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Science News for August 30, 2019


It's never too late to start exercising, new study shows

Researchers found that older men who never exercised before could build muscle at a similar rate as master athletes, highlighting the benefits of starting exercise later in life. The study suggests that regular physical activity can help delay age-related decline and improve overall health.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·DateAug 30, 2019

Rethinking our resilience to wildfire

A new paper by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver calls for a fundamental shift in how we approach wildfires, from basic recovery to transformation. The study highlights the need for communities to adopt more resilient strategies, such as reducing flammability and promoting prescribed burns.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Denver·JournalNature Sustainability·DateAug 30, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

AI uncovers new details about Old Master paintings

Researchers used a newly developed algorithm to study mixed x-ray images of the Ghent Altarpiece, separating features from the front and back of the painting's double-sided panels. The analysis improved our understanding of art masterpieces and provided new opportunities for art investigation, conservation, and presentation.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 30, 2019

Moving faster in a crowd

New research shows that particle transport in crowded cells can be faster than in non-crowded environments, especially when moving from densely crowded areas to less crowded ones. The study used microfluidics and tracer colloids to investigate the effects of non-uniformly distributed crowding molecules on particle movement.

SourcePenn State·JournalACS Nano·DateAug 30, 2019

Scientists discover evidence for past high-level sea rise

A team of scientists discovered geologic evidence in a Mallorcan cave showing sea levels were 16 meters higher than present day 4 million years ago. The findings provide insights into past global sea level rise and implications for predicting current-day rise amid a warming climate.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico·JournalNature·DateAug 30, 2019

New ATS Clinical Practice Guideline: Diagnosing fungal infections

The guideline covers the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, invasive candidiasis, and three common endemic mycoses. Effective treatment depends on rapid and accurate diagnosis, with recommendations for laboratory tests such as galactomannan testing and polymerase chain reaction approaches.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateAug 30, 2019
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.

Humans were changing the planet earlier than we knew

Researchers at the University of Queensland have found that human-induced landcover change was globally extensive by 2000BC, four millennia ago. The study used crowdsourcing-from-experts approach to gather archaeological data and found long-term cumulative changes caused by early food producers.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScience·DateAug 30, 2019

Does appointment time influence primary care opioid prescribing?

Primary care physicians tend to prescribe opioids more for pain issues later in the day and if appointments are running late. The likelihood of an opioid prescription increased from 4% to 5.3% as appointments progressed, with a notable increase for appointments over 60 minutes behind schedule.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 30, 2019

Defrosting surfaces in seconds

Researchers have developed a way to remove ice and frost from surfaces efficiently using less than 1% of the energy needed for traditional methods. The technique works by melting the interfacial layer directly, allowing the ice to slide off the surface.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 30, 2019
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Hurricane Dorian marching slowly across Atlantic

Hurricane Dorian has strengthened to near 110 mph with higher gusts, threatening the Bahamas and southeastern US with life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to produce 6-12 inches of rain and cause life-threatening flash floods.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateAug 30, 2019

Breakthrough enables storage and release of mechanical waves without energy loss

Researchers have successfully stored and released mechanical waves without losing energy, paving the way for improved technology in structural integrity monitoring, energy harvesting, and quantum computing. This breakthrough has significant implications for efficient wave propagation and control.

SourceAdvanced Science Research Center, GC/CUNY·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 30, 2019
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.

Chewing gum use in the perioperative period

Preoperative chewing gum use does not affect gastric emptying, while postoperative gum may aid recovery. Chewing gum can be a useful tool to aid recovery and reduce complications after certain types of surgery.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Anesthesia Journal·DateAug 30, 2019

Amazon deforestation has a significant impact on the local climate in Brazil

A new study published in Frontiers found that Amazon deforestation causes local climates to warm, particularly in areas with severe tree cover loss. Intact forests maintained more climate stability, while disturbed forests experienced larger temperature increases during dry periods.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalFrontiers in Forests and Global Change·DateAug 30, 2019

Victorian child hearing-loss databank to go global

A unique Victorian databank that profiles children with hearing loss will help researchers globally understand why some children adapt and thrive, while others struggle. The study found that language development and speech in hearing-impaired children lags behind other children despite advancements in earlier detection and intervention.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateAug 30, 2019
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.

Early start of 20th century arctic sea ice decline

Researchers found evidence of earlier Arctic sea-ice decline starting at the beginning of the 20th century using a new proxy from coralline algae. The study provides insight into past sea-ice variability and may help reduce uncertainties in ocean model simulations.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateAug 30, 2019

$2M from NIH to extract meaningful data from CRISPR screens

The National Institutes of Health has granted $2.23 million in funding to develop statistical and computational methods for genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening. The goal is to improve functional gene identification, analyze non-coding elements, and study genetic interactions, with potential applications in cancer research.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·DateAug 30, 2019

What if we paid countries to protect biodiversity?

A team of international researchers has developed a financial mechanism to support the protection of the world's natural heritage. The socio-ecological design option proved most efficient in incentivizing additional conservation action, particularly for countries lacking in global conservation goals.

SourceLund University·JournalConservation Letters·DateAug 30, 2019

Understanding probiotic yeast

Researchers have found that Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast, produces uniquely excessive amounts of acetic acid. This discovery may pave the path towards improved treatments for intestinal diseases. The study also showed that modifying the yeast's genetic basis could enhance its probiotic effects.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalGenome Research·DateAug 30, 2019

The 'universal break-up criterion' of hot, flowing lava?

Rice University researchers have developed a new fluid dynamic model that allows scientists to predict when an eruption will transition from spattering to flowing lava. This tool could help emergency officials prepare for potential hazards by providing early warnings of changing behavior.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 30, 2019
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.

Illinois engineer continues to make waves in water desalination

University of Illinois researcher Kyle Smith has made significant progress in water desalination with a new publication and research project. His work involves deionization devices that can reversibly store and release cations using intercalation materials, resulting in a nearly 10-fold increase in salt removal rates.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalWater Research·DateAug 30, 2019

Oxygen depletion in ancient oceans caused major mass extinction

A 420 million-year-old mass extinction event, one of the most dramatic ever recorded, was caused by rapid and widespread depletion of oxygen in global oceans. The study provides a mechanism for the step-wise extinction event, driven in part by sulfidic ocean conditions.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalGeology·DateAug 30, 2019

Discovery paves the way for earlier detection of type 1 diabetes

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have discovered a potential biological marker for early detection of type 1 diabetes using single-cell analysis of immune cells. The discovery could lead to earlier intervention and prevention of the disease, which affects over 1.25 million Americans.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalScience Immunology·DateAug 30, 2019
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.

FEFU scientists developed brand-new rapid strength eco-concrete

The new concrete mixture has a compressive strength increase of 2.7-3.3 times compared to traditional concrete, while reducing frost-resistance issues and increasing water-resistance. The eco-friendly concrete technology is cost-effective and can be implemented with minimal spending.

SourceFar Eastern Federal University·JournalConstruction and Building Materials·DateAug 30, 2019

Providing more testing choices does not increase colorectal cancer screening rates

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that providing patients with more testing choices, such as home fecal immunochemical testing (FIT), does not increase participation in colorectal cancer screening. However, framing choice did impact patient decision-making, leading to a decrease in colonoscopy rates.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 30, 2019

NASA satellites on-hand as Dorian becomes a category 3 hurricane

NASA's fleet of satellites is gathering data on Hurricane Dorian, helping scientists understand its structure and predict its path. The storms maximum sustained winds are currently at 115 mph with higher gusts, posing a significant threat to Florida and the northwestern Bahamas.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateAug 30, 2019
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.

How to simulate softness

A team of engineers and psychologists at UC San Diego discovered clever tricks to design materials that replicate different levels of perceived softness. The findings provide fundamental insights into designing tactile materials and haptic interfaces that can recreate realistic touch sensations.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 30, 2019

New radiomics model uses immunohistochemistry to predict thyroid nodules

A new machine learning-based model evaluates immunohistochemical characteristics in patients with suspected thyroid nodules, achieving excellent performance for individualized noninvasive prediction. The model improves thyroid nodule diagnoses and helps identify papillary thyroid cancers earlier.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·DateAug 30, 2019

Common stomach bacteria is attracted to bleach

Researchers found that Helicobacter pylori is attracted to bleach, relying on a protein called TlpD to navigate to sites of inflammation in the stomach. This attraction enables the bacterium to turn the body's defenses against it and colonize inflamed tissue.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 30, 2019

Many who die waiting for a kidney had multiple offers, new study finds

A new study found that nearly one-third of kidney transplant candidates die or are removed from the list without receiving a transplant, with many having had multiple organ offers declined. The research highlights concerns about the allocation system and suggests better communication between patients and transplant centers could improv...

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 30, 2019
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.

Air pollution under clear skies reduces sunlight reaching the Earth's surface

A study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences found that air pollution under clear skies significantly reduces the amount of sunlight reaching Earth's surface. The study highlights the negative impact of air pollution on renewable energy harvesting and associated economic burdens, as well as its effects on air purity.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateAug 30, 2019

Skin cancer risk in athletes: The dangers of ultraviolet radiation

Athletes who engage in outdoor sports and exercise are at increased risk of skin cancer, with up to eight-fold exposure limit exceeded during summer and autumn months. Sun protection is crucial for these groups, as research shows a higher incidence of malignant skin cancer among active individuals.

SourceThe Physiological Society·DateAug 30, 2019
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Emotion recognition deficits impede community integration after traumatic brain injury

Researchers found a correlation between facial emotion recognition deficits and poor community integration in individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Those with impaired emotional recognition displayed reduced community integration, suggesting a potential barrier to social isolation.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalJournal of the International Neuropsychological Society·DateAug 30, 2019
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.