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Science News Archive September 2018


Page 32 of 37

NASA adds up heavy rains from Typhoon Jebi

Typhoon Jebi's rainfall affected Shikoku and most of Honshu's south central coastal regions, with estimated amounts over a one-week period ranging from 100 mm (~4 inches) or more. The storm caused significant flooding, including at Kansai International Airport near Osaka, resulting in fatalities and injuries.

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.

Adaptable lizards illustrate key evolutionary process proposed a century ago

Scientists have documented how individual side-blotched lizards can change colors to become darker on lava; they identified genes that regulate coloration and found genetic changes in the population adapted to the lava flow. These findings provide a detailed example of the Baldwin effect occurring in a wild population.

New insights into what drives organ transplant rejection

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital identified CD103+ dendritic cells as a major trigger of skin graft rejection, but found that pre-treating organs with an anti-inflammatory protein can mitigate this effect. This new strategy could offer benefits for organ transplantation, including face transplants.

Common pesticide inhibits brain development in frogs

Research published in Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry reveals that chlorpyifos inhibits brain development in Northern Leopard tadpoles. The study demonstrates the impact of organophosphorous pesticides on vertebrate neurodevelopment, even at low concentrations.

Volcano under ice sheet suggests thickening of West Antarctic ice is short-term

A study by University of Washington researchers has discovered a new clue to the behavior of a region in West Antarctica, where a volcano under the ice sheet is leaving an almost 6,000-year record of glacier motion. The data suggests that the current thickening trend may be short-term and not indicative of long-term changes.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Complete makeover in fight of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

A new international collaborative study led by Dr. Dick Menzies found that new TB drugs achieve excellent results in treating MDR-TB, demonstrating consistently better cure rates and reduced mortality compared to currently used treatments. The study prompted a complete overhaul of worldwide guidelines for MDR-TB treatment.

More daytime sleepiness, more Alzheimer's disease?

A study found that daytime sleepiness is associated with an increased risk of brain deposits of beta amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Participants who reported excessive daytime sleepiness were nearly three times more likely to develop beta-amyloid deposition in their brains years later.

A new theory for phantom limb pain points the way to more effective treatment

A new theory by Max Ortiz Catalan suggests that phantom limb pain results from neural entanglement between the missing limb's circuitry and pain perception networks. The 'stochastic entanglement' hypothesis explains how a novel treatment, Phantom Motor Execution (PME), can help alleviate pain by reactivating dormant brain areas.

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.

Stress wracks worm nerves, leaving lasting memories

A recent study published in Nature found that stress caused by starvation before sexual maturation can prevent normal changes in the wiring patterns of key neuronal circuits in male worms. As a result, adult male worms act immaturely during behaviors controlled by these circuits. The study suggests that environmental stress can permane...

Cracking the code to soot formation

Researchers have solved the long-standing mystery of soot formation, revealing that resonance-stabilized radicals play a key role in its creation. This breakthrough could help reduce soot's detrimental effects on human health and the environment.

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.

A cyborg cockroach could someday save your life

Researchers at UConn have created a tiny neuro-controller that can precisely control the movement of cyborg cockroaches. The system, which includes an inertial measurement unit and real-time feedback, enables operators to steer the insect in desired directions.

We need to talk about sexuality after stroke

A new study found that stroke survivors struggle to discuss their sexuality and intimacy with healthcare professionals, who rarely address the topic during rehabilitation. The review highlights the importance of proper support from health and rehabilitation professionals to address these issues.

Is the key to sparking climate action a game?

A new study published in PLOS ONE found that a role-playing game called World Climate increases motivation to combat climate change by 81%, even among Americans who support free market policies. The game simulates UN climate talks and provides immediate feedback on the expected climate impacts of participants' decisions.

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.

Careful -- You are made of glass

Researchers used state-of-the-art techniques to measure cell forces and stresses in zebrafish embryos, discovering a fundamental physical mechanism for shaping embryonic tissues. This finding provides insight into human health issues like cancer formation and organ engineering.

Beatboxers' and guitarists' brains react differently to hearing music

A new study found that the brains of professional beatboxers and guitarists respond uniquely to their respective sounds, with increased activity in areas associated with movement and language. The research suggests that experience of producing music can shape brain responses and perception.

Family tree of blood production reveals hundreds of thousands of stem cells

A new study approach reveals that healthy adults have between 50,000 and 200,000 blood-creating stem cells in their bone marrow. This finding opens up new opportunities for studying how stem cells change during ageing and disease, and may lead to insights into cancer development and effective stem cell therapies.

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.

Transforming pregnancy research with a smartphone app

A new smartphone-based research platform has been developed to recruit a large and diverse population of pregnant women for a study. The platform, built using Apple's ResearchKit technology, was embedded into the popular WebMD Pregnancy app and connected researchers with over 1.6 million potential participants.

Burly bird gets the worm

A study at the University of Exeter found that larger garden birds, such as house sparrows and greenfinches, dominate access to better food sources like sunflower hearts. Smaller bird species like blue tits and coal tits face limited access to quality food, pecking quickly to make the most of their time.

Bees coordinate strategy for defending colony, study reveals

The Brazilian stingless bee, Tetragonisca angustula, uses a unique defense strategy by positioning its hovering guards in an organized manner at the nest entrance. This allows for rapid detection and interception of intruders, improving nest vigilance.

Corporate social responsibility efforts can backfire for new brands

Research from North Carolina State University found that new brands' CSR efforts can backfire if consumers know the company donates to good causes. However, listing dual priorities for CSR and product effectiveness can help mitigate this issue. Established brands tend to benefit more from CSR efforts.

Sexual violence haunts women with vivid memories decades later

A new study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that women who experienced sexual violence have more intense and difficult-to-forget memories than those who did not. The research also highlights the challenges of recovery from trauma and the importance of prevention and justice for survivors.

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.

Marriage protects against malnutrition in old age

Malnutrition affects more elderly people who are unmarried, separated or divorced. Marriage or being widowed tends to prevent malnutrition. Factors such as difficulties walking, coping with stairs, and hospital stays also contribute to the risk.

OU research addresses concerns of South-Central Plains region with NSF MRI grant

The University of Oklahoma research group, led by Mark Nanny, will utilize the new ICP-MS instrument to study interactions between nanomaterials and drugs, population dynamics, and organism-metal interactions. The grant also aims to engage rural high school teachers and address water quality issues in Oklahoma's Tribal Nations.

Women lack access to private toilets around the world

Girls and women face inadequate sanitation options, including lack of private toilets with doors and locks, resulting in stress, embarrassment, and physical discomfort. Mainstreaming female-friendly toilets could significantly impact meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals on health, education, and gender.

Genes are key to academic success, study shows

A new study reveals that genetic factors explain around two-thirds of individual differences in school achievement and 70% of the stability of educational achievement throughout schooling. Genetic influences also persist even after accounting for intelligence and noncognitive traits.

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.

Lymph node structural cells rein in human immune responses

Researchers identified four mechanisms by which Fibroblastic Reticular Cells dampen down T cell responses, including pathways involving prostaglandin E2 and transforming growth factor beta. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding immune responses in situations where T cells don't work as well as they should.

Physics model acts as an 'EKG' for solar panel health

Researchers created an algorithm using physics of panel degradation to analyze solar farm data, providing a portable EKG for solar farms. The approach can inform better panel designs, prolong lifespan, and cut electrical bills, ultimately transforming the industry's diagnosis and decision-making processes.

Rice U. lab probes molecular limit of plasmonics

Researchers from Rice University's Laboratory for Nanophotonics studied plasmons in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with fewer than 50 atoms. They found that these molecules can support molecular plasmons in the visible spectrum, offering a new area of research at the intersection of plasmonics and molecular chemistry.

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.

Genetic control of human thymic function: A needle in an haystack

Researchers found a genetic variation associated with thymic output in humans, which can affect immune responses. This discovery may help explain differences in immune responses between healthy individuals and has implications for precision medicine and vaccine development.

Heat transfer surprise could lead to thermal transistors

New results show up to 100 times more heat can flow between nanoscale objects than predicted, with implications for solar cells and materials. The discovery could enable new ways to control heat in devices, such as heat transistors and diodes.

Disparities in geographic distribution of dermatologists

A study of county-level data from 1995 to 2013 found that dermatologist density increased more in rural and nonmetropolitan areas than metropolitan regions. The gap between metropolitan and other areas widened over time, highlighting the need for corrective action.

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.

Study: Ways to maximize nutrition and growth for the smallest preemies

A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that changes in calorie and protein intake were estimated during five transition phases from full intravenous nutrition to full enteral nutrition. The researchers recommend specific approaches to maximize calorie and protein intake during various transition phases.

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.

Could a demon help to create a quantum computer?

Researchers at Penn State successfully organized atoms in a lattice to lower entropy, which could aid in creating a quantum computer. This achievement uses uncharged atoms as qubits, enabling multiple states simultaneously and making computation more efficient.

New research shows what influences the types of apps you use

A large-scale analysis of mobile app data found that users in English-speaking countries have higher app usage due to widespread English language versions and dedicated apps. Socio-economic factors such as occupation, education, and savings also play a significant role in determining app usage.

Scientists identify weak point in deadly eye melanoma

A natural plant compound called FR900359 has been identified as a potential treatment for uveal melanoma, shutting down the overactive signaling that drives cell growth. The compound traps G alpha q in its inactive state, preventing tumor cell growth and potentially reversing cancer-like changes.

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.

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.

Experts advise against routine testing for prostate cancer

International experts advise against routine PSA screening for prostate cancer, citing small benefits and potential harm. However, clinicians should engage in shared decision-making with patients considering screening, especially those at higher risk of prostate cancer death.

Did death rate affect the 2016 US presidential elections?

A study found that modest reductions in age-adjusted, county-level death rates could have swung key US states to Secretary Clinton. Counties with higher Republican votes had higher age-adjusted death rates and increased deaths of despair.

First-ever guidelines for detecting, treating perimenopausal depression

Perimenopause is a window of vulnerability for depressive symptoms, with hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and life stressors contributing to its development. The new guidelines recommend using proven therapeutic options like antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy as front-line treatments.