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Science News Archive November 2020 - Page 28


Page 28 of 43

Born to be young?

A new study found that prenatal exposure to maternal thyroid hormones can result in longer telomeres in chicks, making them appear younger at birth. This could have significant implications for understanding the effects of telomere length on aging and mortality risk.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalBiology Letters·DateNov 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.

Former NFL players may not suffer more severe cognitive impairment than others, study indicates

A UT Southwestern study found that retired football players with a history of concussions and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) scored similarly to non-athletes on verbal memory and learning tests. However, they showed lower scores on naming tests, which may be related to age-related decline rather than concussion effects.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalCognitive and Behavioral Neurology·DateNov 11, 2020

Internal clocks drive beta cell regeneration

Scientists from UNIGE and HUG identified the essential role of circadian clocks in beta cell regeneration. The study found that regeneration is significantly greater at night, when mice are active, and that the BMAL1 gene plays a crucial role in this process.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalGenes & Development·DateNov 11, 2020

In flies, consuming high-sugar diet reduces sensitivity to sweetness

A high-sugar diet in fruit flies reprograms sweet taste receptors, reducing sensitivity to sweetness and promoting unhealthy eating habits. The study suggests that this epigenetic change may contribute to obesity and chronic diseases.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 11, 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.

Researchers discover a new way to produce hydrogen using microwaves

A team of researchers has discovered a new way to produce hydrogen using microwaves, with great potential for the automotive sector, chemical industry, and process industry. The technology enables the transformation of renewable electricity into hydrogen or chemical products without cables or contact with electrodes.

SourceUniversitat Politècnica de València·JournalNature Energy·DateNov 11, 2020

Team sport lowers blood pressure in postmenopausal women

Postmenopausal women who participate in regular floorball training experience significant improvements in blood pressure and vascular function, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study demonstrates that team sport exercise can counteract the negative effects of estrogen loss on health.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·DateNov 11, 2020

Cloth face masks that can be disinfected by the sun

Researchers have developed a special type of cotton fabric that releases reactive oxygen species when exposed to daylight, killing microbes attached to its surface while being washable and reusable. The fabric showed promise in reducing the spread of diseases like COVID-19 by killing 99.9999% of bacteria and viruses within 60 minutes.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateNov 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.

Is proton therapy the silver bullet for children with brain cancer?

A new study will investigate the safety of proton therapy for children with brain cancer compared to conventional x-ray radiation. The researchers aim to assess the risk of developmental disorders in children as a result of using proton beams to treat paediatric brain tumours.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalCancers·DateNov 11, 2020

Graphene controls laser frequency combs in fiber

Researchers demonstrate graphene heterogeneous fiber micro resonator, generating dissipative soliton mode-locked laser combs with dynamic tunability. The graphene device provides opto-electric stabilization, reducing phase noise to instrument-limited floor, -130 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateNov 11, 2020

New prognostic markers for colon cancer identified

Researchers have identified isolated lymphoid structures (ILSs) as novel prognostic markers for metastatic colorectal cancer. ILSs, which are integral to the immune system, orchestrate multifaceted immune responses and can predict improved clinical outcomes in patients.

SourceMedical University of Vienna·JournalCancers·DateNov 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.

These masked singers are bats

Researchers observed wrinkle-faced bats displaying unique courtship behavior, including ultrasonic echolocation calls and trill song sequences. The species' face masks were found to be crucial in attracting females, with males using them to seduce potential mates.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 11, 2020

Observation of four-charm-quark structure

The LHCb collaboration observes two structures in proton-proton collisions, suggesting the existence of four-charm tetraquark states. The narrower structure is described as a hadron state of mass about 6900 MeV/c2, denoted as X(6900). Understanding the internal structure of hadrons remains a challenge, with QCD models unable to explain...

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateNov 11, 2020

Targeted therapies developed to reduce lung fibrosis

Researchers have developed two novel targeted therapies to slow down or stop fibrosis progression in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). These treatments aim to deliver potent drugs specifically to diseased cells, minimizing harm to healthy ones. The therapies will soon enter human clinical trials.

SourcePurdue University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 11, 2020
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.

COVID-19 news from Annals of Internal Medicine

Researchers describe the rapid deployment of a virtual hospital program during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding potential benefits in providing additional inpatient capacity. Meanwhile, a study on 60-day postdischarge outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 reveals ongoing morbidity and financial loss for most survivors.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 11, 2020

Building an ethics framework for Big Data in health care

A new Hastings Center project aims to develop an ethics framework for scientists to anticipate and prevent biases in health data models. The framework will consider data use, bias toward white populations, and equitable interventions to address health disparities.

SourceThe Hastings Center·DateNov 11, 2020

New survey reveals toll Covid-19 is taking on mental health in Wales

A new survey of 13,000 Welsh participants found that around half showed clinically significant psychological distress, with severe effects affecting 20%. The study highlights the need for public sector services to prepare for increased mental health problems in vulnerable groups.

SourceSwansea University·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateNov 11, 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.

Folding proteins feel the heat, and cold

Researchers refine theories on protein interactions with solutions, discovering new factors influencing folding, including thermal expansion and temperature. Atom-scale models reveal complex interactions between solvents and peptides, potentially changing our understanding of hydrophobic and hydrophilic effects.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateNov 11, 2020

Pediatric surgeon establishes first-ever guidelines for pediatric opioid prescribing

A team of healthcare providers and advocates led by Pediatric Surgeon Lorraine Kelley-Quon established the first-ever guidelines for safe opioid prescribing in children. The guidelines acknowledge the risks of opioid misuse and addiction in teens and adolescents, while promoting education and safe storage/disposal practices.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateNov 11, 2020

Diagnostic imaging may increase risk of testicular cancer

A new study from Penn Medicine researchers found that early and repeated exposures to diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays and CT scans, may increase the risk of testicular cancer. The study suggests that reduced medically unnecessary testicular exposure could be considered to reduce radiation dose and optimize shielding practices.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 11, 2020
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.

2020 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award winners named

Six entries featuring notable explanatory and investigative reporting on the global COVID-19 pandemic won the 2020 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards. Winners included Ed Yong, Kaiser Health News and The Associated Press for an investigation into state and local health programs.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·DateNov 11, 2020

Sugar work: U-M study finds sugar remodels molecular memory in fruit flies

A high-sugar diet reprograms taste cells in fruit flies, leaving a lasting molecular memory that affects future eating behavior. The researchers found that the molecular memory is persistent even after switching to healthy diets, leading to changes in gene expression that impact sweet taste perception.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 11, 2020

Routine testing for COVID-19 can make surgery safer - study

A new study reveals that routine pre-operative COVID-19 testing can significantly reduce the risk of respiratory complications and save lives. Researchers found that using nasal swab tests to confirm asymptomatic patients were not infected with SARS-CoV-2 led to a lower rate of post-operative complications.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalBJS·DateNov 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.

Yale scientists identify protein that protects against Lyme

Researchers at Yale University have discovered a protein called Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein 1 (PGLYRP1) that helps protect hosts from infection with the Lyme spirochete. The study, published in PLOS Pathogens, found that mice lacking this protein had higher levels of the bacteria and showed signs of immune system dysfunction.

SourceYale University·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 11, 2020
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.

Researchers trap electrons to create elusive crystal

Cornell researchers have successfully trapped electrons in a two-dimensional semiconducting structure, forming the long-hypothesized Wigner crystal. The team achieved this by stacking two-dimensional semiconductors and using an optical sensing technique to observe the resulting electron crystals.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateNov 11, 2020

Connecting two classes of unconventional superconductors

Researcher from Max Planck Institute applied large hydrostatic pressures to CeFeAsO, a non-superconducting compound. The study reveals a narrow superconducting phase emerging in the boundary region between spin-density-wave magnetism and Kondo-effect.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 11, 2020

Attosecond boost for electron microscopy

Researchers at University of Konstanz and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München develop a prototypical attosecond electron microscope (A-TEM) that enables visualization of light-matter interactions at attosecond speeds. This breakthrough can facilitate the exploration of atomic origins of light-matter interactions in complex materials...

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 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.

Studies detail impact of mammal species decline in Neotropics

The study reveals that mammal defaunation has wiped out over 40% of ecosystem services provided by mammals, such as ecotourism and disease control. Large-bodied mammals are disappearing fastest, while small-bodied species often perform the same services, with overlapping species among rodents, bats, and apex predators.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalEcosystem Services·DateNov 11, 2020

PLATYPUS: New vulnerabilities discovered in Intel processors

Researchers at Graz University of Technology discovered a method to exploit Intel processors using power side-channel attacks, even without physical access. The technique uses the RAPL interface and misuses Intel's SGX functionality to extract sensitive data.

SourceGraz University of Technology·DateNov 11, 2020

Dissecting colloidal glasses using laser as a lancet

Researchers at IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter use laser to study cage formation in colloidal glasses, finding non-monotonic length scale peaking at onset temperature. The findings reveal complex dynamics underlying glass transition, with implications for understanding other glassy systems.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature·DateNov 11, 2020
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

A survey on artificial intelligence in chest imaging of COVID-19

The article reviews AI-assisted chest imaging analysis methods for COVID-19 diagnosis, demonstrating the potential of deep learning-based techniques. Establishing a database for public research and extracting lesions accurately are crucial to improve performance.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalBIO Integration·DateNov 11, 2020

How organ functions were shaped over the course of evolution

Heidelberg researchers discovered that RNA synthesis and protein translation play crucial roles in shaping organ functions. The study analyzed over 100 billion gene expression fragments, revealing the importance of regulatory mechanisms at both layers of gene expression.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalNature·DateNov 11, 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.

AI speeds up development of new high-entropy alloys

A research team at Pohang University of Science & Technology developed a technique for predicting the phase and properties of high-entropy alloys using AI. The technique, which uses deep learning, improves the accuracy of phase prediction and provides guidance on key design parameters.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalMaterials & Design·DateNov 11, 2020

Engineer to model sunshine deflection for cooling planet

A team led by Doug MacMartin will model the effects of introducing reflective aerosols into the stratosphere to reduce Earth's temperature and limit climate change impact. The research aims to better understand the benefits and risks of this approach, with the goal of informing society's decisions.

SourceCornell University·DateNov 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.

When kids watch a lot of TV, parents may end up more stressed

A University of Arizona-led study suggests that excessive TV viewing can lead to increased stress in parents, particularly when children are exposed to more advertising messages. Collaborative communication with children is found to be a effective strategy in reducing parent stress.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalInternational Journal of Advertising·DateNov 10, 2020

Fish give insight on sound sensitivity in autism

Researchers used zebrafish with genetic mutations similar to those found in humans with Fragile X syndrome and autism to study sound sensitivity. The study revealed that the brains of these fish processed auditory information differently than normal fish, with more activity in the hindbrain and thalamus.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalBMC Biology·DateNov 10, 2020