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Science News Archive October 2018


Page 28 of 47

NASA tracks post-Tropical Cyclone Michael's heavy rains to Northeastern US

NASA satellite imagery revealed heavy rainfall affecting eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the northeastern US, with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission found the heaviest rainfall falling at a rate of over 1.6 inches per hour south of Long Island, New York.

Irrigating vegetables with wastewater in African cities may spread disease

A new study reveals that urban farmers in African cities are unknowingly spreading disease by irrigating vegetables with wastewater rich in virulent human pathogens. The risk of spreading bacteria and antimicrobial resistance among humans and animals is high, posing a significant health threat to millions of people.

NASA sees Sergio's rains sweep into the US Southwest

Tropical Storm Sergio brings heavy rain to Baja California, Mexico, and southern Arizona, with cloud top temperatures reaching -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is expected to weaken and move over northwestern Mexico before dissipating on Saturday.

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.

High-performance self-assembled catalyst for SOFC

A new catalyst has been developed to improve Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) performance by forming a self-assembled alloy at the surface. The catalyst was tested using methane gas directly, operating stably for over 500 hours with four times higher reaction efficiency than previous catalysts.

Liver-on-a-chip, the ideal test environment for CRISPR

A multidisciplinary team applies CRISPR on a human liver-on-a-chip platform to identify biomarkers for toxicity and off-target effects. The study aims to predict liver tissue response in humans and develop effective gene editing tools.

Sidestepping the pitfalls of overconfidence with plausible deniability

A study by Nathan Meikle reveals that expressing confidence nonverbally can reduce the risk of being punished for overconfidence. People can reap the rewards of confidence while sidestepping potential costs through plausible deniability, a strategy used by politicians and business leaders to maintain status and influence.

Satellite finds wind shear battering Tropical Storm Nadine

Tropical Storm Nadine is experiencing severe vertical wind shear, causing the bulk of its clouds to shift northeast. The storm's maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph, with forecasts indicating it will weaken further and dissipate by Sunday.

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.

Microfluidic molecular exchanger helps control therapeutic cell manufacturing

Researchers developed a microfluidic technique to monitor specific biomolecules, indicating the health of living cell cultures. The technique uses electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and can detect low concentrations of biomolecules, guiding process control and improving quality control in cell manufacturing.

Simple, cost effective treatment following failed back surgery shows promise

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine developed a simplified procedure called SEAL to remove scar tissue and adhesions that contribute to post-surgical low back pain. The study found short-to-moderate term pain relief in 74% of patients, with over 40% experiencing greater than 50% pain relief after three years.

Is the next big step in cancer therapy personalized vaccines?

A clinical trial at UC San Diego Health is testing personalized vaccines that use a patient's unique cancer mutations to stimulate an immune response. The vaccine, combined with an FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitor, aims to unleash the full potential of T cells activated by the vaccine.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Disrupting crystalline order to restore superfluidity

Researchers at the University of Hamburg disrupt crystalline order in a quantum system using light pulses, restoring superfluidity. The study demonstrates a fundamental mechanism for controlling phase transitions in many-body systems via light control.

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.

Medical marijuana for symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 clinical trials found that medical marijuana reduced subjective patient assessments of spasticity, pain, and bladder dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis. However, the therapy may carry a higher risk of adverse events compared to placebo.

Does open heart surgery affect cognitive abilities?

A recent study found that open heart surgery can cause some cognitive decline in the first month after surgery, but cognitive health largely returns to normal within six months. Aortic valve surgery may be associated with more early cognitive problems than mitral valve surgery due to the older age of patients.

Study: No surge in illicit cigarettes after menthol ban

A 2018 study from Nova Scotia found that seizures of illicit cigarettes decreased significantly between 2007-08 and 2017-18, with no statistically significant increase after the 2015 menthol ban. The prevalence of illegal tobacco in the province also decreased from 30% to less than 10%.

How the grid cell system of the brain maps mental spaces

Researchers have demonstrated the existence of grid-like activity in the human brain using electrophysiological evidence. Grid cells encode spatial positions evenly distributed across space, creating a honeycomb pattern that tiles the environment.

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.

Did mosasaurs hunt like killer whales?

University of Cincinnati biology professor Takuya Konishi proposes that mosasaurs hunted like killer whales by ramming their prey with their snouts. The young Tylosaurus mosasaur found in Kansas had a similar facial structure to orcas, with a protruding snout and robust cranial vault.

Oscillations provide insights into the brain's navigation system

Researchers have discovered that brain oscillations can be used to measure the activity of grid cells, which form the brain's navigation system. This breakthrough may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease by testing impaired functionality.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Cancer stem cells use normal genes in abnormal ways

A study found that cancer stem cells with MHC Class I molecules upregulate and retain CDK1 protein, allowing them to initiate tumor growth. Sox2 transcription factor plays a key role in maintaining their stemness.

Low copper levels linked to fatter fat cells

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that low copper levels in cells make fat cells fatter by altering how they process fuels like fat and sugar. The study adds evidence that copper homeostasis could be a therapeutic target for metabolic disorders, including obesity.

UNIST celebrates newest cohort of rising-star distinguished professors

UNIST has selected 6 extraordinary scholars as 'Rising-star Distinguished Professor', recognizing their exceptional contributions to fields like Artificial Intelligence, Energy, and Materials Science. The honored faculty members will receive an honorarium for salary and research support.

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.

Dying star emits a whisper

A Caltech-led team observed a faint and rapidly fading supernova, suggesting the presence of an unseen companion gravitationally siphoning away the star's mass. The explosion resulted in a dead neutron star orbiting its dense companion, marking the first time scientists have witnessed the birth of a compact neutron star binary system.

Hidden gapless states on the path to semiconductor nanocrystals

Researchers find that a previously unreported intermediate radical zinc oxo-alkoxide cluster with gapless electronic states is formed before the growth of semiconducting ZnO phase. The transformation from insulator to conductor-like material occurs rapidly, and further heating leads to semiconductor properties.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Pitt/UPMC BCI researchers receive $8 million in NIH funding

A team of University of Pittsburgh and UPMC researchers has received $8 million in NIH funding to expand their groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) research, with the goal of restoring hand function via a robotic arm. The new funding will support critical next steps in their research.

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.

Do lizards dream like us?

Researchers confirm lizards enter two distinct sleep states similar to slow-wave and REM sleep in humans and other animals. However, the study reveals differences in brain activity between species, including slower eye movements and unique cerebral patterns in lizard brains.

How yeast cells detect genetic infections

Researchers discovered a novel defence mechanism in yeast cells that uses centromeres to detect and neutralize foreign genetic material. This mechanism ensures that potentially harmful DNA is confined within one cell, while the daughter cell contains only reliable DNA.

Stringent password policies help prevent fraud, study finds

Researchers at Indiana University discovered that requiring longer and more complicated passwords significantly lowers the risk of password reuse. The study analyzed password policies from 22 US universities and found that IU's policy resulted in a 99.98% low rate of password reuse.

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.

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.

NASA eyes Hurricane Michael moving inland

Hurricane Michael has moved inland, with NASA tracking its movement and predicting heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to produce life-threatening flash floods in the Mid-Atlantic States and coastal southern New England.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

NASA catches Tropical Cyclone Titli headed for landfall in India

NASA captured images of Tropical Cyclone Titli before landfall using its Suomi NPP satellite, showing a large storm with strong thunderstorms surrounding its defined eye. The cyclone brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, causing at least 7 deaths.

Optical illusion spooks raptors

Scientists develop visual pattern that triggers long-term avoidance of high-risk areas by raptors, improving collision detection and reducing plane and wind turbine collisions. The 'looming' effect created by concentric black circles on a white background is effective in repelling birds from specific areas.

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.

Lassa fever vaccine shows promise and reveals new test for immunity

A new Lassa fever and rabies vaccine has demonstrated effective protection in animal models of disease, suggesting a new way to test for protection against the virus. Researchers have also identified a new surrogate measure of protection that could aid in vaccine development.