Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive February 2021 - Page 21


Page 21 of 45

Nanotechnologies reduce friction and improve durability of materials

Researchers at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University developed a method for creating thin films using reactive pulsed laser deposition. The resulting films reduced friction by over 10 times, with applications in industries like space technology and instrument building.

SourceImmanuel Kant Baltic Federal University·JournalNanomaterials·DateFeb 16, 2021
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.

Getting the lead in

Scientists from Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new anode material using lead and carbon that outperforms current graphite anodes with twice the energy storage capacity. The new design enables stable performance during cycling and improves overall battery efficiency.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateFeb 16, 2021

Supercomputer turns back cosmic clock

A team led by Masato Shirasaki applied a reconstruction method to turn back the cosmic clock and remove gravitational effects from simulated universes. They found that their method can correct for gravitational effects and improve constraints on primordial density fluctuations.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Review D·DateFeb 16, 2021

Asthma deaths 50% more likely in poorest areas compared to richest

A new five-year study of over 100,000 people in Wales found that those from deprived backgrounds have worse asthma outcomes, including higher hospital admissions and risk of death. The study highlights the need for targeted health education strategies to improve asthma management in these communities.

SourceSwansea University·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 16, 2021

Crocodile evolution rebooted by Ice Age glaciations

A recent study led by McGill University found that the Pacific and Caribbean crocodile populations have been separated for approximately 100,000 years, contradicting previous expectations of 3 million years. This discovery was made possible by reconstructing Ice Age sea levels and analyzing genetic variations in the crocodiles' genomes.

SourceMcGill University·JournalEvolution·DateFeb 16, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Bacteria and algae get rides in clouds

Researchers from Rutgers University discovered that clouds can carry bacteria and algae, which could impact human health and ecosystems. The study found various types of algae, including cyanobacteria, in cloud water and rainwater collected from France, highlighting the need for further research on these microorganisms.

SourceRutgers University·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateFeb 16, 2021

Climate change likely drove the extinction of North America's largest animals

New research suggests climate change, not overhunting by humans, led to the extinction of mammoths and other megafauna in North America. The findings, based on a new statistical modelling approach, show that drastic temperature swings around 13,000 years ago initiated the decline and extinction of these massive creatures.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 16, 2021

Cloudy eyes caused by protein imbalance

A team of researchers found that protein imbalance leads to cataract formation by causing proteins to clump together and become cloudy. The study provides new insights into the causes of this common eye ailment, which may lead to the development of new treatment methods.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateFeb 16, 2021
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.

Mother's heart health in pregnancy impacts child's heart health in adolescence

A new study from Northwestern Medicine and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found that children born to mothers with suboptimal cardiovascular health during pregnancy are at higher risk for early declines in their own cardiovascular health, including heart attacks, strokes, and premature deaths.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJAMA·DateFeb 16, 2021

Common weed killers favour antibiotic resistant bacteria, new study shows

A new study from the University of York shows that common weed killers can increase the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soil. Herbicides are found to favour bacterial species carrying antibiotic resistance genes, potentially changing microbial community properties.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateFeb 16, 2021

Model helps predict which patients will benefit most from PSMA PET scan

Researchers created a model to identify patients with high-risk prostate cancer who will benefit from the PSMA PET scan. The study found that patients with a Gleason score of 9 or 10 and high percent positive cores are most likely to benefit from the scan.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalEuropean Urology Oncology·DateFeb 16, 2021

FRESH 3D-printing platform paves way for tissues, organs

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University developed a new 3D-bioprinting approach, FRESH, which enables advanced tissue fabrication by holding bioinks in place until they are cured. This method solves the distortion problem of soft and liquid bioinks, enabling the creation of functional adult-sized tissues and organs.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAPL Bioengineering·DateFeb 16, 2021
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.

Two NYU faculty win Sloan Foundation Research Fellowships

Elena Manresa and David Schneider, NYU faculty members, have been awarded Sloan Foundation Research Fellowships for their groundbreaking work in economics and neuroscience. The fellowships recognize their creative leadership and independent research achievements.

SourceNew York University·DateFeb 16, 2021

Sloshing quantum fluids of light and matter to probe superfluidity

An Australian-led team of physicists successfully created sloshing quantum liquids, revealing wavy motion and superfluid properties. The experiment provided insights into the speed of sound and potential effects on superfluidity, shedding light on a promising hybrid light-matter system for ultra-low-energy electronics.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 16, 2021

Evolution's game of rock-paper-scissors

Researchers identified a nontransitive evolutionary sequence in a 1,000-generation yeast experiment. The study found that an evolved clone outcompetes its recent ancestor but loses to a distant ancestor due to multilevel selection acting on both the yeast nuclear genome and an intracellular RNA virus.

SourceLehigh University·DateFeb 16, 2021

Breakthrough in organic chemistry: Asymmetric syntheses of useful, unique chiral compounds

Researchers have developed a method to synthesize N-C axially chiral compounds, which have promising applications in medicine and agriculture. The team's breakthrough enables the creation of highly enantioselective syntheses using chiral catalysts, leading to potentially useful compounds with therapeutic properties.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalAccounts of Chemical Research·DateFeb 16, 2021
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.

Solution to puzzling phenomenon may open door to improved Cold Spray efficiency

An international team of researchers solved a puzzling phenomenon involving vortex-like structures in the Cold Spray deposition process. The discovery, published in Materials & Design, reveals that these structures form when the CS process has low deposition efficiency, leading to improved adhesion between coatings and substrates.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalMaterials & Design·DateFeb 16, 2021

Using a machine model to predict risk of human aneurysms

A team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh is developing a new model to predict the risk of human aneurysms, using mechanical testing and biomechanical simulations. They aim to identify patients at high risk of rupture and improve patient prognosis by guiding surgical intervention.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·DateFeb 16, 2021

Predicting words' grammatical properties helps us read faster

Researchers found that native Russian speakers can precisely predict specific words and grammatical properties of words, with neural network models showing comparable precision. The study also discovered that the neural network predicts low-probability words better than humans and predicts high-probability words worse than humans.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 16, 2021
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.

Global poliovirus risk management and modeling

The global polio eradication initiative is facing setbacks due to ongoing outbreaks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, despite significant progress made since 2015. The recent special issue of Risk Analysis evaluates the GPEI strategies and finds that the initiative was off track even before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted immunization activ...

SourceSociety for Risk Analysis·JournalRisk Analysis·DateFeb 16, 2021

Highway tunnel for ions

Scientists at IPC PAS designed a novel solution by accelerating ion transport in narrow pores to charge supercapacitors faster. They presented slit-like pores with sizes slightly larger than ions and achieved promising results through complex computer simulations and experiments.

SourceInstitute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 16, 2021

New Australian fossil lizard

A team of researchers from Flinders University and the South Australian Museum discovered a new species of skink, Proegernia mikebulli, in the Namba Formation deposits. The fossil, named after Professor Mike Bull, is Australia's oldest known lizard, dating back to 25 million years ago.

SourceFlinders University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateFeb 16, 2021

Regular caffeine consumption affects brain structure

A study by researchers at the University of Basel found that regular caffeine intake can change the gray matter of the brain, but these effects are temporary. The study involved 20 healthy young individuals who were given caffeine or placebo tablets for two 10-day periods, with no sleep disruption observed.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateFeb 15, 2021

New immunotherapy target discovered for malignant brain tumors

Scientists have identified CD161 as a potential new target for immunotherapy of malignant brain tumors, including glioblastoma. The molecule suppresses the cancer-fighting activity of immune T cells, but blocking its pathway enhances the killing of tumor cells and improves survival rates in animal models.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalCell·DateFeb 15, 2021
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.

Researchers identify muscle factor that controls fat metabolism

Skeletal muscle plays a key role in regulating body glucose levels and affects fat storage and metabolism. A new study found that Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) is crucial for skeletal muscle fat uptake and utilization, leading to obesity and metabolic disease.

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 15, 2021

Posttraumatic stress after natural disasters

A study examined posttraumatic stress symptoms in children and adolescents exposed to major US hurricanes. The results found a significant association between exposure to natural disasters and the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateFeb 15, 2021
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.

Water is a probable vector for mammalian virus transmission

A research team from Leibniz-IZW found that water can be a vector for spreading mammalian viruses, with equine herpesviruses (EHV) remaining stable and infectious in water. The study suggests that viral stability in restricted freshwater sources enables their spread among animals, particularly during times of stress and congregation.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateFeb 15, 2021
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Mid-life cardiovascular disease prevention may protect against later dementia

A study published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that mid-life cardiovascular disease prevention can protect against later dementia. The research suggests that controlling cardiovascular risk factors early on can reduce brain vulnerability to cognitive dysfunction.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateFeb 15, 2021

New skin patch brings us closer to wearable, all-in-one health monitor

Engineers at UC San Diego developed a soft, stretchy skin patch that monitors cardiovascular signals and multiple biochemical levels in the human body. The patch tracks blood pressure, glucose, lactate, alcohol, and caffeine levels, providing a comprehensive overview of the wearer's health.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateFeb 15, 2021
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.

Evolution of cereal spikes

Scientists have identified a gene responsible for varying cereal spike forms, offering a possible solution to increasing grain yields. The research focuses on the INT-M/DUB1 gene's ability to regulate meristem activity and determine lateral spikelet formation.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2021

Cheap, potent pathway to pandemic therapeutics

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a new technique to discover tiny antibody fragments that can target different parts of a pathogen, making them effective against variants. This approach has the potential to quickly identify multiple potent nanobodies that can neutralize pathogens.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalCell Systems·DateFeb 15, 2021

Graphene "nano-origami" creates tiniest microchips yet

Researchers at the University of Sussex have created the tiniest microchips using graphene and other 2D materials through a process called 'nano-origami'. By crinkling graphene, they demonstrated that it can behave like a transistor, leading to smaller and faster devices.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 15, 2021

Women have a lower range of 'normal' blood pressure than men

Research from the Smidt Heart Institute found that women have a lower normal blood pressure range compared to men, with systolic pressures above 110mmHg associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study's authors recommend reassessing blood pressure guidelines to account for sex differences.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalCirculation·DateFeb 15, 2021
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

A machine-learning approach to finding treatment options for COVID-19

A machine-learning approach has been developed to identify repurposed drugs for COVID-19 treatment in elderly patients. The system accounts for changes in gene expression in lung cells caused by both the disease and aging, pinpointing the protein RIPK1 as a promising target.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 15, 2021

Luminescent windows generate energy from inside and out

Researchers have designed windows with a conjugated polymer layer that absorbs light and guides it to solar cells, generating electricity. The panels are more efficient at converting ambient LED light than direct sunlight.

SourceRice University·JournalPolymer International·DateFeb 15, 2021

Loss of soil in US Corn Belt

The US Corn Belt has lost around 35% of its organic-rich A-horizon soil through agricultural erosion, leading to a 6% decline in crop yields and $2.8 billion annual economic losses.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2021

Neanderthals and Homo sapiens used identical Nubian technology

A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that Neanderthals used the same Nubian Levallois technology as Homo sapiens, pushing the southernmost known range of Neanderthals. The analysis of a fossil tooth and associated archaeological assemblage suggests a mixing ground between populations.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 15, 2021
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Scientists developed a novel method of automatic soil mapping

A team of scientists from RUDN University developed a new approach to automatic soil mapping using machine learning technologies. The method, which uses traditional rules for manual mapping, provides highly accurate results and easy-to-interpret maps, outperforming existing statistical models.

SourceRUDN University·JournalISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information·DateFeb 15, 2021

Analyzing legislative engagement

A randomized controlled trial found that Congressional offices with targeted support reported increased value of scientific evidence for understanding legislative issues. The intervention group introduced around 23% more bills using research evidence language and reported a 7% greater value of using research evidence compared to controls.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2021

Climatic barriers to dinosaur dispersal

A study found dinosaurs' dispersal coincides with a significant drop in atmospheric CO2 levels around 214 million years ago. This suggests prior climatic barriers prevented their expansion into the Northern Hemisphere for 15 million years.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2021

Epigenetic mechanisms allow native Peruvians to thrive at high altitudes

A study reveals that epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, play a key role in the adaptation of native Peruvians to high altitudes. The findings show that early developmental exposures can have persistent impacts on DNA methylation patterns, leading to improved lung volumes and reduced susceptibility to idiopathic pulmonary f...

SourceSMBE Journals (Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution)·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·DateFeb 15, 2021
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.

Can evolution be predicted?

Researchers developed a statistical framework to test and quantify adaptation in complex biological systems, enabling prediction of evolutionary outcomes. The new framework allows for rigorous analysis of organism adaptation to their ecological niche, building bridges between mathematics and biology.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNeuron·DateFeb 15, 2021

Formation of secondary air pollution components

Researchers discovered that secondary organic aerosols can form quickly through oxidation of primary organic aerosols in humid conditions. This process may explain the decrease in secondary organic aerosol concentrations between 2013 and 2018.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2021
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.

In predicting shallow but dangerous landslides, size matters

A new study aims to predict the size and hazard potential of shallow landslides using airborne laser mapping and hillside physics. The model identifies factors affecting landslide size that can't be determined from aerial data, highlighting the need for ground-based assessments.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 15, 2021