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Science News Archive 2019


Page 177 of 486

Optimizing fertilizer source and rate to avoid root death

Researchers have made a breakthrough in finding the ideal fertilizer rate and source to prevent root damage in canola crops. Using new imaging techniques, they developed dose-response curves for different nitrogen fertilizer sources, revealing that banding urea ammonium nitrate with low rates is the best option.

Color-changing artificial 'chameleon skin' powered by nanomachines

Researchers developed artificial 'chameleon skin' that changes color when exposed to heat or light using nanoparticles coated in a polymer shell. The material's color-changing abilities rely on light-powered nano-mechanisms, similar to nature's chromatophores, allowing for dynamic displays and active camouflage.

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.

Study finds air pollution linked to risk of premature death

A new international study found a link between air pollution and increased mortality rates, particularly among Australians who are more sensitive to particulate matter. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, analyzed data from 652 cities across 24 countries and regions.

Fake news can lead to false memories

Researchers found that nearly half of respondents recalled rich details about fabricated news stories, especially those aligned with their political beliefs. The study suggests that fake news can plant entirely fabricated memories, even after explicit warnings, and that people may be more likely to act on these false memories.

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.

Mosquitoes push northern limits with time-capsule eggs to survive winters

New research shows that mosquitoes at the northern edge of their range are successfully surviving cold winters using diapause eggs. This rapid local adaptation could impact efforts to control the spread of invasive species like Asian tiger mosquitoes, which transmit diseases such as Zika and dengue viruses.

Fish oil supplements have no effect on type 2 diabetes

A systematic review of over 58,000 participants found that consuming more long-chain omega-3 fats from fish oils had no impact on diabetes diagnosis or glucose metabolism. However, high doses may worsen glucose metabolism in some individuals.

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.

New way to make micro-sensors may revolutionize future of electronics

Researchers at Binghamton University have found a way to improve the performance of tiny sensors that could lead to breakthroughs in microphone manufacturing, making them smaller, better and cheaper. The new design combines two methods for electrostatic actuation, eliminating nonlinearity and allowing for predictable control over devices.

New study highlights sociodemographic disparities in oral cancer screening rates

A recent study by Brigham researchers found that sociodemographic factors, such as income and race, predict differences in oral cancer screening (OCS) rates. The results show that minority and low-income individuals are less likely to receive recommended OCS exams at dental visits, highlighting disparities in access to quality care.

Study identifies main culprit behind lithium metal battery failure

A study led by UC San Diego researchers identifies the root cause of lithium metal battery failure as bits of lithium metal deposits that break off from the anode during discharging. These deposits get trapped in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, lowering Coulombic efficiency and causing batteries to fail. The findings coul...

Plant protection: Researchers develop new modular vaccination kit

Scientists at MLU have developed a new method for vaccinating plants against viruses, enabling rapid identification and production of precisely tailored substances. The new method follows the modular principle, allowing for flexible combat against new pests and improving the efficiency of siRNA molecules.

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.

Physicists create world's smallest engine

Researchers have built the world's smallest engine, a single calcium ion, which uses random fluctuations to generate vibrations and store energy in discrete units. This tiny motor has potential applications in recycling waste heat and improving energy efficiency in future technologies.

Babbling babies' behavior changes parents' speech

Babies shape their own learning environments through babbling, influencing parents' speech to use simpler words and shorter sentences. Infants who receive more learning opportunities from their mothers are faster learners of new speech sounds.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Scientists discover why brown fat is good for people's health

Researchers at Rutgers University have found that brown fat can filter and remove branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) from the blood, which are linked to diabetes and obesity. The study suggests that environmental factors such as cold temperatures or spicy foods may be able to control BCAA uptake by brown fat.

Environmental DNA proves the expansion of invasive crayfish habitats

Researchers used eDNA to survey Japanese and signal crayfish habitats around Lake Akan, finding signal crayfish are widely distributed, potentially threatening native species. eDNA analysis identified presence or absence of aquatic organisms more reliably than conventional methods.

The challenge: Make and purify a medical isotope that must be used the same day

Scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have successfully produced and purified two rare medical isotopes, Sc-43 and Sc-47, which can be used for visualizing and destroying solid tumors. The team's innovative approach uses a combination of particle accelerators and purification techniques to overcome production challenges.

Omega-3 fats have little or no effect on type 2 diabetes

Researchers analyzed 83 randomized controlled trials involving 121,070 people with and without diabetes. They found that increasing long-chain omega-3 fats had little or no effect on likelihood of diabetes diagnosis or glucose metabolism. In contrast, higher doses of long-chain omega-3 may have negative effects on diabetes risk.

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.

New brain map could improve AI algorithms for machine vision

A new study has mapped the primate brain's visual system organization, revealing that distinct types of cells may work differently than previously thought. The research found that specific regions of the lateral geniculate nucleus and visual pulvinar share the same type of connectivity with the cortex.

Artificial muscles bloom, dance, and wave

Researchers from KAIST have created an ultrathin artificial muscle that expands, contracts, and rotates using electricity, opening doors for applications in wearable electronics and advanced prosthetics. The actuator is flexible, durable, and highly responsive, with a durability of over five hours.

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.

Can pomegranate juice protect the infant brain?

A clinical trial found that mothers who consumed pomegranate juice daily during pregnancy had infants with better brain development and connectivity. The study provides preliminary evidence for the potential neuroprotective effects of polyphenols in at-risk newborns.

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.

Breaking up is hard to do

Researchers discovered that electrons in copper oxide superconductors continue to pair up even above the critical temperature, reducing the energy gap. This finding constrains theories about high-temperature superconductivity and opens avenues for designing more precise materials.

Texas cities increasingly susceptible to large measles outbreaks

A computer simulation reveals that a 5% decrease in vaccination rates could lead to massive measles outbreaks in Texas cities, with Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth particularly at risk. The study finds that even with current high vaccination rates, there's a significant chance of an outbreak involving over 400 people in some areas.

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.

Lower back pain? Self-administered acupressure could help

A recent study published in Pain Medicine found that self-administered acupressure can improve symptoms of chronic low back pain. Researchers compared three groups: relaxing acupressure, stimulating acupressure, and usual care, with the acupressure groups experiencing pain and fatigue improvement after six weeks.

It's Fab! A hidden touch of antibody

Antibodies recognize viruses and cancer cells via Fab arms, but now researchers know the Fab portion also directly binds to Fc receptors. This discovery opens up a new strategy for developing therapeutic antibodies with enhanced binding properties.

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.

Obesity embargo alert for September 2019

Researchers found that frequent interruptions to sitting time with simple resistance activities lowered postprandial insulin responses and insulin:glucose in adults with overweight or obesity. An agent-based model also showed community diffusion strategies as key drivers of pediatric programs for childhood obesity prevention.

Hush, baby -- the dog is whimpering!

A new study reveals that dogs communicate distress more effectively than cats, and pet ownership is associated with increased emotional sensitivity to negative animal vocalizations. Dog whines are rated as sad as human baby cries, while cat meows sound sadder only to cat owners.

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.

Spaceflight consistently affects the gut

A new Northwestern University study discovered that spaceflight consistently changes the abundance and diversity of gut bacteria in mice. Using a novel analytical tool called STARMAPS, researchers found that spaceflight causes a specific change on the microbiome, but ruled out radiation as the cause.

California's rooftop-solar boom leaves equity gap

A new study finds that California's rooftop-solar adoption is closely correlated with socioeconomic status and health indicators in disadvantaged communities. The study suggests that state programs must target these communities to improve access to clean energy, rather than relying on broad income classifications.

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.

Shift to more intense rains threatens historic Italian winery

A centuries-old Italian winemaking tradition is under threat from shifting rainfall patterns, leading to earlier grape harvests and reduced flavor complexity. Intense precipitation events are exacerbating the effects of global warming on premium wines.

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.

Is it autism? The line is getting increasingly blurry

A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that differences between people with autism and the general population are shrinking over time. The researchers believe that changes in diagnostic criteria, such as a shift from lack of interest in others to simply having fewer friends, are contributing to the apparent increase in prevalence