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Science News Archive 2021


Page 289 of 510

Newly discovered enzymes are not heavy metal fans

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have identified two metal-independent carbonic anhydrase enzymes that improve our knowledge of the global carbon cycle. These enzymes may play a crucial role in CO2 metabolism, particularly in metal-poor environments.

AI spots neurons better than human experts

A new AI-powered algorithm, WeakGCSeg, accurately detects and tracks ganglion cells in the retina, surpassing human expertise. This technology enables early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases like glaucoma, improving treatment options.

Food scraps get a bold new life

Researchers at The University of Tokyo have developed a new method to recycle discarded fruit and vegetable scraps into strong construction materials. The process uses vacuum-dried, pulverized food scraps, such as seaweed and cabbage leaves, and produces materials that are at least as strong as concrete.

Is deference to supernatural beings present in infancy?

Researchers at the University of Oxford discovered that infants aged 12-16 months exhibit a tendency to attribute social dominance to individuals with supernatural powers. In experiments, infants expected characters using counterintuitive methods to win rewards, suggesting they perceive these abilities as superior.

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.

Press (re)play to remember - How the brain strengthens memories during sleep

Scientists have discovered that slow oscillations and sleep spindles play a crucial role in memory formation and consolidation, with the precise combination of these patterns creating windows for reactivation of previously learned information. This process helps solidify memories in long-term stores and improves recall.

Geology helps map kidney stone formation from tiny to troublesome

Researchers map kidney stone formation from tiny to troublesome, revealing microspherules merge to form larger crystals, and stones undergo multiple cycles of partial dissolution and growth. The new classification scheme and GeoBioCell device aim to accelerate research, diagnostic testing, and individualized treatment targets.

Made in the shade or fun in the sun

Phytochromes help plants detect light direction, intensity, and duration, as well as temperature, allowing them to adapt to various environments. The study fully characterized the phytochrome family in Arabidopsis thaliana and found surprising differences between isoforms.

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.

Road verges provide opportunity for wildflowers, bees and trees

Researchers estimate that UK road verges, covering 1.2% of land in Great Britain, can be managed for nature by reducing frequent mowing and planting trees. This approach could create better habitats for pollinators, capture carbon, and contribute to the UK government's tree-planting ambitions.

Researchers seek deeper understanding on how cells in the body operate

A team of researchers at Texas A&M University used experimental cellular evolution to study how cells respond to controlled mechanical properties. They found that cellular mechanosensing is not optimal but a tradeoff, and that cells can evolve under selection pressure from biomaterials of controlled stiffness.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Superoxide produced in the cochlea of inner ears causes acquired hearing loss

Researchers discovered that superoxide-producing cells in the inner ear cochlea increase with aging, noise damage, and ototoxic drugs, leading to age-related, noise-induced, and drug-induced hearing loss. Suppressing superoxide production or using Nox3 inhibitors may lead to new treatments for acquired hearing loss.

New study shows how to boost muscle regeneration and rebuild tissue

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals clues about molecular changes underlying muscle loss tied to aging. The researchers found that using molecular compounds increased the regeneration of muscle cells in mice by activating precursors of muscle cells, called myogenic progenitors.

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.

Decreased testing could lead to surge in sexually transmitted infections

A study by Penn State and Quest Diagnostics researchers found a 63% decrease in STI testing for men and 59% for women during the early months of the pandemic. This may lead to an increase in future STI cases, potentially resulting in adverse health outcomes such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

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.

Russian scientists synthesize effective compounds for anticancer drugs

Researchers from South Ural State University and the Russian Academy of Sciences have synthesized six new acetylthioglycoside derivatives with potential anti-cancer effects. The compounds are based on a dithiolothionic cycle, which releases hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and nitric oxide.

"Bite" defects in bottom-up graphene nanoribbons

Scientists investigate 'bite' defects in armchair and zigzag graphene nanoribbons, finding they can disrupt electronic transport but also yield spin-polarized currents. The study aims to minimize the detrimental effects of these defects on charge transport for next-generation nanotechnologies.

Asthma medication use and exacerbations

A new study suggests that exempting asthma medications from the deductible in high-deductible health plans may reduce medication use and exacerbations in children, but not adults. The research found small decreases in annual fills for some controller medications among children switching to HDHPs.

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.

Two new attacks break PDF certification

Researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum discovered two new attacks that break PDF certification signatures, enabling attackers to implant malicious code and insert fake content. The team tested 26 PDF applications, with 24 of them vulnerable to at least one attack.

Dimensions of invasion success

A recent study assesses the invasiveness of European and native plant species using three dimensions: local abundance, geographic extent, and habitat breadth. High values in these variables characterize successful invaders, with early introduction to Europe and rapid growth contributing to their success.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA discovery unlocks new potential treatments

Researchers at the University of Oxford and their international team have discovered how SARS-CoV-2 RNA interacts with host cells, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies. The study found that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks more than 100 cellular proteins to replicate, providing a potential target for antiviral treatments.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Building a better LED bulb

A University of Houston research team creates a unique class of luminescent materials called phosphors that absorb violet LED's single-color emission and convert the light to cover the majority of the visible spectrum. The new LED bulb emits less blue light, reducing health concerns associated with overexposure.

Slender robotic finger senses buried items

MIT researchers have designed a sharp-tipped robot finger with tactile sensing to identify buried objects in granular material. The Digger Finger successfully sensed the shapes of submerged items and can penetrate sand and rice, with potential applications for finding buried cables or disarming bombs.

Incentivized product reviews: Positive to a fault?

Researchers found that direct compensation for posting written reviews increases positive emotion, but may lead to overly glowing reviews that don't accurately reflect the experience. In experiments, incentives increased review positivity by 55%, but had unforeseen negative consequences for consumers.

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.

Engineering matter at the atomic level

Scientists have developed a way to engineer materials at the atomic level using a dry transfer technique. The method uses anthracene as a sacrificial material to precisely position carbon nanotubes, resulting in bright photoluminescence up to 5,000 times brighter than the original molecule.

Odd angles make for strong spin-spin coupling

Researchers found strong antiresonance in orthoferrite materials when placed at an odd angle under high magnetic fields. This unique state allows for ultrastrong interactions between magnons, which could lead to suppressed fluctuation noise and increased sensitivity in quantum sensing applications.

New AI technology protects privacy

A new AI algorithm developed by TUM and Imperial College London can detect pneumonia in pediatric x-ray images while maintaining patient privacy. The algorithm uses federated learning, secure aggregation, and differential privacy to keep data onsite and prevent individual identification.

NSF renews funding for Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium

The National Science Foundation has renewed funding for the Materials Innovation Platform at Penn State's Materials Research Institute, enabling the development of new ultra-thin materials with unique quantum properties. The facility will advance 2D materials research across the US, supporting over 100 scientists nationwide.

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.

Technique to evaluate wind turbines may boost wind power production

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a method to compare the performance of different wind turbine designs, using machine learning and social science analysis. The study found that this technique can provide a robust and accurate way to determine the merit of competing technologies.

COVID-19 news from Annals of Internal Medicine

A small case series found that vaccination was not linked to worsening symptoms or reduced quality of life in patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms. The study included 163 patients who received one dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Probing deeper into origins of cosmic rays

A team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame developed a simulation model to better understand cosmic ray transport characteristics and improve detection techniques.

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.

Does the Milky Way move like a spinning top?

New study questions precession in the Milky Way's warp, suggesting it could disappear or become slower over time. Researchers used Gaia Mission data to analyze stars' positions and velocities.

SARS-CoV-2: Estimating infectiousness

Researchers analyzed PCR samples from over 25,000 COVID-19 cases to estimate infectiousness. Viral loads were found to be lowest in young children and increased with age. The study provides new insights into the B.1.1.7 variant and highlights individual differences in infectiousness.

Association of circulating sex hormones with COVID-19 severity

A study examining COVID-19 severity found associations between circulating sex hormones and disease outcomes in patients, highlighting the need for further research on hormonal factors. The investigation, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that hormonal imbalances may contribute to varying levels of disease severity.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Study examines how pandemic-related changes affect college students' motivation

A study of 182 undergraduate students found that pandemic-related changes affected motivation levels variably, with some students becoming more motivated while others remained unchanged or became less motivated. Demographic factors such as socioeconomic status and first-generation student status did not significantly impact the findings.

Superflimsy graphene turned ultrastiff by optical forging

Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have demonstrated a new method to make graphene ultrastiff using optical forging, increasing its stiffness by several orders of magnitude. The technique, which involves irradiating defects in the graphene lattice, opens up new application areas for this wonder material.

A COVID-fighter's guide to T cells

Researchers from La Jolla Institute for Immunology have found that human T cells can target more than 1,400 sites on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, revealing a broad and diverse immune response. This analysis can help monitor effective responses to COVID-19 vaccines and track variations in T cell responses.

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.

Parents abused as children may pass on emotional issues

Research suggests that parents with a history of childhood trauma may struggle with emotion regulation, which can harm their children's emotional development. The study found that boys are more vulnerable to emotional regulation difficulties when their parents also struggled with emotion regulation.

Data from smartwatches can help predict clinical blood test results

Researchers at Duke University and Stanford University School of Medicine found that long-term wearable device data can quickly indicate illness, dehydration, and abnormalities in a patient's red blood cell count. Machine learning algorithms applied to the data enabled identification of previously unknown relations between smartwatch s...

'Slow slip' earthquakes' hidden mechanics revealed

Researchers used seismic CT scans and supercomputers to study slow slip earthquakes in New Zealand's Hikurangi subduction zone. The study found that tectonic forces build up before releasing through slow motion tremors, revealing key processes involved in modulating slow slip.

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.

New technique breaks the mould for 3D printing medical implants

Researchers at RMIT University have developed a new 3D printing method that creates intricate biomedical structures, advancing tissue engineering and regrowing bones. The technique uses glue and a high school-grade 3D printer to create tiny implants with elaborate structures.