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Science News Archive April 2019


Page 18 of 44

Balancing the ocean carbon budget

Researchers aim to refine understanding of how carbon moves in the ocean by studying lesser-known mechanisms such as particle injection pumps. These processes, including vertical migration and subduction, are thought to sequester significant amounts of carbon, rivaling the biological gravitational pump.

World-record quantum computing result for Sydney teams

A team of Sydney researchers has achieved a world-record result in reducing errors in semiconductor electron 'spin qubits', a crucial step towards building useful quantum computers. The result, published in Nature Electronics, demonstrates error rates as low as 0.043 percent.

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.

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.

Risk factors identified for patients undergoing knee replacements

A large study of over 670,000 primary hip replacement patients found that patients under 60, males, and those with chronic pulmonary disease are at increased risk of developing severe infection. The study also showed that liver diseases or inflammatory arthropathy increase the risk of revision for infection in the long-term.

Coelacanth reveals new insights into skull evolution

Researchers study coelacanth specimens at different stages of cranial development, providing new insights into the biology of this iconic animal. The study reveals unique observations about the development of the living coelacanth skull and brain, and opens up new avenues for research on the evolution of vertebrate heads.

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.

CRISPR base editors can induce wide-ranging off-target RNA edits

Researchers found that CRISPR base editors can induce widespread off-target effects in RNA beyond targeted DNA, but developed variants with less impact. The SECURE variant significantly reduces unwanted RNA edits while increasing precision of on-target DNA editing.

These beetles have successfully freeloaded for 100 million years

A fossilized beetle, Promyrmister kistneri, found to be the oldest-known example of an animal in a behaviorally symbiotic relationship with ants. The beetle's extreme adaptations allow it to infiltrate ant colonies, suggesting that freeloaders can persist over vast expanses of evolutionary time.

Folding revolution

A Harvard Medical School scientist has developed a new approach using deep learning to predict protein structure from amino acid sequence. This method achieves accuracy comparable to current state-of-the-art methods but at speeds upward of a million times faster.

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.

Parboiling method reduces inorganic arsenic in rice

Researchers in Bangladesh found a way to reduce inorganic arsenic in rice by modifying parboiling methods, resulting in a 25% reduction and a 213% increase in calcium content. This new method also reduces potassium levels by 40%.

OSU researcher to help lead $10.7 million push toward gonorrhea vaccine

A $10.7 million NIH grant will fund the establishment of a Gonorrhea Vaccine Cooperative Research Center, with Oregon State University's Aleksandra Sikora working to develop a vaccine against gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease that causes significant harm if untreated or improperly treated.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Cannabidiol could help deliver medications to the brain

Researchers have found that cannabidiol (CBD) can be used as a 'Trojan horse' to deliver medications across the blood-brain barrier and into the brains of mice. CBD was attached to lipid nanocarriers, which caused more fluorescent molecules to pass through brain cells, resulting in targeted delivery to the animal's brains.

Neuron and synapse-mimetic spintronics devices developed

Researchers from Tohoku University have developed artificial neuron and synapse devices using spintronics technology, mimicking the brain's architecture. The devices demonstrated fundamental behavior of biological neurons and synapses, including leaky integrate-and-fire and spike-timing-dependent plasticity.

Army researchers identify new way to improve cybersecurity

Researchers at the US Army Research Laboratory identified a new strategy to improve cybersecurity by compressing network traffic without losing malicious activity detection capabilities. The technique stops transmitting data after a set number of messages, reducing bandwidth usage and increasing security alert reliability.

Preventing triple negative breast cancer from spreading

Researchers at the University of Missouri have found a combination drug therapy reduces the spread of triple negative breast cancer to other locations by 50 percent. This new approach uses APR-246 and 2aG4 to target mutant p53 and prevent cancer growth, offering a promising solution for personalized medicine.

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.

Boosting muscle stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy and aging muscles

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have identified a molecular signaling pathway involving Stat3 and Fam3a proteins that regulates muscle stem cell fate. Boosting these cells could lead to muscle-boosting therapeutics for muscular dystrophies or age-related muscle decline, potentially helping people live an active and independent life.

6.6 billion light years away: Neutron stars merger radiance observed

Astronomers have observed a unique X-ray signal from a binary neutron star merger 6.6 billion light years away, which is highly likely powered by a magnetar. This discovery provides new insights into the physics of neutron stars and challenges existing theories on the ending of a binary neutron star merger system.

Novel antibody may suppress HIV for up to four months

Researchers have developed a new antibody that can suppress HIV levels in people who undergo short-term pauses in their antiretroviral therapy regimens. The Phase 2 study, conducted in Taiwan, found the antibody, UB-421, to be safe and effective in maintaining HIV suppression without inducing antibiotic-resistant strains.

Omega-3 expert supports new research that shows omega-6 is good for you

A new study published in Circulation found that individuals with higher levels of omega-6 fatty acid LA were less likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. The study, which pooled data from 30 studies involving over 69,000 people, suggests that consuming more LA may lower risk for these diseases.

St. Jude gene therapy cures babies with 'bubble boy' disease

Infants with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1) have been cured of the disease using gene therapy developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The treatment produced functional immune cells, including T cells and B cells, in all but one patient.

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.

Study compares colonoscopy polyp detection rates and endoscopist characteristics

The study analyzed data from 16,089 average-risk colonoscopies performed by 56 providers, finding that endoscopist characteristics do not impact adenoma detection rate. However, lower sessile serrated polyp detection rates were associated with endoscopists performing lower volumes of colonoscopies and those further from their medical t...

A comprehensive look at cow's milk

Scientists have developed a centralized database of all known bovine milk compounds, including over 2,300 previously unknown metabolites. The comprehensive analysis was made possible by combining targeted chemical analyses and digital text-mining tools.

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.

Critical errors in inhaler technique common in children with asthma

A recent study found that nearly half of children hospitalized for asthma demonstrate improper inhaler use, with adolescents being the most common offenders. The study highlights the importance of proper inhaler technique in managing asthma, particularly among older teens who may feel they no longer need a spacer device.

How bacteria build an enzyme that destroys climate-changing laughing gas

Researchers from University of East Anglia discovered a protein called NosL that helps assemble the copper-sulfide cluster active site in nitrogenase reductase, an enzyme that destroys N2O. The team's findings may help pave the way for strategies to mitigate the damaging effects of nitrous oxide on the environment.

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.

Major study finds one in five children have mental health problems

A major study by the Ontario Child Health Study found that one in five Ontario children and youth suffer from a mental disorder, with a significant increase in anxiety and depression. The study also revealed that many children have contact with other health providers and settings, often through schools.

National effort urged to overhaul 'broken' health data system

Experts call for a national effort to rethink how health data is protected in the US, citing inadequate data privacy laws. A process similar to the Belmont Report could provide a blueprint for amendments to the law, with established data ethics review boards serving as safeguards.

Technology automatically senses how Parkinson's patients respond to medication

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University developed an algorithm and sensor-based system to detect Parkinson's medication ON and OFF states with high accuracy. The system uses wearable motion sensors and can continuously monitor patients' responses during daily activities, providing objective measures for clinicians.

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.

Improving quantum computers

Scientists are developing better manufacturing processes and control equipment for superconducting circuits and trapped ions. New materials like silicon spin devices and topological materials are also being explored to reduce noise and error in qubits.

DOE announces $20 million for artificial intelligence research

The US Department of Energy has announced $20 million in funding for artificial intelligence research, with a focus on improving grid operation and management. The projects aim to develop faster grid analytics, better asset management, and sub-second automatic control actions to reduce costs and avoid grid outages.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

The Leukemia Atlas: researchers unveil proteins that signal disease

Acute myelogenous leukemia patients have only a one in four chance of survival after five years. Researchers created a protein atlas to identify and classify protein signatures at AML diagnosis. The online atlas helps recommend better treatment and personalized medicine for patients.

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.

UCF develops new method to explore what happens inside fires and explosions

Researchers at UCF have developed a novel technique to analyze the dynamics of fires and explosions using laser technology. The approach allows for fast measurement of temperature and molecular concentrations within microseconds, enabling advances in firefighting, engine efficiency, and potentially even space travel.

Heart patch could limit muscle damage in heart attack aftermath

Researchers have developed a water-based hydrogel material that can be placed directly on the heart to prevent stretching of the heart muscle, a common problem after a heart attack. The patch outperformed existing patches and showed promising results in reducing post-heart attack damage.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

New research offers solution to riddle of ocean carbon storage

Researchers have identified a new pathway for ocean carbon storage, known as particle injection pumps (PIPs), which move just as much carbon as the biological gravitational pump. The study, published in Nature, provides a breakthrough solution to understanding how carbon reaches the deep ocean and its impact on the global climate.