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Science News for December 24, 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.

Protein tells developing cells to stick together

Researchers at Tohoku University found that a protein called Toll-1 plays a key role in regulating cell adhesion and sorting during fruit fly development. This process helps maintain the boundaries between different cell populations and ensures proper tissue formation.

SourceTohoku University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 24, 2020

Early mammal with remarkably precise bite

Paleontologists reconstructed the chewing motion of a 150-million-year-old early mammal, revealing teeth that worked extremely precisely and efficiently. This unique dentition made it easy for the animal to cut flesh, but also may have limited its ability to adapt to changing food conditions.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 24, 2020

Discovery of aging mechanism for hematopoietic stem cells

Scientists have discovered that hematopoietic stem cell function is impaired in aged mice, even when transplanted into a young bone marrow niche. The epigenome analysis reveals that DNA methylation profiles are a better indicator of aged HSC function than gene expression patterns.

SourceThe Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateDec 24, 2020

Modeling can help balance economy, health during pandemic

The study uses a dynamic model to predict COVID-19 spread, incorporating infected but asymptomatic individuals and different sub-compartments. The optimal quarantine policy minimizes disease transmission and economic damage, with the sweet spot found between total lockdown and normal movement.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 24, 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.

Atomic-scale nanowires can now be produced at scale

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a way to mass-produce atomic-scale nanowires of transition metal chalcogenides, paving the way for industrial deployment in next-gen electronics. The scalable synthesis method enables the production of centimeter-sized wafers with highly crystalline and ordered wires.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalNano Letters·DateDec 24, 2020

Shapeshifting crystals-varying stability in different forms of gallium selenide monolayers

Scientists investigate the structural stability, electronic states, and transformation of crystal phases of a recently identified polymorph of gallium selenide monolayer. The study reveals that the new phase is metastable, with stability reversing upon applying tensile strain, and large energy barriers for phase transitions.

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalPhysical Review B·DateDec 24, 2020

Human-made landscape promotes coexistence of two normally separated Andean warblers

Researchers mapped the distribution of territories of two warbler species in a human-made landscape with patches of natural forests and pastures. The study found that both species co-occurred without direct competitive interactions, as they foraged in different habitats and locations.

SourceLaboratory of Behavioral Ecology and Evolution at Seoul National University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 24, 2020

Multi-population risk scores could improve risk prediction for inflammatory bowel diseases, study finds

Researchers developed polygenic risk scores using genetic data from nearly 30,000 individuals, improving IBD predictions across European, Ashkenazi Jewish, Hispanic, and UK Biobank populations. Lower predictive power was seen in African ancestry due to smaller datasets and greater genetic diversity.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateDec 24, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

International research team calls for 'glocal' approach to help mitigate flooding damage

An international research team proposes a 'glocal' approach to better predict and prevent flooding disasters by combining global forecasting with local observations. The proposed system, GHS-F, aims to provide highly detailed and consistent rain-flood information, which could help avoid some flooding damage.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateDec 24, 2020

Novel method reveals small microplastics throughout Japan's subtropical ocean

A new study has found small microplastics in the ocean surrounding Okinawa, with over 75% made from polyethylene. The plastics correlated more with population density than industrialized areas, highlighting potential leaching from fishing equipment and road dust.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateDec 24, 2020

A new TanSat XCO2 global product for climate studies

A new TanSat XCO2 global product has been introduced to support estimation of anthropogenic CO2 emissions in cities. The updated dataset shows improved accuracy, reducing the dispersion between retrieval methods to 1.28 ppmv, with a -0.35 ppmv overall bias.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateDec 24, 2020