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Science News Archive September 2018


Page 23 of 37

A wearable device for regrowing hair

Researchers developed a flexible, wearable photostimulator that speeds up hair growth in mice, achieving significantly faster hair regrowth and wider regrowth areas compared to untreated or minoxidil-injected mice.

NEJM perspective: How state attorneys general can protect public health

Attorneys general can intervene through litigation when public health is threatened, targeting issues like the opioid epidemic and excessive sugar consumption. By reducing industry manipulation of science and lobbying for policies against the public interest, attorneys general can alter the trajectory of these major public health problems

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Nat Fisch receives Fusion Power Associates' Distinguished Career Award

Nat Fisch, a renowned researcher at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, has received the 2018 Distinguished Career Award from Fusion Power Associates. The award recognizes his decades-long contributions to plasma science and fusion power, as well as his role in advancing education and research in the field.

Wearable ultrasound patch monitors blood pressure deep inside body

Researchers at the University of California - San Diego have developed a wearable ultrasound patch that can monitor central blood pressure in major arteries up to four centimeters below the skin. The device provides accurate, precise readings and has potential applications in real-time monitoring of patients with heart or lung disease.

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.

Sleep apnea could favor tumor growth at young ages

A scientific study has found that sleep apnea can favor lung cancer growth in young individuals, suggesting that age may play a role in the disease's aggressiveness. The research team hopes to identify and prove physiopathological consequences of sleep apnea to develop personalized medicine strategies.

The world needs death and decomposition

A new study by Michigan State University establishes a baseline of organisms that play key roles in carrion decomposition, promoting the importance of death in ecosystems. The research also highlights the complex interactions between decomposer communities and their impact on nutrient cycling and ecosystem processes.

Sugar pills relieve pain for chronic pain patients

Researchers found that brain anatomy and psychological traits can predict which patients will respond to sugar pills, resulting in reduced pain and cost savings. The study suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing sugar pills for chronic pain patients, potentially opening up a new field.

3D virtual simulation gets to the 'heart' of irregular heartbeats

Researchers developed 3D personalized computational models of patients' hearts to accurately identify arrhythmia locations. The models correctly predicted treatment targets and reduced ablated tissue areas in some cases. Clinical trials demonstrated the feasibility of integrating simulation predictions into routine procedures.

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.

Astronomers witness birth of new star from stellar explosion

Researchers observe a supernova explosion that remained visible six years after the initial event, sparking predictions of a pulsar wind nebula. The phenomenon could shed light on the fundamental physics behind superluminous supernovae and their potential role in producing gravitational waves.

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.

Gut bacteria's shocking secret: They produce electricity

Scientists discovered that hundreds of bacteria, including pathogenic and probiotic species, generate electricity in the human gut. This discovery could lead to new ways to create living batteries from microbes, such as those found in waste treatment plants.

Is cancer fundraising fuelling quackery?

Crowdfunding sites have seen a surge in UK cancer-related appeals, with £8m raised since 2012. Critics argue that these platforms are not adequately vetting appeals, potentially leading to patients being exploited by unproven treatments.

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.

Blood and brain fluid change first in Huntington's disease

A new study finds that a simple blood test can detect early changes caused by Huntington's disease, even before brain scans can pick up signs. The test measures two biomarkers, NfL protein in blood and mutant huntingtin protein in brain fluid, to track the disease's progression.

Scientific institutions continue to lag behind the #TimesUp movement

A new Perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the slow response of medical institutions to sexual harassment. Key factors contributing to this resistance include myopia, money and power dynamics, and organizational complicity. The authors urge institutions to rethink their approach to creating safe workplaces.

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.

Minding the brain to curb pain hypersensitivity

Researchers have isolated a volume control in the brain for pain and identified a small group of neurons in the cortex that can amplify touch sensation. Silencing these neurons may help break a feedback loop that introduces and exaggerates the pain response to normally non-painful touch.

ADHD may increase risk of Parkinson's disease and similar disorders

Researchers found ADHD patients had a higher risk of developing Parkinson's and Parkinson-like diseases than non-ADHD individuals, especially those prescribed stimulant medications. The study suggests that the long-term health effects of ADHD and its treatment remain understudied.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Aging may be as old as life itself

A new USC Dornsife study finds that genes can help an organism survive, rather than just being a negative trait associated with aging. This challenges the long-held hypothesis of 'antagonistic pleiotropy', which suggests that genes that enhance reproduction contribute to aging.

Older adults fitted with cochlear implants exhibit poor brain function

A new study reveals that older adults fitted with cochlear implants exhibit poorer cognitive function than normal-hearing counterparts. Rehabilitation should be adjusted to the cognitive profile of cochlear implant patients, and further studies are needed to determine the impact of implants on cognition and decline.

UMN heads up new project to foster more collaboration among researchers

The University of Minnesota is leading a new multi-university project to explore how to make interdisciplinary research more common and effective. The two-year project, funded by the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative, aims to identify best practices for embedding interdisciplinary approaches in institutional reform.

An effective adjuvanted intradermal flu vaccine for humans

Researchers developed an adjuvanted intradermal flu vaccine that protected ferrets and humans against lethal pandemic flu strains. The vaccine, which can be self-administered via a microneedle, shows promise for rapid production and distribution during pandemics.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

NASA sees Hawaii facing Tropical Storm Olivia

Tropical Storm Olivia is causing heavy rainfall in Hawaii, with the National Weather Service predicting total accumulations of 5-10 inches in some areas. The storm's cloud tops reached temperatures as low as -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong winds and potential for life-threatening flash flooding.

Investigator at CHLA to study bone loss associated with cerebral palsy

A new study led by Dr. Tishya Wren at Children's Hospital Los Angeles aims to understand bone loss in ambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy. The research will assess the bone health of 148 participants, identifying critical periods for intervention and guiding future interventions to maximize bone strength.

End of Colombia conflict may bring new threats to ecosystems

A study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment highlights the dangers of peace in Colombia, where deforestation rates are surpassing those of Brazil, and climate change poses a threat to isolated mountain ecosystems. Mining activities also pose environmental problems.

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.

Bismuth shows novel conducting properties

Researchers have confirmed that bismuth possesses unique topological properties, enabling it to conduct electricity without dissipation. This breakthrough establishes bismuth as a higher-order topological insulator, opening up new possibilities for high-performance electronics and quantum computing.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

A mere drop of blood makes skin cells line up

A team of researchers found that blood serum triggers spontaneous movement and growth in dormant skin cells, paving the way for new insights into wound healing mechanisms. The study reveals that blood plays a key role in initiating cell migration and proliferation even without a visible wound.

For women with genetic risk, twice-a-year MRI beats mammograms

A study at the University of Chicago Medical Center and University of Washington found that twice-a-year MRI scans detected more small early stage breast cancers than annual mammograms. The research suggests that intensive surveillance can be crucial for improving outcomes in young women with high-risk genetic mutations.

Shedding light on 100-year-old cancer mystery

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute found that cancer cells redirect energy production when lactate dehydrogenase is inhibited, instead relying on glutamine to sustain growth and survival. This discovery identifies a potential new target for melanoma treatment by targeting the ATF4-signaling pathway.

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.

Ants surrender their venomous secrets

Researchers analyzed ant venom from a tropical species and identified over 2,800 venom peptides, including 37 full-length peptide precursors called myrmicitoxins. The peptides showed sequence similarities with those produced by other insects, suggesting they evolved from ancestral genes.

Mitochondria come together to kill cancer cells

Researchers at Hokkaido University identified a pathway that facilitates the dispersion of mitochondria towards the cell periphery, increasing cancer invasiveness. Blocking this pathway led to the aggregation of mitochondria and an increase in reactive oxygen species production, resulting in cancer cell death.

New sensors track dopamine in the brain for more than year

MIT neuroscientists have developed tiny probes that can measure dopamine levels in the brain for more than a year. The sensors were implanted in animals and found to produce accurate readings for up to 393 days, opening up new possibilities for understanding dopamine's role in diseases such as Parkinson's.

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.

Healthcare cuts 'strongly linked' to the resurgence of measles

A new study by Bocconi scholars links measles resurgence to public health expenditure cuts in Italy. The research found that each 1% reduction in per-capita real public health expenditure corresponds to a 0.5 percentage point decline in MMR vaccination coverage, highlighting the importance of investing in public health.

Brain has natural noise-cancelling circuit

The brain has a built-in noise-cancelling circuit that allows it to ignore predictable self-generated sounds, such as footsteps. This circuit works by sending a direct signal from the motor cortex to the auditory cortex, instructing inhibitory neurons to cancel out these sounds.

Timing may be everything when taking meds

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center created a database of daily gene activity rhythms, linking them to drug metabolism. This could lead to improved timing of medication administration by synchronizing with the body's internal clock.

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.

Researchers uncover previously unstudied cancer enzyme

A new study reveals METTL13's role in controlling protein formation and preventing serious disorders like cancer and Alzheimer's. The researchers' breakthrough could lead to the development of targeted methods and drugs to ensure the enzyme functions correctly.