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Science News Archive April 2020 - Page 26


Page 26 of 37

CUNY SPH weekly COVID-19 survey update week 5

New Yorkers face difficulties with schooling at home, particularly for parents with lower education levels; vaccination hopes are mixed, with 53% of respondents willing to get vaccinated. The most trusted source of information is Governor Andrew Cuomo, according to the CUNY SPH weekly COVID-19 survey.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateApr 13, 2020

Tech not hurting social skills of 'kids these days'

A new study from Ohio State University found that children's social skills have not declined due to increased screen time, with teachers rating both generations similarly. The study also showed that even heavy screen users showed similar development in social skills compared to those with little exposure.

SourceOhio State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Sociology·DateApr 13, 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.

Untangling untidy folds to understand diseases

Understanding interactions between metal ions and peptides may lead to improved treatments for diabetes, Alzheimer's, and other diseases. Researchers found that copper can impede the aggregation of pramlintide, but not rat amylin.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalInorganic Chemistry·DateApr 13, 2020

Milk allergy guidelines may cause overdiagnosis in babies and children

Current medical guidelines for diagnosing cow's milk allergy in babies and young children may lead to overdiagnosis due to common symptoms being mistaken for the condition. Studies have found that only around 1% of infants have cow's milk allergy, but up to 14% of families believe their child has it.

SourceImperial College London·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateApr 13, 2020

Scientists discover bent-toed gecko species in Cambodia

A new species of bent-toed gecko, Cyrtodactylus phnomchiensis, has been described from Phnom Chi mountain in the sanctuary. The discovery highlights the importance of biodiversity conservation and underscores the need to strengthen management of the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.

SourceNorth Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences·JournalZooKeys·DateApr 13, 2020
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.

Indices of health under our feet

A new study using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) analyzes caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol consumption in a large university population, providing valuable data on psychotropic compound use. The findings highlight the utility of long-term monitoring networks for improving student health and identifying disease trends.

SourceArizona State University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateApr 11, 2020

Observing the atmosphere at high altitudes using unmanned aerial vehicles

Researchers found that UAV sounding data can improve Antarctic weather forecasting, especially for temperature, wind speed, and humidity predictions. The limited flight altitude of UAVs restricts the improvement to the atmospheric boundary layer.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 11, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Reducing sulfur dioxide emissions alone cannot substantially decrease air pollution

A recent study found that reducing sulfur dioxide emissions alone can significantly decrease air pollution, mainly due to the stability of ammonium nitrate formed with nitrogen oxides and ammonia. In China, nitrogen dioxide control is more effective in reducing surface PM2.5 concentrations.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateApr 11, 2020

Skoltech researchers find a new HIT defense bacteria use against antibiotics

Skoltech researchers have found a new mechanism of bacterial self-defense against microcin C, a potent antibiotic produced by some strains of Escherichia coli. The discovery involves histidine-triad (HIT) superfamily hydrolases, enzymes that break down the antibiotic and render it useless.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalmBio·DateApr 11, 2020

COVID-19 and the built environment

The review emphasizes the importance of natural daylight and air circulation in reducing disease transmission. Opening windows to improve airflow and admitting natural light can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalmSystems·DateApr 10, 2020

Video games improve the visual attention of expert players

Research reveals that long-term experience of gaming improves cognitive development, particularly in allocating brain resources to individual visual stimuli. Expert players outperform beginners in tasks requiring rapid processing and attentional control.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateApr 10, 2020
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.

What is the origin of water on Earth?

A team of researchers led by Cédric Gillmann found that water on Earth has been there since its formation, likely buried deep in the planet. This discovery challenges previous ideas about the origin of water and has implications for habitability of ancient planets.

SourceUniversité libre de Bruxelles·JournalNature Geoscience·DateApr 10, 2020

Ion channel VRAC enhances immune response against viruses

The VRAC ion channel transports the messenger substance cGAMP from cell to cell, strengthening the immune response to DNA virus infections. This discovery could also have implications for cancer treatment and new strategies against DNA viruses.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalImmunity·DateApr 10, 2020
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.

Suicide mortality and COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to an increase in US suicide rates, according to a recent study. The researchers found that the pandemic may have contributed to rising rates of mental health problems and decreased access to healthcare services.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateApr 10, 2020

Neurologic manifestations of hospitalized patients with COVID-19

A study investigating neurologic symptoms in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 found notable cases of neurological disorders, including stroke and seizures. The research provides insight into the often-overlooked but serious neurological manifestations of the disease.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateApr 10, 2020

Piercing the dark birthplaces of massive stars with Webb

The James Webb Space Telescope will study three dense clouds, known as infrared-dark clouds, to understand the formation process of massive stars. These clouds are thought to be raw dough before baking, providing a unique window into the environment needed for star birth.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 10, 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.

Magnet research takes giant leap

Scientists at the University of Central Florida and partners have successfully created anti-ferromagnetic devices that operate on the terahertz level, paving the way for ultra-fast electronics. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize guidance systems, communications, and even mimic brain function.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalScience·DateApr 10, 2020

New protocol identifies fascinating quantum states

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck propose a new measurement protocol to identify topological states in interacting systems. This method can extract topological invariants from statistical correlations of simple, local random measurements.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 10, 2020

Belgian scientists identify ATP10B as novel risk gene for Parkinson's disease

Researchers have identified ATP10B as a novel risk gene for Parkinson's disease, revealing its role in transporting glucosylceramide, a lipid critical to the disease's pathogenesis. Mutations in this gene can lead to neuronal loss and increased sensitivity to environmental risk factors.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalActa Neuropathologica·DateApr 10, 2020
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.

PARP inhibitor drugs can be 'tuned' for better killing of tumor cells

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a way to modify PARP inhibitor compounds to increase their effectiveness in killing cancer cells. By structurally modifying veliparib, a previously ineffective compound, they were able to boost its ability to trap and kill tumor cells.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalScience·DateApr 10, 2020

USDA-ARS scientists find new tool to combat major wheat disease

Researchers have identified a gene that can help combat Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), a major threat to wheat crops worldwide. The discovery sheds light on molecular mechanisms making wheat resistant to the pathogen and paves the way for new varieties with improved FHB resistance.

SourceUS Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service·JournalScience·DateApr 10, 2020

Ants or plants? Evolutionary diversification factors of aphids

Researchers found that Stomaphis aphid diversification was primarily driven by host plant shifts, rather than associated ant species. The study revealed a surprising finding that the aphids had not shifted between closely related plant species, but instead between very distantly related host plant taxa.

SourceShinshu University·JournalThe Science of Nature·DateApr 10, 2020

A new strategy to create 2D magnetic order

Researchers at Peking University and Chinese Academy of Sciences discover atomic mechanism of spin-valve magnetoresistance at asymmetry SrRuO3 grain boundary. The study reveals a new strategy to create 2D magnetic order in grain boundaries, which can dominate response in nanoscale devices.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateApr 10, 2020
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.

Single-electron pumping in a ZnO single-nanobelt transistor

Scientists have developed single-electron pumping devices in ZnO nanobelt transistors, enabling controlled single- and double-electron pumping at room temperature. This breakthrough has significant implications for spin-based quantum computing and quantum information processing.

SourceScience China Press·DateApr 10, 2020

UC San Diego researchers move closer to producing heparin in the lab

Researchers at UC San Diego discovered the critical gene ZNF263, which regulates heparin biosynthesis in human cells. This breakthrough could enable the production of heparin in well-controlled cell culture, providing a safer and more sustainable alternative to current methods.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2020

Hair surface engineering to be advanced by nano vehicles

Researchers at Kazan Federal University develop a technology to modify hair fibers using functional ceramic nano containers, expanding the field of application for natural fibers. The technology can change aesthetic properties, protect against biodegradation, and release topical anti-inflammatory drugs.

SourceKazan Federal University·JournalNew Journal of Chemistry·DateApr 10, 2020
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Extra-tropical Cyclone Harold caught by NASA's Terra Satellite

Cyclone Harold's transformation into an extra-tropical cyclone was captured by NASA's Terra satellite, revealing elongated clouds and convection displaced to the southeast. The system is undergoing a transition characterized by wind shear and baroclinic processes, which may retain hurricane-force winds.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 10, 2020

Development of new photovoltaic commercialization technology

A research team has identified the cause of performance degradation in CQD PV devices and developed a material processing method to stabilize their performance. The method uses ligand substitution with potassium iodide, maintaining device efficiency above 80% for 300 hours.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 10, 2020

A novel Li-ion superconductor makes possible an era of safe battery

Researchers at KIST have developed a sulfide-based superionic conductor that delivers Li-ion conductivity comparable to liquid electrolytes, solving a key challenge in all-solid-state battery technology. The new material enables accelerated mass production and commercialization of safe batteries.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalNano Letters·DateApr 10, 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.

Details of treatment for patients in China who died of COVID-19

A case series study in China describes clinical characteristics of patients who died from COVID-19, highlighting differences in treatment approaches. The study aims to provide insights into factors contributing to mortality rates in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 10, 2020

Should infants be separated from COVID-19-positive mothers?

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine recommends keeping mothers and infants together, citing no evidence that separation improves outcomes. Separation may minimize virus transmission but can have negative consequences for both mother and infant, including disrupted breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalBreastfeeding Medicine·DateApr 10, 2020

AGA releases official guidance for patients with IBD during the COVID-19 pandemic

The American Gastroenterological Association has released official guidance for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the AGA, patients with IBD should continue their medication, including scheduled infusions, and stop certain medications if they develop COVID-19 symptoms.

SourceAmerican Gastroenterological Association·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateApr 10, 2020
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.

Computer model predicts how drugs affect heart rhythm

UC Davis researchers developed a computer model to screen drugs for unintended cardiac side effects, especially arrhythmia risk. The model uses a drug's chemical formula to predict its impact on heart rhythm and has been validated with comparisons to clinical data from electrocardiogram results of patients.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalCirculation Research·DateApr 10, 2020

Mental health consequences of COVID-19, physical distancing

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health, emphasizing the need for effective physical distancing strategies. The study found that prolonged social isolation can lead to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateApr 10, 2020

A remote military medical team can offer insights to US hospitals preparing for COVID-19

A remote military surgical team transformed into a pandemic response team to provide care in an isolated population, adapting innovative solutions. Their recommendations emphasize the importance of evaluating everyone's skillsets and experience, including non-medical labor to provide medical interventions.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateApr 10, 2020

Light driven proton pump in distant relative

Researchers discovered a novel light-sensitive protein in Asgard archaea that functions as an inward proton pump, opening possibilities for controlling pH levels in cells or microorganisms with light. This finding could lead to the development of new biomolecular tools and applications in optogenetics.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 10, 2020
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.

Discovery of a novel function for MAP2 in synaptic strengthening

A research team led by Dr. Kea Joo Lee found that MAP2 plays a crucial role in inducing long-term potentiation, a cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory. The study's discovery provides key insights into synaptic plasticity mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies for memory-related diseases.

SourceKorea Brain Research Institute·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateApr 9, 2020

Ordering of atoms in liquid gallium under pressure

Researchers at the University of Bristol discovered that liquid gallium maintains local order and forms regions of low entropy with five-fold symmetry even at extremely high pressures. This finding opens up new avenues for studying rapid temperature quenched melts leading to the production of metallic glass materials.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 9, 2020
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.

Fungus application thwarts major soybean pest, study finds

A new study finds that a type of fungus can cut the soybean cyst nematode's reproductive success by more than half, reducing yield losses of over $1 billion annually. The fungus, Funneliformis mosseae, reduces nematode egg hatching and juvenile nematode populations, making it a potential tool for controlling the pest.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPlant Disease·DateApr 9, 2020

COVID-19 news from Annals of Internal Medicine

A recent study surveyed 630 adults aged 23 to 88 years living with 1 or more chronic conditions. The findings highlight the need for improved COVID-19 awareness, knowledge, and behaviors in this vulnerable population.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateApr 9, 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.