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Science News Archive January 2020


Page 39 of 40

Time for a closer look at Pyrethroid insecticides

A recent study found a 50% increase in total mortality and three-fold increase in heart disease deaths in individuals with high 3-PBA levels, a metabolite of pyrethroids. The study's findings challenge the assumption that these insecticides are safe, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

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.

Color superlensing to assist in surpassing diffraction barrier

A new type of metalens made from a dielectric-metal composite film can overcome diffraction limits, paving the way for high-resolution nanoscale optical technologies and sensors. The ultra-high resolution is achieved through an unusual behavior of the material in optical and infrared ranges.

Atlantic and Pacific oscillations lost in the noise

A team of meteorologists found no consistent evidence for decadal oscillatory signals in global surface temperature observations. The researchers suggest that any apparent oscillation may be due to external influences like greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions. The study has implications for decade-scale climate predictability.

Versatile bile acids

Two Harvard Medical School studies show that bile acids promote differentiation and activity of T cells involved in regulating inflammation. Gut microbes convert bile acids into immune-signaling molecules that activate regulatory T cells and effector helper T cells. The work suggests possible therapeutic pathways for modulating intesti...

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.

China's inland surface water quality significantly improves

China's inland surface water quality improved significantly from 2003-2017 due to reduced pollution emissions in industrial, rural, and urban residential sectors. Annual mean concentrations of chemical oxygen demand and ammonium nitrogen declined by 63% and 78%, respectively, at the national level.

Using gene therapy to treat chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Researchers developed an adeno-associated virus vector to deliver anti-pTau antibodies directly into the hippocampus of mouse models with CTE, reducing pTau levels across the CNS. The study suggests this strategy could be effective in humans and may offer a new treatment option for CTE.

Hearing through lip-reading

Researchers found that brain activity in healthy adults synchronized with sound waves produced by a silent woman speaking, indicating the brain can process auditory information from visual cues. This ability arises from visual cortex activity synchronizing with lip movement and signal transmission to other areas for sound synthesis.

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.

Ten not-to-be-missed PPPL stories from 2019 -- plus a triple bonus!

PPPL made significant strides in fusion energy development, including the creation of a supersonic plasma jet that could study stellar bodies light years away. The Laboratory also partnered with Princeton University to study low-temperature plasma and developed an award-winning apprenticeship program for early career technicians.

Few people consider religious affiliation of hospital they choose

A recent study surveyed 1,446 adults and found that just 6.4% consider the religious affiliation of hospitals they choose, while 71.4% said their care should not be curtailed by religious dogma. The research highlights conflicts in care for women who are often denied certain reproductive healthcare at Catholic hospitals.

Global call to action on FH aims to improve diagnosis and treatment

A global coalition is calling for early screening and coordinated lifetime care for familial hypercholesterolemia, a condition affecting 34 million people worldwide. The initiative aims to prevent premature cardiovascular disease and save lives by leveraging scientific data, novel therapies, and technological advances.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Innovation is widespread in rural areas, not just cities

A new study at Penn State found that incremental improvements made by businesses outside of their firm are crucial for economic growth and employment. The 'latent' innovation index assigns scores to counties based on opportunities for improvement, showing that rural areas can foster innovation too.

HIV patients lose smallpox immunity despite childhood vaccine, AIDS drugs

A study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases found that HIV-positive women who received a childhood smallpox vaccine still retained some immunity to the virus, despite receiving antiretroviral therapy. This limited response suggests that while HIV treatment can boost overall immune function, it may not restore specific memor...

FDA approves UVA-developed artificial pancreas

The FDA has approved an artificial pancreas system that automatically monitors and regulates blood glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes. The system, developed by the University of Virginia, uses a continuous glucose sensor and insulin pump to provide seamless integration and automatic insulin dose adjustment.

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.

BP looks to ORNL, ADIOS to help rein in data

Researchers at BP partner with ORNL to tackle the challenge of managing large seismic datasets, which can reach half a petabyte in size. The Adaptable I/O System (ADIOS) provides a flexible way to describe data, allowing for efficient compression and processing.

Climate signals detected in global weather

A group of scientists has conducted a new analysis that concludes the 'weather-is-not-climate' paradigm is no longer applicable. They found that daily weather data can reveal long-term warming trends, provided global spatial patterns are considered.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Stanford researchers build a particle accelerator that fits on a chip

A Stanford team created a silicon chip that accelerates electrons using infrared laser pulses, achieving speeds of up to 94% of the speed of light. This prototype chip is a breakthrough in miniaturizing accelerator technology, making it more accessible for research and medical applications.

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.

MIPT physicists find ways to overcome signal loss in magnonic circuits

Physicists from MIPT and Russian universities have developed a parametric model to predict optimal waveguide configurations for magnonic circuits. The research reveals that spin wave interference can cause significant signal loss, leading to a breakthrough in designing efficient magnonic logic elements.

Engrams emerging as the basic unit of memory

Experiments in rodents reveal engrams exist as multiscale networks of neurons, forming complex networks for memory storage. Engram cells can be manipulated through synaptic plasticity and dendritic spine formation, allowing for the retrieval and persistence of memories.

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.

Closer to identifying leukemic stem cells

Scientists at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute developed an innovative diagnostic assay to identify leukemic stem cells, a key cause of relapse and resistance to treatment. The assay uses advanced cytomics methods to analyze multiple functional characteristics of myeloblasts, revealing differential responses to chemotherapy

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.

Unattainable standards of beauty for today's woman

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine found that Victoria's Secret models have become thinner over the past 20 years, with smaller busts and hips, but their waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) has remained constant. This trend reflects a changing ideal of beauty that is moving away from the characteristics of average American women.

Craft-beer boom linked to record-number of US states growing hops

A study by Penn State researchers found that the growth of craft breweries in the US is linked to an unprecedented expansion of hop production across 29 states. The number of breweries more than quadrupled from 992 to over 4,000 between 2007 and 2017, resulting in a five-fold increase in hop farms and acreage.

Operating room reproductive hazards for female surgeons

Research highlights occupational reproductive hazards for female surgeons in the operating room, affecting physical health and fertility. The study emphasizes the need to mitigate these risks through improved working conditions and safety measures.

Study: Hearing develops in tandem with form and function

Researchers discovered hair bundle development occurs in a feedback loop where form follows function and function drives form. In mice, stereocilia widen simultaneously with the onset of mechanotransduction, suggesting a critical importance of early development for reversing hearing loss.

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.

Lower risk for malignant melanoma after bariatric surgery

A study published in JAMA Dermatology found that bariatric surgery significantly reduces the risk of malignant melanoma and other skin cancers in severely obese individuals. The study, which followed over 2,000 participants, showed a 57% decrease in malignant melanoma risk for those who underwent bariatric surgery.

Rhythmicity of cluster headache

A study found that cluster headache attacks exhibit a dynamic circadian and seasonal pattern, with changes in the attack timing throughout the disease course. Patients with more lifetime bouts showed a less variable pattern compared to those without circadian rhythmicity.

Snake-like proteins can wrangle DNA

Researchers at Rice University have discovered a novel mechanism by which snake-like proteins, known as coiled coils, interact with DNA to form loops that regulate genetic messages. These loops are formed through a braiding process, where the coiled coils writhe and twist around each other, bringing together sites on DNA.

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.

Bystander CPR less likely for people living in Hispanic neighborhoods

A study by Penn Medicine found that residents of Hispanic neighborhoods are less likely to receive CPR from a bystander and have a lower chance of survival following cardiac arrest. The study analyzed over 27,000 cardiac arrest events and showed a significant disparity in CPR delivery rates between Hispanic and non-Hispanic neighborhoods.

REE mineral-bearing rocks found in eastern Mojave Desert

A rare earth element deposit has been identified in the Mountain Pass region of the eastern Mojave Desert, USA. The deposit is believed to be magmatic carbonatite and spans a significant subsurface extent, according to a recent study published in Geosphere.

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.

ORNL researchers advance performance benchmark for quantum computers

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a quantum chemistry simulation benchmark to evaluate the performance of quantum devices. The benchmark characterizes the 'mixed state' of how the environment and machine interact, providing insight into systematic error mitigation in current quantum hardware. This work aims to...