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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 56


Page 56 of 512

Early treatment with lorlatinib improves survival in some lung cancer patients

A study led by Massachusetts General Hospital found that early treatment with lorlatinib improved survival rates and reduced the risk of brain metastasis in ALK-positive lung cancer patients. Lorlatinib was shown to be effective as a first-line therapy, reducing the risk of cancer progression or death by 72%.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 18, 2020

Pandemic has surprising impacts on public transit demand

The study found that cities in the South and Midwest had less decline in public transit demand due to essential workers who couldn't work from home. Key factors included occupation, with physical jobs leading to higher transit use among Hispanic communities.

SourceOhio State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 18, 2020

Study finds sexual lineage plays key role in transgenerational plasticity

Researchers found that parental exposure to predators affects offspring behavior differently based on sex, with paternal exposure impacting sons more and maternal exposure impacting daughters. This study provides new insights into the role of sexual lineage in transgenerational plasticity.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateNov 18, 2020
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.

New test reveals AI still lacks common sense

A new USC study reveals that AI models lack common sense to generate plausible sentences, despite advances in natural language processing. The research challenges the effectiveness of current benchmark tests and finds that even the strongest models can make silly mistakes.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·DateNov 18, 2020

Using materials efficiently can substantially cut greenhouse gas emissions

A new report reveals that using materials more efficiently can reduce GHG emissions from residential buildings and passenger vehicles by an average of 40% in seven major developed countries and 70% in China and India. Strategies include ride-sharing, building smaller homes, and recycling materials.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·DateNov 18, 2020
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.

Antiviral defense from the gut

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a group of gut microbes and a specific molecule that modulate immune responses to viral infections. The study found that these microbes, particularly Bacteroides fragilis, trigger the release of interferon-beta, which confers antiviral protection.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·DateNov 18, 2020

Study identifies reasons for soaring nuclear plant cost overruns in the US

A new analysis by MIT researchers details the underlying issues causing cost overruns on US nuclear power plants, highlighting ways to reimagine engineering strategies to reduce delays and expenses. The study suggests that designing plants with resilience to variable construction conditions can help minimize costs.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJoule·DateNov 18, 2020
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.

Picture this: Chromosomes look different than you think

Researchers at Harvard University have captured high-resolution 3D images of human chromosomes, providing evidence to change the traditional X-like symbol used in textbooks. The images show that chromosome structure plays a crucial role in regulating gene transcription and cell division.

SourceHarvard University·JournalCell·DateNov 18, 2020

Revolutionary CRISPR-based genome editing system treatment destroys cancer cells

Researchers at Tel Aviv University developed a CRISPR-Cas9 system that specifically targets cancer cells, destroying them by genetic manipulation. The system improved the average life expectancy of mice with glioblastoma tumors by 30% and increased overall survival rate in metastatic ovarian cancer mice model by 80%.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 18, 2020

Research on environmental history: 330-year-old poplar tree tells of its life

A 330-year-old poplar tree has been found to accumulate epigenetic marks that reveal its age, providing a natural epimutation accumulation system. The study's findings suggest that the rate of somatic epimutations is approximately 10,000 times higher than genetic mutations in the same tree.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalGenome Biology·DateNov 18, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Illinois-led research aims to clean agricultural drainage water

The project will populate a database of bioreactor and saturated buffer designs, trial novel modifications to improve efficiency, and install monitoring systems for real-time water quality detection. The goal is to increase adoption and effectiveness of these low-cost solutions in the Midwest.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·DateNov 18, 2020

Study finds health trade-offs for wildlife as urbanization expands

A new study found that city-dwelling tree swallows bred more successfully due to warmer temperatures, but their blood contained higher levels of mercury from contaminated insects. Urbanization's impact on wildlife health is a growing concern as the climate continues to warm and land use changes threaten biodiversity.

SourceOhio State University·JournalEcological Monographs·DateNov 18, 2020

A more sensitive way to detect circulating tumor cells

Researchers have developed a more sensitive way to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood, which could help doctors find and treat metastases earlier. Using fluorescence spectrometry, as few as nine breast cancer cells can be detected in 200 μL of buffer solution.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sensors·DateNov 18, 2020
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.

Researchers recognize a viral protein's M.O. by just 3% of its size

Researchers discovered a unique RNA polymerase in crAss-like phages that helps transcribe its genes. The enzyme was found to be inactive in standard tests but active when exposed to specific conditions, revealing new insights into the mechanism of viral infections.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalNature·DateNov 18, 2020

Gut microbiome manipulation could result from virus discovery

Scientists have discovered how a common virus infects and takes over bacterial cells, enabling targeted manipulation of the gut microbiome. The crAssphage virus uses its own enzyme to produce RNA copies of its genes, similar to human enzymes involved in RNA interference.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNature·DateNov 18, 2020

Mass Eye and Ear experts urge FDA to allow over-the-counter hearing aids

Hearing loss experts advocate for FDA regulation of over-the-counter hearing aids, citing barriers to access and the need for evidence-based products. The authors recommend premarket testing and clearer distinctions between hearing aids and wearable sound amplification products.

SourceMass Eye and Ear·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 18, 2020

Lurking in genomic shadows: How giant viruses fuel the evolution of algae

Researchers discover endogenous viral elements from giant viruses are common in chlorophyte green algae, suggesting a potential beneficial relationship between hosts and their viruses. The findings challenge current understanding of host-virus interactions and may shed light on the early evolution of plants.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature·DateNov 18, 2020
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Antibiotic resistance surveillance tools in Puerto Rican watersheds after Hurricane Maria

Researchers developed an antibiotic resistance surveillance approach by applying DNA sequencing techniques to detect the spread of disease in watersheds impacted by large-scale storms. Baseline levels of antibiotic resistance genes in Puerto Rican watersheds prior to Hurricane Maria are unknown, but the study identified single gene tar...

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Environmental Science and Technology·DateNov 18, 2020

How the polio vaccine virus occasionally becomes dangerous

A genetic study of the live polio vaccine has identified critical mutations that allow the virus to evolve into a more virulent form, posing a risk to eradication efforts. However, the study also found that these changes are not easily transmitted from person to person.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateNov 18, 2020
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.

Predicting urban water needs

A Stanford University study uses Zillow and census data to identify residential water use patterns and trends in different community groupings. The research found that income levels do not always correlate with water usage, and that changing community development can impact water consumption patterns.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 18, 2020

Review examines sexual aggression in mammals

A recent review of published studies found that male behavior causing harm to females during mating is a common issue in several mammalian orders. The most common response from females was grouping around a dominant male, suggesting that sexual aggression may not be as widespread as previously thought.

SourceWiley·JournalMammal Review·DateNov 18, 2020

Seeking the most effective polymers for personal protective equipment

Researchers developed a high-throughput approach to analyze interactions between materials and viruslike particles, identifying competitive adsorbents of Lassa and Rubella viruses. The study aims to expand to SARS-CoV-2 and evaluate viral infectious lifetime on the materials.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalBiointerphases·DateNov 17, 2020
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.

Drug discovery: First highly scalable method to monitor protein levels and localizations

Researchers at CeMM have developed a scalable method to study hundreds of proteins in parallel, enabling the observation of changes in protein levels and localization in real-time. This approach has potential applications in discovering new drug treatments and understanding proteome dynamics.

SourceCeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences·JournalGenome Research·DateNov 17, 2020

Like fire and ice: Why societies are increasingly fragmenting

A new theory suggests that societies can only be either cohesive or fragmented, with the number of social contacts being the tipping point. As people seek to minimize social stress, they increasingly avoid disagreements and form filter bubbles, leading to a breakdown in constructive communication and potentially threatening democracy.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateNov 17, 2020

Oil droplet predators chase oil droplet prey

A team of researchers from Penn State describes a system where oil droplets exhibit 'non-reciprocal' interactions, chasing down other droplets that flee like prey. The system is controlled by chemical signaling and can be tuned to understand interactions in many-body systems.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Chemistry·DateNov 17, 2020
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.

Metal-organic frameworks become flexible

Researchers from TUM and RUB have developed flexible MOFs by adding carbon arms to the organic connecting pieces, allowing them to maintain their shape under pressure. The material's behavior is driven by configurational entropy, which enables it to transform between open-pored and closed-pore structures.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 17, 2020

Study reveals how smoking worsens COVID-19 infection in the airways

A new study from UCLA researchers found that smoking cigarettes causes more severe COVID-19 infection in the airways by blocking immune system messenger proteins. The study used a model of airway tissue created from human stem cells to understand how SARS-CoV-2 virus affects smokers.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateNov 17, 2020

'Extremely aggressive' internet censorship spreads in the world's democracies

A recent study by the University of Michigan found that internet censorship is increasing in 103 countries, including Norway, Japan, and India. The Censored Planet tool collected over 21 billion measurements across 20 months in 221 countries, revealing widespread blocking of human rights sites, same-sex dating sites, and news outlets.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·DateNov 17, 2020
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.

EBMT 47th Annual Meeting

The EBMT 2021 Scientific Programme features symposia and educational sessions on HSCT and cell therapy. More than 6,000 delegates attend the annual meeting, which continues to evolve with new topics added every year.

SourceEuropean Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation·DateNov 17, 2020
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.

AI tool may predict movies' future ratings

Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering developed an AI tool that analyzes movie scripts to predict violent, substance-abuse, and sexual content. The tool classifies sentences and phrases into three categories, providing instant feedback for filmmakers to design a desired rating.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·DateNov 17, 2020

Are e-cigarette users at greater risk of poor immune response to flu, COVID?

Researchers found that e-cigarette users exhibited significantly altered immune responses to a model of influenza virus infection, suggesting increased susceptibility to disease. The study also found that vaping changes the expression of genes and production of proteins in respiratory cells.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology·DateNov 17, 2020
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.

Overweight and obese younger people at greater risk for severe COVID-19

A new study from UT Southwestern finds that being overweight or obese, even in younger patients under age 50, increases the risk of severe COVID-19 complications. The study analyzed data from over 7,600 patients and found that those with severe obesity had a 36% greater risk of dying compared to normal weight individuals.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalCirculation·DateNov 17, 2020

An acebuchin-oil-enriched diet helps to reduce hypertension

A study by the University of Seville found that an acebuchin oil-enriched diet significantly reduces blood pressure and ocular oxidative stress associated with hypertension. The diet also prevents changes in the retina's morphology, a common outcome of hypertension.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalAntioxidants·DateNov 17, 2020

Depression screening tools in patients with kidney failure

A recent analysis found limited research evaluating depression screening tools in patients with kidney failure. The most extensively studied tool was the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), but many studies were small and had shortcomings.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateNov 17, 2020
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Study of non-COVID-19 deaths shows 2020 increase in several demographics

A new study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found a significant increase in excess deaths among men between 15 and 59 years of age, and women between 25 and 44. However, females between 5 and 14 saw a decrease in deaths, suggesting a potential protective effect of the shutdowns on young girls.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPublic Health·DateNov 17, 2020