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Science News Archive July 2021 - Page 28


Page 28 of 41

Sweet success: CABBI demonstrates first precision breeding of sugarcane with CRISPR-Cas9

Recent innovations by University of Florida researchers at CABBI demonstrate the first successful precision breeding of sugarcane using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. This technique allows for precise changes in genes and introduces superior versions, potentially increasing productivity and sustainability.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment·JournalFrontiers in Genome Editing·DateJul 12, 2021

Teardrop star reveals hidden supernova doom

Astronomers have discovered a rare teardrop-shaped star system that will eventually become a Type Ia supernova. The system, HD265435, is comprised of a hot subdwarf and a white dwarf star orbiting each other closely, with the white dwarf being as heavy as our Sun but slightly smaller than Earth's radius.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 12, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Study shows forests play greater role in depositing toxic mercury across the globe

Researchers found that 76% of mercury deposition in a Massachusetts forest comes from atmospheric sources, with plants dominating as a source of mercury on land. The study suggests that forests worldwide may be a larger global absorber and collector of gaseous mercury than previously assumed.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021

Human environmental genome recovered in the absence of skeletal remains

Researchers successfully recovered a human environmental genome from the BIII layer of the cave of Satsurblia, dated 25,000 years ago, without skeletal remains. The analysis revealed genetic similarities with nearby cave of Dzudzuana and confirmed extinct lineage contributions to present-day West-Eurasian populations.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 12, 2021

Awareness and use of sick leave

Approximately 8 million US employees used FFCRA emergency sick leave within the first 6-8 months. Unmet sick leave needs tripled during the pandemic, with women exhibiting a higher risk, and college graduates, Asian-Americans, and native-born employees being more likely to know about and use the benefit.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021
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.

Preventing oxygen release leads to safer high-energy-density batteries

Researchers from Tohoku University discovered that preventing oxygen release in lithium-ion batteries can prevent thermal runaway, a critical issue in high-energy-density batteries. The study found that stabilizing transition metals reduces oxygen release, leading to safer battery performance.

SourceTohoku University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateJul 12, 2021

New research reveals how the impact of ENSO on Asian-Western Pacific climate would change under global warming

A new study published in the Journal of Climate found that about 23% of uncertainty in WNPAC projection is attributed to El Nino amplitude change, while 77% comes from non-amplitude change related to El Nino decaying pace. The research highlights the importance of considering other El Nino characteristics in climate system projections.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalJournal of Climate·DateJul 12, 2021

Gut microbiome changes and celiac disease

A longitudinal study of infants at risk of developing celiac disease found increased microbial strains and metabolites associated with autoimmune conditions, while decreased protective effects were observed. These preclinical gut microbiome changes may serve as early markers of disease progression.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Humans can learn from animals and insects about impact of climate change

A group of researchers studied how animals modify their habitats in response to climate change and found that understanding these modifications can improve predictions of climate change's effects on species. The study highlights the importance of understanding how animals adapt to changing environments, which can inform strategies for ...

SourceStellenbosch University·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·DateJul 12, 2021

Harnessing the dark side

Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a technique to control and shape optical singularities, opening up possibilities for wide-ranging fields including super-resolution microscopy techniques and new atomic particle traps.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 12, 2021

Selective, toxin-bearing antibodies could help treat liver fibrosis

Researchers at University of California San Diego have found that immunotoxins targeting mesothelin can prevent liver cells from producing collagen, a precursor to fibrosis and cirrhosis. In mouse models, these antibodies killed 60-100% of human mesothelin-producing cells, reducing collagen deposition.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021
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.

Symbionts sans frontieres: Bacterial partners travel the world

A new study reveals that some bacterial symbionts of bivalves have traveled the globe and established partnerships with host species across diverse habitats. This finding challenges previous concepts of symbiont acquisition and highlights the remarkable flexibility in this partnership, which benefits both hosts and symbionts.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021

Do more visits with kidney specialists improve dialysis patient-reported outcomes?

A recent study published in CJASN found that patients with kidney failure did not report better experiences with care from more frequent face-to-face visits with kidney specialists. In fact, more frequent visits were linked to slightly lower patient-reported experiences with kidney-related care.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateJul 12, 2021

Sea-level rise solutions

The study reveals that seawalls can increase flooding and incur significant damages, while strategic flooding areas can absorb increased water and avoid damage. Bay Area communities need to coordinate their approaches to sea-level rise adaptation to find solutions that benefit the whole bay.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021

How learning Braille changes brain structure over time

A new study reveals that learning Braille changes the brain's white matter, with somatosensory and visual cortices strengthening connections at varied rates. The research found that white matter in both regions underwent significant reorganization, with notable differences in timing and extent.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·DateJul 12, 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.

New study may offer treatment guidance for MIS-C

A new study has found that treating children and adolescents with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) and glucocorticoids reduces the risk of serious short-term outcomes, including cardiovascular dysfunction. The study analyzed data from over 596 patients and showed a significan...

SourceRutgers University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 12, 2021

USC researchers discover better way to identify DNA variants

Researchers at USC have discovered a better way to identify elusive DNA variants that affect cell functions and diseases. The new method uses computational biology tools to detect variations in repetitive DNA sequences, known as VNTRs, which govern gene expression.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 12, 2021

Childhood lead exposure may adversely affect adults' personalities

A new study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that childhood lead exposure may lead to less mature and less healthy personalities in adulthood. Adults who grew up in areas with higher levels of atmospheric lead had lower levels of conscientiousness and agreeableness, and higher levels of neuroticism.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021

Rise in Southeast Asia forest clearance increasing greenhouse gases

Forest clearance in Southeast Asia has accelerated, with over 400 million metric tons of carbon released into the atmosphere each year. The region's mountain forests are being cleared at increasingly higher altitudes and on steeper slopes for agricultural intensification, posing a significant threat to biodiversity and climate change.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Sustainability·DateJul 12, 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.

Magnetic field from MRI affects focused-ultrasound-mediated blood-brain barrier

Research found that MRI's static magnetic field decreases blood-brain barrier opening volume and microbubble cavitation activity, leading to reduced drug delivery efficiency. The study suggests considering the impact of the magnetic field in clinical applications of focused ultrasound for brain disease treatment.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalRadiology·DateJul 12, 2021

High-tech toilets could spread antibiotic-resistant superbugs in hospitals, Japanese study suggests

Researchers found that electric toilet water-jet nozzles can harbor multidrug-resistant bacteria, which can be transmitted to patients with weakened immune systems. The study highlights the need for modified hand hygiene practices and toilet disinfection protocols in hospitals to prevent superbug transmission.

SourceEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·DateJul 11, 2021

Outbreaks of COVID-19 in French nursing homes traced back to staff

A study found that COVID-19 outbreaks in French nursing homes were primarily caused by infected staff, rather than environmental factors or resident characteristics. The results suggest that even with strict hygiene measures in place, staff infections can still lead to outbreaks among residents.

SourceEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·DateJul 11, 2021

Every spot of green space counts

A global study found that urban greenspaces, including parks and gardens, harbor important microbial communities critical for sustaining productive ecosystem services. These microbes also promote effective immunoregulation functions and reduce allergies in humans. However, green spaces can also host fungal parasites and plant pathogens.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 11, 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.

Care home residents are at risk of COVID-19 even after being fully vaccinated

A new study found that fully vaccinated care home residents are still at risk of COVID-19, with the vaccine being less effective in older adults. The study showed that unvaccinated residents were three times more likely to develop the infection than those who had received two doses of the vaccine.

SourceEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·DateJul 11, 2021

Reviewing pressure effects on iron-based high-temperature superconductors

The review highlights the use of pressure as a versatile method to explore new materials and gain insight into high-temperature superconductor mechanisms. Iron-based superconductors exhibit a relatively high transition temperature, with research efforts focusing on raising this temperature through pressure-induced effects.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalMaterials Today Physics·DateJul 11, 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.

Common household products should carry asthma warnings, research concludes

A new evidence review finds that commonly used household products increase the risk of asthma due to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by paints, cleaning products, and more. The study suggests labelling these products with health warnings and advising people to ventilate their homes while using them.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalEnvironmental Research·DateJul 10, 2021

New use of old drug reduces risk of kidney cancer returning

A new study found that using an existing immunotherapy drug for late-stage kidney cancer at an earlier stage can reduce the risk of cancer returning by a third. The KEYNOTE study involved over 1000 patients and showed similar side effects to other cancer treatments.

SourceEuropean Association of Urology·DateJul 10, 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.

Dog food sold across Europe contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including 'superbugs' found in hospital patients

A study found that raw dog food in European supermarkets and pet shops contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including 'superbugs' found in hospital patients. The researchers concluded that dog food is a source of bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics and could potentially spread to humans.

SourceEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·JournalInternational Journal of Food Microbiology·DateJul 10, 2021
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.

High-grade acetabular cartilage lesions versus low-grade lesions

Research published at the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting found that patients with high-grade acetabular cartilage damage have poorer outcomes after primary labral repair. The study also showed no significant difference in efficacy between chondroplasty and microfracture for patients with high-grade lesions.

SourceAmerican Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine·DateJul 10, 2021

New concept drug hunts down late-stage prostate cancer

A phase 3 trial found that Lu-PSMA-617 significantly improved survival and progression-free survival of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The treatment delivered beta radiation directly to tumour cells, keeping them alive for longer than standard care.

SourceEuropean Association of Urology·DateJul 10, 2021

Obesity increases survival in advanced prostate cancer

A new study found that obese patients with advanced prostate cancer survive longer than their overweight and normal-weight counterparts. Obesity was associated with a 10% higher survival rate over 36 months. The 'obesity paradox' suggests that high body mass index may be protective in certain cases.

SourceEuropean Association of Urology·DateJul 10, 2021
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.

Evolution in real time

The study reveals that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii undergoes mutations leading to the emergence of multicellular life. The experiment confirms a theory on the origin of multicellularity, where cell groups are better at reproduction and more likely to survive than single cells.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 9, 2021

Turn off the blue light!

Researchers from University of Tsukuba discovered that exposure to organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) before sleep reduces negative health effects on energy metabolism. OLEDs emit less blue light, leading to decreased energy expenditure and core body temperature during sleep.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 9, 2021
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.

Changes in care delivery during COVID-19

Researchers characterized clinical content of ambulatory care among office-based and telemedicine visits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found significant changes in care delivery, with a shift towards telemedicine visits during the pandemic.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateJul 9, 2021

The giant panda's mystery revealed

The giant panda's temporomandibular joint and premolar teeth evolved to facilitate sideways movement of the jaw, allowing for efficient peeling of bamboo. This adaptation enabled pandas to access an endless source of nutrition in the early Pleistocene.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 9, 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.

Seeing with radio waves

Scientists from the University of Tsukuba used radio-frequency imaging to detect nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond with improved resolution. The technique, called spin-locking, enhances accuracy and sensitivity by shielding electron spin from random noise.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJapanese Journal of Applied Physics·DateJul 9, 2021