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Science News Archive 2021


Page 40 of 510

Unsung gene is key to how antibodies develop: U of T study

Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified FAM72A as a crucial gene in antibody development, enabling high-quality antibodies by facilitating AID's effect. The findings also suggest that increased levels of FAM72A could spur cancer development and progression.

Protein communities: protein "villages" serving cells

Researchers have discovered protein communities, like villages, serving cells by combining protein localization and inter-protein interactions. This breakthrough reveals new functions of proteins involved in ribosome production, essential for cell survival and disease prevention.

Those that game together, stay together

Researchers analyzed historical data on games played by 25 cultures and found that cooperative games are more common in socially hierarchical cultures, while competitive games are prevalent in cultures with internal conflicts. The study suggests that games may mimic real-world behavior and help learn group norms.

Plants’ reaction to stress

Plants form cytoplasmic complexes called stress granules as a defense mechanism to promote cell survival. A recent study identified TSN protein as a crucial scaffolding protein that recruits plant-specific components, including SnRK1 kinase, to stress granules.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Social media firms can tackle wildlife trade

Researchers examined social media posts promoting live bird sales from West Africa, finding 83 species for sale, including endangered parrots. Social media platforms must work with wildlife experts to detect harmful content, as algorithms alone are not enough.

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.

A seemingly unattainable energy transition

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery by exciting an unattainable energy transition in an artificial atom using laser light. The radiative Auger process allowed them to stimulate electrons to emit energy and transfer it to another electron, achieving a seemingly impossible transition.

Shifting colors for on-chip photonics

On-chip frequency shifters in the gigahertz range enable precise color shifting for high-speed optical communication. This innovation has significant implications for the development of quantum computers and future network infrastructure.

Mental health of Italian health care workers during COVID-19

A study of 2,800 Italian healthcare workers found a significant decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 14 months after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The study suggests that healthcare workers have begun to recover from the emotional toll of working during the pandemic.

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.

UCLA astronomers discover more than 300 possible new exoplanets

The discovery of hundreds of new exoplanets is a significant advance in understanding how planets form and orbits evolve. A notable finding includes a planetary system with two gas giant planets, each roughly the size of Saturn, located unusually close to their host star.

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.

How far away is help? Researchers map access to HIV care

A new study published in PLOS Global Public Health has mapped the distance to HIV care services in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting that 7 million people live more than 10 minutes away and 3 million people live more than 30 minutes away. The research aims to develop cost-effective policies for HIV interventions in underserved areas.

Extremely hot days linked to higher risk of emergency hospital visits

A large study found that extremely hot days are associated with a higher risk of emergency department visits for various health conditions. The study suggests that adults of all ages are at increased risk of heat-related health effects, and the risk is more pronounced in certain geographic regions, age groups, and socioeconomic statuses.

Prostate cancer organoids open path to precision oncology

Researchers have developed a prostate cancer organoid that can mimic the patient-specific microenvironment, opening up new avenues for targeted treatments. The study reveals that extracellular matrix regulates EZH2 activity and efficacy of inhibitors, as well as identifies potential new therapeutic targets like DRD2.

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.

Change in COVID-19 mortality in patients with cancer during pandemic

A registry-based study of 2,600 patients in six European countries reveals a significant increase in COVID-19 mortality among cancer patients during the pandemic. The study suggests that cancer patients are at higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions.

Psychedelics show promise in treating mental illness

Researchers have made significant breakthroughs using psychedelics to treat mental illnesses such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Studies have found that these substances can induce profound effects on perception, behavior, and gene expression, with long-lasting epigenomic changes detected in mice.

Biomedical engineers find neural activity during rest is highly organized

Biomedical engineers found that individual neurons fire in seconds-long, coordinated cascades during rest, triggering activity across the brain. This organized pattern of activity may be linked to arousal and memory systems, with implications for understanding cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

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.

For the first time, DNA and proteins sensed by de novo-designed nanopore

Researchers in Japan have designed the first de novo-designed peptides that can form artificial nanopores to identify and enable single molecule-sorting of genetic material in a lipid membrane. The peptides can detect specific molecules, including DNA, and have the potential to mimic natural proteins' ability to detect specific proteins.

UK study suggests COVID-19 became much more lethal in late 2020

A new statistical analysis supports the notion that COVID-19 became more lethal in the UK in late 2020, with increased lethality attributed to factors beyond just the alpha variant of the virus. The study used Bayesian inference to draw stronger conclusions from weekly data on cases and deaths.

No surge in travel during regional lockdowns, study finds

A new study from Athabasca University found that regional lockdowns in Ontario did not result in spikes of people traveling to neighboring regions to access services. The analysis of cellphone data showed no change in movement from areas targeted by restrictions to other areas.

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.

Experimental compound counters diabetic complications

A new experimental compound, RAGE229, reduces type 1 and type 2 diabetes complications by countering cell death, inflammation, and organ damage. The compound blocks the ability of a protein called RAGE to pass on inflammatory signals that injure the heart and kidneys in diabetes.

Unveiling the hidden cellular logistics of memory storage in neurons

University of Michigan scientists found that RNAs associated with an understudied cell compartment in hippocampal neurons vary greatly between sleeping and sleep-deprived mice after learning. These changes are present almost exclusively on ribosomes associated with neuronal cell membranes, suggesting a novel mechanism for memory storage.

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.

Collapse of ancient Liangzhu culture caused by climate change

Researchers found evidence that a period of extremely high precipitation between 4345 and 4324 years ago was caused by anomalously intense monsoon rains. The massive flooding destroyed the sophisticated dams and canals, leading to the collapse of the city.

New ultrahard diamond glass synthesized

Researchers have synthesized a new form of carbon glass with three-dimensional bonds, the hardest known glass material. The discovery has potential for mass production and opens up new possibilities in devices and electronics.

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.

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.

Tempera painting probed on the molecular scale

Researchers studied 15th century tempera recipes to understand the mixture's properties on a molecular scale. They found that the combination of egg-yolk and clay-based pigment creates a network that improves paint flow and covering properties.

Sun compass on demand

Researchers from the University of Würzburg discovered that monarch butterflies process sun information as a compass during migration, but only when flying actively. The butterfly's brain represents the heading direction relative to the sun in a similar way to a compass.

New findings on bacteria that increase risk of pancreatic cancer

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that certain bacteria from the digestive system can cause damage to pancreatic cells, increasing the risk of malignant tumours. The study suggests that antibiotics could prevent this damage, offering a potential prophylactic intervention.

Living walls can reduce heat lost from buildings by over 30%

A study at the University of Plymouth found that retrofitting an existing building with a green wall reduced heat loss by 31.4%. The study suggests that living walls can provide significant energy savings and help reduce carbon emissions in existing buildings.

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.

A new topological magnet with colossal angular magnetoresistance

Researchers discovered a new topological magnet that can induce a billion-fold change in resistance by rotating the magnetic field angle. This phenomenon, called colossal angular magnetoresistance, enables efficient detection of electronic spin states and opens up new opportunities for spin-electronic applications.

Common medication hindering lung cancer treatment

Research found that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may reduce the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. PPI use was associated with worse survival rates and a significant decrease in the benefit of immune therapy treatment.

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.

Robots in Europe vote for the radical right

A recent study by Bocconi University professors reveals that individuals exposed to automation are more likely to support radical-right parties. The researchers found a strong correlation between automation exposure and poorer economic conditions, lower job satisfaction, and increased support for the radical right.

Sinking after earthquakes

A new dataset from Canterbury earthquakes provides over 15,000 case histories for liquefaction, significantly augmenting model training and testing. The dataset enhances hazard assessments and improves engineering solutions in earthquake recovery, benefiting society as a whole.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Electrons set the stage for neutrino experiments

A team of nuclear physicists used electron studies to validate neutrino-nucleus interaction models, highlighting the need for updates to achieve accurate results in upcoming neutrino experiments. The study utilized an electron-scattering version of GENIE, a theoretical simulation used in neutrino research.