Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive June 2020 - Page 30


Page 30 of 48

Hallucinations in people with seizures may point to suicide risk

A study published in Epilepsia journal found that 8% of individuals with a history of seizures report hallucinations, which are associated with a higher risk of mental health disorders and suicidal behavior. The study highlights the importance of assessing hallucinations in epilepsy clinics to identify high-risk patients.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalEpilepsia·DateJun 11, 2020

Scientists detect unexpected widespread structures near Earth's core

Researchers found echoes from features deep inside Earth, revealing more widespread and heterogeneous structures at the core-mantle boundary. The study provided a new perspective on the geologic processes happening deep inside Earth, shedding light on plate tectonics and planet evolution.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalScience·DateJun 11, 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.

Fentanyl tops list of drugs found in Baltimore overdose patients

A new study found fentanyl was the most prevalent drug in overdose patients at two Baltimore hospital emergency departments, detected in 73-87% of specimens. The Maryland Emergency Department Drug Surveillance System helped identify this trend, highlighting the need for hospitals to add fentanyl testing to their routine panels.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Medical Center·JournalMMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report·DateJun 11, 2020

Half the earth relatively intact from global human influence

A study presents clear opportunities to conserve what remains of Earth's ice-free land without significant human influence. The research aims to inform the upcoming global Convention on Biological Diversity and emphasizes the importance of maintaining natural lands in separating animal and human activity.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJun 11, 2020

Utah's arches continue to whisper their secrets

Researchers assess the stresses and health of Utah's natural rock arches by analyzing seismic vibrations, revealing the effects of erosion on their shapes. The studies provide valuable information on the mechanical properties of rocks and the dominant sculpting agents behind arch formation.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 11, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New efficient ships won't be enough to curb shipping sector's environmental damage

A University of Manchester study reveals that existing ships will dominate the sector's impact on climate change, and could even swallow up shipping's entire safe carbon budget. Retrofitting existing ships and implementing emission-reducing measures such as slower speeds and renewable technologies are key to reducing committed emissions.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalBMC Energy·DateJun 11, 2020

Healthcare providers need behavioral health support during COVID-19 outbreak

A new Health Affairs blog post proposes a three-part strategy to address the impact of sustained psychological and moral distress on healthcare workers. The plan includes prevention measures, building behavioral health treatment capacity, and managing long-term effects, in an effort to prioritize both physical and mental health.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalHealth Affairs·DateJun 11, 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.

Freshly printed magnets

Scientists at Empa used 3D laser printing to produce materials with specific magnetic properties. By varying the size and lifetime of the melt pool, they were able to create alloy compositions with precise control over nitrogen content.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·JournalApplied Materials Today·DateJun 11, 2020

Viewing dopamine receptors in their native habitat

Researchers embed dopamine receptors in phospholipid membrane to study their structure and behavior. The findings could lead to the development of more precise drugs for treating conditions like Parkinson's disease and addiction.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalNature·DateJun 11, 2020

Elite gamers share mental toughness with top athletes, study finds

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that competitive esports athletes cope with stress similarly to high-performing sports athletes. Esports players with higher ranks tend to have higher levels of mental toughness, which can be beneficial for optimal performance.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateJun 11, 2020
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.

Recovery of sea otter populations yields more benefits than costs

A new study finds that sea otter recovery brings significant ecological and economic benefits, including healthier kelp forests, higher fish catches, and carbon storage. The long-term benefits are estimated to be worth over $53 million per year, potentially offsetting commercial losses of $7 million.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalScience·DateJun 11, 2020
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Grant to support research into grape downy mildew

A new project led by Kaitlin Gold aims to develop management strategies for grape downy mildew fungicide resistance in New York state. The team will test non-CAA fungicides and create extension materials for grape growers to mitigate the issue of emerging resistance.

SourceCornell University·DateJun 11, 2020

Rice engineers offer smart, timely ideas for AI bottlenecks

Rice University researchers have demonstrated methods to optimize data-centric processing, improving energy efficiency by up to two orders of magnitude. Two complementary approaches, TIMELY and SmartExchange, were presented at ISCA 2020, leveraging innovative hardware architecture and co-designing with machine-learning algorithms.

SourceRice University·DateJun 11, 2020

Lightning in a (nano)bottle: new supercapacitor opens door to better wearable electronics

Researchers developed a stretchable, environmentally friendly, and low-cost supercapacitor with high power density and fast charge-discharge rates. The new design uses nitrogen-doped graphene electrodes in an NaCl-based electrolyte, improving volumetric performance and reducing fabrication costs.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalJournal of Energy Storage·DateJun 11, 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.

Lack of mitochondria causes severe disease in children

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that a lack of mitochondria causes severe disease in children, including brain dysfunction and neurological impairment. The study, published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, suggests that inhibition of mitochondrial degradation may provide a new treatment strategy for affected patients.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·DateJun 11, 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.

Dopamine signaling allows neural circuits to generate coordinated behaviors

Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute discovered that dopamine signaling plays a crucial role in coordinating distinct behavioral outputs in C. elegans, enabling the animals to disperse eggs efficiently across a nutrient-rich environment. By analyzing high-frame-rate videos of nematodes using a custom microscopy platform, the team ide...

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·DateJun 11, 2020

Promising path found for COVID-19 therapeutics

A team of UGA scientists has successfully demonstrated that a set of drug-like small molecules can block the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 protein PLpro, providing a promising path for new COVID-19 therapeutics. The discovery offers a potential rapid development path to generating PLpro-targeted therapeutics for use against SARS-CoV-2.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalACS Infectious Diseases·DateJun 11, 2020

Researchers identify 'hot spots' for developing lymphatic vessels

A team of researchers has identified fibroblasts as the primary cells producing VEGF-C processing enzymes in zebrafish embryos. This discovery sheds light on lymphatic vessel development and may have implications for human diseases, including lymphoedema and cancer metastasis.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 11, 2020
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Government health, safety regulations backfire with conservatives, study shows

A new study from the University of Notre Dame found that government-imposed restrictions on consumption can have unintended consequences for conservatives. The research showed that conservatives increased mobile phone usage in vehicles after a law was enacted, and were more likely to purchase unhealthy foods and view e-cigarettes more ...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateJun 10, 2020

Will lockdown loneliness make us loners?

Zebrafish studies reveal that isolation causes sensitivity to stimuli and increased brain activity related to stress and anxiety. The results suggest that social isolation can result in a decreased desire for social interaction, contradicting the assumption that loners are simply anti-social.

SourceSainsbury Wellcome Centre·DateJun 10, 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.

Fewer complications after organ transplantation

A new cell therapy approach has been shown to reduce the need for immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients, thereby minimizing the risk of side effects. The study found that regulatory cells were just as safe as standard treatment and did not result in higher rejection rates.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalThe Lancet·DateJun 10, 2020

Fluid mechanics mystery solved

Oregon State University professor Brian D. Wood has solved a 70-year-old puzzle in fluid mechanics, clarifying how chemicals mix in fluids and paving the way for advances in medical, industrial, and environmental applications. His research builds on Octave Levenspiel's work and resolves paradoxes in other theories.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics·DateJun 10, 2020

Acoustics put a fresh spin on electron transitions

A Cornell University team has discovered a way to control electron spin transitions using acoustic waves, eliminating the need for magnetic fields. This breakthrough enables the development of smaller, more power-efficient acoustic sensors for navigation technology and other applications.

SourceCornell University·JournalPhysical Review Applied·DateJun 10, 2020

Transforming spleen to liver brings new hope for organ regeneration

Researchers from Nanjing University and University of Macau successfully transformed a mouse's spleen into a fully functional liver, overcoming key challenges in tissue engineering. The innovative approach could potentially provide a new solution for patients with end-stage organ failures due to limited donor availability.

SourceNanjing University School of Life Sciences·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 10, 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.

Considering health when switching to cleaner electricity

A new study reveals that focusing on both climate change and air pollution can lead to more effective upgrades in the US electricity system. In a county-by-county approach, researchers found that prioritizing health concerns in policies can alter optimal locations for cleaner technologies.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJun 10, 2020

New study of endangered pacific pocket mice provides valuable genetic insights

A new study provides valuable insights into the importance of reducing genetic load in conservation breeding programs, particularly for endangered species like the Pacific pocket mouse. The research suggests that introducing genes from healthier populations can increase fitness and prevent inbreeding.

SourceSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance·JournalConservation Genetics·DateJun 10, 2020

Bees? Please. These plants are putting ants to work

Researchers at Edith Cowan University have discovered a plant that has evolved to use ants as pollinating agents by adapting its pollen grains to overcome ant antimicrobial defences. This is the first plant species found to benefit from this mutually beneficial relationship.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalAnnals of Botany·DateJun 10, 2020

COVID-19 false negative results if used too early

A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that SARS-CoV-2 testing can yield false negative results if conducted too early in the infection process. The test's accuracy improved when patients displayed symptoms of COVID-19, but even then had a 20% chance of a false negative result.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 10, 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.

HKUST scientists develop world's first spherical artificial eye with 3D retina

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has developed a groundbreaking 3D artificial eye with capabilities surpassing human eyes, offering sharper vision and infrared detection. The innovative design features a nanowire light sensor array that eliminates blind spots and potentially enhances image resolution.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalNature·DateJun 10, 2020

NIH-funded study to evaluate drugs prescribed to children with COVID-19

Researchers are assessing drugs commonly prescribed to children diagnosed with COVID-19, including antiviral and anti-inflammatory medications. The study aims to understand how these drugs interact with the bodies of young patients and identify potential side effects.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·DateJun 10, 2020

Cannabis poisonings in children linked with drinking and illicit drug use

A new study found that most cannabis poisoning incidents among children involved intentional use of cannabis combined with alcohol, illicit drugs, or medication. The majority of cases were reported on weekdays, with youth smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol in private residences.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada·DateJun 10, 2020
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Study confirms the importance of informal learning in hospitals

Researchers found that informal knowledge exchanges are more valuable than formal learning in healthcare settings, leading to a faster and more equal response to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests that organizations should prioritize equality among staff and foster dialogue and participation.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalJournal of Workplace Learning·DateJun 10, 2020

Levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage rose with COVID-19 cases in Dutch cities

Researchers detected rising SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in Dutch sewage samples during the early stages of the pandemic, correlating with COVID-19 case numbers. The study suggests that sewage surveillance could serve as a sensitive early warning system for increased virus circulation.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateJun 10, 2020

Link between liver and heart disease could lead to new therapeutics

A recent study from Iowa State University has uncovered a link between liver and heart disease, with researchers finding that liver dysfunction can contribute to the deterioration of the heart. The study, published in Nature Communications, focuses on the role of peroxisomes in regulating lipid metabolic processes and detoxification.

SourceIowa State University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 10, 2020
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 the brain controls our speech

Research at Goethe University Frankfurt reveals that both hemispheres of the brain contribute to speech control, with the left hemisphere handling fast processes and the right hemisphere controlling slower processes. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that the right hemisphere only analyzes spoken words.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 10, 2020

Liquid metals break down organic fuels into ultra-thin graphitic sheets

Researchers at UNSW Sydney synthesized ultra-thin carbon-based materials using liquid metals and organic fuels at room temperature, a first for this method. The ultra-smooth surface of the liquid metals templates atomically-thin carbon-based sheets, which can be used in various applications including battery storage and solar cells.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 10, 2020