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Science News Archive May 2018


Page 20 of 44

The survival of sea birds affected by ocean cycles

Researchers studied the effects of El Niño and Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) on Nazca booby survival. Young birds face low survival rates during El Niño events due to depleted fish stocks, while adults experience higher mortality in warm PDO phases due to increased reproduction difficulties.

After 60 years, Isle Royale continues world's longest predator-prey study

The Isle Royale wolf population has remained steady at two individuals for the third consecutive year, with the moose population continuing to grow above historic averages. The study's citizen science volunteers have contributed significantly to the research efforts, gathering data on moose skull sizes and wolf activity.

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.

Advanced materials: processing glass like a polymer

Researchers have developed a forming technology that allows for the structuring of quartz glass like a polymer, opening up new opportunities for the glass processing industry and various fields such as optics, data technology, and medical engineering. The process involves mixing small glass particles with a liquid polymer and then hard...

Smarter brains run on sparsely connected neurons

A study found that intelligence is linked to fewer dendrites in the cerebral cortex, allowing for efficient neuronal connections. The research used a neuroimaging technique and IQ tests to confirm the results, shedding light on conflicting findings in previous studies.

MIT researchers develop virtual-reality testing ground for drones

MIT engineers create a new virtual-reality training system for drones, enabling vehicles to navigate through an empty physical space while 'seeing' a rich, virtual environment. The system, dubbed Flight Goggles, reduces the number of crashes that drones experience in actual training sessions.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Mosquito spit may affect your immune system for days

Researchers have discovered that mosquito saliva can trigger a prolonged immune response in humans, detected up to 7 days after a bite. The study found that the proteins in mosquito saliva interact with human immune cells, leading to changes in cytokine levels and T helper cell responses.

When farmers migrated to southeast Asia, according to the DNA

By analyzing ancient DNA from Southeast Asian individuals, scientists identified two major waves of genetic mixture indicative of specific migration events. These migrations, occurring during the Neolithic period and Bronze Age, reflect the introduction of farming and cultural shifts in the region.

New blood test rapidly detects signs of pancreatic cancer

A new diagnostic test developed by researchers at UC San Diego shows promise for detecting pancreatic cancer earlier. The test uses electronic chip-based system to extract exosomes directly from blood, providing results in less than an hour. The findings have the potential to detect cancer early on without invasive surgical procedures.

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.

New genes found that determine how the heart responds to exercise

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London and University College London have identified 30 new gene locations that determine how the heart responds to exercise and recovers from it. This discovery could lead to the development of targeted therapies for abnormal heart rhythms and improved heart health.

Buyer beware: Some water-filter pitchers much better at toxin removal

A study by Ohio State University found that some water-filter pitchers are more effective at removing microcystins, which can be toxic to humans and animals. The researchers tested three popular brands and found that the slowest-filtering pitcher removed all microcystins from the water.

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.

How accurate is breath test for diagnosis esophagogastric cancer?

A breath analysis test showed good diagnostic accuracy for esophagogastric cancer in a study of 335 patients, including those already diagnosed with the disease. The test identified abnormally regulated volatile organic compounds in the breath associated with esophagogastric cancer.

Antibacterial in your toothpaste may combat severe lung disease

Researchers at Michigan State University found that triclosan, a common antibacterial substance in toothpaste, can kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria by up to 99.9 percent when combined with tobramycin. This combination therapy offers a new potential treatment option for cystic fibrosis and other biofilm-related infections.

Blood type affects severity of diarrhea caused by E. coli

A study by Washington University School of Medicine found that people with blood type A are more likely to experience severe diarrhea caused by E. coli. Researchers identified a protein responsible for this blood-group difference, which could lead to the development of a vaccine targeting this protein.

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.

A classifier of frog calls for fighting against climate change

Researchers at the University of Seville have developed an automatic classifier for frog calls using artificial intelligence. The system can identify temperature fluctuations and detect changes in reproductive behavior, providing a powerful indicator of global warming.

Major shift in marine life occurred 33 million years later in the South

A new study of marine fossils from Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand and South America reveals that sea lilies remained in shallow waters until around 33 million years ago. The results provide conclusive evidence that this change happened at different times in different parts of the globe.

Explaining the history of Australia's vegetation

Researchers discovered that C4 plants first expanded across Australia around 3.5 million years ago, driven by a strong summer monsoon. This finding provides new insights into the impact of climate change on these critically important plants.

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.

Riding bacterium to the bank

Sandia National Laboratories scientists have engineered E. coli to efficiently convert tough plant matter called lignin into valuable platform chemicals. This breakthrough solves three problems: cost, toxicity and speed, paving the way for economically viable biofuel production from renewable sources.

One way social isolation changes the mouse brain

Researchers found that social isolation in mice upregulates neuropeptide Tac2/NkB, leading to increased aggression and persistent responses to threatening stimuli. The peptide is overproduced in multiple brain regions, causing diverse behavioral changes that persist even after social isolation is reversed.

How social isolation transforms the brain

Researchers discovered that chronic social isolation leads to an increase in a specific neuropeptide called neurokinin B, which promotes aggression and fear. Blocking this peptide eliminates negative effects of isolation, suggesting potential applications for treating mental health disorders in humans.

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.

Chance discovery links inflammatory bowel disease with common bacterial gut toxin

Researchers at the John Innes Centre have discovered a connection between microcin B17, a bacterial toxin, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Breakdown products from the toxin trigger gut inflammation characteristic of IBD. The study identifies a new source of environmental and microbial triggers of gastrointestinal inflammation.

Study shows New Zealand has its own population of blue whales

A new study found that blue whales frequenting the South Taranaki Bight in New Zealand are part of a locally distinct population. Researchers used hydrophones and biopsies to determine genetic differences, estimating a minimum abundance of 718 individuals.

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.

Albatross robot takes flight

Researchers have designed a robotic glider that can skim along the water's surface, riding the wind like an albatross while also surfing the waves like a sailboat. The system can cover a given distance using one-third as much wind as an albatross and traveling 10 times faster than a typical sailboat.

Keep saying yes to fish twice a week for heart health

The American Heart Association advises consuming two servings of non-fried fish per week to reduce heart failure and coronary heart disease risk. Eating oily fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids substantially outweighs any risks associated with mercury contamination.

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.

Doctors in US and Canada launch sweeping pharmaceutical reform proposal

A group of 21 physicians published a comprehensive proposal for universal access to safe, innovative, and affordable medications. The plan outlines seven critical areas for reform, including establishing national formularies, negotiating with manufacturers, and increasing transparency in clinical trials.

Emergency contact information helps researchers branch out family tree

Researchers used emergency contact information in electronic health records to build family trees, which can be used to study heritability of hundreds of medical conditions. The study found that certain traits, such as high levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol, have a significant genetic component.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Functional films made of environmentally friendly clay minerals and dyes

Researchers created a transparent hybrid film combining natural clay minerals and dyes that changes color in response to environmental humidity. The novel mechanism involves the confinement of dye molecules within nanometer-scale gaps, allowing for reversible color change without breaking chemical bonds.

Repeating seismic events offer clues about Costa Rican volcanic eruptions

Researchers identified repeating seismic events at volcanoes in Costa Rica, offering insights into magma movement and gas activity. Drumbeat seismicity at Turrialba may have preceded a small eruption, while earthquakes halted repeating events at Poas by altering the stress field around the volcano.

Old drug provides promising new avenue for treatment of MND

A recent study published in Nature Communications has found that ebselen can correct many of the toxic characteristics of a protein causing some cases of hereditary motor neurone disease (MND). The drug-molecule can restore important steps in the SOD1 assembly process, potentially preventing neuronal cell death.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

How immune cells kill bacteria with acid

Macrophages use a membrane protein called SLC4A7 to acidify their phagosomes, allowing them to kill bacteria. Impaired SLC4A7 leads to decreased capacity to kill bacteria and increased protons in the cytoplasm.

The right moves

A new study reveals that the brain relies on an exquisite balance between two populations of neurons in the striatum to control movement. The findings could help researchers develop new treatments for Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases by understanding how movement gets translated into desired action.

How Nagana is carried by tsetse flies

Tsetse flies transmit Nagana disease to livestock by injecting trypanosomes into the skin, which then invade the bloodstream and cause severe illness. Understanding how these microbes develop inside the fly may lead to new methods of controlling the spread of the disease.

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.

New catalyst upgrades greenhouse gas into renewable hydrocarbons

A University of Toronto engineering team has designed a most efficient and stable process to convert climate-warming carbon dioxide into ethylene, a key chemical building block for plastics. The breakthrough catalyst uses a thin copper-based material and improves energy efficiency and selectivity.

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.

Want to help your child succeed in school? Add language to the math, reading mix

A University of Washington-led study reveals that children's language skills are the strongest predictor of their future academic success, including better performance in math, reading and social areas. The study found that language skills, such as vocabulary and grammar, can provide a foundation for social interaction, executive funct...

A new system is designed that improves the quality of frozen horse sperm

A new system has been designed to improve the quality of frozen horse sperm by using impermeable cryoprotectants that protect the external part of the cell. This method has been shown to be more effective than traditional permeable cryoprotectants, which can damage the sperm membrane and affect fertility.

Amateur astronomer's data helps scientists discover a new exoplanet

Scientists discovered a new hot Jupiter exoplanet, KPS-1b, using data from an amateur astronomer. The exoplanet orbits a star similar to the Sun and has a mass and size close to that of Jupiter. Its proximity to its parent star results in extremely high temperatures in its atmosphere.

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.