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Science News Archive 2021


Page 311 of 510

The triple threat of coronavirus

SARS-CoV-2 employs a three-pronged strategy to outsmart the immune system, including reducing gene translation, degrading messenger RNAs, and preventing mRNA export. This 'host shutoff' tactic delays and muddles the immune response, resulting in severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

We need herd immunity against COVID-19 vaccine misinformation

A new UNSW Sydney study examines content between December 2019 to November 2020 and found over 103 million people globally shared or reacted with misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. The study highlights the need for traditional risk communication and community engagement methods to counter misinformation.

Kefir packs less of a probiotic punch than labels claim

A new study found that five major kefir brands fell short of their claims, delivering between 10 million to 1 billion bacteria per gram. The researchers also identified discrepancies between the labeled species and those present in the products.

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.

Brain computer interface turns mental handwriting into text on screen

Researchers have deciphered brain activity associated with trying to write letters by hand and developed an algorithm to identify letters. The system displayed the text on a screen in real time, allowing the participant to type 90 characters per minute, more than double the previous record for typing with a brain-computer interface.

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.

Oleoyl-LPE exerts neurite stimulation and neuroprotection

Researchers found that 18:1 LPE promotes neurite outgrowth and protects neurons from glutamate toxicity, suggesting a key role for LPE in brain function. The study provides new insights into the physiological importance of LPE and its potential as a therapeutic agent for cranial nerve damage.

Can fisheries benefit from biodiversity and conserve it too?

A new study reveals that fish biodiversity can provide benefits to mixed-stock fisheries, such as stabilizing catches, but comes with the cost of increased conservation risks. By targeting specific productive stocks and avoiding unproductive weak ones, fisheries can maintain high harvest rates while reducing these risks.

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.

UCLA scientists decode the 'language' of immune cells

Researchers at UCLA have identified six signaling codons that specific immune cells use to call up immune defense genes. These codon-words can lead to incorrect gene activation and cause autoimmune diseases like Sjögren's syndrome, which is found when the body mistakenly attacks itself.

Peptide could allow medical marijuana to relieve pain without side effects

Researchers have developed a peptide that enables THC to fight pain without the cognitive side effects associated with cannabis. In mice, the optimized peptide showed improved memory and reduced immune response, making it an ideal drug candidate for reducing cognitive side effects from cannabis-based pain management.

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.

Ancient gut microbiomes may offer clues to modern diseases

Scientists have discovered dramatic differences in gut microbiomes between ancient North American peoples and modern industrialized populations. The analysis of human paleofeces from dry caves reveals novel species of microbes and higher numbers of transposases, which may help microbes adapt to changing environments.

10 years after obesity surgery: How did life turn out?

Patients who underwent bariatric surgery ten years ago reported that their eating habits and appetite remained affected, with reduced cravings for unhealthy foods. However, they also described struggling to manage their lives, including supporting overweight children, due to ongoing guilt and self-blame.

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.

Quantum machine learning hits a limit

A new theorem limits the use of quantum machine learning to learn processes like black holes, highlighting its fundamental limits. However, most physical processes are structured enough that they don't resemble random ones, making the impact less severe.

COVID-19 vaccine does not damage the placenta in pregnancy

A new Northwestern Medicine study of placentas from vaccinated patients found no evidence of injury, supporting the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy. The study adds to growing evidence that vaccination can protect fetuses without increasing harm.

UQ research finds new way to reduce scarring

Researchers at University of Queensland develop gene therapy to block scar formation by targeting SOX9 gene, promising benefits for burn patients and others with significant scarring. The study uses siRNA technology to reduce scarring in animal models, paving the way for potential human treatment.

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.

Tiny, wireless, injectable chips use ultrasound to monitor body processes

Researchers created a tiny, wireless chip that uses ultrasound to monitor body processes, enabling the development of miniaturized implantable medical devices. The team achieved volumetric efficiency with their design, paving the way for chips that can be injected into the body and communicate wirelessly.

Electromagnetic levitation whips nanomaterials into shape

By vaporizing metals within a magnetic field, UC Riverside engineers direct the reassembly of metal atoms into consistent shapes and surfaces. The approach enables manipulation of particle assembly, producing string-like aggregates or globular clusters with tunable properties.

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.

Rules of the road: the navigational 'strategies' of bacteria in motion

Researchers at McGill University studied bacterial movement through microfluidic environments to understand their navigational 'strategies'. The findings have implications for diagnosing infectious diseases, developing devices for genomics and bio computation, and maintaining human health.

Most frequently asked questions in rheumatology clinics answered

The Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology has developed consensus recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in adult patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The guidelines address concerns about vaccine efficacy and safety, as well as considerations for immunosuppressed patients.

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.

Southern African dinosaur had irregular growth

A new study found that Massospondylus carinatus, a medium-sized southern African dinosaur, had growth variations from year to year. The dinosaur's growth directly responded to environmental conditions, with significant increases in good years and minimal growth in bad years.

Scientists will protect the "Smart City" from cyber threats

Researchers from Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University developed a methodology for assessing cyber risks in Smart City infrastructure. The new approach analyzes asset types, threats, and risk values using a quantitative approach, demonstrating superiority over existing methods.

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.

Protecting local water has global benefits

A new paper found that cleaning local lakes and waterbodies can slow climate change and save trillions of dollars by reducing methane emissions. The study estimated the costs of global climate change due to eutrophication from 2015 to 2050 to be as much as $81 trillion.

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.

Zoo YouTube videos prioritize entertainment over education

A new study found that zoo YouTube videos focus disproportionately on mammals, with only 3% of content dedicated to conservation. However, the study also notes an increase in conservation-focused videos in recent years, highlighting the potential for social media to support global conservation education.

Transferability of surface-functionalized metallic nanoparticles

The review explores recent strategies in surface functionalization, their specific biomedical applications, and comparative toxicities with non-functionalized metallic nanoparticles. It discusses the challenges for metallic NPs to undergo human clinical trials due to their aggregation and toxic nature.

New marine sulfur cycle model after the Snowball Earth glaciation

Researchers propose novel sulfur cycle model incorporating volatile organosulfur compounds to explain global occurrence of superheavy pyrite. The Cryogenian interglacial interval saw sulfidic oceans with pervasive VOSC generation, leading to vertical isotopic gradients and superheavy pyrite precipitation.

Gene editing expands to new types of immune cells

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have adapted CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit human monocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays key roles in the immune system. The study shows the potential utility of gene editing for understanding how the human immune system fights viruses and microbes.

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.

Box fan air cleaner greatly reduces virus transmission

A low-cost box fan air cleaner can greatly decrease airborne virus particles in public school classrooms by drawing in contaminated air and filtering out clean air. Placing the air cleaner near an HUV or other ventilation unit is most effective in reducing aerosol spread.

Many people could reduce their 'feeding window' by three hours

A study from the University of Surrey found that 67% of UK adults are overweight or obese, with time-restricted feeding showing potential to combat obesity. More than 400 participants believed they could reduce their 'feeding window' by three hours if associated health benefits were clear.

Microorganisms to transform CO2 into sustainable fuel

A team of researchers aims to increase microorganism's ability to convert CO2 into methane for efficient production of sustainable fuel. The ReMeSh project will examine bio-electrochemical systems and accelerate electron transfer to microbes.

Simulating sneezes and coughs to show how COVID-19 spreads

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories used advanced computer simulations to study the spread of COVID-19 through droplets in the air. Their findings show that protective measures like masks and social distancing are crucial in reducing transmission. The studies also revealed that even with face coverings, smaller particles can pe...

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.

Focus on outliers creates flawed snap judgments

Researchers found that participants overestimated minority groups and looked more often at these groups, even in quick visual scans. This bias occurs regardless of social context and is driven by a fundamental feature of human perception