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Science News Archive 2020


Page 123 of 512

Grant to help researchers prevent apple fire blight in U.S.

A $779,000 grant from the USDA will support a four-year project to develop a comprehensive fire blight management strategy for American fruit growers. The research aims to improve application timing and efficacy of defense inducers and identify new genetic sources of fire blight resistance.

Safe resumption of research is important, feasible

Researchers from Boston VA Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine describe a potential path forward for safely reopening community-based observational studies. They provide guidelines and best practices to mitigate risk to participants and staff while ensuring the continuation of research programs.

Scientists at NTU Singapore, MIT make electrifying diamond find

Researchers have discovered a way to engineer diamond's electrical conductivity without altering its chemical composition. By applying mechanical strain, they can reduce the bandgap and make diamond conduct electricity like metals, paving the way for novel applications in power electronics, quantum sensing, and more.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Dog brains do not prefer faces

Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activity in humans and dogs while watching videos of other animals. Dog brains showed no face-specific activation, unlike humans, but did display species preference for viewing a dog over a human.

Metallizing diamond nanoneedles

Researchers have discovered a method to convert diamond into a metal-like conductor by applying mechanical strain. This process, known as metallizing diamond nanoneedles, could lead to the development of new electronics and quantum sensing technologies.

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.

Spinach: good for popeye and the planet

Researchers at American University have developed a new method to create highly active and stable oxygen reduction reaction catalysts from spinach, which outperforms commercial platinum catalysts. The spin-based catalysts have potential applications in hydrogen fuel cells and metal-air batteries.

Mapping the chaos of movement

Researchers propose a framework for capturing mathematical structure underlying moving animals, finding unexpected connections to energy-conserving phenomena. Chaos theory suggests that animal behavior becomes increasingly unpredictable over time, with divergence occurring within a single second.

Nanoparticles can turn off genes in bone marrow cells

Researchers create nanoparticles that can target specific genes in bone marrow cells, showing promise for treating heart disease by reducing inflammation. The approach could also enhance stem cell yields for patients undergoing transplants.

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.

How long does the preschool advantage last?

Children who attend preschool enter kindergarten with greater skills than those who don't, but this advantage is short-lived. While pre-K graduates show initial gains in academic skills, their peers quickly close the gap, suggesting that preschool's long-term benefits may be limited.

Method used to track Ebola's trajectory being applied to COVID-19

A new study is analyzing how SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly in Asia before slowing down, with insights potentially informing secondary outbreak predictions and intervention strategies. By studying travel restrictions and quarantines, researchers are identifying factors that facilitated transmission and slowed it down.

Body size of the extinct Megalodon indeed off the charts in the shark world

A new study finds that Megalodon's estimated body length of up to 15 meters exceeds the general size limit for non-planktivorous sharks, which typically reach 7 meters. The research proposes live-bearing reproductive strategy and cannibalistic egg-eating behavior as possible causes for gigantism in lamniform sharks.

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.

Snakes reveal the origin of skin colours

A UNIGE team discovers that a single gene mutation affects every skin color in corn snakes, storing both pigments and crystals in lysosome-related vesicles. This study marks a significant step forward in understanding the origin of colors and patterns in vertebrates.

Seeking ancient rainforests through modern mammal diets

Researchers analyzed dietary signatures of African and South American mammals to reconstruct ancient ecosystems. They found a similar mean dietary carbon isotopic value between Amazonian and African closed-canopy rainforests, but lacked highly negative values used to infer rainforests in fossil records.

A search for new species on the high seas

Researchers analyzed ocean water samples from around the world using gene similarity networks, revealing over 2,000 unique sequences that are likely to represent unknown/uncharacterized unicellular Holozoans. The discovery provides new insights into the evolution of multicellularity and the origin of animals.

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.

Human impact on Bahamian bird species

A fossil analysis reveals that 69% of Bahamian land bird species have changed their distributions in response to human activities and climate shifts. The study found that bird populations are at risk due to factors such as increasing hurricane severity, rising sea levels, and habitat loss.

Holidays bring severe spike in nut allergies for children

A new study found that Halloween and Easter holidays are associated with a significant spike in peanut and tree-nut allergies among children. The study suggests that increased awareness and education can help reduce the risk of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Fly larvae extract will replace antibiotics in fighting plant pathogens

Researchers from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology have developed a method to extract active compounds from black soldier fly larvae, which possess unique antimicrobial properties. The extract, called AWME, has been shown to be more effective than antibiotics in combating phytopathogenic bacteria.

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.

210Pb dating of marine sedimentary cores

The exercise showed that participating laboratories are skilled in radiometric determinations, but struggled with dating results due to varying experience. The application of the 210Pb sediment dating method requires expert knowledge and multidisciplinary expertise.

Examining primary health care for patients with mental illness

A uOttawa-led research project aims to examine how primary care providers can offer better healthcare for people living with serious mental illness. The study will analyze the primary health care experience of this population group and identify ways to improve the system.

NASA imagery reveals Tropical Storm Chan-hom's skewed structure

Tropical Storm Chan-hom's visible image revealed an exposed low-level circulation center, while bands of thunderstorms wrapped into the partially exposed center. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next three days, potentially developing a more circular shape.

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.

Cyanobacteria as "green" catalysts in biotechnology

Researchers at TU Graz have successfully increased the catalytic performance of cyanobacteria by redirecting photosynthetic electron flow to desired reactions. This method reduces energy consumption and enhances biotechnological production, paving the way for large-scale industrial applications.

Vigorous exercise, spongy heart

Researchers at CNIC used cardiac magnetic resonance technology to measure exercise-related hypertrabeculation in a general population. A third of participants with high vigorous physical activity met the diagnostic criteria for noncompaction cardiomyopathy, despite being healthy.

Diagnosing COVID-19 in just 30 minutes

A team of researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology developed a SENSR technology that enables fast and accurate COVID-19 diagnosis using RNA sequence detection. This technology can diagnose infections in just 30 minutes, allowing for faster treatment and reducing stress on healthcare systems.

How Hispanic and Asian populations influence US food culture

Researchers found that Asian and Hispanic populations contribute to local food culture, with restaurant availability linked to education levels of the white majority population. The study tested three models of assimilation and primarily found evidence for relational assimilation.

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.

Syracuse U. professor receives NSF grant for Internet of Things research

Syracuse University assistant professor Fanxin Kong has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop a cross-layer framework for mission-critical IoT systems. The project aims to improve scalability, security, and intelligence in IoT infrastructures for various industries such as medical, energy, transportation, an...

Dietary isotopes in Amazonian and African rainforests

Researchers analyzed isotopic data from Amazonian and African mammals to understand feeding habits and ecosystems. The study found no significant difference in dietary carbon isotope signatures between the two regions, but noted Amazonian mammals had more limited dietary resources.

Tracking sea turtle egg traffickers with GPS-enabled decoy eggs

A study using GPS-enabled decoy sea turtle eggs gathered evidence of the illegal trade and tracked eggs from beaches to restaurants and bars in Central America. The findings suggest that most stolen eggs remain in local areas, making it crucial to target conservation efforts towards local communities.

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.

Advancing multiprincipal alloys

Researchers have developed a way to predict the properties of multiprincipal element alloys (MPEAs), which exhibit unique combinations of strength, ductility, and damage tolerance. The team used electron microscopy and atomistic simulations to unveil the mechanistic origins of desirable properties in MPEAs.

Muslim young adult mental health before, after presidential election

A recent study found that the 2016 US presidential election led to an increase in anxiety and depression among Muslim college students. The researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 students and discovered a significant association between the election outcome and mental health outcomes.

New study reveals one way police officers can reduce shooting errors

Researchers found that officers can cut their chance of making misdiagnosis shooting errors by more than half when using a low ready position. The study, published in Police Quarterly, suggests that this simple adjustment could lead to fewer perception shootings and improved safety.

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.

How narcissistic leaders infect their organizations' cultures

A new paper by Berkeley Haas Prof. Jennifer Chatman and colleagues shows narcissistic leaders 'infect' their organizations' cultures, leading to decreased collaboration and integrity. The researchers reveal how narcissists create lasting damage on employee morale and performance.

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.

Lego-like assembly of zeolitic membranes improves carbon capture

A team of chemical engineers developed a simplified chemistry for zeolite membrane synthesis, eliminating lengthy crystallization and producing high-temperature hydrogen-carbon dioxide separation membranes. The scalable synthesis is expected to improve pre-combustion carbon capture energy-efficiency.

Dozens of mammals could be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers found 26 mammals that could be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to variations in the ACE2 protein. These include domestic cats, dogs, mink, and great apes, which could potentially act as reservoirs for the virus.

Deep learning gives drug design a boost

A new computational tool, Metabolite Translator, uses deep learning to predict metabolites in the human body, providing a broader understanding of how drugs interact with enzymes. The method has been shown to perform as well as existing rule-based methods and identified novel enzymes involved in drug metabolism.

On the trail of causes of radiation events during space flight

Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the sources of relativistic Electron Precipitation (REP) events, which may pose challenges to human spaceflight. The study reveals that at least three separate processes contribute to REP events: EMIC waves, Whistler mode chorus waves, and electrostatic whistler waves.

Tohoku University teaches old spectroscopy new tricks

Researchers developed a new spectroscopy method, 'omnidirectional photoluminescence (ODPL) spectroscopy,' to test materials for electric cars and solar cells. The technique can detect defects and impurities at low temperatures.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Telemedicine saves chronic pain patients time and money

A study by the American Society of Anesthesiologists found that patients who used telemedicine for chronic pain management saved an average of 69 minutes per visit and $22 on gas and parking costs. This reduced travel time and expenses, leading to improved patient satisfaction.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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