Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive September 2020 - Page 2


Page 2 of 49

Mosquitos lost an essential gene with no ill effects

Researchers at UMD discovered that mosquitoes lack a critical gene for proper body segmentation, but a related gene took its place. This finding highlights the importance of caution in genetic studies and offers new potential avenues for targeted mosquito control strategies.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalCommunications Biology·DateSep 30, 2020

Cells sacrifice themselves to boost immune response to viruses

A recent study published in Nature Immunology describes the crucial role of neutrophils in boosting the immune response against viral infections. By sacrificing themselves, these cells release essential molecules that help activate specialized T cells to target and destroy infected cells.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalNature Immunology·DateSep 30, 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.

Texas A&M study: Marine heatwaves can strengthen hurricanes

A Texas A&M University study reveals that marine heatwaves can strengthen hurricanes by combining with extreme weather events. The research found that Hurricane Michael became a Category 5 storm due to the compounding effects of Tropical Storm Gordon and an atmospheric heatwave in the Gulf of Mexico.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 30, 2020

Study explores link between methamphetamine use and risky sexual behavior

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that methamphetamine use increases the risk of casual sex without a condom, particularly among those with higher sexual desire. The study demonstrated that intense sexual arousal leads to rapid shift in preference for using a condom.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalExperimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology·DateSep 30, 2020
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.

Chronically understudied, fences hold grave ecological threats

Research on fences, a ubiquitous human landscape alteration, highlights profound ecosystem consequences of movement restriction. Fences have been found to isolate specialist species, alter community composition, and disrupt turtle migration patterns.

SourceAmerican Institute of Biological Sciences·JournalBioScience·DateSep 30, 2020

UM171 saves another life

A young man suffering from severe aplastic anemia has been given a life-saving blood transplant using the UM171 molecule, which increases stem cell production and reduces immunological complications. The procedure was performed by a medical team at the Institute of Hemato-oncology and Cellular Therapy.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalEuropean Journal Of Haematology·DateSep 30, 2020

Colloidal quantum dot light emitters go broadband in the infrared

Researchers at ICFO have developed a new class of broadband solid state light emitters based on colloidal quantum dot technology, enabling efficient and compact infrared emission. The devices achieve outstanding photon conversion efficiency of up to 25% and tunable emission spectra, paving the way for various applications including spe...

SourceICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateSep 30, 2020
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Powering AI in sensors with energy harvested from nature

A team of researchers, led by Jingtong Hu from the University of Pittsburgh, aims to apply artificial intelligence to remote sensors deployed in hard-to-reach areas. By leveraging energy-harvesting technology, they plan to save power on sensor devices and increase their lifespan.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·DateSep 30, 2020

Novel role of microglia as modulators of neurons in the brain is discovered

A new study reveals that microglia, immune cells in the brain, regulate behavioral responses by sensing neuronal activation and providing negative feedback. This novel mechanism of neuromodulation has implications for treating neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature·DateSep 30, 2020

Cardiac arrest, poor survival rates common in sickest patients with COVID-19

A new study found that cardiac arrest is common in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with poor survival rates despite CPR efforts. The study, led by Michigan Medicine researchers, analyzed data from 68 US hospitals and found that patients admitted to ICUs for COVID-19 had a 14% risk of cardiac arrest within two weeks.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe BMJ·DateSep 30, 2020

Shedding light on how urban grime affects chemical reactions in cities

Researchers investigated urban grime samples from US cities, revealing that it absorbs sunlight, which can speed up or slow down chemical reactions affecting air and water quality. The study found differences in ion levels between North American and European cities.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Earth and Space Chemistry·DateSep 30, 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.

Videos most effective in communicating with parents about secondhand smoke risks

A study found that video messages are significantly more effective than text-only messages in influencing parent smokers' intentions to protect their children from secondhand smoke. Videos depicting the risks and solutions were most effective, especially when including recommendations for cessation and exposure reduction.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateSep 30, 2020

Study looks at encoding the odor of cigarette smoke

A recent study by University of Kentucky researchers uses new technology to identify receptors responsible for encoding the complex odor of cigarette smoke. The study's findings could lead to the development of blockers to improve smoking cessation rates, which are notoriously low.

SourceUniversity of Kentucky·DateSep 30, 2020

Extra visit time with patients may explain wage gap for female physicians

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that female primary care physicians generated 11 percent less revenue than their male counterparts, despite spending 2.4 more minutes per visit on average. This suggests that the current system of paying doctors based on volume may be a flawed measure of work effort.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 30, 2020
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.

How a toxic chromium species could form in drinking water

A study by Haizhou Liu and colleagues reveals that corroded cast iron pipes can react with residual disinfectants to form Cr(VI), a known carcinogen. The researchers suggest using less-reactive disinfectants and replacing cast iron pipes with chromium alloy could help mitigate Cr(VI) levels in drinking water.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateSep 30, 2020

Venus might be habitable today, if not for Jupiter

A study by UCR astrobiologist Stephen Kane suggests that Venus was likely habitable a billion years ago due to its more circular orbit. The findings could provide insights into how the Earth became habitable and what went wrong for Venus, which now has surface temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·DateSep 30, 2020

Measuring muscle strength provides insights regarding weakness in older adults

A collection of articles reviews the literature on using isokinetic testing to measure muscle strength in older adults with conditions such as COPD and stroke. The studies provide evidence for the validity and reliability of isokinetic strength testing, but highlight limitations in responsiveness and practicality.

SourceIOS Press·JournalIsokinetics and Exercise Science·DateSep 30, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Cognitive flexibility training manages responses to social conflict

A computer-based training program has been developed to reduce negative responses to social conflict by minimizing hostile attribution bias. The training exposes participants to ambiguous word fragments that can form either aggressive or non-aggressive words, helping them to differentiate between the two.

SourceWalter Reed Army Institute of Research·JournalCognitive Therapy and Research·DateSep 30, 2020

Science snapshots September 2020

Researchers have developed a new technique to fabricate tiny circuits from ultrathin materials for next-generation electronics. Plants are being engineered to produce new molecules with enhanced properties, while lignin is transformed into a precursor for a useful chemical with wide range of applications

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalACS Central Science·DateSep 30, 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.

$5 million NIH grant awarded to reduce COVID-19-related disparities

A $5 million NIH grant will help identify disease hotspots and testing deserts in vulnerable populations in Texas, aiming to increase COVID-19 testing. Researchers will develop and evaluate intervention strategies to address these disparities, focusing on three racially diverse areas with high infection rates.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·DateSep 30, 2020

Investigational COVID-19 vaccine well-tolerated, generates immune response in older adults

A Phase 1 trial of an investigational mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has shown that the vaccine is well-tolerated and generates a strong immune response in older adults, with comparable efficacy to younger age groups. The study enrolled 40 healthy volunteers aged 56-71 years, who received two doses of the vaccine.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 30, 2020
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.

Nights warming faster than days across much of the planet

Global warming is affecting nighttime temperatures differently, with more than half of the global land surface experiencing greater night-time warming. This 'warming asymmetry' has significant implications for plant growth and species interactions.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateSep 30, 2020

Stellar explosion in Earth's proximity

Researchers have confirmed the existence of a supernova that exploded near Earth 2.5 million years ago, producing iron-60 and manganese-53. The discovery was made using ultra-trace analysis, which detected the presence of these elements in ancient sediment layers.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·DateSep 30, 2020

Is it time to reframe the assisted dying debate?

Experts argue that the assisted dying debate needs a radical shift in perspective, moving beyond a medical framework. Studies show that depression, hopelessness, and perception of being a burden are stronger predictors of desire to hasten death.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateSep 30, 2020

Network reveals large variations in shaking in LA basin after Ridgecrest earthquake

The study found that long-period buildings experienced the most amplification of shaking from the Ridgecrest earthquake, with maximum amplification occurring in the western part of the L.A. basin and the south-central San Fernando Valley. This could result in high-rise buildings in those areas experiencing shaking four times larger tha...

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalSeismological Research Letters·DateSep 30, 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.

Aortic valve replacement during COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers evaluated deferred vs expedited aortic valve replacements for patients with severe aortic stenosis during the pandemic. The study found that delayed surgery may not significantly increase mortality rates, offering hope for those on waiting lists.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateSep 30, 2020

Scientists discover bacterium linked to deadly childhood disorder

Researchers identified Paenibacillus species as the causative agent of post-infectious hydrocephalus (PIH), which affects millions of children worldwide. The discovery has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality by shifting treatment from surgery to antibiotics and vaccines.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateSep 30, 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.

The most sensitive and fastest graphene microwave bolometer

A team of scientists at ICFO has developed a graphene-based bolometer that can detect microwave photons with extremely high sensitivities and fast time responses. The device uses a microwave resonator to generate photons, which are then detected through the heating of graphene.

SourceICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences·JournalNature·DateSep 30, 2020

Arnhem Land Maliwawa rock art opens window to past

Researchers have discovered 572 previously unknown rock art images in northwest Arnhem Land, dating back between 6,000 and 9,400 years. The images depict large, naturalistic humans and macropods with animals often shown more frequently than human figures.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalAustralian Archaeology·DateSep 30, 2020

Social novelty has a special place in the brain

Researchers at RIKEN Center for Brain Science discovered a brain region called the SuM that detects new social experiences and segregates them from unfamiliar places. This finding can help understand normal memory and conditions where recognizing new information is impaired.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateSep 30, 2020

New research on how fungal cells respond to stress

Researchers at University of Maryland Baltimore County identified three coordinated pathways in filamentous fungi responding to cell wall stress. By understanding how cells work and respond to stress, scientists can develop new processes for improving crop quality and creating pharmaceuticals.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·DateSep 30, 2020

Dinosaur feather study debunked

A new study provides substantial evidence that a Jurassic fossil feather belongs to the iconic Archaeopteryx, a bird-like dinosaur. The research found that the feather matches a type of wing feather called a primary covert, identical in size and shape to those on an Archaeopteryx wing.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 30, 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.

Finding a cure for multiple sclerosis

A US researcher has received a National Multiple Sclerosis Society grant to identify compound analogues that can repair damaged axons in multiple sclerosis. The project aims to find a new treatment avenue that speeds up nerve impulses and promotes myelin repair.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateSep 30, 2020

How green hydrogen can become cheap enough to compete with fossil fuels

Researchers at UNSW Sydney have analyzed the costs of producing green hydrogen using electrolysis and solar power, finding that it can range from $2.89 to $4.67 per kilogram. The cost is influenced by factors such as electrolyser efficiency, available sunlight, and capital costs of electrolysers. To make green hydrogen more competitive...

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateSep 30, 2020
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.

Computer model shows how COVID-19 could lead to runaway inflammation

A computer model reveals that a specific region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein acts as a superantigen, triggering a massive immune response and leading to severe inflammation in some COVID-19 patients. The study also suggests that therapies targeting toxic shock syndrome may be effective for managing MIS-C and cytokine storm in adults.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 30, 2020

Children hold leaders primarily responsible, not entitled

A new study published in Child Development found that young children conceptualize leadership as a hierarchy based on voluntary deference and respect. Children expected a leader to contribute more to joint goals and withdraw an equal share from common prizes, but judged leaders harsher for not adhering to these behaviors.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalChild Development·DateSep 30, 2020

Monitoring coronary artery disease in real-time

A new electronic stent design is being developed to continuously monitor coronary artery disease in real-time, providing a unique solution to prevent restenosis. The device will offer long-term monitoring capabilities without the need for frequent follow-up visits.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·DateSep 30, 2020
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.

Can organic plant protection products damage crops?

A new disease affecting maize has been discovered by researchers at the University of Göttingen, caused by an aggressive strain of the fungus Trichoderma. This discovery raises concerns about the potential risks of using organic plant protection products in agriculture.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalFrontiers in Agronomy·DateSep 30, 2020

The ancient Neanderthal hand in severe COVID-19

A new study reveals that genetic variants from a 50,000-year-old Neanderthal from southern Europe are associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19. Carriers of these variants have up to three times the risk of requiring mechanical ventilation, highlighting the importance of genetics in disease severity.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature·DateSep 30, 2020