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Science News Archive May 2019 - Page 27


Page 27 of 42

Grant will create air pollution curriculum in high school

A $1.19 million NSF grant will develop a high school air quality curriculum in Riverside County, engaging over 2,000 students and addressing health impacts. The program aims to motivate underrepresented students in STEM activities and promote career opportunities.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateMay 13, 2019

Speech recognition technology is not a solution for poor readers

Researchers argue that speech technology is not a solution for low literacy rates, as reading trains the language prediction system. Skilled readers can predict upcoming words, which reduces processing load and frees up brain resources.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019

Political echo chambers and accuracy of beliefs

Participants showed improved accuracy in responding to controversial facts after being exposed to others' responses, reducing polarization and partisan bias. This finding contradicts traditional polarization theory and suggests that information sharing within homogeneous networks can increase belief accuracy.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019
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.

Study details bacteria's role in recurrent urinary tract infections

A new study reveals that several species of bacteria reside in bladder tissue of postmenopausal women who experience recurrent urinary tract infections. The findings provide a better understanding of the interaction between bacteria and host tissue, which may lead to more effective treatment strategies for this chronic condition.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalJournal of Molecular Biology·DateMay 13, 2019

Keeping things in proportion: Lem2 necessary for nuclear scaling

A study published in Nature Communications found that Lem2 is key to nuclear size control in the model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Researchers confirmed Lem2's role by assessing changes in nuclear volume/cytoplasmic volume ratio after deleting or overexpressing the protein.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 13, 2019
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Coastal organisms trapped in 99-million-year-old amber

Scientists have discovered a 99-million-year-old piece of amber containing diverse coastal organisms, including sea snails, slaters, and terrestrial creatures like mites and spiders. The finding sheds light on the unique preservation process that trapped these animals in the amber.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019

Radioisotope couple for tumor diagnosis and therapy

Kanazawa University researchers have synthesized a radiotheranostic system using astatine and iodine as alpha-particle and gamma-radiation sources, respectively. The system utilizes a peptide carrier molecule to target tumors, achieving high accumulation in cancer cells.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalACS Omega·DateMay 13, 2019

Spider webs and power amplification

Researchers studied how spider webs employ power amplification to capture prey, achieving accelerations of up to 772.85 m/s2. This unique method offers advantages over human tools, such as the replaceability and long-range capabilities of spider webs.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 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.

Prior eating disorders linked to long-term depression risk for mothers

A new UCL-led study found that women with a history of eating disorders are more likely to experience depressive symptoms during pregnancy and beyond. The research suggests that early identification and treatment of eating disorders in pregnant women could reduce the long-term impact on both mothers and children.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalThe British Journal of Psychiatry·DateMay 13, 2019

Alzheimer's therapy from Jülich passes another important test

PRI-002, a new Alzheimer's drug candidate, has successfully completed Phase I clinical research, demonstrating improved cognitive performance in human trials. The compound destroys toxic oligomers without involving the immune system, offering a promising approach to treating Alzheimer's disease.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalMolecular Neurobiology·DateMay 13, 2019

Underwater power generation

Researchers have designed a new power generator that uses Prussian blue to extract electricity from seawater. The system can switch between two modes of operation, providing both long-term steady power and high power density for tasks such as underwater device operation.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 13, 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.

Causality in financial markets

The study reveals that complex interactions dominate credit default swaps, with neither strictly positive nor negative effects. Researchers use a new method to detect causal relationships between financial assets and find that these interactions are not always linear.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019

Study shows people fail to recognise male postnatal depression

A new study published in the Journal of Mental Health found that people are almost twice as likely to correctly identify signs of postnatal depression in women than in men. The research involved 406 British adults and found that participants were less likely to say there was something wrong with the male, compared to the female.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalJournal of Mental Health·DateMay 13, 2019

We are more envious of things that haven't happened yet

People tend to be more envious of future events than past ones, but the passage of time can reduce negative emotions. Research showed that imagining an event's aftermath leads to lower envy and stress.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 13, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A step for a promising new battery to store clean energy

A team from Ohio State University has built a more efficient and reliable potassium-oxygen battery that can store excess energy from renewable sources. The battery can be charged at least 125 times, making it a potential solution for long-lasting energy storage in the power grid and cell phones.

SourceOhio State University·JournalBatteries & Supercaps·DateMay 13, 2019

Program takes on alcohol, e-cigarette use by children

A new program aims to prevent substance abuse among children and parents, offering tailored classes and social norms campaigns to reduce alcohol and e-cigarette use. The initiative, funded at $1.4 million, also provides referrals to support groups and smoking cessation classes.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·DateMay 13, 2019

Bone cells suppress cancer metastases

Researchers discovered a type of bone cell that can subdue cancer cells, slowing their growth in breast cancer patients. Osteoblasts release factors that halt cancer cell growth, restoring production of the cell-cycle checkpoint protein p21 and putting cancer cells to sleep.

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalBreast Cancer Research·DateMay 13, 2019

Parents unknown

A study published by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has identified eight potentially new species of phoronid larvae, a type of horseshoe worm found in Panama's two oceans. The larvae were collected from plankton samples and analyzed using DNA sequencing to distinguish between different species.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalInvertebrate Biology·DateMay 13, 2019
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Brain researchers seek 'fingerprints' of severe mental diseases

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that large-scale systems in the brain interact with each other in distinct ways for different psychiatric conditions. The researchers used brain network connectivity data from over 1,000 individuals to identify correlations between brain networks and symptom...

SourceMcLean Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019

Chromosome number abnormalities and prostate cancer

Abnormal chromosome number abnormalities are linked to increased risk of lethal disease in prostate cancer patients. Patients with five or more predicted aneuploidy alterations had a 5.3 times higher odds of lethal cancer during follow-up.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019

Room for thought: Brain region that watches for walls identified

Researchers have identified a brain area that rapidly senses spatial constraints, enabling instant orientation and navigation. The study uses advanced imaging technologies to decode the activity of millions of neurons in the occipital place area, which encodes scene geometry.

SourceThe Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University·JournalNeuron·DateMay 13, 2019

Keeping Chicago's families healthy

The University of Illinois Chicago will launch a program using community health workers, social workers, and doulas to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their children in historically underserved neighborhoods. Maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high among black women, prompting the initiative.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·DateMay 13, 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.

New research accurately predicts Australian wheat yield months before harvest

A new study published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology successfully predicts Australian wheat yield two months before the crop matures using a combination of climate and satellite data. The researchers achieved an accuracy rate of approximately 75% in their predictions, outperforming traditional statistical methods.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalAgricultural and Forest Meteorology·DateMay 13, 2019

Bladder drug and atherosclerosis

Researchers found that mirabegron increases cholesterol synthesis in mouse models of atherosclerosis, leading to accelerated plaque growth and increased cardiovascular risk. The changes were linked to thermogenic fat breakdown induced by mirabegron treatment, raising concerns for patients with LDL receptor mutations.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019

Locating a shooter from the first shot via cellphone

A French researcher has developed a proof of concept for a smartphone-based shooter location system that uses acoustic analysis to track the origin of gunfire. The system, deployed in TCAPS hearing protection devices, analyzes the supersonic shock wave and muzzle wave generated by bullets to determine the shooter's direction.

SourceAcoustical Society of America·DateMay 13, 2019

Bladder drug linked to atherosclerosis in mice

Researchers found that mirabegron accelerates atheroclerosis in mice by activating brown fat, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in humans. The study suggests patients with cardiovascular disease or mutations affecting LDL removal should exercise caution when using this drug.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 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.

The death of a close friend hits harder than we think

A new study by Australian National University found that the death of a close friend can significantly impact a person's physical health, mental wellbeing, and social life for up to four years. The researchers warn that inadequate support during this time is leading to poor health outcomes.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 13, 2019

Timing of measles vaccination campaigns

Researchers used a model of measles transmission to predict the impact of vaccination campaigns in Pakistan. Conducting vaccination campaigns between May and October reduced estimated infections by 400,000 compared to January campaigns.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019

Texting while driving common among millennial, older parents

A survey of 435 parents from 45 states found that most had read and written texts while driving, with millennial parents showing more reckless behavior. The study suggests potential intervention strategies, such as pediatrician conversations and app usage restrictions.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMay 13, 2019
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Measuring chromosome imbalance could clarify cancer prognosis

Researchers found higher levels of aneuploidy lead to greater lethality risk among prostate cancer patients, suggesting a possible way to predict prognosis and inform treatment. The study also identified chromosomes 7 and 8 as commonly aneuploid in prostate tumors.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 13, 2019

BU finds screenings for social determinants of health need to be tailored to clinics

A Boston University School of Medicine study found significant variation in social determinant screening practices among community health centers. Researchers suggest tailoring these processes and involving staff and providers in implementation decisions can help overcome issues with time, workflow, and knowledge.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalThe Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine·DateMay 13, 2019
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.

Princeton scientists bioengineer a cellular speedometer

Researchers at Princeton University have engineered Pseudomonas bacteria to sense the speed of flowing fluids, which can be used as a flow sensor. The bacteria's genetic response is tuned to the speed, allowing it to detect and measure fluid flow in real-time.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Microbiology·DateMay 13, 2019

Political controversies about marginalized groups increase bullying in youths

A new study found that public debates about policies and laws involving marginalized groups can lead to an increase in bias-based bullying among young people. The study, which analyzed data from nearly 5 million students in California, found that rates of homophobic bullying peaked during the Proposition 8 debate in 2008.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateMay 13, 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.

Long-term consequences of Zika virus infection

A study found that mice infected with Zika virus during late gestation exhibited behaviors similar to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Children exposed to the virus during the 2015-16 epidemic may be at increased risk for developmental disorders, including ADHD and brain abnormalities.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·DateMay 13, 2019

The moon is quaking as it shrinks

Researchers found that at least eight moonquakes were likely caused by tectonic activity along thrust faults, not asteroid impacts or internal moon movements. The team suggests the moon may be shrinking today and still experiencing quakes

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 13, 2019

Cost-effectiveness analysis of 12 cervical cancer screenings

A cost-effectiveness analysis of 12 cervical cancer screening strategies incorporates women's preferences to estimate quality of life and economic outcomes. The study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of different screening methods, considering their potential impact on health and finances.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateMay 13, 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.

BTI scientists create new genomic resource for improving tomatoes

Researchers have created a pan-genome that captures genetic information of 725 cultivated wild tomatoes, revealing nearly 5,000 new genes. This resource promises to help breeders develop more flavorful and sustainable varieties, potentially reducing the need for pesticides.

SourceBoyce Thompson Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateMay 13, 2019

Green energy nudges come with a hidden cost

A recent study from Carnegie Mellon University finds that simple green energy nudges can decrease support for more effective climate change policies, such as a carbon tax. The researchers found that when participants were also offered a nudge, their support for the tax declined significantly.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMay 13, 2019

NASA funds aviation research on a new fuel concept

Researchers at the University of Illinois are developing a novel approach for all-electric aircraft, utilizing cryogenic liquid hydrogen as an energy storage method. The project aims to address the technical hurdles in integrating electrically driven propulsion technologies into aircraft platforms.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·DateMay 13, 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.

Why Hodgkin's lymphoma cells grow uncontrollably

Researchers identified LTA as a key player in Hodgkin's lymphoma progression, activating NF-kB and promoting cancer cell proliferation. This discovery suggests LTA could be a target for new treatment strategies.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalBlood·DateMay 13, 2019

Understanding relationship break-ups to protect the reef

Researchers are using genomic data to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiotic relationship between coral and algae. They aim to identify genes that enhance resilience in algae and help corals adapt to environmental shifts caused by climate change.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·DateMay 13, 2019

Five things to know about melanoma

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer linked to sun exposure, with common areas affected including face, neck, arms, and torso. Genomic sequencing helps identify markers for diagnosis and treatment, while ABCDE criteria aid in suspicious lesion detection.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateMay 13, 2019