Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive July 2019 - Page 38


Page 38 of 41

Airless worms: A new hope against drug-resistant parasites

A team of researchers has discovered a new way to target the unique metabolism of drug-resistant parasites, using a molecule called rhodoquinone. This approach could lead to the development of new drugs that selectively kill parasites without harming humans.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·DateJul 2, 2019

Is wildfire management 'for the birds?'

A new paper argues that wildfire management through prescribed burning and restoration thinning could help save spotted owls in the West, similar to how it helped red-cockaded woodpeckers in the South. The strategy aims to reduce wildfire hazards and create more owl-friendly habitat conditions.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateJul 2, 2019

Atmosphere of mid-size planet revealed by Hubble and Spitzer

Astronomers have identified the atmospheric composition of a mid-size planet between Earth and Neptune for the first time using NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. The planet, Gliese 3470 b, has a large rocky core surrounded by a deep crushing atmosphere mostly composed of hydrogen and helium.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJul 2, 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.

Even today, we want our heroes to know right from wrong

Researchers found that people best liked the heroes they rated as most moral and least liked villains they rated as most immoral. The study, published in the Journal of Media Psychology, suggests that character morality is closely tied to how much people like them.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Media Psychology Theories Methods and Applications·DateJul 2, 2019

Investigative report on FDA enforcement under Trump from Science's news department

Since President Trump took office, FDA warning letters have fallen by a third, with significantly fewer issued during his second year. The decline in enforcement actions raises concerns among agency watchers and experts, who find the trend alarming despite the FDA's claim of ongoing regulatory efforts.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJul 2, 2019

Carbohydrate in the heart seems to help regulate blood pressure

Researchers found that a specific carbohydrate attaches to a peptide hormone called atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), regulating fluid balance and blood pressure. The study may lead to improved medications for high blood pressure.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJul 2, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Top global public health scientists launch new challenge to anti-vaxxers

A group of leading public health scientists calls for improved search engine and social media monitoring, as well as government support for mandatory immunization programs. They also advocate for correct dissemination of reliable vaccine information through various channels.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateJul 2, 2019

Proteins trapped in glass could yield new medicinal advances

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a unique method to study proteins trapped in glass, offering new insights into medicinal research. The method allows for the creation of a three-dimensional model of proteins in their natural environment, revealing their chemical composition and structure.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalSmall·DateJul 2, 2019

Bionic catalysts to produce clean energy

Researchers at KAUST have created a biohybrid material that performs well as an electrocatalyst, enabling the production of carbon-free fuels and green-energy applications. The material outperforms expensive metal-based OER catalysts in terms of efficiency and is environmentally friendly.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateJul 2, 2019

New method makes realistic water wave animations more efficient

Researchers at IST Austria developed a new method to produce realistic water wave animations, now possible without sacrificing computational efficiency. The technique, which models wave-surface interactions, enables detailed scenes such as ripples forming around islands or boats passing by.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalACM Transactions on Graphics·DateJul 2, 2019
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.

Why some cities turn off the water pipes at night

A new paper proposes a simple yet powerful model to understand why some water suppliers turn off their supply at certain times, highlighting both benefits and drawbacks of intermittent systems. The model can help guide global efforts to meet UN's Sustainable Development Goals and its Human Right to Water.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalWater Resources Research·DateJul 2, 2019

Cardiac genetic mutation may not always predict heart disease

Researchers reviewed gene sequences of over 70,000 people and found that only 5% of patients with a TTN gene mutation developed dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite this, subtle differences in heart function were detected in those with the mutations, suggesting that pinpointing these genes may not be a reliable predictor of heart disease.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalCirculation·DateJul 2, 2019

Fast radio burst pinpointed to distant galaxy

Researchers have localized a fast radio burst, FRB 190523, to a galaxy 7.9 billion light-years away, providing new clues in the ongoing cosmic mystery. The discovery suggests that every galaxy, including our Milky Way, can generate an FRB.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateJul 2, 2019
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.

Glow reveals dangerous bacteria

A new ultrasensitive chemiluminescence-based method has been developed to rapidly detect Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. This test can be carried out in the field and requires no containment laboratory, significantly faster than conventional methods.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 2, 2019

Integrated, multi-'omic' studies of asthma could lead to precision treatment

Researchers from Mount Sinai highlight the importance of multidimensional data for stratifying a complex disease like asthma. Carefully designed, integrated multi-'omic' studies could accelerate precision medicine for asthma patients by defining asthma subtypes through transcriptomics and other omic approaches.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateJul 2, 2019

New study showing drug prolongs life for patients with ovarian cancer

A new study shows that niraparib can extend life for women with ovarian cancer who have undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy. The study found that 27% of patients responded well to the drug and averaged 9.2 months until disease progression, offering hope for a meaningful treatment option.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateJul 2, 2019

Why are we able to see moving objects against moving backgrounds?

A recent study found that the brain becomes desensitized to background motion, making it easier to distinguish smaller moving objects in the foreground. Older adults can improve their motion segregation abilities through visual training, narrowing the gap with younger counterparts.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 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.

A NEAT discovery about memory

A team of researchers has identified a tissue-specific non-coding RNA called NEAT1 that regulates memory formation in the hippocampus region of the brain. Increasing NEAT1 levels in younger mice impaired learning and memory, while decreasing NEAT1 levels improved cognitive function.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalScience Signaling·DateJul 2, 2019

Tiny granules can help bring clean and abundant fusion power to Earth

Researchers found that injecting tiny beryllium pellets into the plasma could trigger small eruptions called ELMs, stabilizing fusion reactions. This technique could potentially reduce the risk of large ELMs and damage to the ITER facility.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNuclear Materials and Energy·DateJul 2, 2019
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Perceived threats to family increases women's willingness to sacrifice during war

A study by University of Turku researchers found that women are more likely to volunteer for all-female paramilitary organizations if they have brothers or husbands serving in the military. The study suggests that bonding with larger communities, such as the nation state or religious groups, can arise from psychology mechanisms designe...

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalEvolution and Human Behavior·DateJul 2, 2019

The world needs a global agenda for sand

The world faces an urgent need for a global agenda to manage sand, a key ingredient in modern life. With rapid urbanization and population growth driving high demand, the global sand extraction rate is projected to increase by 300% between 2000-2100.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature·DateJul 2, 2019

Unraveling the brain's reward circuits

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that food and drugs can hijack the brain's reward circuits, which are also responsible for signaling hunger. This knowledge could inform the creation of more effective weight loss drugs or addiction therapies with fewer unpleasant side effects.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNeuron·DateJul 2, 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.

Scientists weigh the balance of matter in galaxy clusters

A team of researchers has found a balance between hot gas, stars, and other materials in galaxy clusters. The study validates the prevailing cold dark matter theory and provides insight into the relationship between ordinary matter and dark matter.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2019

Synthesizing chemical-sensing cells from scratch

Researchers at OIST and Osaka University develop an artificial cell system that interacts with histamine, a natural chemical compound. The system uses a riboswitch to turn on a gene inside the cells, which can eventually be used to release drugs in response to histamine signals.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 2, 2019

Pesticide exposure linked to teen depression in agricultural communities

Adolescents exposed to high levels of pesticides are at increased risk of depression, according to a new study. The study found that lower levels of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which measure pesticide exposure, were associated with more symptoms of depression in teens.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalInternational Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health·DateJul 2, 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.

UH researcher reports the way sickle cells form may be key to stopping them

A UH researcher reports that the formation of abnormal hemoglobin clusters in red blood cells may be a crucial step in developing treatments for sickle cell disease. The study suggests that inducing similar-sized clusters in liquids and solids could have applications in nanotechnology and industry.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2019

Tracking down dark matter

Researchers at Mainz University have developed a new method to detect axions, a type of dark matter, using the Cosmic Axion Spin Precession Experiment (CASPEr) program. By exploiting nuclear magnetic resonance and sophisticated shielding, the team aims to identify spin changes caused by dark matter, which can be distinguished from thos...

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 2, 2019

Parasitology -- On filaments and fountains

Researchers at LMU discovered that Toxoplasma gondii utilizes a previously unrecognized mode of motility, where it secretes membrane material and recycles it into the cell membrane through endocytosis. This process generates a 'fountain-like' flow of membrane material that contributes to the parasite's propulsion along the substrate.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 2, 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.

Proliferation of JUUL-related content on Instagram likely to appeal to the young

Research reveals a proliferation of JUUL-related content on Instagram that appeals to young people through product promotion, nicotine and addiction content, and youth culture references. The study's findings suggest that strong regulatory action is needed to restrict promotional efforts for e-cigarette products on social media platforms.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalTobacco Control·DateJul 2, 2019

Creating 'movies' of thin film growth at NSLS-II

Scientists use Coherent Hard X-ray Scattering to study thin film growth, producing a 'movie' that depicts the process more accurately than traditional techniques. The research could improve the performance of organic solar cells and provide insights into the quality of films.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2019

The secret of mushroom colors

A study by researchers at Technical University of Munich found that fungal communities have darker mushrooms in cold climates, suggesting a correlation between coloration and temperature regulation. This mechanism may improve reproduction by allowing fungi to harness solar energy.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 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.

It's dog eat dog on the canine social ladder

A year-long study found that free-roaming mongrel dogs exhibit high levels of aggression in the middle of their dominance hierarchy, contrary to predictions. The researchers suggest that the complexity of pecking order in this crowded area leads to increased aggression.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·DateJul 2, 2019

Supervised fun, exercise both provide psychosocial benefit to children with obesity

Children with obesity participating in a fun-driven aerobic exercise program showed no significant improvement in mood compared to those in a sedentary after-school program. However, the sedentary group reported depressive symptoms decreased over time, possibly due to social interactions and friendships developed during the program.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·DateJul 2, 2019

Antibiotics weaken flu defenses in the lung

A new study by the Francis Crick Institute found that antibiotics can wipe out early flu resistance and leave the lung vulnerable to viral infections. Gut bacteria help maintain a first line of defense in the lining of the lung, but antibiotics can destroy this defense.

SourceThe Francis Crick Institute·JournalCell Reports·DateJul 2, 2019
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.

HIV eliminated from the genomes of living animals

Researchers at Temple University and UNMC eliminate HIV DNA from animal genomes using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, achieving a critical step towards a possible cure for human HIV infection. The study combines gene editing with LASER ART therapy to suppress HIV replication and eradicate the virus from cells.

SourceTemple University Health System·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 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.

New epidemic forecast model could save precious resources

A new epidemic forecast model developed by Texas A&M researchers can accurately predict disease trajectories by taking into account human behavior. This allows for more effective resource allocation during outbreaks, reducing the risk of over-preparation and public mistrust.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalEpidemics·DateJul 2, 2019

Study suggests genetic testing for young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes

A study from Joslin Diabetes Center found that a minority of patients treated for decades with type 1 diabetes may have monogenic diabetes, which can be treated with oral drugs. The research suggests screening for genetic mutations in young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to identify potential treatment options.

SourceJoslin Diabetes Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 2, 2019

Black hole brings down curtain on jellyfish galaxy's star turn

A supermassive black hole at the centre of jellyfish galaxy JO201 is stripping away gas and throwing it out into space, accelerating the suppression of star formation. This process, known as ram-pressure stripping, has caused a brief increase in star formation due to the compression of clouds of gas.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·DateJul 2, 2019

New stillbirth risk figures help women's decisions on timing delivery

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London found that the risk of stillbirth increases with each week of pregnancy after term. Women who continue their pregnancy to 41 weeks' gestation face a low but increased risk, equivalent to one additional stillbirth for every 1,449 pregnancies compared to delivering at 40 weeks.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJul 2, 2019

DNA from tooth in Florida man's foot solves 25-year-old shark bite mystery

A DNA test of a tooth fragment from Jeff Weakley's foot, retrieved after a 24-year blister, identified the blacktip shark species responsible for the 1994 bite. The study aims to improve bite mitigation strategies by providing more precise data on unidentified species.

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalWilderness and Environmental Medicine·DateJul 2, 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.

NLST follow up reaffirms that low dose CT reduces lung cancer mortality

A follow-up study reaffirms the effectiveness of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in reducing lung cancer mortality. The research found that LDCT can prevent lung cancer deaths or at least delay them for more than a decade, with only 303 patients needed to be screened to prevent one death.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateJul 1, 2019

Protein clumps in ALS neurons provide potential target for new therapies

Researchers found that protein clumps in ALS neurons can be triggered by cellular stress and may provide a potential target for new therapies. Chemical compounds have been identified to prevent this stress-induced accumulation, offering a promising starting point for treating the disease.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNeuron·DateJul 1, 2019
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.