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Science News Archive June 2020


Page 2 of 48

Excess neutrinos and missing gamma rays?

Researchers at Penn State suggest that supermassive black hole coronae could be the source of high-energy cosmic neutrinos, exceeding expectations. The new model predicts electromagnetic counterparts in soft gamma-rays, with next-generation detectors poised to explore this possibility.

New treatment strategy may benefit patients with brain cancer

Researchers have identified a promising new strategy to target tumors with metabolic weaknesses, particularly in patients with IDH mutant gliomas. Combining chemotherapy and PAR glycohydrolase inhibitors has shown promise in enhancing treatment effectiveness.

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.

New Curtin research uncovers the two 'faces' of the Earth

Researchers found two chemically distinct hemispheric faces, with the Pacific ring of fire being the surface expression of the boundary between them. The African domain contains continental materials brought down by subduction systems, while the Pacific domain has been protected from such infiltration.

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.

Light drinking may protect brain function

A study from the University of Georgia found that light to moderate drinking may preserve brain function in older adults. The study examined cognitive function over time among middle-aged and older adults in the US and found a correlation between light drinking and better cognitive performance.

Findings weaken notion that size equals strength for neural connections

Researchers found that activating specific receptors can induce synaptic plasticity without structural changes, challenging the long-held assumption about spine size and strength. The study provides a potential new avenue for treating Fragile X syndrome by targeting an unidentified protein promoting synapse shrinkage.

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.

Buzzing to rebuild broken bone

A team of UConn engineers has developed a scaffold that generates a controllable electrical field to encourage bone growth, providing a new approach for treating serious injuries. The device uses non-toxic poly(L-lactic acid) polymer and remotely-controlled ultrasound to stimulate bone regeneration.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

NFL awards near $500K to university for helmet safety

The NFL has awarded the University of Colorado Denver $491,999 for helmet safety research using 3D printing technology. The team aims to reduce concussion risk by lining football helmets with liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) materials.

Study asks who's playing 'hard-to-get' and who's attracted by the ploy

A study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that women and people with insecure attachment styles tend to play hard-to-get more, while men pursue them. The researchers also discovered that avoidant individuals tend to use hard-to-get strategies as a self-protective mechanism.

How effective are we at safeguarding disabled children?

A new review aims to better understand how to protect disabled children and young people from abuse, which is three to four times more likely for those with disabilities. Researchers will assess existing evidence to identify best practices in identification, involvement of families, and improving outcomes for this vulnerable group.

From age 8 we spontaneously link vocal to facial emotion

Researchers tracked eye movements of children aged 5, 8 and 10, and adults, finding they looked longer at faces congruent with heard voices. The study suggests a spontaneous amodal coding of emotions, enabling children to make connections between vocal emotion and facial expression from age 8.

Light from inside the tunnel

Physicists from Max Born Institute and University of Rostock discover light-induced tunneling of electrons in dielectrics, creating a nonlinear current that dominates bright bursts of light. This finding expands fundamental understanding of optical non-linearity and its applications in information processing and material processing.

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.

Life-hack: Rituals spell anxiety relief

Researchers study rituals as a mechanism of resilience against anxiety, finding that performing familiar rituals reduces psychological and physiological stress. This approach suggests that ritual provides the brain with a sense of control and structure, alleviating stress and potentially coping with chronic anxiety.

Chanterelle mushrooms as a taste enhancer

Researchers at TUM have developed a new method to quantify the key substances in chanterelles responsible for their distinctive kokumi effect. These natural fatty acid derivatives can be used as quality control markers and potentially improve flavor profiles in mushroom dishes and other savory foods.

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.

Study finds that plastic recycling from europe being dumped in Asian waters

A new study found that European countries are exporting large amounts of plastic waste to Asia, where it is often not recycled and ends up in the ocean. The research estimated that between 1-7% of all exported European polyethylene ended up in the ocean, contributing to significant environmental and social impacts.

COVID-19 causes 'hyperactivity' in blood-clotting cells

Research found that COVID-19 causes platelets to become hyperactive, forming dangerous blood clots that can lead to cardiovascular problems. Understanding the underlying cause may lead to treatments to prevent this from happening in patients.

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.

Nearly half of Americans lack knowledge of burn injuries and treatment

A new survey found that 53% of Americans know some or a lot about burn injuries and treatment, but many are unaware of common risks like applying ice to burns. The survey highlights the importance of being aware of fire-related hazards during summer activities like grilling and using fireworks.

How stress affects bone marrow

A new study from Tokyo Medical and Dental University identified CD86 as a novel cell surface marker that enables accurate analysis of hematopoietic responses to biological stress. The researchers found that CD86-based analysis can detect early activation phases of erythropoiesis in the bone marrow within hours after toxin injection.

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.

Seeing is believing: Effectiveness of facemasks

Researchers used flow visualization to test various facemask types and found that well-fitted homemade masks with multiple layers of quilting fabric were most effective in reducing droplet dispersal. Uncovered emulated coughs traveled significantly farther than the recommended 6-foot distancing guideline.

Universal gut microbiome-derived signature predicts cirrhosis

A new study uses stool microbiomes to predict cirrhosis risk in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Researchers found a unique signature that distinguishes cirrhosis from other causes of the disease, potentially leading to an accurate, non-invasive diagnostic tool.

A revolutionary new treatment alternative to corneal transplantation

Researchers at the University of Montreal have developed a synthetic, biocompatible liquid hydrogel that promotes tissue regeneration and treats corneal perforations without transplantation. This innovative solution has the potential to help patients retain their vision and avoid blindness.

A data treasure for gait analysis

A large-scale database of ground reaction force data from over 2,000 patients has been made publicly available for research purposes. The GAITREC database includes information on patients with joint transplants, fractures, and ligament injuries, providing a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers.

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.

Is a 'cytokine storm' relevant to COVID-19?

A recent editorial explores the connection between COVID-19 and a cytokine storm, which is an overactive immune response. The study suggests that this phenomenon may play a significant role in the severity of COVID-19 cases.

NASA's TESS delivers new insights into an ultrahot world

KELT-9 b experiences two summers and two winters every year due to its unique polar orbit around an extremely hot star. The planet's atmosphere streams away into space as it receives 44,000 times more energy from its star than Earth does from the Sun.

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.

COVID-19: Study shows virus can infect heart cells in lab dish

A new study by Cedars-Sinai shows that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect heart muscle cells, which may contribute to COVID-related heart disease. The research used stem cell technology to create heart cells susceptible to infection and found that treatment with an ACE2 antibody could blunt viral replication.

Researchers control elusive spin fluctuations in 2D magnets

A Cornell team created a new imaging technique that enables real-time observation of critical spin fluctuations in two-dimensional magnets. By controlling these fluctuations, researchers can switch magnetism without using a magnetic field, potentially leading to the creation of more energy-efficient magnetic storage devices.

Rice lab's bright idea is pure gold

Researchers created a nanoscale gap between gold electrodes and found that excited electrons leaping the gap emitted bright light. The effect depends on metal's plasmons, ripples of energy flowing across its surface.

Ancient disease may increase resilience to bubonic plague

A study by researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute suggests that genetic variants associated with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) may confer increased resistance to the bubonic plague. The findings propose a link between FMF and protection against Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague.

Quantum physics provides a way to hide ignorance

Researchers at University of Queensland have successfully verified a counterintuitive idea from quantum theory that ignorance of the whole does not necessarily imply ignorance of the parts. This finding has implications for the security of quantum-based encryption.

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.

Human Brain Project announces new phase

The Human Brain Project is entering its final phase with a focus on advancing three core scientific areas: brain networks, consciousness, and artificial neural nets. EBRAINS infrastructure will provide researchers with a comprehensive atlas and database, as well as powerful computing and simulation tools.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Optoelectronic parametric oscillator

A team of scientists has developed a new parametric oscillator in the optoelectronic domain with unique phase-controlled operation, enabling stable and tuneable multimode oscillation. This allows for applications in microwave signal generation, oscillator-based computation, and radio-frequency phase-stable transfer.

Existing drugs can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from hijacking cells

Researchers identified seven clinically approved antiviral drugs that could disrupt the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 replication and infection. These drugs target kinases, which are potential targets for treating COVID-19, and may alleviate exaggerated inflammatory symptoms.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Size matters for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage

A new study found that Drax power station in North Yorkshire is the optimal site for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) facilities. The research also suggests that smaller BECCS power plants are more beneficial to the environment, as larger ones can have negative impacts on soil sequestration and flood protection.

A new theory about political polarization

A new model of opinion formation shows how people's emotional connections with others influence their political views, leading to increased polarization. The Weighted Balance Theory identifies hyperpolarization as a vicious circle where intense emotions and opinions replace moderate positions.