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Science News for January 1, 2018


Curbing climate change

A new model investigates how human behavioral changes evolve in response to extreme climate events and affect global temperature change. Long-term, less easily reversed behavioral changes have the most significant impact in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing climate change.

SourceNational Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS)·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJan 1, 2018

Induced microglia-like cells reduce brain amyloid in mice

Researchers developed an antibody selection system to identify therapeutically significant antibodies that induce microglia-like cells. These cells migrated to the brain and exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, reducing brain amyloid deposition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 1, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Single metalens focuses all colors of the rainbow in one point

Researchers at Harvard have developed a single metalens that can focus the entire visible spectrum of light, including white light, in high resolution. This breakthrough eliminates chromatic aberrations and reduces thickness and design complexity compared to traditional lenses.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 1, 2018

Characteristics of primate neuronal face code

The primate brain's anterior medial patch uses a combinatorial code to adjust neuron firing rates for face recognition. This coding mechanism is also found in the fruit fly olfactory system.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 1, 2018

Study predicts a significantly drier world at 2ºC

A quarter of the world's land could become significantly drier if global warming reaches 2C, according to new research. This change would increase the threat of droughts and wildfires, with areas such as semi-arid regions experiencing conditions similar to arid climates.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJan 1, 2018

Supermassive black holes control star formation in large galaxies

A new study published in Nature shows that the mass of a galaxy's central black hole determines when its star formation history stops. The study found a continuous interplay between black hole activity and star formation throughout a galaxy's life, with bigger black holes quenching star formation faster.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature·DateJan 1, 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.

Speed breeding technique sows seeds of new green revolution

The speed breeding platform enables rapid generation of wheat and other crops, increasing generations per year by threefold. This technology uses LED lights to create intensive growth regimes, reducing costs and heat, and has the potential to rank alongside the Green Revolution.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalNature Plants·DateJan 1, 2018

Nitrogen deposition in Congo Basin

Current regional nitrogen deposition in the Congo Basin significantly exceeds previously simulated low deposition rates. Annual savannah biomass burning is likely responsible for elevated deposition rates, according to a recent study.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 1, 2018

Mitochondria DNA webs and immune response

Researchers discovered that human lymphocytes release extracellular mtDNA web structures in response to CpG and non-CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, rapidly signaling the presence of a threat. These findings suggest a previously unreported role for mtDNA in innate immune system signaling.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 1, 2018

Keeping egg cells fresh with epigenetics

A team of scientists discovered how epigenetics helps place egg cells in stasis by adding distinctive patterns of marks to their DNA. The MLL2 protein plays a key role in this process, and its absence can cause disease.

SourceBabraham Institute·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateJan 1, 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.

Risk-based lung cancer screening may save more lives than current USPSTF guidelines

Individualized risk-based lung cancer screening using calculators that account for demographic and clinical characteristics may save more lives than current USPSTF recommendations. Researchers estimate that this approach could have prevented over 5,000 more deaths in 2015 compared to the current guidelines.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJan 1, 2018

Hidden threat to health

A multinational team of experts is working together to address dietary deficiencies in essential nutrients. The GeoNutrition programme aims to map cropland, test the efficacy of micronutrient-enriched fertilisers, and assess public health policies.

SourceRothamsted Research·DateJan 1, 2018