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Science News Archive January 2020


Page 17 of 40

Women still face barriers to breastfeed at work

Despite federal guidelines in place, many working mothers struggle to access breastfeeding resources such as private rooms, lactation consultants, and breast pumps. Experts recommend employers designate a point person for breastfeeding support to improve work-life balance for new mothers.

Bend and snap: New interventions for rib fractures

A new multicenter study finds that stabilizing fractured and partially dislocated ribs through surgical stabilization improves patient outcomes, with reduced pain, increased comfort, and lower complication rates. Patients who underwent the procedure experienced better quality of life and fewer complications compared to those who did not.

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.

How fruit flies flock together in orderly clusters

Researchers discovered that fruit flies use fly-fly interactions to establish regular spacing in clusters, driven by a balance between congregating and maintaining personal space. Depriving the flies of their senses results in abnormal responses and high failure rates in cluster formation.

Scientists study zebrafish in search of melanoma-fighting drugs

Researchers at Northern Arizona University are studying zebrafish with mutated BRAF genes to develop new melanoma treatments. They aim to predict optimal drug combinations using computational models and test them in humanized zebrafish, potentially leading to new therapies within the next year or two.

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-sparked fires smaller, less intense but more frequent with longer seasons

A CU Boulder-led study reveals human-sparked fires are becoming more frequent and occurring over longer seasons, presenting new challenges for U.S. wildfire managers and firefighters. The shift toward more human-caused fires results in decreased fire intensity and size, but may not be a good thing due to changes in ecosystem roles.

TB bacteria survive in amoebae found in soil

Scientists discovered that Mycobacterium bovis can survive and grow in small amoebae organisms found in soil and dung. The bacterium adapts to ambient temperatures and remains metabolically active, potentially explaining high transmission rates between animals.

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.

Light-up wheels: Unique organic light-emitting molecular emitters

Researchers at Osaka University have designed and synthesized a new molecular emitter for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), using rational chemical design with U-shaped synthetic building blocks. The efficient macrocyclic OLED emitter could potentially be used in tiny, energy-efficient chemical sensors.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A chronicle of giant straight-tusked elephants

Researchers have identified distinct species of giant straight-tusked elephants in Europe and Asia, with the Indian form featuring a robust skull crest. The study, published in Quaternary Science Reviews, reveals that these prehistoric giants went through six sets of teeth in their lifetimes.

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.

Police shootings linked to inaccurate dispatch information

A new study examined how dispatched call information influences police officer decisions to use deadly force. Inaccurate information about a subject's presence of a weapon was associated with an increased likelihood of shootings of unarmed subjects.

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.

Researchers solve protein structures to fight asthma

Scientists have shed light on the structure and functioning mechanism of CysLT receptors, regulating inflammatory responses associated with allergic disorders. The study identified critical ligand-binding determinants, enabling better understanding of receptor-ligand complexes and potential drug targets.

Mars' water was mineral-rich and salty

A new study suggests that Mars' ancient waters were characterized by high salinity and a neutral pH, creating an environment potentially suitable for microbial life. The research found evidence of hyposaline lakes on early Mars, which could have supported life forms similar to those found on Earth.

Novel composite antimicrobial film could take a bite out of foodborne illnesses

A new composite film made with an antimicrobial layer has shown promise in reducing the growth of harmful bacteria on packaged meat and fish products. The film, which contains a biopolymer called pullulan and an antimicrobial compound called Lauric arginate, was found to be effective in killing pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli.,

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.

Antiviral compound offers hope against deadly flu

A new antiviral compound based on a protein found in bananas has been shown to safely protect against multiple strains of the influenza virus in mice, with over 80% survival rate. The compound also shows promise against Ebola, HIV and other deadly viruses, including a synergistic effect with Tamiflu.

US is polarizing faster than other democracies, study finds

A new study by Brown University researchers finds that US political polarization has grown rapidly over the past 40 years, surpassing other developed democracies. The research suggests that factors such as racial division, party sorting, and partisan cable news may be driving this trend.

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.

Esports organisations look to optimise player sleep

A study on esports athletes' sleep habits found that most do not get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night, leading to impaired mental health and performance. Esports organisations are now taking steps to address this issue through sleep interventions.

Platypus on brink of extinction

A new study warns of the platypus's critically high risk of extinction, citing water resource development, land clearing, climate change, and severe drought as major threats. The researchers call for urgent national action to prevent the species from disappearing from Australian waterways.

Select few cancer patients enroll in potentially life-extending clinical trials

Researchers found that only 0.1% of cancer patients were enrolled in clinical trials as their first course of therapy after diagnosis. White males with private health insurance and metastatic cancers are more likely to enroll, but the low enrollment rate is still troubling due to the potential for increased life expectancy.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Immune cell health discovery could optimise cancer therapies

Researchers at University College London discovered that T cells in the liver can 'recycle' material through autophagy, a process enabled by the cytokine IL-15. This breakthrough could lead to more effective immunotherapies for cancer and chronic viral infections.

The little auks that lived in the Pacific

A 700,000-year-old fossil bone found in Japan indicates that a close relative of the modern dovekie was once thriving in the Pacific Ocean. The discovery suggests that dovekies were more abundant in Japan and the Pacific than previously thought.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Addressing global warming with new nanoparticles and sunshine

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science have developed a new strategy to convert CO2 into oxygen and pure carbon monoxide using nanoparticles. The hybrid catalyst, made of blue titania, tungsten trioxide, and silver, shows 200 times higher performance than previous versions.

Examining low-carbohydrate, low-fat diets, risk of death

An analysis of self-reported data from over 37,000 US adults found associations between low-carb and low-fat diets and mortality risk, with unhealthy diets linked to higher total mortality. Healthy low-carb and low-fat diets were associated with lower total mortality rates.

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.

Doubts raised about effectiveness of HPV vaccines

A new analysis of HPV vaccine clinical trials raises doubts about their effectiveness, citing methodological problems and limited trial populations. The study found that the trials were not designed to detect cervical cancer, which takes decades to develop, and that vaccination may only prevent low-grade abnormal cell changes.

Banning food waste: Lessons for rural America

A new study suggests that rural communities in Vermont are already managing their food waste effectively through composting and feeding scraps to pets or livestock. While support for banning food waste is high, only a minority of residents are willing to pay for curbside compost pickup programs.

Maternal depression on rise in poor countries

A study by Flinders University found rising levels of reported antenatal depression in low and middle-income countries. Antenatal depression is associated with increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, highlighting the need for more services, particularly in low-income economies.

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.

Avatar worms help to identify factors that modify genetic diseases

Researchers used CRISPR gene-editing to introduce human mutations into C. elegans worms, identifying genes that modify disease progression and pinpointing harmful drugs. The study found three candidate disease-modifier genes and demonstrated the importance of screening for potential harm in patients with genetic mutations.