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Science News Archive January 2020


Page 21 of 40

New dog, old tricks? Stray dogs can understand human cues

A new study reveals that untrained stray dogs can successfully follow pointing gestures to a specific location, indicating an innate understanding of complex gestures. The results suggest that dogs may have an innate ability to understand certain human cues, transcending training.

Internet use reduces study skills in university students

Research at Swansea University and the University of Milan found that students with high levels of internet addiction are less motivated to engage in studies, more anxious about tests, and experience increased loneliness. This excessive internet use impairs study skills and motivation.

Programmable nests for cells

Researchers have developed novel nanocomposites of DNA, silica particles, and carbon nanotubes that can be tailored to various applications. These composites enable the creation of environments suitable for human stem cells to settle down and develop further.

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.

Study traces evolution of acoustic communication

A study tracing acoustic communication across land-living vertebrates reveals that the ability to vocalize dates back to 350 million years ago. The researchers found that this trait is associated with a nocturnal lifestyle, which provides an advantage for sound-based communication.

Rethinking interactions with mental health patients

A study of clinical interviews between psychiatrists and inpatients found that patients with thought disorder can communicate productively with their doctors. Psychiatrists use non-confrontational approaches, open-ended questions, and transactional techniques to build respectful relationships and achieve shared understanding.

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.

Violence and adversity in early life can alter the brain

A new study found that childhood violence exposure and social deprivation can alter white matter connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, leading to a heightened response to threats. Social support acts as a buffer, reducing the negative effects of early-life stress.

Researchers find that cookies increase ad revenue for online publishers

A study published in Marketing Science found that cookies increase ad revenue for online publishers, with opt-out users generating 52% less revenue. The study also discovered a privacy paradox, where consumers' stated preferences overstate their actual behavior, and identified demographic patterns among opt-out users.

Cheap drug may alleviate treatment-resistance in leukemia

Researchers discovered three substances that reduce SAMHD1's ability to break down cytarabine, a common AML treatment. The combination of standard AML-treatment with hydroxyurea has shown to prolong median survival in mice and human blood cells.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

3D printing with applications in the pharmaceutical industry

University of Seville researchers successfully printed a 3D image using stabilised gold nanoparticles and biodegradable polymer systems. This breakthrough has significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the development of personalized biosensors.

Molecules move faster on a rough terrain

Researchers from Université libre de Bruxelles found that large molecules move faster near rougher surfaces at the nanometric scale, defying simulations. The team created a rough surface of aluminum and applied weak electric fields to measure molecular motion.

Spider-Man-style robotic graspers defy gravity

Researchers created a suction unit that can grip rough surfaces, overcoming vacuum leakage limitations. The zero-pressure difference method uses a high-speed rotating water ring to maintain vacuum and achieve energy efficiency.

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.

Psychology program for refugee children improves wellbeing

A positive psychology program, Strengths for the Journey, was evaluated in Greek refugee camps and found to improve wellbeing and optimism in refugee children, while reducing depressive symptoms. The seven-day program doubled participants' ratings of wellbeing and optimism.

'Melting rock' models predict mechanical origins of earthquakes

Engineers at Duke University have developed a model predicting mechanical behaviors and origins of earthquakes in various rocks, providing insights into unobservable phenomena deep beneath the Earth's surface. The model accurately reproduces how friction decreases as rock speed increases, shedding light on earthquake mechanisms.

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.

The way you dance is unique, and computers can tell it's you

A recent study published in the Journal of New Music Research reveals that people's dance styles are almost always the same, regardless of music genre. The researchers used motion capture technology to analyze participants' movements and found that computers could identify individuals with an astonishing 94% accuracy.

Mosquitoes engineered to repel dengue virus

Researchers have developed mosquitoes that can halt the transmission of the dengue virus, targeting four known types of the disease. The engineered mosquitoes use a human antibody to hinder virus replication and prevent transmission to humans.

Compact broadband acoustic absorber with coherently coupled weak resonances

Researchers from Tongji University and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University developed a compact broadband acoustic absorber using imperfect components with low absorption peaks. By modulating the coherent coupling effect, they achieved quasi-perfect absorption across a broad frequency range (870 - 3224 Hz) with an average coefficient o...

JACEP Open: Vaping emergencies may initially go unrecognized

A recent case analysis published in JACEP Open reveals that vaping emergencies can be challenging to diagnose due to initial symptoms that resemble pneumonia. The study highlights the importance of accurate diagnoses, which typically involve ruling out other infections and conditions.

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.

Judges deny abortion care to teens

A new CU Boulder-led study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that judges deny minors' abortion requests with impunity, potentially due to personal political biases. The study analyzed data from Texas over 18 years and found that judges denied cases by up to 13%.

Less active infants had greater fat accumulation, study finds

A large study of infant physical activity levels suggests that less active infants may accumulate more fat, which could predispose them to obesity later in life. Higher physical activity was associated with lower central adiposity, a measure of lower-torso fat accumulation.

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.

Photoelectrochemical water-splitting efficiency hits 4.5%

Researchers at EPFL have achieved a record-breaking photoelectrochemical water-splitting efficiency of 4.5% using cuprous oxide (Cu2O) photocathodes with copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) as a transparent and effective hole transport layer, showing improved performance and overcoming limitations such as high cost and electron-hole recombination.

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.

New method detects toxin exposure from harmful algal blooms in human urine

A new immunocapture protein phosphatase inhibition assay (IC-PPIA) method has been developed to detect microcystins and nodularin in human urine, yielding positive results from three out of 86 urine specimens. The study provides a critical step in developing clinical diagnostic tests for harmful algal bloom exposure worldwide.

How decisions unfold in a zebrafish brain

Researchers successfully tracked brain activity of zebrafish larvae to predict decisions, revealing a major role for the cerebellum in cognitive functions. The study used light field microscopy to track neuronal activity and identified specific patterns that predicted correct or incorrect turns.

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.

New hospital-based data contradicts HUD estimates on homelessness

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago report that hospital visits associated with homelessness have tripled since 2011. Their findings show that annual conservative estimates of homelessness using hospital-based data have exceeded HUD estimates since 2016.

Menthol ban could increase health equity

A new study by University of Kentucky researchers suggests that banning menthol-flavored tobacco products could help address disparities in public health. The study found that policies restricting flavored tobacco products but not menthol flavors disproportionately affect African American communities.

Breakthrough on curbing dengue

Scientists have engineered mosquitoes that can't spread all four types of the dengue virus, a major breakthrough in controlling the disease. This development has the potential to limit human suffering and mortality from dengue, which affects over 390 million people annually.

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.

Colloidal Quantum Dot Photodetectors can now see further than before

Researchers at ICFO have developed a novel photodetector technology using PbS Colloidal Quantum Dots (CQDs) that can detect light in the long infrared range. The new material platform is made with mercury-free material, enabling lower energy detection and broader spectral coverage.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Bartonella bacteria found in hemangiosarcoma tumors from dogs

Researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered a high prevalence of Bartonella bacteria in hemangiosarcoma tumors and non-tumor tissues from dogs. The study confirms the link between persistent infection and some types of cancer, highlighting Bartonella's ability to remain undetected within tissue.

B cells linked to effective cancer immunotherapy

Research from Lund University found that clusters of B cells in melanoma tumors, called tertiary lymphoid structures, are linked to improved prognosis and response to immunotherapy. This study confirms the role of B-cells in the immune response against cancer cells.

Women in leadership positions face more sexual harassment

A study by Stockholm University found that women in supervisory positions experience increased rates of sexual harassment, with the greatest exposure at lower levels of leadership. The research also showed that harassment is more common when subordinates consist of mostly men.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

'Living fossil' may upend basic tenet of evolutionary theory

A UC San Francisco-led research team has discovered the first conclusive evidence that natural selection may also occur at the level of the epigenome for tens of millions of years. The study found a particular epigenetic mark on the DNA sequence of Cryptococcus neoformans, which should have disappeared during the age of the dinosaurs.

Scientists unexpectedly witness wolf puppies play fetch

Researchers observe wolf puppies retrieving balls and responding to social cues from unfamiliar humans in a surprising display of cognitive abilities. This finding suggests that ancestral variation may have contributed to human-directed play behavior in dogs.

NASA catches the dissipation of Tropical Cyclone Claudia

Tropical Cyclone Claudia was dissipating in the Southern Indian Ocean when NASA's Terra satellite captured its final image. The storm's maximum sustained winds had decreased to 35 knots, and strong northeasterly wind shear had pushed clouds away from its center.

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.

Quantum physics: Controlled experiment observes self-organized criticality

Complex systems, like social networks and avalanches, exhibit similar characteristics when left to develop on their own. In a groundbreaking experiment, researchers from the University of Cologne observed self-organized criticality in a gas of potassium atoms, demonstrating universal avalanche behavior.

Organized cybercrime -- not your average mafia

Researchers identified common attributes of cybercrime networks, revealing how they function and work together. These networks are composed of hackers coming together due to shared functional skills, often collaborating to cause greater disruption.

Math that feels good

Researchers have developed a method to create Braille math textbooks using an authoring system and enhancements to standard methods. The new process enables mass production of affordable Braille textbooks, making mathematics more accessible to visually impaired students.

Study uses eye movement test to confirm brain aging effects

A new study uses an eye movement test to investigate inhibitory control in healthy older adults, confirming a decline in this ability with age. The results show that older participants were more likely to look at the dot when it appeared and slower compared to younger participants.

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.