance of viable propagule time in determining effective dispersal distance.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2018

Physicists record 'lifetime' of graphene qubits

Researchers at MIT and elsewhere have recorded the temporal coherence of a graphene qubit, demonstrating a key step forward for practical quantum computing. The qubit maintained a superposition state for 55 nanoseconds before returning to its ground state.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 31, 2018

Smelling in tiny houses: how ciliary electric currents keep olfaction reliable

Researchers used mathematical modeling to understand how cells communicate effectively in highly constricted spaces like olfactory cilia. The model showed that relying on Cl- ions instead of Na+ provides advantages for odor detection, enabling reliable responses despite an unstable external environment.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2018

Some tensions are good for life

Cells utilize membrane tension to regulate endocytosis and maintain homeostasis. A protein called vinculin senses changes in force and regulates the CLIC/GEEC pathway to control endocytic processes.

SourceNational Centre for Biological Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 31, 2018
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Nontraditional genetic code in parasitic plant

Researchers sequenced and analyzed the plastid genomes of two species of Balanophora, a fully parasitic mushroom-like plant, revealing a nontraditional genetic code. The discovery includes a novel stop codon TAG that encodes tryptophan, and most genes involved in protein synthesis reside outside the traditional plastid genome.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2018

Don't go breaking my heart

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed an ultra-soft electronic sensor that can closely monitor beating heart cells without affecting their behavior. This breakthrough device uses a nanomesh sensor to study cardiomyocytes in a more faithful way, paving the way for future embedded medical devices.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 31, 2018
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.

Unmuting large silent genes lets bacteria produce new molecules, potential drug candidates

Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a technique to activate large silent gene clusters in Streptomyces bacteria, yielding new natural products and potential anti-microbial drugs. By using transcription factor decoys, researchers successfully expressed genes that had previously remained dormant.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateDec 31, 2018

Evolutionary origin of pathogenic obesity

Research suggests that abdominal obesity may have evolved as a protective mechanism against infections in individuals who experienced poor fetal nutrition. This study proposes that the hallmark of obesity, visceral adipose tissue, provides immunity against abdominal infections.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2018