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Science News Archive March 2020


Page 15 of 41

Composite metal foams take the heat, move closer to widespread applications

Researchers at North Carolina State University have demonstrated that composite metal foams can withstand extreme temperatures, passing the simulated pool fire test with flying colors. The material's performance was predicted using a model developed by the team, which showed accurate results within 10 degrees Celsius.

The right dose of geoengineering could reduce climate change risks

A new study by UCL and Harvard researchers found that halving warming by adding aerosols to the stratosphere could moderate important climate hazards in almost all regions, with only a small fraction experiencing increased climate change. The approach should be considered as a complementary measure to emissions cuts.

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.

New drug combination passes safety test in pancreatic cancer

A new study found that a novel peptide antagonist given in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor is safe and well-tolerated in patients with advanced, refractory pancreatic and rectal cancer. The highest dose tested resulted in no adverse events leading to the recommendation for use in future trials.

Seductive details inhibit learning

A meta-analysis of 58 studies involving over 7,500 students found that seductive details can lower learning outcome measures. The analysis suggests that students' attention is diverted towards irrelevant information, leading to decreased performance. However, good details can still engage students if they are pertinent to the topic.

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.

Developing a novel oral antibiotic to treat multidrug-resistant gonorrhea

A research team, including Penn State and Microbiotix, aims to develop a novel oral antibiotic targeting the trans-translation pathway of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The project has received $2.86M in funding from CARB-X to optimize and develop a new compound into an effective treatment for drug-resistant gonorrhea.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Nature-inspired green energy technology clears important development hurdle

A team of scientists has developed a nature-inspired design for artificial photosynthesis, capable of generating large sources of renewable energy using CO2. The system consists of nanoscale tubes that mimic the structure of living photosynthetic cells, allowing for efficient conversion of sunlight into fuel.

NTU scientists transform ultra-tough pollen into flexible material

Scientists at NTU Singapore have developed a way to turn pollen into soft and flexible microgel particles, which could serve as building blocks for new eco-friendly materials. The resulting pollen-based particles show promise for applications such as wound dressing, prosthetics, and implantable electronics.

Nurse practitioner clinical settings key to delivery of patient-centered care

A new study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that organizational supports for nurse practitioners enhance their ability to deliver patient-centered care. NPs working in good practice environments were more likely to integrate patient preferences into care compared to those in mixed or poor environments.

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.

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.

Symmetry-enforced three-dimension Dirac phononic crystals

Researchers have created a 3D phononic crystal that hosts symmetry-enforced Dirac points at the Brillouin zone corners. These points exhibit conical dispersion and vanishing density of states around them, making the material an ideal platform for simulating relativistic Dirac physics.

A nanoscale laser made of gold and zinc oxide

Researchers have created a nanoscale laser made of gold and zinc oxide, which can precisely localize and amplify incident laser light. The hybrid nanomaterial has the potential to be used as ultrafast optical switches or transistors in future optical computers.

SIOP recognizes Mahima Saxena with Humanitarian Award

Mahima Saxena, PhD, has been honored with the SIOP Humanitarian Award for her sustained efforts in improving lives through I-O science. Her research focuses on marginalized workers and has influenced public health policies and policy recommendations.

Eating more protein could help ward off atrial fibrillation in women

A study of over 99,000 postmenopausal women found that consuming 58-74 grams of protein per day significantly reduced the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Increasing protein intake by 10-20 grams daily can potentially lower this risk and has implications for cardiovascular health.

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.

Glucagon receptor structures reveal G protein specificity mechanism

The study provides detailed molecular maps of interaction patterns between a GPCR and different G protein subtypes, revealing key features that govern G protein specificity. The sixth transmembrane helix adopts a similar outward shift in the two G protein-bound GCGR structures, forming a common binding cavity to accommodate Gs and Gi.

Shedding light on how much carbon tropical forests can absorb

New research by IIASA reveals that tropical forest ecosystems' strength as global carbon sinks depends on multiple interacting factors, including species diversity, soil type, and climate. The study found that abiotic and biotic factors interact to determine the amount of carbon stored by the ecosystem.

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.

Learning to synthesize: Robust phase retrieval at low photon counts

The Learning to Synthesize (LS-DNN) approach splits input signals into low and high spatial frequency bands, enabling deep neural networks to process and synthesize them. The algorithm is robust in handling noisy intensity signals, making it suitable for applications like x-rays and sonograms.

Social policies might not only improve economic well-being, but also health

A comprehensive review of US social policies found that early life and education interventions can reduce smoking by 8%, while income support and health insurance programs show the most promise in improving population health. However, some studies showed no health impact, highlighting the need for careful policymaking.

On-chip single-mode CdS nanowire laser

Researchers from Light Publishing Center demonstrated an on-chip single-mode CdS nanowire laser with high coupling efficiency, achieving lasing at approximately 518.9 nm with a linewidth of 0.1 nm and side-mode suppression ratio of 20.

Open sesame: Micro RNAs regulate plant pores

Researchers found that micro RNAs, like miR399, play a crucial role in regulating stomatal pore development and density in response to environmental cues. The study could lead to strategies for improving crop productivity by adjusting stomatal pore density.

Impact of postdilation on intervention success and MACE

Performing postdilation after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes may improve intracoronary nitrate infusion rates, myocardial blush grade, and drug-eluting stent use. However, it does not predict final TIMI flow grade or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

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.

Starlings sleep less during summer and full-moon nights

Researchers found that starlings sleep five hours less per night during the summer and two hours less under full-moon nights. This study provides new insights into flexible sleep regulation in birds, highlighting the importance of natural conditions for understanding sleep patterns.

New technology helps in hunt for new cancer drug combinations

A new mass cytometry technique has identified key proteins in blood cancer cells, revealing why some cells are resistant to standard anti-cancer drugs. The research team hopes to apply this protocol to clinical trials to better understand why some cancers are resistant to therapies and match patients with more effective treatments.

New brain disorder discovery

A new neurodegenerative disorder has been discovered in children, characterized by developmental regression and severe epilepsy. The disorder is caused by a variation in the NRROS gene and appears to require two copies of the defective gene.

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.

Can stress trigger a second heart attack? Yes, new research suggests

Research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session found that mental stress may be a stronger predictor of a repeat heart attack or dying from heart disease. Among over 300 young and middle-aged individuals, those who endured myocardial ischemia with mental stress had a two-fold higher likelihood of ha...

NASA finds little strength left in Tropical Cyclone Herold

Tropical Cyclone Herold's strength dwindled as it moved into high wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures. The system's low-level circulation center was partially exposed, with minimal strong convection, according to NASA's Aqua satellite imagery.

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.

Removing belly fat before it sticks to you

Researchers have successfully produced human protein Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) in the laboratory to metabolize and clear excess levels of triglycerides. The study demonstrates a potential pathway for developing drugs that trigger this process.

Study reveals secret of 18th-century portrait

A team of Russian researchers from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology analyzed a 1789 portrait by Dmitry Levitsky, revealing that the two extension pieces were indeed painted by the artist. The study used modern methods for local analysis of materials and nanomaterials to confirm the painter's involvement.

New contrast agent for early diagnosis of brain metastases

Researchers have developed a new contrast agent that detects brain metastases in certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer, at an early stage using minimal amounts of contrast agent. The agent works by detecting the formation of new blood vessels, improving MRI sensitivity and visualization.

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.

Alzheimer risk genes converge on microglia

A study reveals that Alzheimer risk genes are linked to microglia's response to amyloid-beta, a key protein in the disease. The researchers identified 11 new risk genes that are upregulated when facing increased amyloid-beta levels.

Rapid, automatic identification of individual, live brain cells

Researchers developed a computer program to identify each nerve cell in fluorescent microscope images of living worms, overcoming previous challenges by creating unique genetic modifications. The program uses a mathematical algorithm to analyze images and assign neuron identities based on position variations between individual animals.

Distortion isn't a drag on fluid-straddling particles

A team of researchers found that drag forces experienced by particles straddling interfaces between un-mixable fluids are less affected by the shape of the distortion. The study's discovery could have implications for self-assembling properties of various species, including nano- and microparticles, proteins, and other molecules.

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.

PTSD strongly linked with heart disease in female veterans

A large-scale study finds a strong association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and ischemic heart disease in female veterans. Women with PTSD were 47 years old on average, five years younger than those without the condition, highlighting the need for earlier screening and routine care.

New technique 'prints' cells to create diverse biological environments

Scientists have developed a new technique that can rapidly print two-dimensional arrays of cells and proteins mimicking various cellular environments. This method harnesses photolithography and programmable DNA, allowing for high-throughput study of cell interactions contributing to tissue function.

New study: National monuments can boost the economy in the American West

A new study published in Science Advances reveals that national monuments have positive effects on local economies in the American West. The study found that designations led to a 10% increase in nearby business establishments and an 8% rise in jobs, primarily in service industries like business services, financial services, and constr...

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.

Salmon provide nutrients to Alaskan streambanks

Researchers found that salmon-derived nutrients decrease over time but are retained in soils, supporting microbial and plant growth. The study revealed contrasting nutrient cycling pathways between two soil types, with potential for increased plant growth in the riparian zone.

Three-drug combination reduces COPD patient mortality

A new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reports that a three-drug combination of fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium, and vilanterol reduces all-cause mortality by 42% in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated with an inhaler once daily.

'Breastfeeding gap' exists among Mexican-origin women living in Texas

A study by the University of Texas at Austin found that Mexican women living in Texas breastfed longer than their counterparts born and educated in the US. The research showed that early formula use, returning to work, and smoking were risk factors for discontinuing breastfeeding earlier than intended.

How 'pioneer' protein turns stem cells into organs

A new study led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine reveals that the pioneering protein FoxA2 simultaneously binds to chromosomal proteins and DNA, opening gates for gene activation. This discovery helps untangle mysteries of embryonic stem cell development into organs, moving regenerative medicine forward.

Heatwaves risky for fish

A recent study found that heatwaves have varying effects on different fish species, with some struggling more than others. The research tracked changes in gene expression in five coral reef fishes before, during, and after a severe marine heatwave, revealing species-specific responses to the heightened temperatures.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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