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Science News Archive February 2019


Page 13 of 40

Grant funds opioid addiction treatment in two county jails

A UMass Amherst researcher is teaming up with 2 Western Massachusetts sheriff's offices to design an opioid treatment program for jail detainees. The 3-year project aims to deliver medications to 500 detainees and connect them to follow-up care after release, measuring outcomes to inform a national playbook.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

$1 million award lets UVA open new portal to submicroscopic world

A UVA researcher is developing a new approach to determine molecular structures, which could lead to breakthroughs in drug discovery and disease treatment. The method, called Serial Solution Scattering Structure Determination (S4D), aims to collect small amounts of information from many easily prepared samples.

Complete world map of tree diversity

Researchers created a complete world map of tree species richness using a statistical model that combines patchy data from small forest plots and country-level information. The analysis shows that climate is the most important factor driving global biodiversity, with the highest number of tree species found in hot, humid tropics.

Research reveals why the zebra got its stripes

Zebras evolved striped coats to evade tabanid horse flies, which carry debilitating diseases. The study found that stripes don't deter flies at a distance, but disrupt their approach, making it harder for them to land and feed on zebras.

The 'blue' in blueberries can help lower blood pressure

A new study found that eating 200g of blueberries daily for a month improves blood vessel function and reduces systolic blood pressure in healthy people. Anthocyanins, a type of phytochemical responsible for blueberry's color, play a key role in this effect.

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.

Powering a pacemaker with a patient's heartbeat

Scientists have designed a pacemaker that harnesses the energy of heartbeats to regulate heart rhythm. The device was successfully tested in pigs and shows promise for creating a self-powered cardiac pacemaker.

Johns Hopkins researchers define cells used in bone repair

Researchers discovered two types of fat tissue cells that help bone heal: pericytes stimulate blood vessel growth and adventicytes form bone cells. Combination therapy using both cells promotes robust bone repair in mice with skull defects.

Tracking cholera in a drop of blood

A new method has been developed to measure the size of cholera outbreaks and identify geographic hotspots for the disease. The method uses six serum markers to detect recent infection, achieving an accuracy rate of 93 percent.

Mandarin Chinese could help us understand how infants learn English

Infants may be more adept at associating words with objects when exposed to Mandarin Chinese sound structures. Researchers studied how lexical tones impact an infant's ability to learn new language, revealing that babies can apply knowledge from their native language to learn words in a new tongue.

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.

Advances in naturopathy research reported in new special issue of JACM

A new special issue of JACM reports on recent naturopathy research advancements, exploring the effectiveness of whole-foods-based nutrition education and traditional knowledge in naturopathic education. The studies collectively demonstrate the potential benefits of multimodal, whole-person approaches for chronic conditions.

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.

Light at the end of the tunnel

A nationally representative study found that two-thirds (69%) of Canadians who had ever attempted suicide were completely free of any suicidal thoughts in the past year. The study also identified that social support and effective mental health treatment played a critical role in recovery from suicidal ideation.

Scientists identify unique subtype of eczema linked to food allergy

Researchers found structural and molecular differences in skin near eczema lesions of children with both conditions, suggesting an elevated risk for developing food allergies. These differences may help identify children at elevated risk and inform early intervention strategies.

Zebra stripes are not good landing strips

A new study published in PLOS One found that zebra stripes deter horse flies from landing on them by reducing the likelihood of a successful bite. The striped coat prevented flies from slowing down and failing to land, leading to fewer bites.

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.

Activating tooth regeneration in mice

Researchers at King's College London found that Wnt signalling can be activated to revive a rudimentary dental lamina (RSDL) in mice, allowing for the formation of additional teeth. This breakthrough demonstrates potential for tooth replacement and provides insights into mammalian evolution and trait restoration.

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.

Yea, team! Winning fans see self-esteem boost

A new study suggests that watching college football games with friends can significantly boost self-esteem in fans of the winning team, while fans of losing teams may experience a decrease in mood. The study found that social connections and shared experiences play a crucial role in enhancing self-esteem.

The holy grail of nanowire production

Researchers at EPFL have developed a new method to grow nanowires in a highly controlled and reproducible manner. By altering the diameter-to-height ratio of the hole, they can perfectly control how the nanowires grow, enabling applications such as laser generation on silicon chips.

Cocktail of common antibiotics can fight resistant E. coli

Scientists at DTU have discovered that a combination of mecillinam and cefotaxime can eliminate multi-drug resistant E. coli causing urinary tract infections. This novel approach could become an effective measure against antibiotic resistance, offering new hope in treating this common infection.

Keeping active in middle age may be tied to lower risk of dementia

A Swedish study of 800 women found that those with a high level of mental and physical activities had a lower risk of developing dementia. Mental activities included reading, playing instruments, singing in a choir, and gardening, while physical activity ranged from light walking to regular intense exercise.

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.

Lack of sleep is not necessarily fatal for flies

In a study with thousands of fruit flies, researchers found that male flies denied sleep did not die earlier than those with regular sleep. Female flies died on average three days earlier, but the exact reason for this is unclear. The study suggests that sleep may not be essential for life in the same way food is.

Did you get it? I can see it in your eyes

Researchers at Università di Trento's Center for Mind/Brain Sciences found that preparatory, unconscious eye movements can be a window into the learning process. By analyzing these eye movements, scientists can infer what people know before responding to external stimuli, potentially advancing our understanding of learning and attention.

Can a nerve injury trigger ALS?

Researchers find that a peripheral nerve injury can trigger the onset and spread of ALS in an animal model, with inflammation spreading from the site of injury. The study uses genetically-engineered rats with ALS-like symptoms to demonstrate the link between nerve injury and disease progression.

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.

For adult scoliosis, surgery, other treatments are viable options

A new study suggests that surgery is a viable option for adults with scoliosis, but nonoperative treatments can also be effective. The extent of disability was found to be the most important factor in deciding whether to operate, with patients who had adequate quality-of-life benefiting from nonoperative treatment.

Water is more homogeneous than expected

Researchers used X-ray spectroscopy to investigate liquid water's properties and found a continuous distribution model that describes near-tetrahedral liquid water at ambient conditions. This contradicts the existence of two separate phases in liquid water, supported by previous X-ray spectroscopic methods.

New therapeutic approach to combat African sleeping sickness

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have identified a promising strategy to develop an agent against African sleeping sickness. The team discovered a small inhibitor molecule that binds to and deactivates a vital protein of the parasite, rendering it harmless.

Coastal waters are unexpected hotspots for nitrogen fixation

Researchers found that cyanobacterial diazotrophs drive nitrogen fixation in coastal areas, fueling photosynthesis and CO2 uptake. The new technique allowed for near-continuous analysis of N2 fixation, revealing higher rates in coastal waters than previously thought.

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.

Plants: How cell walls are assembled

The study reveals that PI4P plays a crucial role in ensuring proper assembly and disassembly of the phragmoplast, leading to regular cell division and stable plant growth. Disrupted membrane building blocks result in severe defects in cell division, impacting plant stability, size, and adaptability.

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.

Silver linings come from partner support, research says

A UC Riverside study found that spouses can help with coping by positively reframing the cancer experience and other negative experiences, associated with less stress. The researchers suggest that socially similar others, like romantic partners, can provide a roadmap for a more contented spouse.

Putting data privacy in the hands of users

A new platform called Riverbed ensures that web services adhere to users' preferences on how their data are stored and shared in the cloud. Users can select predefined restrictions on data storage and sharing, and the platform monitors server-side code to ensure compliance.

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.

Health-related Google searches doubled in week before ER visits

Researchers found that patients often search health-related terms multiple times before visiting the hospital, highlighting a need for more effective communication between clinicians and patients. By analyzing patients' Google search histories with their electronic health records, physicians can adjust how they present information to b...

Study of quark speeds finds a solution for a 35-year physics mystery

Researchers discover that quarks move more slowly in larger atoms due to short-range correlated pairs, finding a long-sought explanation for the EMC effect. The study uses data from particle accelerator experiments and confirms that larger nuclei contain more such pairs, resulting in slower-moving quarks.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Evening exercise will not ruin sleep and might even reduce appetite

A new study found that high-intensity exercise performed in the evening does not negatively impact sleep quality, but may actually reduce feelings of hunger. The research suggests that afternoon and evening exercise may be more effective for weight loss due to increased power output.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Genetic blueprint for extraordinary wood-munching fungus

A South African fungus has been found to rapidly degrade lignocellulose into fermentable simple sugars, feeding a community of surrounding fungi. The genome sequence of the fungus reveals its extraordinary ability to break down wood and produce valuable products.

Researchers discover a flipping crab feeding on methane seeps

A group of tanner crabs have been found to feed on methane-eating bacteria and archaea at a methane seep off the coast of British Columbia. This discovery has significant implications for climate change, as methane seeps may provide an important energy source for seafloor-dwelling species.

NIST physicists 'flash-freeze' crystal of 150 ions

Physicists at NIST have cooled a flat crystal of 150 beryllium ions to near-ground state, enabling more realistic quantum simulations and improved sensitivity for sensing weak electric fields and detecting dark matter. This achievement marks a significant advance over previous demonstrations of ion cooling.

Scientists solve mystery of a fish called Mary's 'virgin' birth

Researchers at the University of Nottingham discovered fertilized eggs inside a female stickleback fish named Mary, who was found to have internal fertilization and developed embryos without laying eggs. The team successfully delivered 54 nearly complete embryos via Caesarean section, with most offspring growing to adulthood.

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.