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Science News Archive 2021


Page 333 of 510

Using cosmic-ray neutron bursts to understand gamma-ray bursts from lightning

Analysis of data from a lightning mapper and radiation detector revealed neutrons generated from soil by large cosmic-ray showers, matching simulations that included both hadrons and gamma rays. This discovery suggests natural phenomena producing ground-pointed gamma-rays could produce similar neutron burst signatures.

Should masks be worn outdoors?

Experts debate whether wearing masks outdoors can help reduce covid-19 transmission and encourage mask-wearing indoors. Some argue that normalising outdoor mask-wearing can bring benefits, while others believe efforts should focus on reducing indoor transmission.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Does your neighborhood affect your stroke recovery?

A study published in Neurology found that people living in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status experience worse stroke recovery, including more disability and depression. The study suggests that factors such as access to public spaces and perceived safety may contribute to these outcomes.

Study examines racial inequity in suicide prediction models

Researchers tested two suicide prediction models on nearly 14 million health records and found they performed poorly on Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native patients. The study highlights the need to test how prediction models perform in all racial and ethnic groups before implementing them in clinical care.

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.

Using microbes to remove microplastics from the environment

A new technique uses bacterial biofilms to capture microplastics, which are then processed and dispersed for recycling. This method has the potential to remove microplastics from wastewater treatment plants, helping to stop their release into oceans and protect human health and food chains.

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.

Inactive oil wells could be big source of methane emissions

A recent study by the University of Cincinnati found that inactive oil wells in Texas can leak significant amounts of methane, with some emitting up to 132 grams per hour. The study suggests that regular inspections using infrared cameras could help address the issue.

More sleep or more exercise: the best time trade-offs for children's health

A study of 1179 children aged 11-12 years found that moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise was 2-6 times more potent than sleep or sedentary time in improving physical and mental health. Exercising 17 minutes more, sleeping an extra 52 minutes, or reducing sitting time by 56 minutes can achieve similar benefits.

How to get salt out of water: Make it self-eject

Researchers at MIT developed a method to reduce fouling on heat exchanger surfaces by making salts self-eject, using hydrophobic surfaces and heat. The process involves the formation of 'crystal critters' that grow legs and eventually tip over, allowing the salts to be removed easily.

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.

The shape of light changes our vision

Researchers from UNIGE used mice to study the complex processing of light by the retina, revealing that both light intensity and its temporal shape influence the signal sent to the brain. The findings, published in Science Advances, may lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities for eye weaknesses.

El Niño can help predict cacao harvests up to 2 years in advance

Researchers found that El Niño can accurately predict cacao yields with a high degree of confidence, even 25 months before the harvest. This innovative approach uses machine learning and rigorous data collection to provide valuable insights for farmers and policymakers, enabling them to make informed investment decisions.

Designing new alloys for additive manufacturing

Researchers aim to develop new alloys that can be additively manufactured to produce strong yet ductile structures. By understanding the underlying mechanisms of grain refinement in complex concentrated alloys, they hope to create materials suitable for various engineering applications, including space exploration.

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.

A path to graphene topological qubits

Researchers have successfully demonstrated the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in graphene, opening a pathway towards graphene-based topological qubits. This breakthrough finding enables the creation of Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states, which are crucial for achieving topological superconductivity.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Research gives trees an edge in landfill clean-up

A new contaminant prioritization tool could increase the effectiveness of environmental approaches to landfill clean-up by matching tree species with specific contaminants. The tool allows site managers to prioritize the most hazardous contaminants or customize it to address local concerns.

Delayed antibiotic prescribing is safe and effective for most patients

A large analysis of patient data suggests that delayed antibiotic prescribing is a safe and effective strategy for most patients, including those in higher risk subgroups. The study found no significant difference in symptom severity or duration between delayed and immediate antibiotics, but a slight benefit in reducing re-consultation...

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.

Uncertainty of future Southern Ocean CO2 uptake cut in half

A new study has reduced the Southern Ocean's CO2 uptake uncertainty by 50% using a novel method that constrains the ocean's carbon sink. The approach links human-made CO2 uptake to surface water salinity, allowing for more accurate projections of future climate change.

Skipping the second shot could prolong pandemic, study finds

A Cornell-led research survey found that many Americans believe the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines provide weak protection against COVID-19 after a second dose. The study highlights the need for improved guidance on continued public health precautions, such as wearing masks, to combat vaccine attrition and prolong pandemic recovery.

CCNY team makes single photon switch advance

The City College of New York team demonstrated the use of Rydberg states to enhance nonlinear optical interactions in solid state systems, creating a chip-scale scalable single photon switch. This breakthrough enables the realization of quantum photonic technologies by amplifying scalability.

Socioeconomic deprivation modifies genetic influence on higher education

A Uppsala University study found that genetic variants contribute more to educational attainment in socioeconomically deprived regions. The study of over 350,000 UK Biobank participants suggests an interaction between genes and environment, with socioeconomic deprivation modifying genetic effects.

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.

Driving behaviors harbor early signals of dementia

Using naturalistic driving data, researchers developed random forests models that accurately predicted mild cognitive impairment and dementia with 88% accuracy. The study identified age, trip patterns, and braking events as key predictors of the conditions.

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.

Childhood air pollution exposure linked to poor mental health at age 18

A multidecade study found higher rates of mental illness symptoms among young adults exposed to traffic-related air pollutants during childhood and adolescence. The link between air pollution exposure and mental health symptoms was observed across sub-domains of psychopathology, with strongest links to thought disorder symptoms.

New method might improve prostate cancer and high cholesterol treatments

Researchers have developed a new method to control human hormones and metabolism, which could help prevent diseases such as prostate cancer and high cholesterol. The method involves binding to the POR protein, influencing hormone production and degradation, and has shown promise in treating prostate cancer by regulating CYP17 levels.

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.

UMass Amherst-led team awarded $3M grant to decarbonize computing

A UMass Amherst-led team will develop a self-powered, decentralized network of computing hardware and solar batteries to reduce carbon emissions. The team plans to virtualize energy systems and engineer digital carbon-capping policies to track applications' use of traditional grid-based carbon emissions.

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.

Christmas Eve coke works fire followed by asthma exacerbations

The study found that nearly half of people with asthma closest to the fire were unaware of the pollution problem and unable to take steps to avoid exposure. The incident led to an 80% increased risk of worsened asthma symptoms for those living within a 10-mile radius of the plant.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

People of color hardest hit by air pollution from nearly all sources

A new study models people's exposure to air pollution by race-ethnicity and income level, finding that exposure disparities among people of color and white people are driven by nearly all emission source types. The researchers found that air pollution disparities arise from a more systemic set of causes than previously understood.

May Day: How electricity brought power to strikes

Historical research from Lund University reveals that electrification strengthened professional groups' negotiating power, leading to more strikes over wage increases. The study analyzed 8,000 strikes between 1859 and 1938 and found that technological change was a rare trigger.

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.

Job changes following breast cancer are frequent in some cases

Breast cancer patients experience frequent job changes after diagnosis, with around ten percent reporting involuntary changes. The study suggests that a supportive work environment and understanding from managers can facilitate a satisfactory return to work.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.