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Science News Archive June 2021


Page 49 of 51

Atmospheric metal layers appear with surprising regularity

Twice a day, a faint layer of metals sinks down through the atmosphere at 90 miles high above Boulder, Colorado. The discovery provides a window into the high-altitude region where interactions between the sun, earth, and magnetic field can create conditions for surface life to thrive.

Plastic waste in the sea mainly drifts near the coast

Researchers at the University of Bern found that most plastic waste does not end up in open ocean, but instead remains near coastlines or on beaches. The study suggests that regions with large sources of plastic waste, such as Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean, are disproportionately affected.

Printing a better microgrid

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new particle-free silver microgrid conductor that surpasses traditional indium tin oxide (ITO) in flexible high-performance transparent electrodes. The microgrids demonstrate better transparency, lower roughness, and mechanical durability.

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.

Hexagonal boron nitride's remarkable toughness unmasked

Researchers discovered hexagonal boron nitride's fracture resistance is about 10 times higher than graphene's, due to slight asymmetries in its atomic structure. This finding opens up new possibilities for fabricating tough mechanical metamaterials through engineered structural asymmetry.

The powerhouse future is flexoelectric

Scientists at the University of Houston have demonstrated giant flexoelectricity in soft elastomers, paving the way for improved robot movement range and self-powered pacemakers. The breakthrough could also enable human-like robots to perform physical tasks with greater flexibility.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Lighting Hydrogels Via Nanomaterials

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a new class of hydrogels that can be controlled by light, enabling precise drug delivery and regenerative medicine treatments. The hydrogels are responsive to near-infrared (NIR) light, which has a higher penetration depth than other light sources, allowing for more effective therapy.

Shining light on two-dimensional magnets

A team of researchers has successfully controlled the magnetic state of two-dimensional van der Waals magnets using light, enabling efficient data storage and fast data processing. By inducing 'magnetic anisotropy' with ultrashort pulses of light, the scientists can manipulate the material's magnetic properties on demand.

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.

Why short selling is good for the capital markets

A study by SMU Associate Professor Rencheng Wang found that short selling reduces opportunistic insider sales by 11% in pilot firms, deterring unethical behavior. This suggests that short sellers can play a positive role in capital market development and governance reforms across different institutional environments.

Replicating patients' tumors to test different treatments

Researchers at UNIGE create 3D spheroidal tumor models incorporating tumor cells and patient-specific immune cells to test treatment efficacy. This innovative approach enables personalized treatment options, potentially reducing reliance on animal experiments.

Gender differences exist even among university students' wage expectations

A study of university students found that despite optimistic initial expectations, women tended to decrease their expected wages after being informed about the actual wages of similar graduates. In contrast, male students increased their expected wages under the same conditions. The study suggests a persistent gender gap in wage expect...

Understanding feelings: When less is more

Researchers discovered a surprising paradox: as emotional expressions increase in intensity, they become more ambiguous to infer meaning from, with maximal intensity leading to decreased legibility. This challenges prevailing theories of emotion and opens new avenues for understanding affective experience and communication.

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.

The uneven benefits of CSR efforts

A study by SMU researchers found that corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities have a positive impact on future operating performance, but only in tangible asset-intensive industries such as manufacturing and utilities. For companies in intangible asset-intensive sectors like technology, there is no significant beneficial effect.

Declining fish biodiversity poses risks for human nutrition

A computer modeling study found that declining fish biodiversity can lead to a decrease in essential nutrients like zinc and iron, exacerbating existing health issues like anemia. The study's findings have significant implications for food security and fisheries sustainability worldwide.

Bringing order to hydrogen energy devices

Scientists have developed a new approach to improve hydrogen transport in solids, enabling faster movement of negatively charged hydrogen 'anions' at lower temperatures. The breakthrough could lead to more sustainable sources of energy and practical applications in electrochemical devices.

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.

Low-wage earners spent less time at home during early pandemic lockdown

Researchers tracked mobile phone data from millions of users in US metropolitan areas, finding that lower-income neighborhoods had significantly less time at home during the lockdown. Education level also played a role, with higher-income neighborhoods and those with more college degrees spending more time at home.

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.

Why moms take risks to protect their infants

A new study led by Kumi Kuroda at RIKEN Center for Brain Science identified the calcitonin receptor as a crucial brain protein driving nurturing behaviors in mice. The research found that this protein motivates mothers to care for their infants, suppressing self-interest and risk-taking behaviors.

An academic role model

Kristin Morell, a UC Santa Barbara Assistant Professor, has received the National Science Foundation's prestigious CAREER award. The award will fund her research on plate tectonics and provide opportunities for underrepresented students to get involved in geoscience through internships and workshops.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

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.

SWOG researchers advance cancer care at virtual ASCO 2021

Researchers from SWOG presented results on several studies, including S1216 and S1404, which showed promising findings for patients with prostate and melanoma cancers. Additionally, secondary analyses from S0809 and S1200 revealed benefits of adjuvant chemoradiation and acupuncture for certain cancer types.

Malaria parasite's partiality for the spleen

A study found that malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax accumulates in the spleen to a greater extent than its relative P. falciparum after infection. Imaging techniques revealed increased glucose metabolism in the spleen of participants infected with P. vivax.

Turning the tables -- how table corals are regenerating reefs

Researchers found that table corals can recover habitats on the Great Barrier Reef at a rate 14 times higher when abundant, compared to reefs without them. The study highlights the importance of protecting table corals to promote reef recovery and biodiversity.

Optic nerve firing may spark growth of vision-threatening childhood tumor

Researchers discovered that neural activity underlying visual signals can ignite and feed tumors in young children with neurofibromatosis type 1. The study found that raising mice in the dark or treating them with an experimental cancer drug slowed tumor growth, suggesting a key role for controlling neuronal activity.

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.

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.

New evidence may change timeline for when people first arrived in North America

Researchers from Iowa State University discovered radiocarbon dates on rabbit and deer bones that suggest human occupation of the Coxcatlan Cave in Mexico may be up to 20,000 years older than previously thought. The findings could challenge the long-standing theory of human arrival in the Americas via the Bering Land Bridge.

WVU designated as one of only eight ECHO Superhub sites in the US

The West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute Project ECHO program has been recognized as an ECHO Superhub, enabling outreach support to healthcare providers nationwide. With this designation, WVCTSI can offer training and expertise to establish new ECHO programs, reducing health disparities in underserved areas.

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.

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.

How news coverage affects public trust in science

A study found that exposure to negative news stories about science without context can damage public perceptions of trust and confidence in scientific work. The researchers tested the effects of different narratives on a large group of U.S. adults and found that those who read problem-focused stories were less likely to believe that sc...

Computer vision: TU Graz researchers define new state of the art

Researchers developed algorithms to solve curvature-dependent image processing problems using convex optimization, inspired by Euler's elastic curves and Gestalt laws of perception. The new models perform as well as current deep-learning algorithms but provide a deeper understanding of the structures learned.

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.

Hi-CO unravels the complex packing of nucleosomes

The Hi-CO technology provides high-resolution genome structural analyses combined with large-scale simulations, showing the arrangements of the genome's spool-like structures affect gene expression. Nucleosome folding influences the inner workings of genes, impacting accessibility of molecules to DNA.

Precise data for improved coastline protection

Researchers at TUM have conducted comprehensive measurements of sea level rises in the Baltic Sea and North Sea with millimeter accuracy. The new method provides reliable forecasts on sea level trends, enabling planning of protective measures such as flood protection structures.

Researchers Fine-Tune Control Over AI Image Generation

A new state-of-the-art method for controlling AI image generation has been developed by researchers at North Carolina State University. The approach allows users to retain certain characteristics across a series of images and manipulate specific elements while maintaining their identifiability. This technique has applications in fields...

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.