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Science News Archive February 2018


Page 21 of 36

Study finds that a surprise stimulus helps people stop an action

Researchers found that an unexpected sound increased brainwave activity and improved stopping outcomes by up to 15%. The study offers insight into the brain's communication with the motor system and could lead to new treatments for motor-control disorders like Parkinson's disease and ADHD.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Model of fecal transplantation predicts which bacteria will flourish

A statistical model predicts which bacteria will engraft after fecal transplantation, providing a context for developing synthetic probiotics. The study found that recipient microbiome and immune state play roles in successful FMT, and new bacteria are acquired from both donors and recipients.

NASA totals rainfall from destructive Tropical Cyclone Gita

Tropical Cyclone Gita produced over a foot of rain, causing widespread destruction and flooding in Samoa and Tonga. NASA's IMERG analysis revealed heavy rains and strong winds affected both countries, with some structures destroyed including Tonga's historic Parliament House.

A gut reaction...on a chip

Researchers created an organ-on-a-chip model of the human gut to mimic radiation damage and tested a potential radioprotective drug, DMOG. The study found that DMOG significantly reduced cell damage, apoptosis, and intestinal permeability in both epithelial and endothelial cells.

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.

Plants feel the heat

A team of researchers has discovered that plants' daily cycle of heat resistance is triggered by light exposure and involves chloroplast signalling. This finding could lead to the development of crops that can withstand increasingly hot temperatures and more frequent heatwaves under climate change.

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.

Problems with herbicide-resistant weeds become crystal clear

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how penoxsulam works to control weeds, which could lead to the development of new, safe herbicides. The study found that penoxsulam combines with an enzyme in the weed and prevents it from producing amino acids.

Pride tops guilt as a motivator for environmental decisions

A recent Princeton University study found that highlighting the pride people will feel if they take pro-environmental actions may be a better way to change environmental behaviors. Participants who were exposed to anticipation of pride consistently reported higher pro-environmental intentions than those exposed to anticipated guilt.

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.

High-efficiency and low-cost catalyst for water electrolysis

Researchers have created an alternative and cheapest anode material for excellent and ultra-stable alkaline water electrolysis. The new core-shell nanostructured electrocatalyst replaces precious metals, achieving highly efficient oxygen evolution activity and ultrastability.

Sex differences in lifespan: X chromosome not the reason

Researchers at Linköping University found that fruit flies do not have a shorter lifespan due to having one X chromosome. Instead, the study suggests that competition for mates may be responsible for the sex difference in lifespan. Further research will investigate alternative theories.

True to type: From human biopsy to complex gut physiology on a chip

Researchers created Organ Chips to overcome limitations of organoids, enabling the study of dynamic processes and interactions with the microbiome. The innovation allows for highly personalized investigations into nutrient transport, digestion, and disease-related processes.

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.

Graphene on toast, anyone?

Rice University scientists have developed a technique to write graphene patterns onto various materials, including food, paper, and cloth. The new method uses laser-induced graphene (LIG) to create conductive identification tags and sensors that can be embedded into products.

Eclipse season starts for NASA's SDO

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) begins its annual eclipse season, which lasts three weeks. During this period, Earth blocks SDO's view of the Sun for short periods, typically lasting from 2-72 minutes.

Pregnant women deficient in vitamin D may give birth to obese children

Researchers found that 6-year-old children born to mothers with very low vitamin D levels during pregnancy had bigger waists and more body fat. Vitamin D supplements during pregnancy might help stem childhood obesity. The study, published in Pediatric Obesity, examined data from 532 mother-child pairs in Greece.

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.

Microjet generator for highly viscous fluids

Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have developed a device that can generate microjets with high viscosity, similar to honey. This innovation overcomes the limitation of current inkjet printing methods, allowing for more precise control over fluid flow and properties.

NASA eyes powerful Tropical Cyclone Gita in the South Pacific

Tropical Cyclone Gita, a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind scale, is causing destruction and flooding in Fiji Islands. The storm's eye was located near 21.1 degrees south latitude and 179.1 degrees east longitude, with maximum sustained winds near 126.6 mph.

Palm oil in your Valentine's chocolate?

A diet rich in saturated fat results in inflammation in the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain that controls mood and reward. This inflammation leads to depressive, anxious, and compulsive behaviors associated with metabolic dysfunction and obesity.

Direct access to physical therapy reduces costs to treat neck and back pain

A new study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that direct access to physical therapy for neck and back pain can reduce treatment costs by an average of $1,543. Patients who chose this approach reported similar improvement in their condition, with an average gain of over 50% in pain and disability.

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.

Study finds depression and fatigue increase women's risk of work-related injuries

A new study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that women with depression, anxiety, and fatigue are more likely to be injured at work. The study, which analyzed claims data from over 17,000 employees, suggests that behavioral health factors significantly affect women's risk of injury but not men's.

Pimavanserin: Relief from psychosis in dementia, without devastating side-effects

Pimavanserin has been found to effectively reduce psychosis symptoms in people with Alzheimer's disease without the damaging effects of other antipsychotics. The research, published in Lancet Neurology, shows a significant improvement in psychotic symptoms without sedation or falls, which are common side-effects of current treatments.

When it comes to extinction, body size matters

Scientists propose a nuanced model for extinction that incorporates body size and metabolic scaling, revealing why animal species tend to evolve toward larger body sizes. The model predicts an energetically ideal mammal size 2.5 times that of an African elephant, making it more stable against extinction by starvation.

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.

Understanding brain functions using upconversion nanoparticles

Scientists from NUS and international research team create a novel method for deep brain stimulation, utilizing upconversion nanoparticles to deliver visible light deep into the brain. The innovation enables researchers to uncover valuable insights about brain functions with less invasive methods.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Nitrate in drinking water increases the risk of colorectal cancer

A new study from Aarhus University finds that high nitrate levels in drinking water are associated with a 15% greater risk of colorectal cancer. The study analyzed data from over 2.7 million Danes and found that even low nitrate concentrations may pose a health risk.

Gene expression patterns may help determine time of death

An international team of scientists developed models to predict post-mortem interval based on tissue-specific gene expression changes. Changes in gene expression can be used to determine the time of death with considerable accuracy, potentially aiding forensic analyses.

Heroin vaccine blocks lethal overdose

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have created a safe and effective vaccine to block heroin's lethal effects, using an adjuvant already approved by the FDA. The vaccine, which is stable at room temperature for up to 30 days, shows promise in treating heroin addiction and preventing overdose deaths.

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.

Brain sciences researcher pinpoints brain circuit that triggers fear relapse

A study by Steve Maren and his team identified a key brain circuit that triggers fear relapse. The research found that the hippocampus is connected to a specific type of cell in the prefrontal cortex, which plays a crucial role in relapse. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for disorders like PTSD.

Ketone drink could help diabetics by lowering blood sugar

A ketone ester supplement has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in healthy individuals by reducing spikes in sugar consumption. The study used a single drink containing 75 grams of sugar and found that the ketone drink reduced the blood sugar spike compared to a placebo.

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.

Quality toolkit improves care in Indian hospitals

A quality improvement toolkit improved the quality of care but not outcomes in hospitals in Kerala, India. The study found favorable trends in outcomes among heart attack patients, with lower rates of major cardiovascular events at discharge compared to usual care.

Cancer-killing virus acts by alerting immune system

A new oncolytic virus has been shown to kill cancer cells by alerting the immune system, triggering a widespread immune response that kills cancer cells beyond the infected region. Researchers have found that the virus's mechanism of action involves exposing tumor proteins, which are then detected by the immune system, leading to a pow...

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.

Energy-efficient encryption for the internet of things

MIT researchers have developed a new chip that consumes only 1/400 as much power as software execution of public-key encryption protocols, executing 500 times faster. The chip uses a general-purpose elliptic-curve design and features a dedicated inverter circuit to increase energy efficiency and reduce surface area.

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.

Ocean winds influence seal pup migration

New research confirms maritime winds displace seal pups by hundreds of kilometers during their first winter migration. The study found that strong winds can increase pup displacement, but the impact on survival is unclear.