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Science News Archive August 2019


Page 34 of 38

Neonicotinoids, honeydew, and insect mortality

Researchers found that neonicotinoids in contaminated honeydew can kill a majority of hoverflies and parasitic wasps within 3 days. Beneficial insects fed on nectar or pollen from treated trees were not affected.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Patterns of substance use and co-use by adolescents

A study of adolescent substance use reveals that context plays a crucial role in decision-making about simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use. Adolescents choose to use substances based on how the physiological effects will fit with the social, physical, and situational characteristics of the context.

Dry feed for superfood producers

Researchers investigated how insects, such as crickets and locusts, respond to different dry feed variants containing cornstarch, protein-rich cowpea leaves and vitamin-enriched carrot powder. The study found immense species-specific differences in metabolism and digestion between the two insect species.

Mechanisms underlying forest water-use efficiency

Forest water-use efficiency has been increasing globally, with trees conserving water through elevated CO2 levels. Photosynthesis is the primary driver of this increase, while stomatal conductance reduction is limited to drier forests.

A novel robotic jellyfish able to perform 3D jet propulsion and maneuvers

Researchers designed a novel robotic jellyfish capable of 3D motion, leveraging reinforcement learning-based control to achieve high-order structure flexibility and yaw maneuverability. The system, inspired by Aurelia aurita, has great implications for bioinspired design of jet propulsion systems with agility.

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.

UNC receives $3.75M grant to integrate geriatrics in NC primary care

The University of North Carolina Health Care has received a five-year, $3.75 million grant to provide geriatrics training throughout North Carolina. The program aims to improve health outcomes for older adults by increasing rates of advance care planning and reducing chronic opioid use.

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.

Transgender women case study shows sperm production is possible but not certain

A recent case study published in Pediatrics found that one transgender woman was able to produce viable sperm after a few months of discontinuing her puberty-halting medication, while another patient was unable to do so. The study provides valuable information for clinicians and patients seeking fertility preservation options.

Foreign-born STEM PhDs and US technology startups

A study by Roach and Skrentny found that foreign-born STEM PhDs are 56% less likely to accept startup job offers than their US-born counterparts, despite equal likelihood of applying and receiving offers. The researchers suggest that visa reforms could strengthen the startup workforce.

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.

Twelve centuries of European summer droughts

A study of 12 centuries of European summer droughts reveals that recent changes in drought patterns are not unprecedented. The research team found that climate models exaggerate temperature-driven drought risk in northern Europe, while underestimating excessive precipitation and flood risks.

How light steers electrons in metals

Researchers at ETH Zurich measured how electrons in transition metals redistribute within a fraction of an optical oscillation cycle. The study demonstrates the possibility of ultrafast control of material properties, which could inform the development of faster electronic components.

High lead concentrations in amazonian wildlife

A study has found high concentrations of lead in the livers of Amazonian wildlife, with 91% of analyzed samples exceeding suitable levels for human consumption. Lead contamination is linked to oil extraction and the use of lead-based ammunition, posing a significant health risk to local indigenous populations.

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.

Fertilizer feast and famine

A UC Davis study highlights the need for a coordinated international policy to address the global nitrogen problem. The research suggests that applying fertilizers more precisely, removing pollution from the environment, and empowering consumers to think about sustainable food options can help alleviate the issue.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Marine ecosystems and ocean temperatures

A study finds that global warming is increasing unexpected ocean temperatures in large marine ecosystems, threatening their diversity and productivity. Forward-looking strategies are more advantageous for adaptation, suggesting that many LMEs will push to their limits due to extreme ocean temperatures.

NASA gazes into Tropical Storm Lekima in Philippine Sea

Tropical Storm Lekima was formed on August 4 as Tropical Depression 10W, strengthening into a tropical storm on August 5. NASA's Aqua satellite analyzed the storm, finding cloud top temperatures of strongest thunderstorms as cold as or colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.

Solid fuel use in northern China

A study in northern China suggests replacing solid fuels with electricity or natural gas can substantially reduce air pollution emissions and wintertime indoor particulate matter concentrations. Successful replacement of 60% or more households could lead to significant health benefits, lowering PM levels from 209 μg/m3 to 125 μg/m3.

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.

Gut throws cells overboard when chemical insults build up

Researchers found that when zebrafish are exposed to certain toxins, their gut sheds up to a quarter of its cells through a process called delamination. This may be an effective defense mechanism, and further study is needed to understand its implications.

Paper trail leads to heart valve discoveries

Researchers create paper-based structures that mimic aortic valves, allowing them to study how calcifying diseases slow or stop hearts from functioning. The device helps understand the chemical transactions in heart disease and may eventually lead to non-invasive medication.

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.

Revolutionizing water sanitation using ozone

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Drexel University aim to discover a simpler, less energy-intensive way to create ozone for water sanitation. The project seeks to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of ozonated water production.

Restoring forests means less fuel for wildfire and more storage for carbon

A recent study suggests that restoring forests can stabilize carbon stocks and reduce the risk of severe wildfires. By thinning out dense vegetation and promoting biodiversity, restored forests can store more carbon than damaged ones. This approach has the potential to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Overweight, obesity in children across Europe

A comprehensive review of 103 studies involving nearly 478,000 European children aged 2-13 found that nearly 20% were obese and over 15% were overweight. The study highlights the urgent need for effective prevention strategies to address childhood obesity in Europe.

Lessons of conventional imaging let scientists see around corners

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Universidad de Zaragoza have successfully developed a method to image complex hidden scenes using a projected virtual camera. This technology can overcome current limitations in non-line-of-sight imaging, including varying material qualities and large variations in brightness. Th...

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.

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.

BU researchers use amazon reviews and AI to predict product recalls

A new study uses AI to predict food product recalls from Amazon reviews with 74-percent accuracy, identifying thousands of potentially unsafe products. The researchers trained an existing AI called BERT on customer reviews to identify recalled foods and found terms associated with FDA recalls in 20,000 other reviews.

How deep space travel could affect the brain

Research found that mice exposed to low-dose radiation for six months experienced impaired cellular signaling, leading to learning and memory problems and increased anxiety behaviors. The study highlights the need for safety measures to protect astronauts' brains during deep space missions.

Symphony of genes

A recent study in Nature Ecology and Evolution found that gene arrangements in the genome have played a key role in animal evolution. The researchers discovered that genes present together in several species are also active in the same cells, highlighting a new perspective on investigating cell type identities.

Rice lab produces simple fluorescent surfactants

Researchers at Rice University have developed a set of eight fluorescent surfactants that can capture images of single nanotubes or cells using fluorescent microscopy. These compounds show promise for use in medicine, manufacturing, water purification and biomedical applications.

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 the magnetic bottle that controls fusion power on Earth

Researchers discovered a small misalignment of magnetic coils in a tokamak facility that caused errors and deviations from optimal alignment, leading to increased localized heating and reduced plasma rotation. The findings have implications for future fusion devices like ITER, with improved engineering tolerance requirements proposed.

Researchers embrace imperfection to improve biomolecule transport

University of Illinois researchers discovered that tiny defects formed during fabrication can be used to direct molecules into membrane pores. Their findings could lead to devices that quickly sequence DNA for personalized medicine, increasing capture throughput by several orders of magnitude.

Accelerating development of STT-MRAM

Researchers at Tohoku University have successfully observed the microscopic chemical bonding state of ultrathin MgO using AR-HAXPES. This breakthrough could lead to improved MgO quality and accelerated development of STT-MRAM, a non-volatile memory with high-performance and low power consumption.

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.

Pesticides deliver a one-two punch to honey bees

Recent studies reveal that pesticide adjuvants, commonly added to plant protection products, can be toxic to honey bees. Adjuvants increase mortality rates, reduce colony size, and impair brooding when co-applied with neonicotinoids, highlighting the need for environmental safety assessments.

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.

iTHRIV, community groups partner to improve health of Virginians

Four biomedical research projects funded by iTHRIV will address disparities in healthcare access for underserved communities. The projects focus on improving colorectal cancer screening, addressing postpartum depression, and the benefits of urban walking. Community organizations and academic researchers will collaborate to develop sust...