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Science News Archive October 2020


Page 3 of 47

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.

Two-hour sepsis test in development at Penn State and Stanford University

A new rapid diagnostic system for sepsis is being developed at Penn State and Stanford University, which can identify fungal and bacterial pathogens within two hours. The five-year grant will allow researchers to bypass current blood culture steps and directly test pathogen susceptibility to antibiotics.

Effective stroke drugs are saving the NHS millions

The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in treating atrial fibrillation has led to a substantial reduction in stroke cases, resulting in cost savings for the NHS. Analysis shows that prescribing DOACs increased by £733m from 2011 to 2017, but reduced stroke cases by 11%.

Models show how COVID-19 cuts a neighborhood path

A new model simulates COVID-19 spread through neighborhoods, revealing varying risk levels, peak infection times, and prolonged hospital strain. Denser areas tend to reach peak infections earlier, while less dense ones may experience longer outbreaks.

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.

Cancer-fighting gene restrains 'jumping genes'

Scientists have discovered a new role for the cancer-fighting gene p53 in preventing retrotransposons from hopping around the human genome, potentially leading to new ways of detecting or treating cancers. The study found that cells without functional p53 had higher rates of retrotransposon movement and multiplication.

Predictive model reveals function of promising energy harvester device

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a predictive model for an energy harvesting device that can convert mechanical vibrations into electrical energy. The model helps optimize the device to generate more power, paving the way for its potential use in wireless sensors and actuators.

Misleading mulch: Researchers find contents of mulch bags do not match claims

A study by researchers at Penn State found that mulch bags labeled as 'cypress' often contain less than claimed, with some bags containing no cypress at all. The investigation used a new method to sort and estimate species mix in the mulch, revealing significant discrepancies between advertised content and actual composition.

New Denisovan DNA expands diversity, history of species

Researchers from Arizona State University have recovered ancient Denisovan mitochondrial DNA from Baishiya Karst Cave on the Tibetan Plateau, dating back to around 100,000 years ago. The discovery suggests that Denisovans may have interbred with modern humans in northeast central Asia, influencing genetic adaptations to high altitude.

Trust levels in AI predicted by people's relationship style, study shows

Researchers from the University of Kansas have discovered a link between people's attachment styles and their trust in artificial intelligence. Attachment anxiety is associated with reduced trust, while enhanced attachment security increases trust. The study suggests that reminding individuals of their secure relationships can boost tr...

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Accelerating the development of new medicines

The inaugural awards promote translational opportunities and therapeutics development at Harvard and affiliated hospitals. Five research projects targeting diverse conditions, including type 1 diabetes and severe asthma, will each receive $1 million over two years to advance their efforts.

Order in the disorder:

Scientists have found nanometre-sized areas of varying local density in amorphous silicon thin films. These regions, known as densely ordered domains, contain hardly any hydrogen and can contribute to the stability of the material.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

How Twitter takes votes away from Trump but not from Republicans

A recent study by Bocconi University and Princeton suggests that Twitter disadvantaged Donald Trump in the 2016 US presidential election by making independent voters less likely to vote for him. The study found no effect of Twitter on Republican elections, with a shift towards higher approval of Hillary Clinton among independents.

Probing water for an electrifying cause

A team of KAUST engineers has untangled the roles of water, hydrophobicity, and environmental factors in water electrification. They found that hydrophobic surfaces carry a negative surface charge, which attracts positive ions and repels negative ions from water.

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.

Towards next-generation molecule-based magnets

Researchers have developed a lightweight molecule-based magnet with unprecedented magnetic properties, exhibiting a 'memory effect' at elevated temperatures. The compound contains abundant metal chromium and inexpensive organic molecules, making it a promising alternative to current inorganic commercial magnets.

Drones as stinger spotters

Researchers used lower-cost domestic drones to detect Chironex fleckeri jellyfish in waters off northern Australia. The drones achieved significantly high detection rates, even under varying weather conditions. This innovative approach aims to improve beach safety and reduce the risk of jellyfish stings.

With Vilnius off, IPhO 2020 reemerges as distributed olympiad

The 2020 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) has been shifted to a distributed format due to the cancellation of the original event in Vilnius. The competition will take place from Dec. 7-15 and is open to teams of five school students or university undergraduates representing various countries.

Knee OA guidance for clinicians simplified and streamlined

The updated guidelines recommend a combination of non-pharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical interventions to manage knee osteoarthritis. Education, structured exercise, and weight loss are emphasized as core treatments, while topical NSAIDs are advised as first-line treatments for persistent pain.

'Time machine' offers new pancreatic cancer drug testing approach

Purdue University engineers have developed a microfluidic device that allows scientists to test drugs on multiple tumor cell subtypes, revealing new insights into drug resistance. The technology mimics the behavior of pancreatic cancer cells within a tumor, enabling researchers to identify effective treatment strategies.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Boo! How do mexican cavefish escape predators?

Researchers found that cavefish exhibit reduced response probability, slower latency, and altered kinematics compared to surface fish. The study provides insight into the evolution of escape behaviors in Mexican cavefish and highlights the importance of ecological differences in shaping neural circuits.

Losing ground in biodiversity hotspots worldwide

Researchers from Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that even protected biodiversity hotspots are losing significant areas to agriculture and urban sprawl. Over a quarter century, the world's most biologically diverse places lost an area three times the size of Sweden.

Corporations directing our attention online more than we realize

A new study by University of Illinois researchers Harsh Taneja and Angela Xiao Wu found that corporations use 'nudging' techniques to influence online attention, often in hidden ways. The researchers analyzed clickstream data from a million people and identified common clusters of websites that reflect corporate ownership, partnerships...

Face mask aims to deactivate virus to protect others

Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new face mask concept that aims to deactivate viruses in respiratory droplets, making the wearer less infectious. The masks feature anti-viral chemicals like phosphoric acid and copper salt that alter escaped droplets, reducing viral spread.

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.

Researcher making drones smarter, situationally aware and team-oriented

A researcher at Northern Arizona University is developing AI-powered drones that can monitor themselves and each other in different scenarios. The project aims to enable autonomous drones to respond to environmental and behavioral factors, improving their performance in various applications such as traffic control and surveillance.

An Earth-sized rogue planet discovered in the Milky Way

Astronomers detect tiny free-floating planet with timescale of just 42 minutes, shedding light on turbulent past of young planetary systems. The discovery demonstrates that low-mass free-floating planets can be detected and characterized using ground-based telescopes.

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.

These spiders can hear

Researchers discovered that ogre-faced spiders can detect both low- and high-frequency sounds using hairs and joint receptors on their legs. The spiders use these sensory systems to hunt flying insects by performing a choreographed backwards strike, which may be aided by directional hearing.

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.

International team tracks record-setting smoke cloud from Australian wildfires

A global team of researchers found a record-setting smoke cloud from Australian wildfires that measured 1,000 kilometers across and remained intact for three months. The team's findings provide critical information on the impact of wildfires on the Earth's atmosphere, which is expected to increase due to climate change.

Unravelling the origins of autoimmune psychosis

A new study by University of Barcelona reveals that alterations in dopaminergic receptors D1R and D2R in the hippocampal area of the brain cause memory deficits and psychotic behaviour in mice with anti-NMDAR encephalitis. The findings hold promise for developing more efficient antipsychotic drugs.

Study identifies pitfall for correcting mutations in human embryos with CRISPR

A recent study published in Cell reveals that CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing can lead to undesirable outcomes, including the elimination of entire chromosomes or large sections in human embryos. The research warns against premature clinical application of this technology until further development and testing are conducted.

Smart bottle brushes

Researchers from TUM have visualized the changes in bottle-brush polymers using neutron radiation, enabling a deeper understanding of their behavior at different temperatures. This knowledge can be used to optimize their chemical structure for practical applications.

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.

Curbing COVID-19 hospitalizations requires attention to construction workers

A new study from the University of Texas at Austin found that construction workers are five times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than workers in other occupations. The researchers suggest that encouraging basic precautions, such as mask-wearing and physical distancing on work sites, can help mitigate risk.

Positive outlook predicts less memory decline

A new study found that individuals with higher levels of positive affect had less steep memory decline over a nearly decade-long period. Positive emotions are associated with healthier aging, contradicting the notion that memories fade with age.

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.

Identifying biomolecule fragments in ionising radiation

A new study reveals the precise energies at which secondary electrons produce certain biomolecule fragments when living cells are irradiated with heavy ions. The research could lead to more effective cancer therapies by understanding how biomolecules such as DNA are damaged by ionising radiation.

High rate of symptomless COVID-19 infection among grocery store workers

A study of 104 grocery store employees in Boston found that those in customer-facing roles were 5 times more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 than their colleagues. Additionally, three out of four infected workers had no symptoms, highlighting the potential for asymptomatic transmission among key workers.

Study of ancient dog DNA traces canine diversity to the Ice Age

A global study of ancient dog DNA found at least five different types of dogs more than 11,000 years ago in Europe, the Near East, and Siberia. The research team sequenced DNA from 27 dogs, showing that canine diversity originated when humans were still hunters and gatherers.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Affinity vs. cooperativity

UC Santa Barbara researchers develop a method to increase both affinity and cooperativity in aptamer-based biosensors, allowing for fine-tuned regulation of receptor properties. This approach enables precision biosensing applications, such as detecting low concentrations of target molecules like chemotherapy drugs.