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Science News Archive November 2020


Page 17 of 43

Magnetic spray: Giving inanimate objects new bionergy

A new agglutinate, reprogrammable, and disintegrable magnetic spray has been developed to transform inanimate objects into millirobots with high adaptivity for various biomedical applications. The spray can be repurposed by adjusting its magnetization direction, allowing the creation of diverse locomotion modes.

Neurorehabilitation experts highlight breakthroughs in neurogenic pain management

The new issue of NeuroRehabilitation focuses on the challenges of classifying, assessing, and treating neurogenic pain disorders. Experts describe the latest advancements in neurogenic classification and pain management, including new treatment options for peripheral neuropathic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, and craniofacial ne...

Tau protein changes in Alzheimer's disease correlate with dementia stage

Research reveals that tau protein undergoes stepwise chemical modifications over time, correlating with dementia stage in Alzheimer's disease. The discovery suggests that multiple drugs may be necessary to target tau effectively, with early intervention requiring different therapeutics compared to late-stage treatment.

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.

Pandemic has surprising impacts on public transit demand

The study found that cities in the South and Midwest had less decline in public transit demand due to essential workers who couldn't work from home. Key factors included occupation, with physical jobs leading to higher transit use among Hispanic communities.

New test reveals AI still lacks common sense

A new USC study reveals that AI models lack common sense to generate plausible sentences, despite advances in natural language processing. The research challenges the effectiveness of current benchmark tests and finds that even the strongest models can make silly mistakes.

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.

Antiviral defense from the gut

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a group of gut microbes and a specific molecule that modulate immune responses to viral infections. The study found that these microbes, particularly Bacteroides fragilis, trigger the release of interferon-beta, which confers antiviral protection.

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.

Study identifies reasons for soaring nuclear plant cost overruns in the US

A new analysis by MIT researchers details the underlying issues causing cost overruns on US nuclear power plants, highlighting ways to reimagine engineering strategies to reduce delays and expenses. The study suggests that designing plants with resilience to variable construction conditions can help minimize costs.

Picture this: Chromosomes look different than you think

Researchers at Harvard University have captured high-resolution 3D images of human chromosomes, providing evidence to change the traditional X-like symbol used in textbooks. The images show that chromosome structure plays a crucial role in regulating gene transcription and cell division.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Illinois-led research aims to clean agricultural drainage water

The project will populate a database of bioreactor and saturated buffer designs, trial novel modifications to improve efficiency, and install monitoring systems for real-time water quality detection. The goal is to increase adoption and effectiveness of these low-cost solutions in the Midwest.

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.

Study finds health trade-offs for wildlife as urbanization expands

A new study found that city-dwelling tree swallows bred more successfully due to warmer temperatures, but their blood contained higher levels of mercury from contaminated insects. Urbanization's impact on wildlife health is a growing concern as the climate continues to warm and land use changes threaten biodiversity.

A more sensitive way to detect circulating tumor cells

Researchers have developed a more sensitive way to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood, which could help doctors find and treat metastases earlier. Using fluorescence spectrometry, as few as nine breast cancer cells can be detected in 200 μL of buffer solution.

Gut microbiome manipulation could result from virus discovery

Scientists have discovered how a common virus infects and takes over bacterial cells, enabling targeted manipulation of the gut microbiome. The crAssphage virus uses its own enzyme to produce RNA copies of its genes, similar to human enzymes involved in RNA interference.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Lurking in genomic shadows: How giant viruses fuel the evolution of algae

Researchers discover endogenous viral elements from giant viruses are common in chlorophyte green algae, suggesting a potential beneficial relationship between hosts and their viruses. The findings challenge current understanding of host-virus interactions and may shed light on the early evolution of plants.

How the polio vaccine virus occasionally becomes dangerous

A genetic study of the live polio vaccine has identified critical mutations that allow the virus to evolve into a more virulent form, posing a risk to eradication efforts. However, the study also found that these changes are not easily transmitted from person to person.

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.

Predicting urban water needs

A Stanford University study uses Zillow and census data to identify residential water use patterns and trends in different community groupings. The research found that income levels do not always correlate with water usage, and that changing community development can impact water consumption patterns.

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.

Review examines sexual aggression in mammals

A recent review of published studies found that male behavior causing harm to females during mating is a common issue in several mammalian orders. The most common response from females was grouping around a dominant male, suggesting that sexual aggression may not be as widespread as previously thought.

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.

Like fire and ice: Why societies are increasingly fragmenting

A new theory suggests that societies can only be either cohesive or fragmented, with the number of social contacts being the tipping point. As people seek to minimize social stress, they increasingly avoid disagreements and form filter bubbles, leading to a breakdown in constructive communication and potentially threatening democracy.

Oil droplet predators chase oil droplet prey

A team of researchers from Penn State describes a system where oil droplets exhibit 'non-reciprocal' interactions, chasing down other droplets that flee like prey. The system is controlled by chemical signaling and can be tuned to understand interactions in many-body systems.

Metal-organic frameworks become flexible

Researchers from TUM and RUB have developed flexible MOFs by adding carbon arms to the organic connecting pieces, allowing them to maintain their shape under pressure. The material's behavior is driven by configurational entropy, which enables it to transform between open-pored and closed-pore structures.

Study reveals how smoking worsens COVID-19 infection in the airways

A new study from UCLA researchers found that smoking cigarettes causes more severe COVID-19 infection in the airways by blocking immune system messenger proteins. The study used a model of airway tissue created from human stem cells to understand how SARS-CoV-2 virus affects smokers.

'Extremely aggressive' internet censorship spreads in the world's democracies

A recent study by the University of Michigan found that internet censorship is increasing in 103 countries, including Norway, Japan, and India. The Censored Planet tool collected over 21 billion measurements across 20 months in 221 countries, revealing widespread blocking of human rights sites, same-sex dating sites, and news outlets.

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.

Childhood lead exposure leads to structural changes in middle-aged brains

A long-term study of over 1,000 people found that childhood lead exposure was associated with structural brain changes and a significant loss of IQ points by age 45. The study revealed subtle but detectable differences in brain structure, including reduced cortical surface area and hippocampal volume.

EBMT 47th Annual Meeting

The EBMT 2021 Scientific Programme features symposia and educational sessions on HSCT and cell therapy. More than 6,000 delegates attend the annual meeting, which continues to evolve with new topics added every year.

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.

AI tool may predict movies' future ratings

Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering developed an AI tool that analyzes movie scripts to predict violent, substance-abuse, and sexual content. The tool classifies sentences and phrases into three categories, providing instant feedback for filmmakers to design a desired rating.

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.

Overweight and obese younger people at greater risk for severe COVID-19

A new study from UT Southwestern finds that being overweight or obese, even in younger patients under age 50, increases the risk of severe COVID-19 complications. The study analyzed data from over 7,600 patients and found that those with severe obesity had a 36% greater risk of dying compared to normal weight individuals.

An acebuchin-oil-enriched diet helps to reduce hypertension

A study by the University of Seville found that an acebuchin oil-enriched diet significantly reduces blood pressure and ocular oxidative stress associated with hypertension. The diet also prevents changes in the retina's morphology, a common outcome of hypertension.

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.