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Science News Archive September 2020 - Page 20


Page 20 of 49

Bio-based inhibition of gas hydrate formation

A new bio-based catalyst, copper stearate, has been shown to efficiently inhibit gas hydrate formation and facilitate in-situ oil combustion. The compound's high performance in low-temperature conditions makes it a promising solution for the petroleum industry.

SourceKazan Federal University·JournalEnergy·DateSep 21, 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.

Archaeology uncovers infectious disease spread - 4000 years ago

Researchers have discovered evidence of the ancient disease yaws in skeletal remains from Vietnam, dating back 4000 years. The study suggests that yaws was introduced to hunter-gatherers by agricultural populations moving south from modern-day China.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalBioarchaeology International·DateSep 21, 2020

Study shows vitamin E needed for proper nervous system development

Researchers at Oregon State University have found that vitamin E is crucial for the normal development of the brain and nervous system in embryos. The study used zebrafish as a model organism and found that those with a deficiency in vitamin E had malformed brains and nervous systems, leading to embryo death.

SourceOregon State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 21, 2020

Researchers find cardiovascular health similarities between chimpanzees, humans

A new study on chimpanzees shows that a plant-based diet and substantial opportunities for exercise can reduce cardiovascular disease risk to human levels. Free-ranging chimpanzees in sanctuaries exhibit lower body weight and lipid levels, indicative of better health.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateSep 21, 2020

Unexpected wildfire emission impacts air quality worldwide

Researchers detected nitrous acid levels two to four times higher than expected in wildfire plumes globally, driving increased ozone pollution and air quality harm. The chemical accelerates the formation of lung-damaging ozone pollution downwind of fires, with significant variations depending on ecosystem type.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 21, 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.

Homicides near schools affect students' educational outcomes

A new study found that homicides near schools decrease math test scores by 5% and attendance by 1%, with a similar effect to reducing teacher quality. Boys are more affected by violence than girls, leading to lower aspirations and attitudes towards education.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalJournal of Labor Economics·DateSep 21, 2020

New research identifies genetic factors contributing to small body size in dogs

Researchers at Clemson University have identified two genetic variations associated with small body size and lance canine, a dental anomaly common in Shetland Sheepdogs. The study found that dogs with these variations are on average one inch shorter and six pounds lighter than unaffected breeds.

SourceClemson University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

Mental illness treatment varies widely among american adolescents within and across zip codes

Researchers found that only 70.8% of children received any follow-up treatment for mental illness within the first three months, varying widely by ZIP code. Many children were prescribed strong drugs with little evidence of effectiveness, despite generally recommended therapy as a first line of treatment.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

Extra stability for magnetic knots

Researchers at Kiel University found that neglected magnetic interactions play a key role in stabilizing skyrmions, increasing their lifetime and opening up new material systems. The discovery could enhance the stability of skyrmions, enabling their use in future electronic devices and data storage concepts.

SourceKiel University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 21, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Think you have chemical intolerance? Answer 3 questions

A new brief survey called the Brief Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (BREESI) can help identify individuals with chemical intolerance by answering just three yes-or-no questions. The BREESI was developed to address the growing concern of chemical intolerance, which affects 8-33% of individuals, and its impact on health.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 21, 2020

Unlocking the secrets of plant genomes in high resolution

Researchers developed a new software tool called WhatsHap polyphase to phase plant genomes in high resolution and with low error margins. The tool solves the problem using a two-phase process and is now available for polyploid organisms, including plants.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalGenome Biology·DateSep 21, 2020

Phone system for assessing chest troubles is unsafe and unreliable

A semi-automatic phone triage system designed to help people with chest discomfort during out-of-hours periods has been found to be unsafe and unreliable. The system underestimated the severity of more than a quarter of patients with serious heart conditions, highlighting the need for input from nurses to ensure accurate assessment.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalOpen Heart·DateSep 21, 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.

Glucocorticoids associated with increased risk for infection, even at low doses

Researchers found that glucocorticoid therapy, even at low doses (5mg/day or less), significantly increases the risk of serious infections in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The study used claims data from over 200,000 patients with RA to show a 30% increase in infection risk among those on low-dose glucocorticoids.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateSep 21, 2020

Cosmic X-rays reveal an indubitable signature of black holes

Astrophysicists identify distinctive signatures of stellar-mass black holes in archival X-ray data, separating them from neutron stars. This is the strongest steady signature of stellar-mass black holes to date.

SourceTata Institute of Fundamental Research·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 21, 2020

Examining links between age and pain in the United States

A US study found that middle-aged individuals without a bachelor's degree reported more pain than elderly individuals, unlike in other wealthy countries where pain rises with age. The finding suggests that pain prevalence will continue to increase for less-educated adults in the US, with significant implications for healthcare.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020
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.

NASA sees Wilfred degenerate into a trough

Wilfred weakened into a trough in the Central Atlantic Ocean, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph and forecasters expect winds to continue decreasing. The system's interaction with an upper-level trough led to linear thunderstorm development.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 21, 2020

Tree planting has potential to increase carbon sequestration capacity on Nation's forests

A new study suggests that concentrating tree planting efforts on understocked forest land, particularly in western states and the Northeast, can substantially increase carbon sequestration capacity. This targeted approach could enhance ecosystem services and offset a significant portion of the country's carbon dioxide emissions.

SourceUSDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

Advancing the accurate tracking of energy poverty

A novel measurement framework has been developed to track energy poverty more accurately, focusing on the services people lack rather than just physical connections. This alternative framework can aid in better tracking of Sustainable Development Goal 7 by virtue of its simplicity and sensitivity to diverse service conditions among the...

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalProgress in Energy·DateSep 21, 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.

First new drug in years reduces recurrence in high risk HR+ early breast cancer

A study at ESMO 2020 found that adding abemaciclib to hormonal therapy reduces the risk of cancer recurrence by 25% in patients with high-risk early hormone receptor positive breast cancer. This new treatment approach improves invasive disease free survival and may spare chemotherapy in this group of patients.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateSep 20, 2020

ESMO 2020: Breast cancer drug set to transform prostate cancer treatment

A major trial shows olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, is more effective than modern hormone treatments in slowing down prostate cancer growth and spread. Patients with genetic alterations in DNA repair genes who received olaparib had a median overall survival of 19.1 months.

SourceInstitute of Cancer Research·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 20, 2020

PARPi olaparib for the targeted treatment of metastatic prostate cancer

The PROfound trial demonstrates the efficacy of PARP inhibitor olaparib in treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with at least one alteration in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Olaparib significantly improves overall survival, particularly in patients with alterations in these genes.

SourceVall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 20, 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.

Studies investigate marine heatwaves, shifting ocean currents

Researchers investigate marine heatwaves and their effects on regional ocean circulation, marine life, and fisheries. They found that extreme warming events can extend to 300 meters below the surface in certain areas, impacting ecosystems and economies.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalJournal of Climate·DateSep 20, 2020
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.

Giant spider provides promise of pain relief for irritable bowel syndrome

Researchers from the University of Queensland have discovered two pain-blocking peptides in the Venezuelan Pinkfoot Goliath tarantula's venom, showing great potential as treatments for chronic intestinal pain. The peptides inhibit the most important ion channels underlying pain and nearly stopped chronic visceral pain in a model of IBS.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalPain·DateSep 20, 2020

Early birds vs night owls: for diabetics, an early bedtime is best

A study found that people with type 2 diabetes who go to bed early and wake up early have a significantly more active lifestyle than those who prefer late bedtimes. This research highlights the importance of sleep chronotypes in managing diabetes and suggests that adjusting bedtime can lead to improved physical activity levels.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalBMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care·DateSep 20, 2020

Study shows the major impact of diabetes on the risk of falls

A recent study published in Diabetologia reveals that people with type 1 diabetes have a 33% higher risk of falls compared to the general population, while those with type 2 diabetes face a 19% increased risk. The research also identifies various risk factors for falls and fractures in individuals with diabetes.

SourceDiabetologia·DateSep 20, 2020

Male baboons with female friends live longer

A new study on over 540 baboons in Amboseli National Park in Kenya reveals that male baboons who have close female friends are more likely to survive than those without them. Males with strong social connections, particularly with females, live longer lives.

SourceDuke University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateSep 20, 2020

No benefit for post-operative radiotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer

A large randomized trial found that post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) does not significantly improve disease-free survival in completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The study included 501 patients and showed no significant difference in overall survival between the PORT group and the control group.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateSep 20, 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.

Your cells look young for their age, compared to a chimp's

A new study found that humans exhibit slower epigenetic aging than chimpanzees, with certain DNA sites gaining or losing chemical tags in a clock-like pattern. The researchers analyzed over 850,000 DNA sites in blood samples from 83 chimpanzees aged 1 to 59 and found that aging leaves its mark on the chimpanzee genome, similar to humans.

SourceDuke University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateSep 20, 2020

Immunotherapy combination improves outcomes in advanced kidney cancer

The CheckMate -9ER trial found that combining nivolumab and cabozantinib improved progression-free survival by doubling it compared to sunitinib, with a higher response rate and superior quality of life for patients. The combination treatment demonstrated meaningful efficacy benefits and manageable toxicity.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·DateSep 19, 2020
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.

UC study sheds light on cancer treatment, COVID-19

A UC study found that patients with cancer who contract COVID-19 have a higher risk of death if treated with certain anti-cancer therapies at specific times. The study analyzed data from over 3,000 patients and found that those treated one to three months prior to diagnosis had the highest mortality rates.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·DateSep 19, 2020

New first-line treatment option for metastatic kidney cancer

A phase 3 trial found that combining nivolumab and cabozantinib was superior to sunitinib for progression-free survival, overall survival, and response rate in patients with metastatic kidney cancer. The treatment reduced the risk of progression or death by almost 50%.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateSep 19, 2020

Increasing the effectiveness of cancer treatments: Anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy

Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Harvard Medical School found that controlling the nuclear localization of PD-L1 can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy for cancer treatment. They discovered that removal of a specific modification allows PD-L1 to enter the nucleus and regulate the immune response.

SourceTokyo Medical and Dental University·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateSep 18, 2020

Solar storm forecasts for Earth improved with help from the public

A new forecasting method, developed with public input, shows increased accuracy in predicting coronal mass ejections and their impact on Earth. The Solar Stormwatch project demonstrated the value of wide-field CME imaging cameras on future space weather monitoring missions.

SourceUniversity of Reading·JournalAGU Advances·DateSep 18, 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.

Removal of a gene could render lethal poxviruses harmless

A study published in Science Advances found that removing a single gene from the poxvirus genome renders it harmless, triggering a potent immune response. The researchers used the ectromelia virus and discovered that disabling this gene made the infection detectable to the immune system.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 18, 2020

Indian monsoon can be predicted better after volcanic eruptions

Large volcanic eruptions improve monsoon predictability by synchronizing with El Niño events, making it easier to anticipate seasonal rainfall in India. This finding helps develop climate models and assess regional implications of geo-engineering experiments.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 18, 2020

Ancient human footprints in Saudi Arabia give glimpse of Arabian ecology 120000 years ago

Researchers have discovered securely dated human footprints in Saudi Arabia, dating back 120,000 years, which provide valuable insights into the Arabian Peninsula's role in human prehistory. The findings suggest that humans and large mammals used the region's landscape in response to dry conditions and diminishing water supplies.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 18, 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.

VLBA makes first direct distance measurement to magnetar

Astronomers used the VLBA to measure the distance to magnetar XTE J1810-197, one of the closest known at about 8100 light-years. This precise measurement can help determine if magnetars generate Fast Radio Bursts, a long-mysterious phenomenon.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 18, 2020

SUTD researchers develop simple method to 3D print milk products

Researchers from SUTD developed a method to perform direct ink writing 3D printing of milk-based products at room temperature, maintaining nutrients. The team changed the rheological properties of the printing ink and demonstrated DIW 3D printing using cold-extrusion with powdered milk.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalRSC Advances·DateSep 18, 2020

Actively speaking two languages protects against cognitive impairment

Researchers found that actively using two languages enhances cognitive reserve and delays the onset of symptoms associated with cognitive decline and dementia. The study suggests that bilingualism is an important predictor of delay in the onset of mild cognitive impairment, a preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateSep 18, 2020

UM receives largest single research award in its history

The University of Montana has received a five-year, $33.4 million award from the National Institutes of Health to develop and conduct clinical trials for opioid vaccines. The UM vaccine research team will advance lead opioid vaccine candidates to Phase I human clinical trials with funding from the NIH HEAL Initiative.

SourceThe University of Montana·DateSep 18, 2020
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.

Human Brain Project launches 'Brain Matters' webinar series

The Human Brain Project is launching a new webinar series called 'Brain Matters', featuring hour-long sessions on different areas of brain research. Expert speakers will share their knowledge on the HBP's scientific achievements and the state-of-the-art infrastructure for brain research, EBRAINS.

SourceHuman Brain Project·DateSep 18, 2020

New way to halt leukemia relapse shown promising in mice

Researchers identified a second path to defeating chronic myelogenous leukemia by disrupting the Gdpd3 gene, which regulates quiescence of CML stem cells. This approach reduces leukemia relapse rates even when BCR-ABL1 oncogene is not disrupted.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 18, 2020

Defying a 150-year-old rule for phase behavior

Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and University Paris-Saclay found a five-phase equilibrium in mixtures, breaking the Gibbs phase rule. The discovery provides useful insights for industries working with complex mixtures.

SourceEindhoven University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 18, 2020