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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 102


Page 102 of 510

New study sheds light on molecular motion

Scientists have developed a synthetic fibre that guides molecular movement fueled by light over long distances, paving the way for new sustainable energy sources and applications in medicine and chemical tasks. The system emulates cellular fibres, allowing for controlled transport of molecules using light as energy.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021
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.

Vaccines effective against most SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new Yale study finds that two commonly used coronavirus vaccines provide protection against multiple variants of the virus. Researchers also found that individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 prior to vaccination exhibit a more robust immune response to all variants.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateOct 11, 2021

The unknown consequences of plastic’s legacy, found in seabirds around the world

A study found that seabirds around the globe consume up to 52% of plastic, leading to accumulation of its chemical components in their bodies. Researchers analyzed oil from preen glands and stomach contents of bird carcasses to determine contaminant burdens.

SourceTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology·JournalEnvironmental Monitoring and Contaminants Research·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

How recovery from COVID-19’s impact on energy demand could help meet climate targets

A new study examines alternative scenarios and their potential impact on climate mitigation targets. The research suggests that retaining low-energy practices in lifestyle and business could reduce climate mitigation challenges, while missing these opportunities would lead to a more difficult energy transition.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalNature Energy·DateOct 11, 2021

Workload determines how co-workers treat sick colleagues

A UCF study examines the link between 'coworker presenteeism' and mistreatment, finding that heavy workloads lead to self-interest and avoidance of sick colleagues. Managers are advised to encourage employees to stay home to recover quickly and protect their health.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateOct 11, 2021

Searching for elusive supersymmetric particles

An international team of scientists, led by Professor Owen Long, explored supersymmetry as an extension of the Standard Model. They conducted experiments at the Large Hadron Collider and found no signs of supersymmetric particles, but their null result is still a significant scientific progress.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalPhysical Review D·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Teaching ancient brains new tricks

A team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University has discovered how the brains of advanced physicists organize highly abstract scientific concepts. They found that physicists' brains group concepts into measureable versus immeasurable size, and that these patterns are organized separately in their brains. This study provides insight...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·Journalnpj Science of Learning·TypeObservational study·DateOct 11, 2021
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.

Long-term missions in space may scar the brain

Researchers have discovered strong indications of brain injury and accelerated aging following long-duration spaceflight. Blood samples from astronauts showed an increase in brain-derived proteins and a correlated response with time spent in space.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateOct 11, 2021

Tracking an elusive molecule key to climate and combustion chemistry

Scientists have directly observed carbon-centered hydroperoxyalkyl radical (QOOH), a crucial intermediate product in climate change models and combustion engine design. The study's results improve understanding of oxidation reactions and their impact on atmospheric pollution.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateOct 11, 2021

New gene could help improve tomato flavor and shelf-life

Researchers have identified a gene that regulates fruit softening independent of fruit ripening, allowing tomatoes to stay firm until consumption while maintaining flavor. The discovery could lead to increased shelf-life without sacrificing flavor, benefiting commercial producers and consumers alike.

SourceBoyce Thompson Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2021

Oncotarget: CRISPR/Cas9-directed epigenetic editing

Researchers used CRISPR/dCas9 technology to target DNA methylation and study its effects on cancer cell behavior. The study found that the same epigenetic modification can lead to opposing expression profiles of a target gene in different cancer cell models.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·DateOct 11, 2021
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.

Adverse complications for covid positive pregnant women and their newborns adds further weight to vaccination calls

A new study found a significant increase in adverse outcomes for COVID-19 positive pregnant women, including gestational diabetes, low white blood cell counts, and heavier bleeding during delivery. Respiratory complications were also witnessed in their babies, highlighting the importance of vaccinating all pregnant women against COVID-19.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalThe Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine·DateOct 10, 2021
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Most Americans resumed travel or leisure before COVID-19 vaccines became available

A Texas A&M study found that over half of American adults resumed risky social and travel activities before vaccines were widely available. The survey also revealed that younger individuals, those with lower socioeconomic status, and fiscally conservative respondents were more likely to engage in such behaviors.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalINQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing·TypeNews article·DateOct 8, 2021

Aging-US: Protein processing impairment in Parkinson’s disease

A study published in Aging-US reveals that protein processing impairment in Parkinson's disease is mediated by chromogranin/secretogranin, leading to decreased candidate proteins and peptides. This finding suggests a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PD.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·DateOct 8, 2021

TTUHSC researcher investigates ways to enhance neurolysin activity in the brain

Researchers at TTUHSC have identified novel targets for treating stroke, focusing on enhancing neurolysin activity. The study discovered small molecules that can selectively enhance the activity of neurolysin, which showed promise in reducing damage to the brain after a stroke.

SourceTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2021
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.

Astrophysicists explain the origin of unusually heavy neutron star binaries

A new study reveals how supernovae explosions of massive stars can form heavy neutron star binaries, resolving a puzzle from gravitational wave observatories LIGO and Virgo. The team's results show that the explosion energy determines whether a stripped star forms a neutron star or black hole.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 8, 2021

Sequencing the unknown made easy: Metaplatanus improves metagenome assembly

A novel metagenome assembler called MetaPlatanus has been developed to improve DNA sequence accuracy, including those of uncultured organisms. The tool uses accurate short DNA sequence reads to assemble contigs and scaffold larger chromosome-scale structures.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2021

Sharp flu rebound expected after lifting of COVID distancing measures

Researchers at Columbia University predict a large-scale influenza outbreak in the US after lifting public health measures, followed by worsened seasonal flu outbreaks. The study suggests that greater population-wide immune susceptibility to influenza could lead to more severe outbreaks.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2021

Accidental burns increased for children at home during pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked increase in accidental burns among children, with burn injuries growing significantly between 2019 and 2020. School-aged children accounted for the largest difference in burn injuries, and flame burns increased by 7% during this period.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateOct 8, 2021
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.

Engineers 3D-print personalized, wireless wearables that never need a charge

Researchers at the University of Arizona have created custom-fitted wearable devices that can monitor physiological parameters without needing recharging. The biosymbiotic devices use wireless power transfer and compact energy storage to enable continuous operation, providing accurate data on body temperature, strain, and muscle deform...

SourceUniversity of Arizona College of Engineering·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 8, 2021

Team discovers invasive-native crayfish hybrids in Missouri

A study of crayfish in the Current River watershed found that virile crayfish were interbreeding with native spothanded crayfish, potentially altering their genetics and ecology. The discovery highlights the challenges of detecting invasive species' impacts, which can lead to substantial harm to unique ecosystems.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAquatic Invasions·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2021

Recurrent lockdowns are not necessary for pandemic control

A stable regime can be achieved at low case numbers through non-pharmaceutical interventions, but a fast and efficient 'test-trace-and-isolate' system is crucial for maintaining freedom without lockdowns. This approach has been proven effective in containing disease spread during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2021
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.

NIST, collaborators develop sensitive new way of detecting transistor defects

Researchers developed a sensitive new way to detect and count transistor defects, which limit performance and reliability. The method works with traditional Si and SiC materials, identifying defect type and number with simple DC measurement.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2021

A novel neural network to understand symmetry, speed materials research

A novel machine learning approach has been developed to understand symmetry and trends in materials, enabling researchers to group similar classes of material together. The technique uses a large, unstructured dataset gleaned from 25,000 images to identify structural similarities and trends.

SourceLehigh University·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2021

More than 6,500 children injured by golf carts each year

A nationwide study found over 63,000 golf cart injuries in children and adolescents from 2010-2019, with a steady increase each year. The majority of injuries were superficial, but fractures and dislocations also occurred, often in the head and neck region.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateOct 8, 2021
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.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia-led study finds that biggest share of US obstetric hospitals deliver fewer than 500 babies per year

A Children's Hospital of Philadelphia-led study found that most US obstetric hospitals deliver fewer than 500 babies per year, with approximately 2.5 million infants born at low-volume hospitals between 2010 and 2018. Nearly a fifth of these low-volume hospitals are isolated from other obstetric hospitals, with over half located in rur...

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 8, 2021

Chemical probe created to better understand immune response

Researchers have developed a new sensor that can detect chemical changes in immune cells during the breakdown of pathogens. The breakthrough could lead to early diagnosis and better treatment of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, which claims about 1.5 million lives annually.

SourceIndiana University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2021

Researchers find more severely COVID-19 infected mothers more likely to have preterm birth

A study by researchers at Wayne State University found a dose-response relationship between SARS-CoV-2 severity and the risk of preterm birth, with severely infected mothers more likely to experience early birth. The study also linked severe COVID-19 infection to an increased risk of preeclampsia.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 8, 2021

Artificial intelligence suggests a new narrative for the Out of Africa process

Researchers used a new AI method to refine the Out of Africa scenario, suggesting a population turnover event in East-West Africa that homogenized West and East Africans. This event may account for up to 90% of contemporary West African gene pool, explaining lower separation times between Africans and non-Africans.

SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 8, 2021
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.

Molecules for building stronger antibodies

Researchers at Kyoto University have identified Tox2 as a crucial regulator of T follicular helper cells (TFH), which produce high-affinity antibodies. The study found that Tox2 promotes the long-term survival and functional maintenance of TFH cells, enabling potent and durable antibody responses in vaccines.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2021

What makes us human? The answer may be found in overlooked DNA

Researchers at Lund University discovered a previously overlooked part of our DNA that appears to contribute to the development of human and chimpanzee brains. The study found that humans and chimpanzees use a structural variant of DNA in different ways, which plays a significant role in brain evolution.

SourceLund University·JournalCell Stem Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2021
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.

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.

Physics meets democracy in this modeling study

A new study models election dynamics using physics, accounting for conformist, contrarian, and inflexible voters. The model finds that short-term campaigns are effective in electorates with only conformist agents, while long-term campaigns are more effective in electorates with strong local dominance.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPhysica A Statistical Mechanics and its Applications·DateOct 8, 2021

Biblical burning

A Middle Bronze Age city in the Jordan Valley was destroyed by a high-temperature fire, likely caused by a meteorite impact. The site contains evidence of shocked quartz, melted pottery, and diamond-like carbon, supporting a cosmic airburst hypothesis.

SourceEast Carolina University·JournalNature·DateOct 8, 2021

Strike-slip faulting may be active deformation mechanism on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan

A recent study suggests that strike-slip faulting is an active deformation mechanism on Titan's surface, driven by diurnal tidal stresses and pore fluid pressures. The researchers found that shallow faults near the equator are optimally oriented for potential failure, which could facilitate material transport and affect habitability.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalIcarus·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2021
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

To flee or not to flee

The study found that lack of knowledge about debris flows contributed to a false sense of security among residents. Public awareness programs can help keep residents and emergency management offices informed about rare but potentially lethal natural events in their area.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction·DateOct 8, 2021

Tripartite origins of Japanese populations revealed by paleogenomics

A study published in Kanazawa University reveals the tripartite origins of Japanese populations through paleogenomics, separating Jomon, Yayoi, and Kofun periods. The research suggests that modern Japanese populations have ancestry derived from both East Asian continental populations and Northeast Asia.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 8, 2021