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Science News Archive July 2018


Page 11 of 38

A year in words

A recent study by University of Miami psychologists found that vulnerable children benefit from interactions with their peers and teachers to develop literacy skills and social-emotional growth. The research reveals the significance of back-and-forth conversations between teachers and children in language development.

Greater efforts are needed to address 'financial toxicity' of cancer treatment

A new study published in the American Cancer Society journal reveals that many patients with cancer face significant financial difficulties due to treatment costs. Despite medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologists reporting some engagement with patients about financial concerns, unmet patient needs persist.

Nanocrystals emit light by efficiently 'tunneling' electrons

Researchers at UC San Diego have created a nanosized device that can generate light through inelastic electron tunneling, increasing efficiency to approximately two percent. The device uses a metal-insulator-metal junction to convert electronic energy into photons, with potential for further optimization.

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.

WSU researcher sees possibility of moon life

Researchers Dirk Schulze-Makuch and Ian Crawford suggest two periods when Earth's Moon was habitable for simple lifeforms, including during its formation and a peak in volcanic activity around 3.5 billion years ago. Conditions were suitable for liquid water and an atmosphere to form on the lunar surface.

A 3D model of a human heart ventricle

Harvard researchers create a scale model of a beating heart ventricle using human heart cells and nanofiber scaffolds. The model can be used to study heart function and test new treatments for arrhythmia and other conditions.

Princeton researchers discover the 'optimism' of E. coli bacteria

E. coli bacteria adapt to limited nutrients by building up protein-production infrastructure, indicating an 'optimism' for future abundance. The cells optimize resource usage, producing more assembly lines under carbon limitation, but using fewer under phosphorus limitation.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Public support for Endangered Species Act is widespread

A new study finds that nearly four in five Americans support the Endangered Species Act, despite claims of controversy. The survey data contradicts claims that public opinion is divided on the issue, showing high levels of support across various groups.

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.

News from the Journal of Lipid Research

Lysosomal phospholipase A2, a unique enzyme, interacts with various substrates and modifies phospholipids. Researchers identified Asp13 as a crucial catalytic residue contributing to the enzyme's properties. In contrast, a study on chronic kidney disease found no strong correlation between HDL protein content and cardiovascular risk.

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.

NASA finds tropical storm Wukong's comma shape

Tropical Storm Wukong formed on July 22 and took on a distinctive comma shape, characterized by powerful thunderstorms around its low-level center. The storm is expected to strengthen to 60 knots (69 mph) before moving north and turning extra-tropical off the coast of Japan.

Writing the future of rewritable memory

Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a new, atomic-scale rewritable memory that can store 45 million songs on the surface of a quarter. This breakthrough technology can withstand normal temperatures and is road-ready for commercial use, promising to revolutionize data storage and archival.

Eight new mouse models for Alzheimer's disease available to researchers

Researchers can now access eight new mouse models carrying genetic mutations found in patients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease. These models express variants at genetic loci associated with the disease but not yet proven to be causative, offering a significant advancement in AD research.

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.

How cannabis and cannabis-based drugs harm your brain

Researchers at Lancaster and Lisbon Universities found that long-term exposure to cannabis impairs learning and memory in animals. Brain imaging studies showed the drug affects key brain regions involved in learning and memory.

A scientific study characterizes our circles of friendships

The study reveals that people with high cognitive capacity can expand their circle of intimate friendships, while smaller communities tend to broaden their close friendships. The researchers found evidence supporting the Dunbar number theory, which suggests a limit on the number of friends our brain can handle.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Novel intervention for anxiety symptoms among people with bipolar disorder

Researchers developed a novel psychological intervention to treat anxiety in bipolar disorder, which was effective in improving clinical outcomes and reducing suicidality. The intervention included individualized formulation-driven approach and cognitive behavioral strategies to address anxiety experiences.

Blindness gene discovered

UNIGE researchers identified a new gene, MARK3, as the cause of a recessive genetic disorder leading to childhood blindness. The discovery enables accurate diagnosis and may lead to personalized treatment options.

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.

Researchers explore popular food trends in nutritional review

Legumes have been shown to successfully reduce coronary heart disease and improve blood glucose levels. Additionally, moderate coffee consumption is associated with lower risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. A predominantly plant-based diet with limited animal products appears to be beneficial for heart health.

Slacking on your savings? Cognitive bias could be to blame

A new study by Cornell University neuroscientists suggests that cognitive bias can be a major obstacle to saving money. The researchers found that people tend to spend more brain power on earning than saving, leading to warped time perception and making it harder to prioritize saving over earning.

If only A.I. had a brain

Researchers developed an artificial synapse inspired by the human brain, which efficiently processes information and demonstrates excellent energy efficiency. This breakthrough could lead to the development of energy-efficient neuromorphic computing, revolutionizing AI devices and transforming industries.

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.

Environmental changes in the Mekong Delta spell trouble for farmers

The Mekong Delta is experiencing environmental changes that threaten the livelihoods of its 15 million people, with rising sea levels and droughts affecting agricultural productivity. The delta's unique ecosystem is being disrupted by dam-building upstream and climate change, leading to saltwater intrusions and reduced sedimentation.

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.

Mandate patient access to primary care medical records

Patient access to primary care medical records is crucial for fully patient-centered care, but obstacles such as authorization forms, fees, and long waits hinder this ability. Mandating patient portals would address these challenges and enhance the effectiveness of universal healthcare systems.

A new 'periodic table' for nanomaterials

Researchers created a machine learning technique to categorize different molecules based on the nano-sized shapes they form. The approach could help materials scientists identify suitable precursor molecules for synthesizing target nanomaterials.

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.

Test to save patients from invasive open biopsies

Researchers developed a diagnostic test using needle biopsies to detect malignant hyperthermia, a fatal genetic condition caused by muscle protein mutations. The new test is less invasive and can be performed on children, providing potential early diagnosis.

Neural correlates of reading

Researchers mapped brain activity in response to letters and words in specific brain regions, finding distinct representations for letter-forms and word-forms. The study sheds light on the neural basis of reading in the human brain.

Scientists develop new materials that move in response to light

Researchers at Tufts University have developed magnetic elastomeric composites that can flex, grip, release or rotate when exposed to lasers or sunlight. The materials can exhibit complex movements like crawling, walking or swimming and can be triggered and controlled wirelessly using light.

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.

Estrogen could promote healthy development of preterm infants

A study on human brain tissue and preterm rabbits suggests that estrogen treatment can restore the balance of interneurons in the cerebral cortex, which is disrupted in premature birth. This finding implies that mimicking the in utero environment may have the potential to improve developmental outcomes for preterm infants.

Turmeric eye drops could treat glaucoma

Researchers have developed turmeric-based eye drops that can reduce retinal cell loss in rats with glaucoma. The treatment shows promise for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and has been found to be well-tolerated.

Build an ark? Biologists discuss conservation prioritization

A team of international scientists found that preserving phylogenetic diversity among species can preserve 18% more functional diversity than selecting species at random. However, in some areas and groups, this method was less effective, highlighting the need for further research and adaptation.

Democracies are more prone to start wars -- except when they're not

A new study finds that democratic leaders tend to be more aggressive in international conflicts due to public pressure and audience costs. However, exceptions exist, such as democracies with strong protections for a free press or those facing an existential threat from another nation.

Scientists uncover new connection between smell and memory

Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified a mechanism that recreates vivid sensory experiences from memory using smell. The findings shed light on how sensory-rich memories are created and stored in our brains, and could explain why loss of smell is recognized as an early symptom of Alzheimer's disease.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Unwrapping the brewing secrets of barley

Researchers at the University of Adelaide found a link between enzymes involved in malt production and a specific tissue layer within barley grains. The study showed that grains with more aleurone had increased enzyme activity, which could lead to improved brewing processes and new malts.

Breast cancer fuelled by mysterious Yin Yang protein

Scientists have identified a mysterious molecule called Yin Yang1 that may fuel tumour growth in breast cancer, revealing how tumours change their 'appearance' to evade treatment using epigenetics. The findings suggest doctors should take new tumour samples when a patient's cancer spreads

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Elastic slingshot powers snipefish feeding

Researchers discovered that snipefish use an elastic-boosted head flick to capture prey at unprecedented speed, with the fastest recorded events occurring in just two milliseconds. This mechanism allows the fish to pivot their heads rapidly and bring their mouth up close to the prey.

Scientists ID more than 1,200 genes linked to educational attainment

An international research team has identified more than 1,200 genetic variants associated with educational attainment. The study found that a polygenic score developed from these variants can predict 11-13% of the variation in years of completed schooling, comparable to demographic factors like household income.