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Science News Archive May 2020


Page 15 of 42

'Bee' thankful for the evolution of pollen

Researchers at the University of Missouri discovered spiny pollen from a native wild dandelion species has evolved to attach to traveling bumblebees, making it easier for plants to reproduce. This adaptation allows for mutualism between the plant and pollinator, where both benefit from each other.

Risk of death following nonfatal intentional, unintentional opioid overdoses

Researchers analyzed deaths following nonfatal opioid overdoses in California from 2009 to 2011, finding that patients with intentional overdoses were more likely to die by suicide than those with unintentional overdoses. The study sheds light on the complex relationship between opioid use and suicidal behavior.

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.

ALMA discovers massive rotating disk in early universe

Astronomers used ALMA to discover a massive rotating disk galaxy, DLA0817g, which challenges traditional models of galaxy formation. The galaxy formed primarily through the steady accretion of cold gas, indicating alternative growth processes dominated over violent mergers.

New wearable sensor tracks vitamin C levels in sweat

Researchers at UC San Diego developed a non-invasive wearable device to track vitamin C levels in sweat, enabling personalized nutrition and dietary adherence. The device has shown high sensitivity and potential for detecting nutritional deficiencies and supporting recovery from COVID-19.

Urgent call to protect 7 million high-risk older US adults from COVID-19

A new article highlights the lack of support for older adults with respiratory illnesses in community settings, who face significant health risks and mortality rates. Experts outline specific steps to ensure their safety, including increased testing, social support, and protecting home care workers.

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.

New SLAS Discovery auto-commentary available

Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh have developed two approaches for rendering a specific phosphatase activated by light, allowing them to probe its function. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding protein-protein interactions and drug discovery, paving the way for new treatments for diseases.

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.

Oldest connection with Native Americans identified near Lake Baikal in Siberia

New study reveals deep connection between Upper Paleolithic Siberians and First Americans, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period. The discovery sheds light on future studies about Native American population history and suggests that the ancestry of Native Americans was more widely distributed than previously assumed.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

NASA-NOAA satellite catches post-tropical storm Arthur's end

The NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of post-tropical storm Arthur on May 19, revealing a weak circulation with clouds northeast and east of the center. The storm is expected to weaken and move southeast through Thursday, affecting waters in the Bahamas.

Caves tell us that Australia's mountains are still growing

A University of Melbourne study finds that parts of the Eastern Highlands in Victoria may be as young as 5 million years, contradicting previous estimates of 90 million years. The team used speleothem dating to determine the age of stalagmites and flowstones in nearby caves.

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.

A new understanding of everyday cellular processes

The study suggests that cells can be understood as electrical entities, enabling predictive biological understanding and potential new treatments for conditions like heart failure and diabetes. The researchers' bioelectrical conceptualisation of cells could pave the way for breakthroughs in healthcare.

The moral machine

Researchers created an AI system that learns to distinguish between 'right' and 'wrong' based on books, news articles, and religious texts. The machine's moral compass adapts to different eras and societies, revealing subtle differences in moral values.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

A new algorithm predicts the difficulty in fighting fire

A new algorithm developed by researchers at the University of Córdoba improves response capacity to forest fires. The tool predicts fire fighting difficulty and offers an extinction difficulty index, helping authorities prioritize management tasks and optimize resources.

Factors associated with sex-based disparities in liver transplants

Women awaiting liver transplants face higher mortality rates than men due to various factors, including geographic location and medical urgency. Liver size also plays a role in these disparities, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address sex-based inequalities.

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.

Great potential in regulating plant greenhouse gas emissions

Researchers have discovered a new way that plants regulate volatile isoprenoid emissions, which contribute to hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere. This knowledge could lead to optimizing forest land and farming areas by planting fewer high-emitter-plants and more zero-emitters.

At the crossroads

Researchers identified how the enzyme MOF orchestrates the HSC fate in erythropoiesis, revealing crucial role in regulating chromatin accessibility and gene expression. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic approaches for diseases such as leukemia or anemia.

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.

Attosecond physics: Quantum brakes in molecules

Physicists have measured electron flight times in a molecule to study the influence of the molecule on photoemission time. The measurements reveal a delay attributable to the molecular environment that becomes larger as the energy of the light pulses is reduced.

NIST team builds hybrid quantum system by entangling molecule with atom

Physicists at NIST successfully entangled a charged molecule and an electrically charged atom, showcasing a way to build large-scale quantum computers and networks. This breakthrough enables versatile quantum information systems by connecting quantum bits based on incompatible hardware designs.

The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation announces 2020 fellows

The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation has announced the 2020 recipients of the Hertz Fellowship, supporting PhD students tackling urgent problems. The 16 researchers will pursue innovative ideas, including drug development, artificial intelligence, and carbon-neutral futures.

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.

Drug combination could eliminate side effects of once-popular diabetes treatment

Researchers found that combining rosiglitazone, a popular but abandoned diabetes treatment, with another drug called Compound A can enhance its effectiveness while reducing side effects such as weight gain and fluid retention. The study suggests that using lower doses of rosiglitazone may be sufficient to achieve similar results.

Noninvasive brain stimulation with ultrasonic waves controls monkeys' choices

Researchers used noninvasive pulses of ultrasound waves to control macaque monkeys' choices in an experiment widely used to investigate choice behaviors. The technique successfully influenced which target the monkeys looked at, regardless of reward, suggesting its potential for studying addiction and compulsive behaviors.

Untangling a key step in photosynthetic oxygen production

Researchers use X-ray laser to observe water molecules flowing through the oxygen-evolving complex of Photosystem II, shedding light on a key step in oxygen production. The study provides new insights into how protein and water molecules work together to produce breathable oxygen.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

The genome of jojoba: The only plant to store wax in its seeds

Researchers assembled jojoba genome into 26 chromosomes with 23,490 protein-coding genes, revealing evolutionary history and agronomic properties. The plant's ability to store wax in its seeds makes it a promising source of sustainable liquid wax esters for pharmacy, cosmetics, and hair care products.

Next generation of soft robots inspired by a children's toy

Researchers at Harvard have developed a fast-moving jumping soft actuator that harnesses the energy released by buckling to achieve speed. The device uses shell buckling similar to toy poppers, enabling it to catapult itself into the air and navigate safely through uncharted landscapes.

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.

Six-month follow-up appropriate for BI-RADS 3 findings on mammography

A new study published in Radiology found that women with probably benign breast lesions (BI-RADS 3) should have six-month follow-up imaging surveillance. The study showed that 1.9% of these women were diagnosed with cancer within six months, with a higher risk of malignancy than those downgraded to BI-RADS 1 or 2.

Women told more white lies in evaluations than men: Study

New research by Cornell University reveals that women are more likely to be given inaccurate performance feedback, with underperforming women receiving less truthful but kinder feedback compared to equally underperforming men. This finding highlights a potential obstacle to equality in the workplace.

Genetic tradeoffs do not stop evolution of antibiotic resistance

Despite challenging genetic tradeoffs, bacteria can still evolve antibiotic resistance when exposed to varying antibiotic concentrations. Researchers developed a model that showed bacteria may reverse course and regain susceptibility to antibiotics at lower drug concentrations.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Seven at one pulse

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed a novel material that can increase the frequency of terahertz radiation by a factor of seven, paving the way for potential IT applications. The material, cadmium arsenide, is a three-dimensional Dirac material that enables non-linear frequency conversion.

New technique separates industrial noise from natural seismic signals

Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new technique that separates industrial noise from natural seismic signals using cloud computing. The approach allows for large-scale seismic analysis ten times faster than traditional methods and has the potential to transform the field of seismology.

How do birds understand 'foreign' calls?

A study by Toshitaka Suzuki found that birds can visualize a snake when hearing specific alarm calls from another species. The coal tit was observed to approach the experimental area during these calls, indicating it mentally retrieves 'snake' images.

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.

Personalized ovarian cancer risk prediction reduces worries

A new study found that personalized ovarian cancer risk prediction reduces cancer worry and anxiety in women. Participants who received the personalized risk estimate were more likely to take preventative action and reduce their risk of developing ovarian cancer.

How some insects manage to halt their own growth in harsh conditions

Certain insects arrest their development at specific stages to cope with extreme conditions, a process known as overwintering. Research reveals that day length and temperature separately regulate this adaptation, utilizing distinct mechanisms including the juvenile hormone pathway and insulin/TOR signaling pathway.