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Science News Archive 2021


Page 202 of 510

How managing building energy demand can aid the clean energy transition

A new study by Berkeley Lab and NREL found that optimizing building energy demand can significantly impact the electric grid. By increasing energy efficiency and flexibility in buildings, up to one-third of coal- or gas-fired power generation can be avoided. The regions with the largest grid resource are Texas, Southeast U.S., Great La...

YiPing Chen wins IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Craniofacial Biology

YiPing Chen, a renowned developmental biologist, has made significant contributions to the understanding of genetic control and molecular regulation of mammalian organ development. He is recognized for his work on genetic regulation of tooth development and cleft palate, which have improved our knowledge of craniofacial biology.

Tiny organisms shed big light on ocean nutrients

A new study led by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences suggests that the balance of chemical elements in plankton is primarily dependent on the ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus supplied from the subsurface ocean. This discovery could improve the accuracy of computer models used to forecast ocean change.

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.

Why weren't New World rabbits domesticated?

Archaeologists found that the lack of a mutualistic relationship between humans and New World rabbits, characterized by controlled reproduction, prevented domestication. The solitary nature of American cottontails made it difficult for humans to control their population and evolution.

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.

Unravelling the knotty problem of the Sun's activity

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the Sun's magnetic field, revealing that field lines become knotted before emerging at the visible surface. The findings provide conclusive evidence for one of two dominant theories explaining how solar activity occurs.

Hazem Abbas wins IADR Lion Dental Research Award for Junior Investigators

Hazem Abbas, a Ph.D. student at Tohoku University, Japan, received the IADR Lion Dental Research Award for his innovative research on social determinants of health and their relation to oral health outcomes. The award recognizes outstanding basic dental science research that aims to improve public dental health.

What does a virtual roller coaster ride tell us about migraine?

A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found that people with migraines experienced more dizziness and motion sickness during virtual roller coaster rides compared to those without migraines. Brain scans revealed abnormal nerve cell activity in areas responsible for visual processing and motor activity.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Wearable brain-machine interface turns intentions into actions

A new wearable brain-machine interface system allows users to imagine actions and wirelessly control wheelchairs, robotic arms, or other devices. The soft and comfortable wearable device offers improved signal acquisition and accuracy compared to existing BMI systems.

Pandemic changed perceptions of masked faces

Research found a shift in how facemasks affect facial attractiveness among Japanese population, with reduced unhealthiness and increased neutral effects reported after pandemic onset. Mask color had no effect on perceptions.

Caroline Shiboski wins IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Oral Medicine

Caroline Shiboski, a renowned oral medicine expert, has been awarded the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for her groundbreaking research on immune dysfunction and its effects on oral health. Her work has led to significant advances in understanding and treating conditions like Sjögren's Syndrome and HIV-related oral diseases.

Study links vaccine immune response to age

Researchers found that older people have lower antibody responses against COVID-19 variants, making them more susceptible to infection. Vaccination still appears effective in preventing severe illness, but promoting vaccinations is crucial to protect the community.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

A large tidal stream observed in the Sombrero galaxy

A team of astronomers has made detailed observations of a large tidal flow around the Sombrero galaxy, revealing its strange morphology and shedding light on its possible merger history. The study's findings suggest that the galaxy's unusual shape may be due to cannibalism by a satellite dwarf galaxy.

Sarah Knox wins IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Salivary Research

Sarah Knox is recognized for her outstanding contributions to salivary research, with a focus on parasympathetic innervation and tubulogenesis in developing salivary glands. Her work has elucidated mechanisms of salivary gland development and regeneration relevant to tissue repair in autoimmune disease and cancer.

Chromosomes separation under focus

A UNIGE team has identified important regulatory mechanisms of the protein responsible for chromosome separation. The study reveals that inhibitory proteins block separase activity by occupying sites that recognize the cohesin substrate, preventing cleavage.

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.

Study finds lifting advice doesn't stand up for everyone

A study by Curtin University found that people with low back pain are more likely to use a squat-like technique when lifting, contradicting existing advice. Researchers suggest a 'one size fits all' approach may not work and a more individualised approach may be required.

Unexpected proteome plasticity in response to persistent temperature rise

Researchers discovered that yeast changes hundreds of proteins' expression patterns and subcellular localizations after adapting to a higher temperature. The proteome's plasticity allows the cells to adapt by reducing thermolabile protein load, changing protein conformation, and adopting new functions.

Enamel defects as biomarkers for exposure to environmental stressors

This symposium explores the effects of environmental influences on enamel formation, including early life adversity, endocrine disruptors, and genetic susceptibility. Researchers highlight the importance of enamel as a biomarker for exposure to environmental stressors, potentially leading to increased dental disease risk.

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.

David Williams named 2021 recipient of the IADR Gold Medal Award

David Williams, Professor of Global Oral Health at Queen Mary University of London, received the 2021 IADR Gold Medal Award for his work on oral health inequalities. He has developed a Standard Set of Adult Oral Health Outcome Measures and is a key figure in promoting sustainable growth and better global health outcomes.

Sandia designs better batteries for grid-scale energy storage

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have designed a new class of molten sodium batteries that operate at lower temperatures and use low-cost materials. The new battery design has the potential to significantly reduce costs and increase efficiency in grid-scale energy storage.

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.

Real-time stress detection devices could help fight alcohol relapses

A Washington State University research team developed wearable wristbands to measure physiological responses to stress in real-time, providing a potential method to prevent relapses in people with Alcohol Use Disorder. The study found that the devices matched survey results and can trigger interventions when needed.

Existing drug is shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus

Researchers found that masitinib inhibited SARS-CoV-2 viral loads and reduced inflammation in human cell cultures and mouse models. The drug also showed effectiveness against multiple variants, including Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, and other viruses such as picornaviruses.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

The Lancet: Experts call for urgent action to improve physical activity worldwide

A new three-paper series published in The Lancet calls for immediate action to prioritize research and public health measures to improve physical activity worldwide. The authors highlight the need to address inadequate support for adolescents and people living with disabilities, who are disproportionately affected by physical inactivity.

Bringing the jury to the crime scene via a 3D headset

A new study by University of South Australia researchers found that virtual reality leads to better recall, spatial accuracy, and more consistent verdicts. Participants viewing a 3D scene were 9.5 times more likely to choose the same verdict than those relying on photographs.

Origami comes to life with new shape-changing materials

Researchers at CU Boulder's ATLAS Institute have developed shape-changing objects inspired by origami that can bend, wiggle, and flutter using artificial muscles. The 'Electriflow' designs utilize hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuators to create paper-thin, fast-moving, and almost silent objects.

How does the structure of cytolysins influence their activity?

The study reveals that the structure of cytolysin subunits is crucial for their activity, with macrocycles playing a key role in stabilizing the molecule. The researchers also identified a hinge region important for the subunit's shape and membrane penetration capabilities.

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.

Crime scene tape set to revolutionize microplastics research

Forensic scientists have developed a new method using Easylift tape to collect and analyze microplastic samples, improving efficiency and accuracy. This technique enables multiple analytical techniques to be applied to the samples afterwards and preserves them for future study.

Daniel McNeil 2021 recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in BEHSR

Daniel McNeil, a renowned psychologist at West Virginia University, has been recognized with the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Behavioral Epidemiologic and Health Services Research. His work focuses on psychosocial factors, pain, dental fear, anxiety, and phobia, making significant contributions to our understanding of health.

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.

C is for Vitamin C -- a key ingredient for immune cell function

Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered that Vitamin C and TET proteins can work together to generate stable induced Tregs, which could potentially treat autoimmune diseases. The study reveals an intriguing connection between TET enzymatic activity, Vitamin C and IL-2/STAT5 signaling.

Toxic facility relocation depends on community pressure

New research from the University of Illinois explores how community characteristics impact the relocation of toxic-releasing facilities. The study found that facilities are more likely to move from communities with high population density, income, and education levels, while moving into those with lower socioeconomic status.

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.

New simulator helps robots sharpen their cutting skills

Researchers at USC have developed a new simulator that accurately predicts the forces acting on a knife as it cuts through soft materials, enabling applications in safer food processing and surgical robotics. The system uses 'differentiable' simulation to automatically tune parameters from real-world measurements.

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.

Toxicity testing on the placenta and embryo

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a new chip-based test that incorporates the placenta into embryotoxicity assessments. The test detects indirect damage to embryos by analyzing stress responses of human placental cells to toxic substances.

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.

New method predicts COVID-19 severity, could help with hospital triage

Researchers have created a blood test that can predict COVID-19 severity, which could aid in prioritizing patients for hospitalization. The test uses attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to measure changes in blood biochemistry and has shown promise as a rapid and simple triaging tool.

New in the Hastings Center Report, July-August 2021

Clinical ethicists discuss activist language and its impact on healthcare crises, including triage policies and racial disparities. The article highlights four calls to action: recognizing barriers, supporting antiracism work, advocating for policy change, and engaging in institutional activism.