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Science News Archive August 2021


Page 15 of 38

Study supports widespread use of better masks to curb COVID-19 indoors

A new study by University of Waterloo researchers highlights the importance of using better face masks and proper ventilation to mitigate COVID-19 transmission indoors. The study found that higher-quality masks can filter up to 50% of exhaled aerosol droplets, while even modest ventilation rates are effective in reducing risk.

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.

Geologists dig into Grand Canyon’s mysterious gap in time

A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder has shed new light on the Great Unconformity, a mysterious gap in the Grand Canyon's rock record that covers hundreds of millions of years. The research suggests that a series of small faulting events may have caused rocks and sediment to wash away, creating the missing window of time.

White clover’s toxic tricks traced to its hybridization

Research at Washington University in St. Louis reveals that white clover's chemical defense against insect pests comes from both of its parental species, not just one as previously thought. The plant's ecological success can be attributed to this cyanogenesis process.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Researchers help track the growth of ginseng forest farming in Pennsylvania

Researchers found that many collectors are planting seeds in forests to conserve wild populations, but also using commercially acquired seeds from online purchases, threatening the plant's gene pool. The study aims to better understand ginseng forest farming and promote conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

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.

Rice, Baylor win defense grant to advance metastasis study

Researchers at Rice and Baylor are expanding their efforts to halt bone cancer metastasis using a molecule targeting osteoporosis and HER2 protein. Their goal is to improve drug concentration at tumor sites, inhibit secondary metastasis, and explore the therapeutic effect mechanism.

Understanding enzyme evolution paves the way for green chemistry

Researchers at the University of Bristol used molecular computer simulations to understand how laboratory evolution transforms inefficient designer biocatalysts into highly active enzymes. They found that evolution 'tunes' the flexibility of the whole protein, allowing it to accelerate chemical reactions.

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.

Deep learning tool for sarcopenia on CT: L1 versus L3 vertebral level

A deep learning tool for sarcopenia assessment on CT scans shows similar utility in predicting hip fractures and death at both L1 and L3 vertebral levels. Muscle attenuation measurements performed better than muscle area assessments, likely due to the inclusion of intramuscular fat.

A new dataset could aid climate justice research

A new dataset combines demographic and financial information to identify communities at risk of climate-related gentrification. The Socio-Economic Physical Housing Eviction Risk (SEPHER) dataset provides insights into the impact of climate hazards on vulnerable populations, including increased evictions and rising housing costs.

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.

No need for discontinuation of Adalimumab before surgery

A four-year multicentre study by Ruhr-University Bochum's Department of Dermatosurgery found that adalimumab can be used both before and after surgery for moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa. The study involved 200 patients and showed the drug to be effective and safe in this context.

Remote sensing and machine learning reveal Archaic shell rings

A team of researchers used remote sensing data and deep machine learning to identify hundreds of new shell ring sites in the southeastern US. The study provides a better understanding of how people lived in the area and offers a way to locate undiscovered shell rings.

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.

Targeted COVID-19 vaccine outreach to marginalized populations

Researchers identified and contacted patients with cancer who could benefit from targeted nonelectronic communication regarding COVID-19 immunization. The study used an analytics-based approach to reach marginalized populations, highlighting the importance of targeted outreach in increasing vaccine uptake.

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.

A parent’s genes can influence a child’s educational success, inherited or not

A new study led by UCL researchers confirms that genetic inheritance has a significant impact on educational outcomes. However, the study also reveals that parent genes that aren't directly inherited can shape parents' education levels and subsequently influence their children's learning environment, affecting their academic success.

Study suggests hydraulic fracturing can impact surface water quality

A recent study by researchers at the University of Chicago found that hydraulic fracturing is associated with small increases in salt concentrations in surface waters across several shales and many watersheds. The largest impacts occurred during the early phases of production, generating large amounts of flowback and produced water.

Humans ditched swivelling hips for shorter stride than chimps

Research reveals that humans take shorter strides than chimpanzees due to reduced pelvic rotation, extending their stride by only 5.4 times compared to the mini wiggles performed when walking. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that humans have evolved the longest possible stride for efficiency.

Patients helping researchers to advance treatments for prostate cancer

Monash University researchers have established a vast collection of living prostate cancer tumors from patients, enabling the testing of new treatments and advancing patient care. The PDX collection comprises 59 tumors collected from 30 patients between 2012-2020, providing a unique resource for scientists and pharmaceutical companies.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Study of East Africans illuminates new genetic factors underlying human faces

A new study has identified 20 genetic regions linked to face shape in East Africans, highlighting the importance of diverse populations in understanding human facial features. The findings also reveal that shared genetic factors contribute to similarities across populations, while population-specific variants drive differences.

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.

Accessing high-spins in an artificial atom

Osaka University researchers demonstrate the readout of spin-polarized multielectron states composed of three or four electrons on a semiconductor quantum dot. This breakthrough may lead to quantum computers utilizing high-spin states, enabling faster and higher-capacity processing.

Cloud shadows cue mini-migrations

A new study reveals zooplankton exhibit high-frequency 'mini-migrations' due to cloud shadows, affecting their energy expenditure and carbon transport. The daily process of swimming up and down in response to subtle changes in light intensity may have significant implications for Earth's carbon cycle.

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.

Study: half of pediatric opioid prescriptions are “high risk”

A national study suggests that half of pediatric opioid prescriptions are considered high-risk, increasing the risk of overdose and addiction. A small group of prescribers in the top 5% account for half of these high-risk prescriptions, particularly dentists or surgeons who practice mainly in the South.

These two types of abuse are often taken less seriously

A Lund University study finds that people often take psychological abuse less seriously, with physical violence being perceived as more severe. The research suggests communication difficulties and preconceived notions based on gender contribute to these disparities.

Baby bats babble like human infants

Researchers found that bat pups mimic human infant babbling patterns, including reduplication and rhythmic sequences, and engage in daily vocal practice behaviour for up to 7 weeks. The study provides insights into the evolutionary origins of human language, highlighting parallels between mammalian vocal learning.

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.

Online product displays can shape your buying behavior

Research by UC San Diego professor Uma R. Karmarkar found that display items from the same category as the target product enhance purchase chances, while mismatched products decrease them. This study used eye-tracking technology to examine how different types of displays influenced visual attention.

Implementation of primary PCI in the management of STEMI in Egypt

A study in Egypt identified significant barriers to primary PCI implementation in STEMI management, including prehospital and emergency department delays. The findings highlight the need for improvement in STEMI networks, training of interventional cardiologists, and hospital policies to enhance patient care.

The dream artificial photosynthesis technology ventures from the laboratory

Korean researchers have developed a nanometer-sized branch-shaped tungsten-silver catalyst that can acquire carbon monoxide in high yields from the electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion system. The catalyst exhibited a high sunlight-to-compound conversion efficiency of 12.1% when combined with commercialized silicon solar cells.

Comet atlas may have been a blast from the past

Astronomers discovered that comet ATLAS shares the same orbital track as an ancient comet from 1844, suggesting it's a sibling from a parent comet. The comet disintegrated while farther from the Sun than Earth, defying conventional wisdom about comets.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Discrimination, abuse and harassment in emergency medicine residency training

A survey study found that emergency medicine residents experience high rates of workplace mistreatment, including suicidal thoughts, and identify common sources of mistreatment as supervisors, colleagues, and patients. The study highlights the need for improved workplace culture and support systems to address these issues.

Rattlesnake rattles trick human ears

Researchers discover rattlesnakes' high-frequency rattle fools humans into thinking they're closer than they are, allowing for a 'distance safety margin'. The study suggests snakes evolved this smart signal to avoid being stepped on by large mammals.

CRISPR screening tool identifies new drug target for leukemia

A CRISPR screening tool identified ZMYND8, an epigenetic regulatory protein, as a potential new therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia. Inhibiting ZMYND8 has been shown to leave cancer cells with smaller tumors and better survival in mouse models.

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.

Scientists harness human protein to deliver molecular medicines to cells

Researchers have developed a new way to deliver molecular therapies to cells using a programmable system called SEND, which harnesses natural proteins in the body to encapsulate and deliver different RNA cargoes. This could lead to safer and more targeted delivery of gene editing and other molecular therapeutics.

Nanopores: the how and the why (and hopefully the where)

Researchers studied electrical conduction through membranes during Controlled Breakdown, a technique to fabricate single nanopores. They found that redox reactions occur at the membrane-electrolyte interface, allowing localization of pore formation using metal microelectrodes.

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.