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Science News Archive 2019


Page 38 of 486

Laboratory-evolved bacteria switch to consuming CO2 for growth

Researchers created Escherichia coli strains that convert CO2 into biomass, overcoming a major challenge in sustainable production of food and fuels. The study demonstrates the feasibility of transforming a heterotrophic organism into an autotroph using metabolic rewiring and adaptive laboratory evolution.

New fossil shrimp species from Colombia helps fill 160 million-year gap

Researchers have discovered a new fossil species of comma shrimp in Colombia, filling a 160 million-year gap in the evolution of these crustaceans. The fossils, which include hundreds of individuals, are remarkably well preserved and provide insights into the origins and relationships of these marine arthropods.

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.

Animal embryos evolved before animals

Researchers discovered fossils of Caveasphaera, 609 million-year-old single-celled relatives of animals, revealing evidence that animal-like embryonic development evolved before complex animals appeared in the fossil record.

UK health service 'lagging behind' other high income countries

The UK National Health Service faces challenges in meeting growing demand while reducing costs. Key findings show that the NHS spent less on healthcare per person compared to other high-income countries and had lower numbers of healthcare professionals. However, it achieved better rates for certain health outcomes.

Activation of opioid receptor uncovered

Scientists have discovered the binding mechanism of an important pain receptor, which could lead to the development of new active substances. The current study aimed to find alternatives to opioids used today, as they can be addictive and have life-threatening side effects.

The molecule that can AUTAC bad proteins

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a molecule called AUTAC that can target specific intracellular components for degradation via autophagy. This process has been impaired in some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Down syndrome, making AUTAC a promising innovation for disease treatment.

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.

Concordia researcher hopes to use big data to make pipelines safer

Researchers at Concordia University and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have identified five types of pipeline failures: mechanical, operational, natural hazard, third-party, and corrosion. They propose using big data to predict failure patterns and improve safety assessments.

Researchers finally grasp the work week of enzymes

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered a way to monitor enzyme workflows, allowing them to target the amino acid composition of enzymes. This enables more efficient enzyme design, leading to lower drug costs, reduced CO2 emissions, and greener chemistry.

Inadequacies in current early-stage lung cancer treatment revealed

Researchers have found that anti-cancer agents with low-molecular weights cannot reach tumors effectively due to obstructed small arteries. This limits the use of conventional chemotherapy and highlights the need for new treatments, according to Professor Tetsuya Kodama.

How do scars form? Fascia function as a repository of mobile scar tissue

Researchers found that fascia tissue is the origin of scars and contains specialized fibroblasts that pre-assemble to heal wounds. This discovery challenges traditional views of wound healing and opens up new biological concepts for scar-related diseases, potentially leading to novel therapeutic approaches.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

NASA-NOAA satellite finds tropical storm Kammuri strengthening

Tropical Storm Kammuri's powerful storms have been detected by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite, with cloud top temperatures reaching minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is forecast to intensify and potentially become a typhoon, posing a threat to Guam and the Northern Marianas.

Scientists now know what DNA's chaperone looks like

A team of researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder has solved the structure of the Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT) protein, a key player in DNA packaging and gene expression. The discovery sheds light on how this protein maintains the integrity of chromatin during transcription, replication, and DNA damage repair.

Oyster deaths: American slipper limpet is innocent

Researchers from Kiel University found that the invasive American slipper limpet is not the main cause of European oyster population decline in the North Sea. The study analyzed historical collections of both species and revealed that the decline began in the late 19th century, before the limpet's introduction.

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.

Guidebooks or grandmas? Where most moms get their pregnancy advice

A UC study finds that pregnant women rely on their mothers for emotional support and guidance, often valuing mom's advice as equal to or over medical recommendations. This contradicts the narrow perspective of many self-help pregnancy guides, which prioritize medical guidance exclusively.

Immediate treatment with antiretroviral therapy helps infants with HIV

A study of newborns in Botswana found that initiating antiretroviral therapy immediately after birth reduces the frequency of reservoir cells and improves immune responses. The Early Infant Treatment Study showed measurable benefits from early treatment, suggesting strategies to test and treat infants at birth may improve outcomes.

Beads made from ostrich eggshell track cultural change in ancient Africa

Ostrich eggshell bead sizes in southern Africa increased with herding introduced around 2,000 years ago, while eastern Africa showed consistently larger sizes over several thousand years without correlation to herding. This suggests that cultural transmission of beads is more complex and not solely linked to herding practices.

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.

Seeing the world's smallest universal joints

Osaka University researchers use electron cryomicroscopy to solve the structure of the bacterial flagellum's 'universal joint,' a crucial component in transmitting rotary power. This breakthrough has important implications for developing new antibiotics and biomimetic self-propelled nanomachines.

Barbequed clams on the menu for ancient Puerto Ricans

Scientists analyzed fossilized clam shells to reconstruct ancient cooking habits in Puerto Rico, finding that clams were cooked at temperatures between 100°C and 200°C. The results suggest that barbeque was a common method of cooking, unlike boiling, which may not have been widespread due to the lack of ceramic pottery technology.

On balance, some neonicotinoid pesticides could benefit bees

A new study found that a permitted neonicotinoid insecticide can effectively control pests while improving bumblebee foraging and food stores. This suggests certain neonicotinoids may be beneficial to bees, but the researchers caution against considering them as a homogeneous group.

Problems of homophobia and transphobia in sport

The EU project OUTSPORT conducted a three-year study to counter discrimination and violence related to sexual orientation or gender identity in sport. The study found that homophobic and transphobic language is widespread, affecting over one third of those active in sport.

Study: Student attitudes toward cheating may spill over into their careers

A recent study by San Francisco State University professors found that students' tolerance for cheating in the classroom is linked to their openness to unethical behavior on the job. Group-oriented students, or collectivists, were more likely to be tolerant of cheating due to their desire to maintain group cohesion.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Can obesity limit antiarrhythmic drug effectiveness?

A new study found that Class I drug treatment showed increased rates of AFib reoccurrence in obese patients compared to non-obese patients. The study suggests that obesity hinders the effectiveness of these medications, which could impact ethnic minority populations who are more likely to experience obesity and have poorer outcomes.

When your microbiome and your genome aren't a good combination

A recent study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases reveals a novel link between the gut microbiome and host genome in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis. The research found that bacteria belonging to the genus Prevotella were abundant in the gut microbiota of Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

New method accelerates development of protein therapeutics

A new method has been developed to accelerate the development of protein therapeutics by utilizing a cell-free system for glycosylation. This approach enables researchers to quickly discover and understand glycosylation pathways, leading to faster medicine creation and potentially opening up new avenues for treating diseases.

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.

Carbon intensity of power sector down in 2019

The US electric power sector saw a decrease in carbon intensity, with total power generation falling by 4% and CO2 emissions per megawatt-hour dropping by 9% in Q2 2019. Coal generation declined by 19% compared to the previous year, while renewable sources such as solar and wind increased their share of power generation.

Stem cell therapy helps broken hearts heal in unexpected way

A recent study in Nature sheds new light on heart treatment controversy by showing that stem cell therapy triggers an acute inflammatory response to enhance mechanical properties of injured areas. Injecting living or dead stem cells into the heart's infarct region provides a modest benefit to heart function after a heart attack.

Dance of the RNases: Coordinating the removal of RNA-DNA hybrids

Two research teams deciphered how RNase H2 and RNase H1 are coordinated to remove RNA-DNA hybrid structures from chromosomes. The study found that RNase H2 primarily acts during the G2 phase after DNA replication, while RNase H1 can act in all phases of the cell cycle.

Researchers say animal-like embryos preceded animal appearance

A new study reveals that animal-like embryos existed 609 million years ago, long before the emergence of definitive animals. The research found that Caveasphaera fossils displayed stages of development similar to those seen in living animals, including humans.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Neonicotinoids: Despite EU moratorium, bees still at risk

Researchers detected imidacloprid residues in 48% of rape fields, posing a non-negligible risk to pollinating bees. Persistent use of neonicotinoids with certain crops threatens bee populations, highlighting the need for reinforcement of pesticide controls.

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.

Air pollution linked with new causes of hospital admissions

Fine particulate air pollution has been linked to several common diseases that cause hospitalizations, including septicemia, fluid and electrolyte disorders, renal failure, and skin and tissue infections. The study found substantial health care and economic costs associated with even small increases in PM2.5 exposure.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Bad news for Nemo

A study found that clownfish in Kimbe Bay are unable to adapt genetically to habitat changes and renew their population. The quality of the anemone providing a home to the fish is crucial to its survival, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these marine species.

Biodiversity and wind energy

Expert survey reveals conflict between renewable energy and bat protection, with most stakeholders agreeing that ecosystem sustainability is crucial. Possible solutions include accepting reduced wind turbine efficiency to compensate for shutdown times and prioritizing bat conservation over green electricity production.

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.

Photosynthesis -- living laboratories

Cyanobacteria and plants use similar mechanisms to regulate cyclic electron flow during photosynthesis, according to LMU biologists Marcel Dann and Dario Leister. Two proteins, PGRL1 and PGR5, mediate control of CEF in plants.

Molière most likely did write his own plays

Researchers from CNRS disprove theory that Corneille wrote Molière's plays using authorship attribution techniques. Their study finds significant differences in writing habits and speech mannerism between Molière and other authors of the time.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Clown fish survival depends on environment more than genetics

Researchers observed four generations of clown fish in Papua New Guinea's Kimbe Island lagoons to find no genetic variation for reproductive success. Environmental conditions, particularly sea anemones, play a vital role in clown fish survival and population replenishment.

Air pollution linked to several new causes of hospital admissions

A US study found short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with several newly identified causes of hospital admissions, including sepsis and kidney failure. The researchers suggest the World Health Organization air quality guidelines need revising.

Material for safer football helmets may reduce head injuries

Researchers have developed elastic microlattice pads that can withstand both single hits and repeated impacts better than existing state-of-the-art foams. The new material absorbs up to 48% more energy efficiently compared to the top vinyl nitrile foam during repeated impacts.

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.

Scholars find that irregularly shaped parks reduce mortality risk

A recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that residents near irregularly shaped community parks have a lower mortality risk compared to those living near traditional square-shaped parks. The researchers, led by Huaquing Wang and Lou Tassinary, analyzed land cover data from Philadelphia and discovered that the compl...