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Science News for January 24, 2020


Nano-thin flexible touchscreens could be printed like newspaper

Researchers have developed an ultra-thin and ultra-flexible electronic material that could be printed and rolled out like newspaper. The new conductive sheet is 100 times thinner than existing touchscreen materials and so pliable it can be rolled up like a tube.

SourceRMIT University·JournalNature Electronics·DateJan 24, 2020

Inequality is bad for society, economic prosperity good

A cross-national study found that higher income inequality is associated with more social problems, but economic prosperity has a mitigating effect. The research analyzed data from 40 high-income countries and suggests that social bonds are weaker in countries with greater income gaps.

SourceOtto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg·JournalSocial Indicators Research·DateJan 24, 2020

Benefits of fetal surgery for spina bifida persist in school-age children

Researchers found significant physical and emotional benefits a decade after prenatal surgery for myelomeningocele, including better walking ability and bladder control. School-age children who received corrective surgery in the womb demonstrated improved gross and fine motor skills and a lower need for shunts and surgeries.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJan 24, 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.

People with obesity who experience self-directed weight shaming benefit from intervention

A new study found that people with obesity who receive a stigma-reduction intervention, combined with standard behavioral weight loss treatment, devalue themselves less due to their weight. The Weight Bias Internalization and Stigma (BIAS) program helped participants combat negative thoughts and increase self-acceptance.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateJan 24, 2020

Lin Chen receives Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry

Lin X. Chen, a senior chemist at Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University professor, has received the 2020 Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry for her fundamental contributions to elucidating excited state structures, dynamics, and energetics of light harvesting systems.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·DateJan 24, 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.

Fonts in campaign communications have liberal or conservative leanings

A recent study by Virginia Tech researchers found that individuals perceive fonts to have political attributes, with serif fonts viewed as more conservative and sans-serif fonts leaning liberal. The study suggests that font choices can convey ideology through letterforms, with implications for political campaign professionals.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalCommunication Studies·DateJan 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.

More than 40% of status epilepticus patients suffer adverse outcomes

A recent study published in Seizure found that over 40% of status epilepticus patients suffer from adverse outcomes, including a 9% risk of death. The researchers developed two prognostic scores, STESS and EMSE, which can accurately predict mortality risk in the emergency room.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalSeizure·DateJan 24, 2020

Opioid dependence found to permanently change brains of rats

Researchers found that opioid dependence leads to permanent neuro-adaptations in the central nucleus of the amygdala, affecting pain transmission and GABA receptor activation. Normalizing nociceptin levels resulted in reduced opioid consumption, suggesting the peptide as a promising target for opioid use disorder treatment.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 24, 2020

Study shows effects of Chinese divorce law on women's wellbeing

A new study by Yale sociologist Emma Zang found that China's 2011 judicial interpretation on property rights during divorce initially harmed women's wellbeing, but couples adapted over time to share property equally. Despite adaptations, the change has lingering costs, including increased housework for women and loss of property rights.

SourceYale University·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateJan 24, 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.

Researchers obtain 'high-definition' view of diabetes-related proteins

Scientists have obtained a high-resolution view of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP1R), which play a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels. The study provides new insights into GLP1R function and its potential as a target for treating conditions like type 2 diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 24, 2020

Efforts to tackle tobacco harm explored by experts

Experts analyzed impact of tobacco display ban on young people's attitudes to smoking, finding high retailer compliance and a positive influence. Recommendations include limiting retail outlet density and targeting schoolchildren with anti-smoking messages.

SourceUniversity of Stirling·JournalPublic Health Research & Practice·DateJan 24, 2020

NIH study finds benefits of fetal surgery for spina bifida persist through school age

Children who underwent fetal surgery for spina bifida at a young age are more likely to walk independently and require fewer follow-up surgeries compared to those who had traditional corrective surgery after birth. The study found that these children also scored higher on motor skills and had lower rates of hydrocephalus.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJan 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.

A new stretchable battery can power wearable electronics

A new soft and stretchable battery developed by Stanford researchers can store power more safely than conventional batteries, promising to enable the design of comfortable wearable electronics. The device maintains a constant power output even when stretched or squeezed.

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 24, 2020

New research shows more people knowingly use fentanyl

A study by BC Centre for Disease Control and University of British Columbia found that two-thirds of people who use drugs are aware they've taken fentanyl. The study emphasizes the importance of harm reduction services, substance treatment, and pharmaceutical alternatives to reduce devastating impacts of fentanyl on communities.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalInternational Journal of Drug Policy·DateJan 24, 2020

Increasing opportunities for sustainable behavior

A new IIASA study examines how collective behavior patterns emerge from personal, social, and environmental factors. The research highlights the importance of infrastructure in shaping sustainable behaviors, such as cycling, and demonstrates that even minor changes can have significant effects on adoption rates.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalOne Earth·DateJan 24, 2020

Quantum physics: On the way to quantum networks

Researchers successfully demonstrated the transport of an entangled state between an atom and a photon via an optic fiber over a distance of up to 20 km. This achievement sets a new record for quantum communication and confirms that quantum information can be distributed on a large scale with little loss.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 24, 2020

Deciphering the sugar code

Scientists at the University of Münster have developed a vaccine-like treatment that stimulates plants' natural immune system using a specific pattern in chitosan, a biopolymer. This breakthrough could lead to reduced chemical pesticide use and improved plant growth, as well as potential applications in scar-free wound healing.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 24, 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.

Discovery sheds new light on how cells move

Researchers have discovered that the force each cell applies to the surface beneath it primarily controls its shape and motion in a collective cell migration. This finding provides new insights into how cells rearrange and migrate as a group, which could lead to the development of new treatments to speed up wound healing.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalPhysical Review X·DateJan 24, 2020

Principles for a green chemistry future

A Yale-led research team outlines key principles for a green chemistry future, emphasizing the importance of systemic sustainability in all chemical processes. The paper highlights recent achievements in green chemistry and its potential to revolutionize various industries, from energy generation to electronics.

SourceYale School of the Environment·JournalScience·DateJan 24, 2020

The 'place' of emotions

A study by IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca found that a specific region of the right temporo-parietal junction can represent various affective states. The researchers used fMRI data and found smooth transitions in this region, which allows the brain to map emotions in a single patch of cortex.

SourceIMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 24, 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.

Shaping the social networks of neurons

A protein complex of Teneurin, Latrophilin, and FLRT attracts neighboring neurons during development, enabling synapse formation and information exchange. In early brain development, however, the same proteins repel migrating nerve cells, guiding them to their target brain area.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell·DateJan 24, 2020

Lung microbiome may help predict outcomes in critically ill patients

Research suggests that lung bacteria can predict clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, with certain bacteria associated with worse outcomes and the presence of gut-associated bacteria found in the lungs. The study's findings have implications for developing new therapies to prevent and treat critical illness.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJan 24, 2020

Malaria-fighting technology earns 2019 AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize

A team of researchers developed a promising tool to combat malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Their genetically engineered fungus toxin killed 75% of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes, causing an established population to collapse within 45 days.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·DateJan 24, 2020

The regulators active during iron deficiency

A team of researchers has developed an artificial intelligence method to predict iron deficiency responses in plants, identifying key regulatory elements and transcription factors. This breakthrough can lead to improved plant cultivation by increasing iron uptake in new varieties, enhancing adaptation to poor soil conditions.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalPLANT PHYSIOLOGY·DateJan 24, 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.

Marburg virus found in Sierra Leone bats

Scientists detected Marburg virus in Egyptian rousette fruit bats in Sierra Leone, highlighting the risk of human exposure. The presence of Marburg virus means people living nearby could be at risk for becoming infected without reported cases of illness.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 24, 2020

MTU engineers examine lithium battery defects

Michigan Tech engineers focus on lithium's unique mechanics at small scales to address battery defects. They find that at tiny lengths, lithium is much stronger than at macroscopic scales, relying on diffusion instead of dislocation motion to relieve stress.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalJournal of Materials Research·DateJan 24, 2020

30-year study identifies need of disease-modifying therapies for maple syrup urine disease

A 30-year study details clinical course of 184 individuals with genetically diverse forms of MSUD, showing increased survival and hospitalization rates. Despite advances in care, patients continue to suffer from cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, highlighting the need for safer and more effective disease-modifying interventions.

SourceClinic for Special Children·JournalMolecular Genetics and Metabolism·DateJan 24, 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.

Benefits of fetal surgery for spina bifida continue through school age

A longitudinal study of 161 children with spina bifida found that fetal surgery improved mobility and reduced the need for follow-up surgeries. Fetal surgery also resulted in fewer shunt placements and better motor skills scores compared to traditional postnatal repair.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJan 24, 2020

The highways of our brain

A new technique reveals that myelin produces multiple waves of electrical potentials traveling at high speeds, contradicting earlier assumptions. This discovery has significant implications for understanding demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis.

SourceNetherlands Institute for Neuroscience - KNAW·JournalCell·DateJan 24, 2020

Stanford researchers conduct census of cell surface proteins

Researchers conducted a global census of diverse proteins on the outer membrane of cells, governing their interactions and assembly into organs. The study's agnostic approach revealed 20 new cell surface proteins important for brain wiring in fruit flies.

SourceStanford University - School of Humanities and Sciences·JournalCell·DateJan 24, 2020

New species of Allosaurus discovered in Utah

A new species of Allosaurus, Allosaurus jimmadseni, has been discovered in Utah, inhabiting the flood plains of western North America during the Late Jurassic Period. The species possesses unique features, including a short narrow skull and relatively long legs and tail.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPeerJ·DateJan 24, 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.

Advancing frozen food safety: UGA evaluates environmental monitoring programs

A University of Georgia study evaluated environmental monitoring practices across the frozen food industry to identify effective methods for controlling Listeria monocytogenes. The research found that facilities were predominantly testing for Listeria spp., but there is a need for facilities to review their sampling strategy.

SourceAmerican Frozen Food Institute·JournalJournal of Food Protection·DateJan 24, 2020

Going with the flow: New insights into mysterious fluid motions

Researchers develop a new approach for studying transitional flows, finding that the energy spectrum of small eddies conforms to Kolmogorov's universal theory. This breakthrough has practical applications in engineering, particularly in predicting friction between flow and pipe.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 24, 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.

Study: Commercial air travel is safer than ever

A new study by MIT professor Arnold Barnett reveals that airline passenger fatalities have declined significantly between 2008 and 2017, with a global fatality rate of one death per 7.9 million passenger boardings.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalTransportation Science·DateJan 24, 2020

'Jumping genes' help stabilize DNA folding patterns

Researchers found that jumping genes, also known as transposable elements, play a crucial role in stabilizing the 3D folding patterns of DNA molecules. This discovery contradicts the long-held assumption that the precise order of letters in the DNA sequence dictates the broader structure of the DNA molecule.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalGenome Biology·DateJan 24, 2020

The skin of the earth is home to pac-man-like protists

Researchers discovered that most soil protists consume smaller organisms, while others thrive in tropical soils and are affected by annual precipitation. The study provides new insights into the ecological roles of these single-celled organisms in ecosystems worldwide.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 24, 2020

How Chinese opera masks compare to spider evolution

Biology student Jenny Yi-Ti Sung studies how Beijing operas convey details about motivation and character through colorful masks. Her research reveals recurring archetypes and facial features, similar to those found in jumping spiders, which use pattern and color to communicate species, sex, and romantic intentions.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·DateJan 24, 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.

A new twist on quantum communication in fiber

A team from Wits and HUST shows that multiple quantum patterns of twisted light can be transmitted across a conventional fibre link, enabling a new approach to realising a future quantum network. The researchers demonstrated transfer of multi-dimensional entanglement states over 250m of single-mode fibre.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 24, 2020