Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive November 2019


Page 4 of 41

Imaging uncovers secrets of medicine's mysterious ivory manikins

A team of researchers used micro-CT imaging to study the composition and age of 22 ancient ivory manikins, found in the Duke University collection. The study revealed that most of the manikins were composed of true elephant ivory, while some contained alternative materials such as antler or whale bone.

Black silicon can help detect explosives

A new sensor developed by scientists uses black silicon to detect trace amounts of nitroaromatic compounds, a common component of explosives and toxic pollutants. The sensor's high sensitivity and dynamic measurement range make it a potentially game-changing tool for medical and forensic evaluations.

Millions for research into cellular quality control

The German Research Foundation has approved €12 million for the Collaborative Research Centre on selective autophagy. The research alliance aims to better understand autophagy at molecular and cellular levels to counteract imbalances in the system.

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.

Glass from a 3D printer

Using stereolithography, ETH Zurich researchers have created glass objects with intricate structures and pore sizes controlled by UV light intensity. The technique allows for the production of complex glass objects, such as those with different types of glass or combined materials.

UT AgResearch and The Nature Conservancy to partner on working woodlands

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to manage its forested research properties under the highest standards for forest management. Through this partnership, UT will sell carbon credits to benefit society and fight climate change, while also promoting sustainable forestry practic...

Biotech breakthrough turns waste biomass into high value chemicals

Researchers have developed a process to transform waste sugar cane and wheat straw into valuable chemicals, increasing value by 5000-fold. The new method produces high-value building blocks for food industry and pharmaceuticals directly from waste biomass in a single 'one-pot' process.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

CHIRPY DRAGON intervention prevents obesity in urban Chinese children

The CHIRPY DRAGON program, developed to prevent obesity in urban primary school-aged children in China, showed significant beneficial effects on healthy eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Children who received the program had a lower body-mass index compared to those in control schools.

Additives result in higher toxins for vape users, Portland State study finds

A Portland State University study found that vape additives, particularly terpenes, can form more toxins than the main psychoactive chemical THC when inhaled. The researchers discovered that vendors were adding up to 30% more terpenes to their products, which can impact flavor and smell but also pose health risks.

Caring for family is what motivates people worldwide

A global survey of over 7,000 people from 27 countries reveals that kin care and long-term relationships are the most important motivations in life, surpassing mate seeking. People who prioritize family values tend to be more satisfied with their lives and have better well-being.

Key to rubustness of plants discovered

Researchers at Graz University of Technology and Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology have discovered the mechanism behind Apiose production, a key factor in plant robustness. The enzyme UAXS selectively catalyzes four reaction steps, enabling plants to build strength properties.

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.

December's SLAS technology feature article now available

Researchers developed an automated platform using exclusive liquid repellency microdrops for lossless single-cell isolation, identification and retrieval. The system combines a robotic liquid handler, microscopic imaging system and real-time image-processing software to enable rapid hands-free isolation of rare cellular samples.

Harvesting fog can provide fresh water in desert regions

Researchers develop biomimetic fog-gathering technologies inspired by Namib desert beetles, which can increase collector efficiency and provide additional freshwater harvesting opportunities. The technology aims to collect fog in coastal areas with little precipitation, making it a reliable water source.

Splicing factor to blame in triple negative breast cancer

Researchers have identified a splicing factor called TRA2B as a key driver of triple negative breast cancer's ability to grow and spread. Blocking TRA2B expression in cells has been shown to prevent metastasis, providing a potential new treatment avenue for this devastating form of breast cancer.

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.

MS linked to variant of common herpes virus through new method

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet developed a new method to separate between two types of herpes virus 6A and 6B, found that MS-patients carry the virus 6A to a greater extent than healthy individuals, and that HHV-6A may be contributing factor to multiple sclerosis development

Who's Challenging Who? -- unique training project showcased online

A unique training programme co-created by people with learning disability has been launched to improve staff attitudes and empathy. The Who's Challenging Who training course was developed in partnership with people with learning disabilities whose behaviour had previously been labelled as 'challenging'.

Smooth operator: When earnings management is a good thing

Research finds that high-ability management teams can use discretionary accounting choices to signal future performance, leading to more predictable earnings and cash flows. This approach improves a firm's stock price and enhances its reputation among investors.

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.

Chemical herders could impact oil spill cleanup

Research from Johns Hopkins University found that chemical herders can amplify strong breaking waves, dispersing oil slicks into the water column. This makes effective burning difficult in open oceans, but less effective when combined with weaker waves.

Saving bats from wind turbine death

A survey of stakeholders in the wind energy field reveals a consensus on prioritizing biodiversity protection over climate change concerns. Stakeholders agree that measures to make wind energy production ecologically sustainable should be taken, with most suggesting increased research and improved efficiency.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Children of abused mothers 50% more likely to have low IQ

Research finds children of abusive mothers are almost 50% more likely to have a low IQ at age 8, with the risk rising to 34.6% if mothers were repeatedly exposed to domestic violence. The study used data from over 3,997 mother-child pairs and controlled for other risk factors.

Building a better flu shot

Researchers at Michigan State University have found that cellular RNA levels change significantly following infection or vaccination. The study's findings could help identify new targets for building better flu vaccines and aid in the design of a universal vaccine.

Woody plants with undesirable tendencies

A literature review found five woody species native to Oklahoma that have become invasive in other regions, causing harm to biodiversity. The study suggests prioritizing conservation efforts based on a species' benefits or harm to the environment.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Discovering hidden plant medicines on your doorstep

A team from the Earlham Institute is exploring the chemical diversity of UK plants to identify new medicines, including those found in foxgloves and willow trees. The project aims to understand how plants produce complex chemicals and unlock new pathways for biomanufacturing.

Satellite tracking Guam's Tropical Storm Kammuri

Tropical Storm Kammuri is consolidating and strengthening, with maximum sustained winds reaching 45 mph. The storm will move west-northwest, potentially intensifying into a typhoon by Thursday. NASA's JPSS-1 satellite provides critical forecast data.

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.

Life, liberty -- and access to microbes?

A new essay in PLOS Biology argues that poverty compromises health by creating unequal access to beneficial microorganisms. People living in low-income communities lack essential factors promoting healthy microbiomes, leading to poor health outcomes such as obesity and mental health disorders.

Satellite broken? Smart satellites to the rescue

Researchers are developing robotic networks that can work independently but collaboratively to accomplish complex tasks. By using genetic fuzzy logic, they were able to get three robots and then five robots to move a token to a designated spot on a table.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Scientists inch closer than ever to signal from cosmic dawn

Researchers analyzed data from the Murchison Widefield Array radio telescope to set a new limit for the strength of neutral hydrogen's ultra-faint signature. The analysis may reveal critical information about the first stars and galaxies in the universe.

Study pinpoints possible cause of noise-related blood vessel damage, heart disease

A recent study published in the European Heart Journal has identified a potential mechanism linking long-term exposure to environmental noise and cardiovascular disease. The research found that high noise levels lead to activation of the amygdala, a deep brain structure, triggering changes that increase the risk of heart attack, stroke...

A novel pathway to target colorectal cancer

A new study published in Gastroenterology reports that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) promotes metastasis of colorectal cancer through the microRNA MIR675-5p, which silences the expression of p53. Researchers found that mice treated with PGE2 had increased metastases compared to controls, and tumor cells expressed more MIR675-5p and less p53.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Once hidden cellular structures emerge in fight against viruses

A team of researchers at the University of Arizona has uncovered a previously unknown cellular structure that enables bacteria to rapidly defend against viruses. This newly formed filament increases DNA-cleaving ability by 200 times, making it an essential component of bacterial immune responses.

New migraine medications could endanger patients with high blood pressure

Studies on mice suggest that a neuropeptide αCGRP has beneficial effects on the heart in patients with high blood pressure. Physical activity increases αCGRP levels, which help prevent pathological heart remodeling and cardiac dysfunction. However, long-term use of αCGRP blockers may be hazardous for these patients.

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.

Producing better guides for medical-image analysis

A new method accelerates template creation for medical-image analysis, generating brain scan templates based on patient attributes such as age and sex. The model can synthesize atlases from sparse data, improving disease diagnosis accuracy.

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.

Autism and ADHD share genes

Researchers from iPSYCH discovered that autism and ADHD share changes in the same genes, particularly the MAP1A gene involved in nerve cell formation. The study found a significantly increased risk of developing autism and/or ADHD for those carrying mutations in this gene.

Image release: Giant magnetic ropes in a galaxy's halo

Astronomers have discovered hair-like filaments of magnetic field protruding above and below the disk of spiral galaxy NGC 4631. The filaments, extending beyond the disk into the galaxy's extended halo, indicate a large-scale, coherent magnetic field.

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.

Fourteen Penn State faculty recognized with lifetime honor

Fourteen Penn State faculty members have been named AAAS fellows for their exceptional work in various scientific disciplines. These new fellows were recognized for their contributions to fields such as physics, astronomy, computer science, and entomology.