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Science News Archive June 2018


Page 36 of 40

Rules about technology use can undermine academic achievement

A study by Eszter Hargittai and Drew Cingel found that parents' rules on technology use can have unintended adverse consequences on their children's academic performance in college. Students whose parents justified restrictions due to homework time actually performed worse, while those with health-related reasons did better.

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.

Data discrepancies may affect understanding of the universe

Researchers at UT Dallas developed a tool to identify inconsistencies in cosmological data, revealing potential errors in current models. The findings suggest that either systematic errors need to be removed or the underlying model is incomplete, leading to questions about Albert Einstein's theory of gravity.

A better statistical estimation of known Syrian war victims

Researchers from Rice University and Duke University developed a new method to accurately estimate the number of identified victims killed in the Syrian civil war. Using 'hashing with statistical estimation,' they produced real-time estimates with a lower margin of error than existing methods.

Engineers solve excessive heat removal from NASA's Webb Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope's instruments are shielded from excessive heat using specially designed baffles that reflect infrared radiation outward. The baffles, coated with gold to maximize reflectivity, are reinstalled before the observatory's integration at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

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.

Tax hurts investment in medical device research and development

A new study by Iowa State University researchers found that a tax on medical devices significantly reduced R&D investment, sales revenue, and earnings. The tax, part of the Affordable Care Act, affected operating and marketing costs as well, but firms diversified their customer base and increased global market sales to offset the impact.

Thousands of turtles netted off South America

New research reveals tens of thousands of sea turtles are caught each year by small-scale fishers off South America's Pacific coast, with over 16,000 killed. The study highlights Ecuador and Peru as key places to tackle this issue, which threatens critically endangered species like leatherbacks and hawksbills.

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.

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.

MIT researchers devise new way to make light interact with matter

Researchers at MIT have devised a new method for enhancing the interaction between light and matter, which could lead to more efficient solar cells that collect a wider range of light wavelengths. By slowing down light and controlling its frequency, they can also create tunable color LEDs with fully tunable emissions.

On the origins of agriculture, researchers uncover new clues

Agriculture arose from moments of environmental surplus and improving conditions, where populations lived in greater densities. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, reveals common patterns across 12 centers of origin, with maps predicting global population densities dating back thousands of years.

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.

High schoolers who use heroin commonly use multiple other drugs

A study by NYU's Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research found that high school seniors using heroin also commonly use multiple other drugs, with an average of five others. The researchers discovered a link between frequent heroin use and increased use of opioids and benzodiazepines.

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.

Wireless system can power devices inside the body

Researchers developed a wireless system to power implants deep within human body, eliminating battery limitations. The technology uses radio waves to supply energy to devices, enabling remote control of medical applications such as drug delivery and sensing.

Blood formation: Researchers engineer human bone marrow tissue

Scientists from the University of Basel and ETH Zurich have developed an artificial bone marrow niche that mimics natural biological properties, allowing hematopoietic stem cells to multiply for several days. This breakthrough could lead to personalized research models for blood diseases like leukemia and drug screening.

Interglacial summer warming in Greenland

A lake sediment record near the Greenland Ice Sheet margin preserves sediments from past interglacial periods, including the Early Holocene and Last Interglacial Period. July air temperatures during these periods were estimated to be significantly warmer than modern temperatures.

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.

Cod harvesting and habitat shifts

Researchers used population dynamics modeling to assess the effects of size-specific and age-specific harvesting of Atlantic cod on the eastern Scotian Shelf, Canada. Fishing practices were found to drive a significant increase in cod habitat deepening, with depths of up to 120m accounting for nearly 100% of observed changes.

Does increased supervision of resident physicians reduce medical errors?

A randomized clinical trial found that increased supervision by attending physicians did not significantly reduce the rate of medical errors. However, residents reported a decrease in autonomy during rounds. The study suggests that residency training programs should balance patient safety with resident learning and autonomy.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Beyond conventional solution-process for 2D heterostructure

Researchers have developed a facile wet-chemical method to directly grow organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite nanocrystals on dispersible MoS2 nanosheets. This enables the scalable production of solution-processible heterostructures, which exhibit improved light absorption and energy transfer due to their epitaxial interface. The use of...

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.

Easter Islanders used rope, ramps to put giant hats on famous statues

The ancient Rapa Nui people used a parbuckling technique to transport massive stone hats (pukao) onto statues, weighing up to 12 metric tons. The analysis of pukao shapes reveals physical constraints associated with transport, supporting the idea that Rapa Nui people were ingenious in their use of resources.

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.

'Carbon bubble' coming that could wipe trillions from the global economy

A 'carbon bubble' is forming as global demand for fossil fuels declines, with major macroeconomic and geopolitical consequences. The study models the impact of declining demand on national economies, predicting that producer countries like the USA and Russia will lose GDP growth, while importing countries like China and the EU will gain.

Guppies change their eye color to deter rivals

Researchers found guppies rapidly turn their eyes black to warn rivals, making their eyes more conspicuous as an honest signal of aggression. This behavior is seen in larger guppies dominating smaller ones, but not the other way around.

Increased follow-up does not benefit colorectal cancer patients

A new study published in JAMA found that increased follow-up testing of colorectal cancer patients does not improve survival rates. The study showed that patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer experienced the same five-year survival rate regardless of whether they received two or five follow-up tests.

Measuring metabolites in algae one cell at a time

Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology have developed a novel method to detect specific metabolites in microalgae cells. By combining fluorogenic aptamers with femtosecond laser photoporation, scientists can identify efficient cells for metabolic engineering applications.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

High-sensitivity troponin test reduces risk of future heart attack

A new study from Karolinska Institutet found that patients diagnosed with high-sensitivity troponin test had a lower risk of future heart attacks, with no difference in mortality one year after the heart attack. The test also led to more coronary angiography and balloon angioplasty procedures.

Commensal rats record Polynesian resource shifts

A study of ancient rat remains from Polynesia finds that isotopic trends reflect resource depression and reshaping of nutrient flows by early human settlers. The declines may be due to changes in food sources, such as a shift from slash-and-burn agriculture to agroforestry and nearshore fishing.

Gut microbiota and gastrointestinal maturation

Researchers found that gut microbiota regulates adult enteric nervous system maturation through serotonin networks, potentially impacting gastrointestinal disorders. The study used germ-free mice colonized with normal microbiota to demonstrate this link.

NOvA experiment sees strong evidence for antineutrino oscillation

The NOvA collaboration has observed strong evidence of muon antineutrinos oscillating into electron antineutrinos, a phenomenon that has never been unambiguously seen. This result comes from the first run with antineutrinos and provides insights into the properties of neutrinos and antineutrinos.

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.

HIV study reveals new group of men at risk of infection

A new study has identified a distinct group of men who may be underestimating their HIV risk due to fear of stigma and rejection. These men, including bisexual and non-gay-identified individuals, tend to mix with each other and acquire infection from within their own networks, rather than openly gay men or heterosexual women.

Mixed signals from poisonous moths

Scientists studied six-spot burnet moths to examine if natural variation in wing markings indicates toxicity levels. Smaller red forewing markings were associated with more cyanide in females but not males. The study suggests evolutionary pressures may be complex and drive colors beyond matching toxicity levels.

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.

New mechanisms discovered to separate air

Scientists from Shinshu University and PSL University have theoretically proved a new mechanism for separating air molecules using nanowindows in graphene. The study shows that the atomic vibration of the nanowindow-rim changes the effective nanowidow size, selectively allowing oxygen from air to pass through, with separation efficienc...

Thank the moon for Earth's lengthening day

Scientists reconstruct Earth's history with a new method that links astronomical theory to geological observation, enabling the analysis of ancient climate change. The study reveals days on Earth were over 18 hours long 1.4 billion years ago, and the moon's movement away contributed to the lengthening day.

Researchers study aquatic beetles native only to central Wyoming

A team of researchers studied the narrow-footed Hygrotus diving beetle native only to central Wyoming, discovering its unique habitat in small streams with high salt concentrations. The study found that maintaining hydrologic integrity of prairie streams is vital for the conservation of this rare species.

Cervical cancer may be driven by imbalance in vaginal bacteria, UA research finds

A study by the University of Arizona Cancer Center found that women with cervical cancer have different communities of vaginal bacteria than those without. The 'good' bacteria, such as lactobacilli, promote a healthy environment and protect against HPV infection and cancer, while 'bad' bacteria like Sneathia increase cancer risk. Hispa...

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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