Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive June 2018


Page 31 of 40

New laser makes silicon 'sing'

Researchers at Yale University have created a new type of silicon laser that uses sound waves to amplify light, enabling faster and more efficient data processing. The innovative design maximizes light amplification using a special structure developed in the Rakich lab.

Study of sleeping fur seals provides insight into the function of REM sleep

Researchers have found that fur seals spend most of their lives in the water and go without REM sleep for days or weeks, suggesting a functional connection between REM sleep and brain cooling. The study provides insight into the mysterious function of REM sleep and its potential role in regulating brain temperature.

Drone forensics gets a boost with new data on NIST website

NIST has released a new repository of drone forensic images, providing investigators with a valuable tool to track and analyze drones used in smuggling and crimes. The images, created by VTO Labs, contain detailed data on 14 popular drone models, including serial numbers, flight paths, and onboard camera footage.

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.

Breaking through a tumor's defenses

Researchers identify dominant immune cells contributing to tumor tolerance and find that silencing these cells allows T cell attack on tumors. Jointly inhibiting both cell types substantially inhibits tumor growth in mouse models.

Waves move across the human brain to support memory

Researchers have discovered a new fundamental feature of brain oscillations: they actually move rhythmically across the brain, reflecting patterns of neuronal activity that propagate across the cortex. This movement is important for memory and cognition, and may provide a new type of signal for brain-computer interfaces.

Bad news becomes hysteria in crowds, new research shows

A new study by the University of Warwick reveals that news stories about potential threats become more negative and biased when passed from person to person. Even sharing balanced, neutral information fails to calm this hysteria.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Researchers change clinical practice for infants with diabetes

A recent study found that infants with diabetes can maintain excellent blood glucose control for up to ten years using sulfonylurea tablets, offering a promising alternative to insulin injections. The treatment has been shown to be safe and effective in children worldwide.

Mars rover finds ancient organic compounds that match meteoritic samples

The discovery of ancient organic molecules in Martian sedimentary rocks increases the chances of finding evidence of habitability and potential life on Mars. The findings suggest that NASA's Curiosity rover may have discovered record-breaking amounts of organic carbon, comparable to those found in meteoritic samples.

Essential oils to fight bacterial infections

Researchers have created coatings using essential oils like Tea Tree Oil, showing good antibacterial properties and potential as a low-cost alternative to synthetic antibiotics. The technology has the added benefit of being environmentally friendly and transparent.

At what size does a minority group become influential?

New research finds that minority groups need to be at least 25% of the population to effect change and persuade others to adopt their view. The study's findings challenge previous estimates and provide insight into the tipping point phenomenon.

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.

Hurricanes are slowing down, and that's bad news

A new study found that hurricanes are moving more slowly, spending more time over land, resulting in catastrophic local rainfall and flooding. The slowdown is attributed to climate change, which is amplifying the effects of human activity on hurricane behavior.

Widespread uranium contamination found in India's groundwater

A new study by Duke University has found widespread uranium contamination in India's groundwater, with levels exceeding the World Health Organization's safe drinking water standard. The contamination is linked to human activities such as over-pumping of aquifers and nitrate pollution.

Secrets of fish population changes revealed

Researchers have linked the ecology of adult fish populations inhabiting coral reefs with the dispersal of baby fish between reefs, revealing a complex network called a marine metapopulation. The study found that successful larval dispersal was crucial for replenishing key reefs.

Astronomers find a galaxy unchanged since the early universe

Researchers have found a rare galaxy, NGC 1277, that has remained unchanged since its formation in the early universe. The discovery provides valuable information about galaxy evolution, as it has preserved its original composition and structure over billions of years.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

High vitamin D levels linked to lower cholesterol in children

Research from the University of Eastern Finland found a link between higher serum vitamin D levels and lower plasma cholesterol levels in primary school children. Children with sufficient vitamin D levels had lower total and LDL cholesterol levels compared to those with insufficient levels.

Scientists ID source of damaging inflammation after heart attack

Researchers found that a type of immune cell called B cell lymphocytes are responsible for damaging inflammation in the heart after a heart attack. Pirfenidone, an approved lung drug, was shown to effectively reduce this inflammation and protect the heart from further damage.

Research finds tipping point for large-scale social change

Research finds that a minority group of 25% can establish a new behavioral norm in the larger group, leading to improved outcomes like reduced energy consumption and less sexual harassment. The study's model also suggests environments can be engineered for pro-social directions, particularly in organizations.

Stanford-led study identifies cellular 'death code'

Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a molecular code that unleashes necroptosis, a violent form of cell death. The discovery opens the door to potential new treatments for diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis.

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.

Dolphins deliberately killed for use as bait in global fisheries

A new study exposes the widespread practice of killing aquatic mammals like dolphins, sea lions, and otters for use as bait in global fisheries. The review highlights that more than 40 species have been utilized as bait since 1970, with over 80% deliberately killed for at least one fishery.

Bikeshare could increase light rail transit ridership

A University of Waterloo study found that coupling bikeshare with public transit can increase light rail transit ridership by optimizing bike availability. The research modelled commuter schedules and bike usage patterns using data from Montreal's bikeshare program.

Children can learn ways to significantly reduce salt usage

A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that a web-based salt education program improved salt-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and behaviors among children ages 7-10 years. The program reduced salt usage by 19% and improved children's ability to change their behaviors.

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.

FASEB Journal: Caloric intake and muscle mass at high altitude

Researchers found that prolonged exposure to high altitude and underfeeding leads to an inability to build muscle mass, a phenomenon mainly observed in older adults. The study highlights the importance of maintaining caloric balance at high altitudes, particularly among unaccustomed lowlanders.

Nutritional quality of fish and squid reduced by warm water events

Research led by the University of Sydney found that warm water events decrease the ratio of healthy oils to protein in fish and squid, while cold water events increase their nutritional quality. This has implications for marine life, including humans, who consume similar foods.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Football training in school greatly improves girls' fitness and health

In-school football training has been shown to improve the physical fitness and health of schoolgirls aged 10-12, including those with no prior experience. The study found significant reductions in blood pressure, improvements in muscle strength and balance, and enhanced jumping performance.

Minerology on Mars points to a cold and icy ancient climate

New research published in Icarus suggests Mars had a cold and icy ancient climate, with evidence of volcanism interacting with ice sheets. The findings identify three distinct mineral combinations associated with glaciers, providing insight into the planet's past.

In building the brain, cell pedigree matters

A study published in Neuron has found that a neural precursor protein called PRDM16 plays a crucial role in shaping the organization of the cerebral cortex. The researchers discovered that when PRDM16 is active, it helps to regulate the migration of neurons and their ultimate positioning in the cortex.

Study develops a model enhancing particle beam efficiency

Researchers developed a new model to control chaos in particle accelerators, enhancing efficiency and reducing initial velocity requirements. The transport barrier mechanism, inspired by tokamaks, shows promising results in simulations.

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.

Genomic study reveals surprising twist

A new study using genomic techniques found that algal cells in coral reefs exhibit stronger responses to ocean warming and acidification stress than their coral hosts. The research suggests an early warning system for bleaching events, which could help anticipate and prevent massive damage to coral reef habitats.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Thyroid dysfunction may lead to diabetes during pregnancy

Research supports thyroid screenings during early to mid-pregnancy due to increased risk of gestational diabetes and adverse health outcomes. Higher thyroid hormone levels in the first half of pregnancy are tied to development of gestational diabetes, affecting up to 2-10% of pregnancies.

Improved ape genome assemblies provide new insights into human evolution

New, high-quality ape genome assemblies have been generated without the guidance of the human reference genome, providing a clearer view of genetic differences that arose as humans diverged from other primates. The research team also studied brain organoids to understand how differences in gene expression during brain development might...

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.

Decrease in eye injuries to children

A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that US pediatric eye injuries decreased by 26.1% from 2006 to 2014. Most of these injuries had a low risk of causing permanent vision loss. In contrast, sports and household-related injuries increased, while motor vehicle crashes, gun-related incidents, and chemical burns declined.

Jurassic diet: Why our knowledge of what ancient pterosaurs ate might be wrong

A new study published in Biological Reviews analyzed over 300 statements about pterosaur diets and found that most are based on inferences drawn from modern organisms or fossil environments. This lack of reliable evidence has led to a wide range of proposed diets, with some groups showing strong agreement while others remain uncertain.

How solar prominences vibrate

An international team has cataloged around 200 solar prominence oscillations detected in the first half of 2014. The analysis revealed that almost half of these events have been of large-amplitude, with speeds between 10 km/s and 100 km/s.

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.

Honeybees prioritize well-fed larvae for emergency queen-rearing

New research reveals that honeybees preferentially select larvae with optimal nutritional status for emergency queen rearing. The study found that worker bees can distinguish between hungry and well-fed larvae, resulting in a higher success rate for queen production when non-deprived larvae are selected.

Inhibitors for gas hydrates to receive grant funding from RFBR

Researchers at Kazan Federal University are developing new hydrate inhibitors using water-soluble polyurethanes and biodegradable compounds like polyvinyl alcohol and glucose. The goal is to create affordable and effective solutions to prevent gas hydrates from forming, which can cause serious technological disasters.

Letters of recommendation for women more likely to raise doubts

A new study found that letters of recommendation written for women are more likely to contain words or phrases that raise doubts about job or education qualifications. The researchers defined four categories of doubt-raisers: negativity, faint praise, hedging, and irrelevant information.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Cattle may spread leptospirosis in Africa, study suggests

A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that rice and cattle farming are associated with acute infection. The research suggests that controlling Leptospira infection in livestock could play a role in preventing human leptospirosis in Africa.

Cebit 2018: Computer scientists provide fifth dimension for videos

Saarland University researchers developed a light field camera system that captures images from multiple angles, allowing for new shots of movements and post-processing capabilities. The system uses 64 cameras and can shoot up to 40 frames per second, with the ability to selectively replace individual image areas.

Cebit 2018: Saarbrücken start-up offers data analysis with scientific expertise

The consulting firm is founded by four computer science experts from Saarland University to provide sound advice on data analysis. Data Science Consulting focuses on collecting, cleaning and merging data, as well as removing errors, maintaining data, setting up a scalable architecture and defining critical characteristics for analysis.

Does cancer increase risk of diabetes?

Developing cancer was associated with an increased risk of new type 2 diabetes, even after accounting for precancer risk factors. The risk was highest in the first two years after diagnosis.

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.