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Science News Archive July 2018


Page 23 of 38

First machine learning method capable of accurate extrapolation

Scientists developed a new machine learning method that can make accurate predictions for all possible conditions governed by the same physical dynamics. The method provides simple and interpretable descriptions of underlying physics, allowing for safer robot operation.

The VIPs of the nervous system

Scientists at Washington University discovered that activating only 10% of VIP neurons can rapidly shift a mouse's daily schedule. The study suggests that VIP neurons produce vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, an essential compound for synchronizing daily rhythms.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Treatment prevents symptoms of schizophrenia in tests with rats

Researchers found that sodium nitroprusside prevented behavioral alterations associated with schizophrenia in rats, suggesting a potential preventive treatment for young people at risk. The study used an animal model that mimics the condition in children and adolescents considered at risk for development of the disease in adulthood.

Researchers turn exercise into a game and see encouraging results

A team of researchers at the University of Iowa designed a web-based game called MapTrek that motivates people to get up and exercise more. The study found that participants who played the game increased their daily steps by about 2,200 per day, which is close to walking one mile.

Mapping species range shifts under recent climatic changes

Marine species in the eastern Bering Sea are trailing behind climate change, potentially increasing their vulnerability to future fluctuations. The study highlights the importance of incorporating species-specific sensitivity to climate variation when predicting rates of range shifts.

Voters do not always walk the talk when it comes to infidelity

An analysis of Ashley Madison user data found that conservative voters were more likely to use an adultery dating website, while liberal Democrats were least likely. The study, published in Springer's Archives of Sexual Behavior, suggests a discrepancy between reported and actual behavior on sexual matters.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

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Study highlights genetic risk of heart failure

A new population study in Sweden has found that genetic heritage is the dominant factor when it comes to heart failure in families. The study, led by Magnus Lindgren, found a 45% higher risk of heart failure in adoptees with at least one biological parent suffering from the condition.

Why internal scars won't stop growing

A new Northwestern Medicine study identified a trigger for some fibrotic diseases and an experimental compound to treat it. The compound, T53, reversed abnormality in three different mouse models of fibrosis, suggesting a novel approach to treat the disease.

Parental chromosomes kept apart during embryo's first division

Scientists have discovered that mammalian embryos use two spindles to keep parental chromosomes separate during the first cell division. This finding may help explain high error rates in early developmental stages and has potential implications for human infertility treatment.

Blazar accelerates cosmic neutrinos to highest energies

Researchers from Technical University of Munich have determined the cosmic origin of highest-energy neutrinos, finding they emanate from a galaxy four billion light-years away. The team used open access archive data and specialized software to rule out other origins, confirming blazar TXS 0506+056 as the source.

How gold nanoparticles could improve solar energy storage

Researchers at Rutgers University have developed star-shaped gold nanoparticles that can produce hydrogen from water over four times more efficiently than other methods. The breakthrough uses visible and infrared light to excite electrons in the gold nanoparticles, which then catalyze the reaction.

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.

Rice plants evolve to adapt to flooding

Researchers at Tohoku University have identified a key gene responsible for deepwater rice's ability to thrive in flood conditions. The SD1 gene enables the plant to increase its height and accumulate ethylene, allowing it to ride out lengthy floods.

Light receptors determine the behavior of flashlight fish

Researchers found two opsin variants in the retina of flashlight fish, activated by low-intensity blue light, which influences behavioral responses. The study suggests that bioluminescence is processed and used to adjust behavior in this species.

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Study estimates eyeglass use by Medicare patients

A new study estimates that 92% of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older use eyeglasses for distance or near vision correction. Researchers found sociodemographic differences between those who used eyeglasses, shedding light on potential implications of policy changes regarding eyeglass coverage.

New study finds 93 million people vulnerable to death from snakebites

A new study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation identifies communities at risk of dying from snakebites. The analysis reveals regions and nations with limited access to treatment and healthcare, highlighting the need for greater measures to support countries in implementing snakebite prevention and treatment programs.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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Genetic adaptation allows rice to survive long-term flooding

A new study identifies the SD1 gene as responsible for the deepwater rice adaptation, which enables plants to rapidly grow taller to keep above floodwaters. This discovery highlights the intrinsic complexity of plant adaptation strategies and could offer solutions for breeding modern rice varieties to cope with climate change.

New technologies for producing medical therapeutic proteins

Researchers at Lobachevsky University developed a new method for producing medical therapeutic proteins by eliminating SlyD/SlyX genes in E. coli strains, reducing contamination and increasing purification efficiency. The approach enables the production of a wide range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins in a pure form.

A blazar is a source of high-energy neutrinos

Researchers discovered a blazar, TXS 0506+056, producing high-energy neutrinos in multiple bursts, confirming the source of previously detected astrophysical neutrinos. The 'flaring state' observations were made when the neutrino signal arrived in September 2017, with bright emission across multiple wavelengths.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

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Massive genome havoc in breast cancer is revealed

Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have published a detailed map of structural variations in breast cancer cells, revealing 20,000 genetic errors that disrupt cell growth and cause cancer's hallmark. The study sheds light on how cancer cells rapidly evolve and provides valuable insights for future research and clinical practice.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Graphene could be key to controlling water evaporation

Researchers discovered graphene's 'transparency' in controlling water evaporation by adjusting wetting angles. The coating accelerates evaporation on hydrophobic surfaces and suppresses it on hydrophilic ones, leading to changes in the evaporation rate.

LGBQ teens more likely than peers to use dangerous drugs

A new study found that LGBQ teens are more likely to use dangerous substances, including heroin, hallucinogens, and methamphetamines. The survey also showed elevated risks for alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana use among LGBQ teens compared to their heterosexual peers.

New species may arise from rapid mitochondrial evolution

A recent study sequenced the genome of a Pacific tidepool crustacean and found that mitochondrial genes differ widely between populations. Hybrid offspring suffer from lowered fitness due to incompatibility. The research suggests that rapid mitochondrial evolution may be an early stage of one species becoming multiple species.

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.

Speaking up for patient safety

A new study reveals that patients and families are often uncomfortable speaking up about care concerns in ICU settings, with hesitation being the most common reason. The findings highlight the need for explicit support to enable patients and families to voice their concerns, leading to improved patient safety.

Antioxidant benefits of sleep

Researchers found that short-sleeping fruit fly mutants are sensitive to acute oxidative stress, supporting the idea that sleep defends against oxidative damage. The study suggests a bi-directional relationship between sleep and oxidative stress, with sleep helping to reduce oxidative stress and vice versa.

Intensive care patients' muscles unable to use fats for energy

A new study found that intensive care patients are unable to effectively use fats for energy, contributing to significant muscle loss. This inability is likely due to widespread muscle inflammation in the early days of intensive care, making nutrition and exercise programmes less effective.

Texas A&M professor researching mobile applications security

Dr. Guofei Gu's research team analyzed 10,000 mobile apps and found widespread inconsistencies in web API implementations that can lead to attacks compromising user security and privacy. The WARDroid framework uses static analysis and HTTP request monitoring to identify vulnerabilities.

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.

Study finds room for improvement in South Korea's polluted river basin

A new study by Portland State University found that higher-than-acceptable levels of pollutants remain in urbanized regions of South Korea's Han River basin, particularly in suburban areas. The research suggests that land management practices, such as afforestation and conservation, can help improve water quality.

5,300-year-old Iceman's last meal reveals remarkably high-fat diet

Researchers analyzed the stomach contents of the world's oldest naturally preserved ice mummy and found a remarkably high proportion of fat in his diet. The analysis also revealed wild meat from ibex and red deer, cereals, and traces of toxic bracken, providing insights into ancient dietary habits and food preparation.

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.

Could gravitational waves reveal how fast our universe is expanding?

Researchers propose using gravitational waves to estimate the Hubble constant and measure the rate of the expanding universe. By detecting gravitational waves from rare black hole-neutron star binary systems, scientists can obtain an independent and precise measurement of their distance and velocity.

International collaboration finds land plant genes in ancient aquatic alga

An international collaboration sequenced and analyzed the genome of Chara braunii, a freshwater green alga closely related to land plants. The study identified key genes that originated in a common ancestor shared by Chara and land plants, revealing that some important plant functions evolved before land plants existed.

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.

Mystery of the Basel papyrus solved

Researchers from the University of Basel discovered a 2,000-year-old medical document from late antiquity with an unknown text from Roman physician Galen. The Basel papyrus collection comprises five languages and was likely written by Galen.

VERITAS supplies critical piece to neutrino discovery puzzle

The VERITAS array has confirmed the detection of high-energy gamma rays from a supermassive black hole located in a distant galaxy, TXS 0506+056. This detection is significant as it provides evidence that nearby and faraway galaxies with supermassive blackholes at their centers are actively creating high-energy cosmic rays.

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.

New model quantifies communities' vulnerability to the spread of fire

Researchers at Colorado State University have developed a new model that quantifies the vulnerability of communities to fire spread. The AGNI-NAR model assesses the risk of fires spreading to homes and groups of homes, providing practical guidance for urban planners and emergency managers.

Chemicals associated with oxidative stress may be essential to development

A recent study suggests that some level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be essential to health and development, contrary to the common assumption that they are harmful. The research, led by Purdue University's Daniel Suter, found that inhibiting an enzyme producing ROS in zebrafish embryos resulted in developmental complications.

Melting triggers melting

A recent study reveals that a massive influx of freshwater into the North Atlantic led to intensive glacier melting in the North Pacific, thousands of kilometers away. This process highlights the alarming consequences of modern ocean warming on polar ice sheets and sea level rise.

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.