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Science News Archive 2021


Page 179 of 510

Epilepsy surgery may improve overall brain health, study finds

Researchers found that epilepsy surgery is associated with improved overall brain health, reducing brain-predicted age by at least seven years in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. The study used advanced MRI techniques to inform its findings and suggests earlier surgery may benefit these patients.

Fire record shows cultural diffusion took off 400,000 years ago

Researchers propose widespread cultural diffusion of fire use and stone tool technology occurred around 400,000 years ago. This finding suggests that hominin populations were exchanging genes and engaging in cultural interactions, contradicting independent invention theories.

Connecting to place, people, and past: How products make us feel grounded

Consumers are seeking products with local origin, traditional designs, and reminders of their childhood and family. Groundedness increases product attractiveness and consumers' willingness to pay. Products providing a sense of groundedness improve self-perceptions related to resilience and feelings of strength and stability.

Dragonfly mission to Titan announces big science goals

The Dragonfly mission will investigate Titan's surface and atmosphere, searching for chemical biosignatures and exploring the moon's active methane cycle. By analyzing the prebiotic chemistry currently taking place in Titan's atmosphere and on its surface, scientists hope to gain insights into the potential for life on the moon.

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.

Common environmental pollutants damage mucus structure, function

Research reveals that exposure to airborne or waterborne particulate matter can disrupt the body's mucosal system, leading to health conditions such as respiratory and heart diseases. The study highlights the importance of understanding how particles affect mucus structure and function to mitigate negative health outcomes.

Taking aim at skin bacteria

Researchers at TUM developed an enzyme-based method to selectively target and remove non-target DNA from skin samples, allowing for a more accurate analysis of the skin microbiome. This approach has shown promise in identifying microbial biomarkers for certain dermatological illnesses and may lead to new treatments.

HKU team paves the way for learning what ancient birds ate

A HKU team has developed a framework to determine the diet of fossil birds, allowing scientists to better understand ancient avian behavior. By combining various techniques, including medicine and materials science, the researchers identified previously unrecognized agreements on the diet of certain species.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

$1.4 million grant to LSU Health Nursing School will expand access to SANES

The LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing will increase the number of trained and certified SANES in rural and underserved communities in Louisiana with a $1.4 million grant. The program aims to address the high prevalence of sexual assault cases in southeast Louisiana, where 456 reported offenses were recorded in 2019.

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.

Metamaterials research challenges fundamental limits in photonics

Researchers at Cornell University propose a new way to modulate metamaterials' absorptive and refractive qualities in real-time, increasing their effectiveness. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new metamaterials with improved wave absorption and scattering properties.

Through the looking glass: Unravelling how ions move in phosphate glass

A team from Nagoya Institute of Technology has theoretically deciphered the ion diffusion mechanism in phosphate glasses. The study found that the morphology of the phosphate network structure greatly affects ion diffusion, with Q2 phosphate units contributing more strongly to proton diffusion.

Insidious coral killer invading Palmyra Atoll reef

A new study reveals that a corallimorph species is outcompeting stony corals in Palmyra Atoll's reefs, leading to a significant shift in ecosystem dominance. The invading species, closely related to one from Okinawa, Japan, can rapidly monopolize the seafloor and reach 100% cover, posing concerns about irrevocability of this phase shift.

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.

Deletion of single gene promotes growth of functional lymphatic valves

A USF Health study found that deleting a single gene, Foxo1, promotes the growth of functional lymphatic valves in both young and adult mice. This discovery offers a promising early treatment approach for hereditary lymphedema, a chronic condition characterized by fluid accumulation under the skin.

Shark diversity unaffected when the dinosaurs were wiped out

A study published in PLOS Biology found that shark diversity remained relatively constant during the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period. However, some groups of apex predators suffered selective extinctions, while others increased in diversity after the K-Pg boundary.

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.

Expressive writing reduces relationship conflict and aggression during pandemic

Research from the University of South Florida found that individuals who wrote about their relationship troubles from a neutral observer's point of view had less conflict and aggression with their partner. The study surveyed 716 American adults and asked them to fill out a baseline assessment and then complete a brief writing exercise.

Atomic nuclei and leptons: milestone in the calculation of cross sections

A team of researchers has successfully computed how atomic nuclei of Calcium behave in collisions with electrons, achieving precise theoretical predictions relevant to future neutrino experiments. The new ab initio method allows for the description of scattering on nuclei and leptons, even for heavy elements like Calcium.

Low-power electrical stimulation could aid stroke rehabilitation

Researchers developed subthreshold electrical stimulation to aid brain recovery after a stroke. The technique uses less energy and has fewer side effects than existing methods, showing promise for improving motor function and strengthening connections between brain regions.

Pest attack-order changes plant defenses

Researchers found that when a weevil eats before an aphid, it enhances plant anti-pathogen defense responses, but reduces nutritional quality. In contrast, if the aphid eats first, it reduces anti-pathogen defenses and increases virus spread.

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.

A winning combination for glycoprotein synthesis

Researchers from Osaka University have demonstrated a rapid and robust chemical method for preparing highly pure glycoproteins. The new synthetic route uses an unprecedented amide bond formation reaction to form a junction between two functional peptides, resulting in a reliable means of synthesizing glycoproteins with little waste of ...

Neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 sugar coat

Researchers identified two lectins, Clec4g and CD209c, that strongly bind to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, blocking viral entry into cells. These findings hold promise for developing robust therapeutic interventions against circulating variants.

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.

Examining correlation between occupational noise, heart disease

A large cross-sectional study in Canada found no association between loud noise exposure and changes in biomarkers for cardiovascular disease or outcomes. However, there were associations found between noise and several biomarkers, but these remained statistically insignificant after adjusting for important variables.

Thesis Prize Winner Targets a Proton Puzzle

Weizhi Xiong's PhD thesis on PRad experiment helped advance the understanding of the proton by measuring its charge radius with precision. The results agreed more closely with the new muonic measurement, but the puzzle persists due to slight differences between electron scattering results.

Researchers discover how to stick sensors to skin without adhesive

Researchers have developed a method to bond human skin to rubber-like polymeric materials without an adhesive, revealing cracks propagate in a very weird way along microchannels. This discovery can explain the variability in macroscale tensometer measurements of skin and has implications for other human tissues.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Striking gold: A pathway to stable, high-activity catalysts from gold nanoclusters

A team of researchers at Tokyo University of Science has developed a stable and highly active photocatalyst from gold nanoclusters. By removing the protective molecules around the nanoclusters, they were able to increase their catalytic activity and stability, opening up new possibilities for hydrogen generation and other applications.

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.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Scientists deploy albatrosses to track plastic pollution

Researchers attached GPS and video cameras to black-footed albatrosses, capturing thousands of video clips across wide swathes of the north Pacific. The imaging showed that debris encountered by the birds included styrofoam, plastic sheets, and fishery netting, suggesting plastic creates a platform for invasive species to spread.

World’s biodiversity maps contain many gaps, Yale study finds

A Yale study has identified significant gaps in biodiversity maps, limiting effective conservation decisions globally. The researchers created regional trends maps to assess the distribution of 31,000 terrestrial vertebrates, highlighting opportunities for citizen scientists and government agencies to support biodiversity monitoring.

Shared antibodies may push COVID-19 variants: VUMC study

Researchers found shared clones of antibody-producing white blood cells among COVID-19 survivors and vaccinated individuals, targeting the viral surface 'spike' protein. This discovery could help design more effective vaccines and therapies against emerging variants.

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.

How does a flood become a disaster?

Researchers say surprise is a key factor in disastrous river floods, with improved flood warnings and protection measures contributing to declining casualties. Asia is the worst-hit region, with over 125 million people affected annually by such disasters.

Association of myocarditis with mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in children

Researchers investigated myocarditis cases in adolescents after Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination and found a significant association. The study used comprehensive cardiac imaging and reviewed the results, highlighting the potential risk of myocarditis in this population.

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.

USPSTF recommendation on screening for gestational diabetes

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has made a recommendation to screen for gestational diabetes in asymptomatic pregnant women at 24 weeks or later. The organization concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to make a recommendation about screening before this time frame.

Only one human fat cell subtype responds to insulin stimulation

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered three different subtypes of mature fat cells in white adipose tissue, with only one subtype, Adipo PLIN, responding to insulin. The study suggests that changes in this specific subtype may contribute to metabolic diseases like Type 2 diabetes.

Politicians in areas with most climate risk tweet about it least

A Cornell University study found that politicians are more likely to tweet about climate change if they represent wealthy districts or have concerned constituents. In contrast, communities most at risk from climate change are less likely to see their leaders address the issue due to economic constraints and resource disparities.

Tiny ‘maniac’ robots could deliver drugs directly to central nervous system

Researchers develop tiny tumbling robots called MANiACs that can climb slopes and move against fluid flow in the body, delivering substances to neural tissue. The study finds these robots have potential for controlled local delivery in neural diseases, offering targeted treatment with improved efficacy and reduced side effects.

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.