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Science News Archive November 2018 - Page 20


Page 20 of 42

Sex ed before college can prevent student experiences of sexual assault

Research from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health suggests that sexuality education during high school may have a lasting impact on adolescents. Students who received formal education about refusing sex before age 18 were less likely to experience sexual assault in college.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 15, 2018

Cotton-based hybrid biofuel cell could power implantable medical devices

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed a cotton-based hybrid biofuel cell that provides twice as much power as conventional biofuel cells. The device uses gold nanoparticles assembled on cotton to create high-conductivity electrodes, improving efficiency and stability.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 15, 2018

UNH scientists help provide first-ever views of elusive energy explosion

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have captured a rare event involving magnetic reconnection, a process that produces a quick but mighty explosion in the Earth's magnetotail. This is the first time scientists have been able to track the details of this energy conversion process using unprecedented speed and resolution.

SourceUniversity of New Hampshire·JournalScience·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

Clams and cockles, sentinels of the environmental status of Nicaraguan coasts

Researchers from University of the Basque Country studied bivalve species in Nicaraguan mangroves to monitor pollution levels. The study found suitable large cockle species for monitoring, such as Larkinia grandis, which can reflect ecosystem evolution and biogeographical distribution.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateNov 15, 2018

Flaws in industry-funded pesticide evaluation

Researchers found that chlorpyrifos had a clear effect on brain development in laboratory animals, even at low doses, which was not reported by the industry-funded study. The study highlights the need for independent academic research to be given a higher status in evaluating chemical safety.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalEnvironmental Health·DateNov 15, 2018

New study reveals connection between climate, life and the movement of continents

A new study by University of Texas at Austin researchers links sediment movement to continental drift speed, suggesting a key role for feedback mechanisms. The findings challenge existing ideas on plate interaction and may explain variations in plate speeds, such as India's rapid northward acceleration.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateNov 15, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

What did birds and insects do during the 2017 solar eclipse?

Researchers used radar data to observe wildlife behavior during the eclipse, finding a decrease in daytime activity but no increase in nighttime activity. Insect and bird behavior was stifled by the sunset-like sky produced by the eclipse, with some sites experiencing a sudden burst of activity during totality.

SourceCornell University·JournalBiology Letters·DateNov 15, 2018

UTIA projects named as two of top three for SRMEC in 2018

The Southern Risk Management Education Center named two University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) projects among its top three for 2018. Advanced Online Marketing Strategies helped 567 farmers reach customers, while Implementing Biosecurity measures positively impacted producers to the tune of $328,000.

SourceUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture·DateNov 15, 2018

Novel strategy to transform a commercially available iboga alkaloid to post-iboga alkaloids

KAIST chemists have synthesized seven different iboga and post-iboga natural products from catharanthine, mirroring nature's biosynthetic post-modification of the iboga skeleton. The novel strategy involves selective oxidation and rearrangement reactions, offering a stepping stone for developing therapeutic medications against cancer a...

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalChem·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

DICE: Immune cell atlas goes live

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have created an immune cell atlas, DICE, to decipher how natural genetic variation shapes the immune system's ability to protect health. The database provides detailed profiles of 15 immune cell types and 91 healthy donors, revealing a wide impact of genetic variation on gene activity.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalCell·DateNov 15, 2018

Treating the 'bubble babies'

An international study published in Blood highlights the urgent need for better treatment strategies for patients with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). The study found that survival rates were higher after cell transplants from matched sibling donors and that young age and absence of active infection were key factors for impro...

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalBlood·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

Why women rarely reach top positions in government

A study found that women face discriminatory attitudes in the Russian public administration, with many preferring male bosses and experiencing bias in hiring. Women often choose informal power over formal promotion, citing societal expectations and physical attractiveness.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalThe Journal of Social Policy Studies·DateNov 15, 2018

Boston Children's Hospital receives $14.7 million grant from NFL

The 5-year project will investigate diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in former NFL players. Researchers will track up to 2,500 players with annual follow-up health assessments to examine associations between clinical outcomes and abnormal tau buildup.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·DateNov 15, 2018

SwRI's Scott Bolton honored by Smithsonian Magazine

Scott Bolton, associate vice president of SwRI's Space Science and Engineering Division, receives the 2018 American Ingenuity Award from Smithsonian Magazine for his work on NASA's Juno mission. The mission has revealed complex, turbulent structures around Jupiter, including iconic belts and zones, Earth-sized cyclones, and a lumpy mag...

SourceSouthwest Research Institute·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

Special issue: Diet and Health

This special issue examines the connections between diet and health, covering topics such as optimal fat intake, gut symbionts, meal size and frequency, and sports nutrition practices. The reviews highlight the need for well-designed studies to resolve the best diet for individuals and how it varies with activity and life stages.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateNov 15, 2018

Argonne's Min Si receives early career award from IEEE Computer Society

Min Si, an assistant computer scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, has received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Award for Excellence in High Performance Computing. Her research focuses on dynamic communication models and runtime systems for heterogeneous environments.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

Solar panels for yeast cell biofactories

Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute have created a novel yeast biohybrid system using an adaptable light-harvesting semiconductor approach. The innovation enables the production of complex chemicals by harnessing energy from light, significantly enhancing product yields and opening up new paths for biomanufacturing.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalScience·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

New inflammation inhibitor discovered

A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has developed a new anti-inflammatory drug molecule that inhibits inflammation by targeting a protein involved in the repair of oxygen damage to DNA. The discovery could lead to new treatments for inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, COPD, and severe asthma.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScience·DateNov 15, 2018

Ashkenazi Jewish founder mutation identified for Leigh Syndrome

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia identify the USMG5 gene mutation as a common cause of Leigh Syndrome, a mitochondrial disease causing progressive muscle weakness and energy deficits. The study provides long-awaited answers for parents affected by the condition.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalHuman Molecular Genetics·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

Half of the world's annual precipitation falls in just 12 days, new study finds

Researchers analyzed data from over 185 ground stations and found that half of the world's measured precipitation falls within a 12-day period, set to become even more skewed under climate change. This uneven distribution could lead to increased flooding and damage associated with extreme weather events.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 15, 2018

Historian tells new story about England's venerated 'Domesday book'

A historian challenges the traditional view of the Domesday Book, a famous document created by William the Conqueror in 11th-century England. New research suggests that the final version of the book was compiled years after its initial publication, and that it was not the top-down, orderly bureaucratic enterprise previously thought to ...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalSpeculum·DateNov 15, 2018

Faecal transplant may protect premature babies from fatal bowel disease

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Copenhagen has shown that faeces transplantation can significantly reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in pigs born prematurely. The treatment involves transferring faeces from healthy donor pigs to the rectal opening, resulting in a 75% decrease in NEC cases...

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

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.

Juice displaces milk and fruit in high school lunches

Students opt for juice on days it's offered, leading to reduced milk and whole fruit consumption. This substitution results in lower intakes of essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and fiber.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateNov 15, 2018

New guidelines for early detection and treatment of sarcopenia

The new guidelines provide an update to the previously published consensus on definition and diagnosis of sarcopenia. They include an easier way to screen for sarcopenia risk using a simple questionnaire, a systematic way to make the sarcopenia diagnosis, and suggestions for practical tools and tests at each step.

SourceNewcastle University·DateNov 15, 2018

Stroke: Preventing the damage by acting on the neuronal environment?

Scientists from CNRS and partners have found a promising strategy for protecting neurons after a stroke, involving the extracellular matrix. The new approach, using an agent mimicking structural components of this matrix, has shown effectiveness in rats and may complement existing clot-elimination techniques.

SourceCNRS·JournalTheranostics·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

'Smart skin' simplifies spotting strain in structures

The 'smart skin' technology uses fluorescing carbon nanotubes to reveal stress in aircraft, bridges, or pipelines over entire surfaces or microscopic levels. It enables two-dimensional mapping of accumulated strain that can't be achieved by other non-contact methods.

SourceRice University·JournalStructural Control and Health Monitoring·DateNov 15, 2018

Why we shouldn't like coffee, but we do

A study found that people with a higher sensitivity to bitter caffeine taste drink more coffee due to learned positive reinforcement. Genetic variants play a role in this association, suggesting that our perception of bitter tastes contributes to beverage preferences.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 15, 2018

Transition metal complexes: Mixed works better

Scientists at BESSY II discovered that mixed iron complexes can convert sunlight into electricity by releasing charge carriers. The findings suggest a new direction for developing inexpensive transition-metal complexes suitable for use in solar cells.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateNov 15, 2018
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Astronomers find possible elusive star behind supernova

Two teams of astronomers uncovered the presumed precursor star in pre-explosion photos taken in 2007, shedding light on stellar evolution and mass distribution. The discovery suggests two possible scenarios: a single massive star or a binary-star system.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 15, 2018

NASA keeps watch over space explosions

Magnetic reconnection occurs daily near Earth due to twisting field lines and can create auroras or disrupt power grids. NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission revealed the process flings particles symmetrically in Earth's magnetotail, unlike on the sunward side.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalScience·DateNov 15, 2018

To monitor 'social jet lag,' scientists look to Twitter

Researchers found that sustained periods of low Twitter activity were correlated with sleep patterns, while the nightly lull shifted to later times on weekends. The magnitude of 'Twitter social jet lag' varied seasonally and geographically, with the West Coast experiencing less lag.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 15, 2018

Songbirds set long-distance migration record

Researchers tracked willow warblers' migration routes, finding they fly up to 13,000 km from eastern Siberia to Kenya and Tanzania. The study also identified alternative navigation mechanisms, including solar and magnetic compasses.

SourceLund University·JournalMovement Ecology·DateNov 15, 2018
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.

Fullerene compounds made simulation-ready

Researchers developed a method to simulate fullerene complexes, which can help understand their electron acceptor properties and electrostatic potential energy. The new model provides a better understanding of the relationships between electrons and fullerenes.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateNov 15, 2018

A new 'buddy system' of nurse education gets high marks from students

A new 'buddy system' of nursing education has been found to improve student learning and confidence by promoting collaborative decision-making. The 'Two Heads Are Better than One' method involves two students working together as one nurse, forcing them to prioritize and make clinical decisions, resulting in less anxiety and more robust...

SourceBaylor University·JournalJournal of Nursing Education·DateNov 15, 2018