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Science News Archive December 2021


Page 15 of 33

Harmful boomerang: PFAS pollution in ocean comes back to land

A study by Stockholm University researchers found that PFAS from the ocean re-emitted into air with crashing waves significantly contribute to PFAS air pollution in coastal areas. The transportation of toxic substances from seawater to marine air via sea spray aerosols poses a significant threat to health and the environment.

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.

Brain study on how to slow down climate change

Researchers at the University of Bern used brain stimulation to demonstrate that mentalizing with future climate change victims encourages sustainable behavior. The study found that stimulating an area of the brain involved in perspective-taking led to more sustainable decisions, suggesting potential benefits for climate communication.

Normal 6-month outcomes in babies of women with COVID-19 during pregnancy

A study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found that babies born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy exhibited normal growth patterns and developmental milestones at 6 months. The research included 33 Latinx infants and showed no higher rate of developmental referrals than usual.

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.

MDI Biological Laboratory awarded grant to advance cloud computing in Maine

The MDI Biological Laboratory has been awarded a grant to promote cloud computing among researchers in Maine, aiming to level the playing field by providing access to sophisticated computing resources. The program will provide training on Google Cloud Platform and assist institutions in implementing cloud computing services.

Study clarifies nitrogen’s impact on soil carbon sequestration

The study found that nitrogen fertilizer accelerated residue decomposition, producing more carbon dioxide and reducing the incorporation of residues into soil organic matter. This long-term problem can cause microbes to attack stable organic matter, leading to a decline in soil health.

How a fly's brain calculates its position in space

A new study reveals that flies have a set of neurons that signal the direction in which the body is traveling, regardless of the head's direction. The fly brain calculates this signal from basic sensory inputs and uses a world-centered reference frame to determine its position.

Soils in old-growth treetops can store more carbon than soils under our feet

Researchers found that active carbon in canopy soil was three times higher compared to mineral soils. The study highlights the potential of old-growth forests as carbon sinks, challenging current models. Canopy soils take long time to form and host unique microbiomes, making them a valuable component of these ecosystems.

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.

Spot the difference: can AI generate plausible Christmas BMJ titles?

A study by The BMJ found that AI-generated titles were as attractive and entertaining to readers as real titles, with performance enhanced by human input. The AI generated titles were rated as having less scientific or educational merit than the real titles, but this difference became non-significant when humans curated the AI output.

High-speed impacts may have shaped Venus’ history

High-speed impacts could explain why Earth is habitable while Venus is not, according to new research. Large collisions during Venus' early history led to twice as much mantle melting than impact-induced melting on Earth.

Using strategy to preserve biodiversity while saving space

A team of scientists has redefined indicators for biological diversity, analyzing ecosystem and species distribution. They found that areas with many species don't always have high biodiversity, and some protected areas may not be effectively conserving species and ecosystems.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Major gift focuses efforts on a rare, but devastating, genetic eye disease

The Nixon Visions Foundation has given a significant gift to support studies of the PRPH2 gene linked to macular dystrophy and boost stem cell research aimed at developing early diagnosis and a cure for this devastating genetic eye disease. Researchers hope to make a tremendous impact on people with this inherited eye disease.

Novel electrocatalyst boosts synthesis of urea from CO2 and N2

A novel InOOH electrocatalyst with frustrated Lewis pairs enables efficient urea synthesis from CO2 and N2 at room temperature. The catalyst achieves a high urea yield rate of 6.85 mmol h-1 g-1, promising a sustainable solution to excessive CO2 emissions during N2 fixation.

New discovery on how omega-3 fatty acids can reduce atherosclerosis

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that omega-3 fatty acids activate the GPR32 receptor, which reduces inflammation in blood vessels and prevents atherosclerosis. This breakthrough discovery paves the way for new strategies to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease using omega-3 fatty acids.

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.

Queen’s genes determine sex of entire ant colonies

A study by UC Riverside scientists has identified a set of genes on a single chromosome associated with the production of male or female offspring in ant colonies. The discovery sheds light on the complex relationships between genetics and environmental factors in shaping the sex ratio of these societies.

PCR: Activated by light

Researchers at LMU developed a new approach to create photoactivatable DNA processing enzymes that can be triggered by UV light pulses. This breakthrough overcomes the limitations of traditional hot-start methods, enabling more precise diagnostics without sacrificing sensitivity.

Visually stunning tree of all known life unveiled online

The OneZoom tree of life is an interactive visualization that connects over 2.2 million living species, showcasing their evolutionary history and threat status. The platform also features images of over 85,000 species and allows users to explore their relationships with others.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Gas-passing plankton illumine another piece of the carbon cycle puzzle

A recent study by Oregon State University reveals that a type of bacteria called SAR11 consumes acetone and isoprene, volatile organic compounds produced by phytoplankton. These findings suggest that the marine carbon cycle is not fully understood and highlights the importance of studying plankton's role in gas exchange.

Finding new channels to selectively target pest insects

Scientists have discovered new targets for insecticides by analyzing the structure of potassium channels in Drosophila. The study provides a detailed map of the channel, enabling the design of highly selective and safe insecticides.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Overweight children are developing heart complications

A new study from the University of Georgia found that overweight youth are developing signs of artery stiffness, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Researchers measured visceral fat levels and arterial stiffness in over 600 children, adolescents, and young adults, revealing higher levels of visceral fat and arterial ...

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.

Small groups lead; large ones control

Research by Jesús Bas and colleagues found that smaller groups are perceived as leaders in decision-making tasks, but larger groups are seen as more powerful and controlling when it comes to resources. Children's perceptions of social status also vary with age and group size.

Astronomers just got better at finding “bright” black holes

A team of astronomers has developed a new technique to detect active black holes in galaxies, measuring their impact on galaxy evolution. The method can be applied to millions of galaxies, searching for bright supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies and studying their effect on star formation.

New Wilderness Medical Society guidelines may help reduce tick-borne illness

The Wilderness Medical Society has developed clinical practice guidelines for reducing tick-borne illness, emphasizing low-risk interventions in resource-limited settings. Lyme disease accounts for nearly 70% of reported cases, with other TBIs like anaplasmosis and spotted fever rickettsiosis also on the rise.

Precise insights into the supermassive black hole in the Milky Way’s heart

A team of astronomers has made the most precise measurements yet of the motions of stars around Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The research, using cutting-edge facilities like Gemini Observatory and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, shows that nearly all of the mass c...

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.

Researchers test physics of coral as an indicator of reef health

Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated that measuring the physics of just a small portion of a coral reef can reveal insights about the entire reef system. This new approach provides low-cost methods for scaling up monitoring efforts, which are crucial for understanding the impact of climate change on these ecosystems.

Spacecraft enters the Sun's corona for the first time in history

The Parker Solar Probe successfully entered the corona of the Sun, a region approximately 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, and collected data using the Solar Probe Cup instrument. The probe's historic achievement sheds light on phenomena such as solar flares, high-speed solar winds, and the Sun's atmosphere's heat and magnetic fields.

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.

Colorectal cancer screening lags among rural women, study finds

A study found that rural women are less likely to get screened for colorectal cancer compared to urban counterparts, despite similar breast cancer screening rates. The disparity may be attributed to limited access to testing and financial constraints, highlighting the need for targeted public health interventions.

Plastic-degrading enzymes increasing in correlation with pollution

A study found a strong correlation between the number of microbial enzymes that can degrade plastic and local levels of plastic pollution. Researchers analyzed environmental DNA samples from around the world and discovered over 30,000 enzyme homologues with potential to break down various types of plastics.

Melting sea ice forces polar bears to travel farther for food

A recent study found that polar bears in the Beaufort Sea are traveling up to 30% farther from their traditional hunting grounds, resulting in a 20% decrease in population. As sea ice recedes earlier and further, bears are being displaced from primary foraging habitats and forced to compete for food resources.

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.

Night lights: New global atlas maps out artificial light at night under the sea

A new global atlas reveals that up to 1.9 million km2 of the world's coastal waters are affected by artificial light at night, with significant impacts on marine organisms. The study uses a novel metric to determine the depth of light penetration and highlights the need for further research into the effects of ALAN pollution.

Closing in on the first light in the Universe

Researchers have reduced background noise using new antennas in the Australian hinterland, allowing them to refine their search for a 13-billion-year-old signal known as the Epoch of Reionisation. By surveying over 80,000 radio signal sources, they produced models that significantly improved efforts to locate the elusive signal.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Spelunking on the moon: New study explores lunar pits and caves

Researchers at CU Boulder found that lunar pits and caves showcase remarkably stable conditions, making them attractive options for establishing a long-term human presence on the moon. The environments can help astronauts weather some of the moon's worst extremes but may not be ideal spots to find water.

Change in buprenorphine use in US jails, prisons

The study found that buprenorphine use for opioid use disorder increased substantially in US jails and prisons over the past five years. Despite being rare among incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder, this increase suggests potential improvements in treatment access.

JAMA Internal Medicine commentary: Integrating medical and social care

The US healthcare system faces challenges in balancing individual-based efforts with community-based initiatives, according to Regenstrief Institute Research Scientist Christopher M. Callahan. He advocates for reforms, such as screening for social determinants and workforce enhancements to facilitate integration of social care.

A Spacecraft Has “Touched” the Sun for the First Time

The Parker Solar Probe has entered the solar corona and spent five hours in direct contact with the sun's plasma, measuring phenomena previously estimated. The probe discovered that the Alfvén critical surface is wrinkled, suggesting a potential new era for understanding coronal heating.

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.

NASA enters the solar atmosphere for the first time, bringing new discoveries

Parker Solar Probe successfully flew through the Sun's corona, sampling particles and magnetic fields, revealing critical information about the Sun's evolution and impact on solar system. The probe made new discoveries, including identifying the origin of switchbacks in the solar wind, which form near the solar surface.