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Science News Archive June 2021


Page 50 of 51

Foster care, homelessness are higher education hurdles

New research from the University of Georgia shows that foster care and homelessness create significant barriers to higher education success. Stable housing and financial support are top concerns for these students. Institutions like UGA are implementing programs to address this issue, but more needs to be done at the federal level.

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.

UArizona engineers demonstrate a quantum advantage

Researchers experimentally show that quantum methods have an advantage over classical counterparts in sensor classification, reducing errors by a small margin. The discovery opens up possibilities for real-world applications such as biomedical imaging and autonomous driving.

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.

Trust among corvids

Researchers found that Siberian jays exclusively trust warning calls from members of their own group, ignoring those from neighboring territories. This social knowledge mechanism may have played a role in the diversification of human languages and dialects.

How do plants hedge their bets?

Researchers found that genetically identical seeds can have varying germination times due to the ABA-GA network, which allows for a 'bistable switch' behavior. This variability in germination time can be beneficial for plants growing in unpredictable environments, such as agriculture and natural areas.

Featured research from NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE

The event features hundreds of live and recorded sessions on various topics, including the impact of COVID-19 on diets, heart health, and breast cancer risk. Research also examines the science behind superfoods and the importance of fiber in diets.

Unprecedented data sharing driving new rare disease diagnoses in Europe

A collaborative effort has led to the diagnosis of 255 new rare disease cases in Europe through unprecedented data sharing. The Solve-RD project utilizes a genomic and phenotypic analysis platform to reanalyze data from 8,393 individuals, identifying previously unknown genetic variants that can tailor treatment for affected patients.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

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.

Ancient volcanic eruption destroyed the ozone layer

A recent study suggests that a massive Toba supervolcano eruption destroyed the ozone layer around 60,000 years ago, contributing to a significant bottleneck in the human population. The team found that the resulting UV stress had severe effects on human survival rates, including crop failures and disease.

When should screening start for men with a family history of prostate cancer?

A nationwide Swedish study found that men with a family history of prostate cancer reach the screening risk threshold up to 12 years earlier than previously recommended, suggesting personalized screening approaches. The research suggests refining age guidelines for early screening based on individual family history factors.

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.

Making batteries live longer with ultrathin lithium

Researchers at DGIST have developed a novel approach to creating stable, long-lasting lithium metal batteries using ultrathin lithium particles pre-planted with LiNO3. The resulting batteries showed excellent cycling performance, retaining 87% capacity over 450 cycles and outperforming comparable cells.

Air quality improved during India lockdown, study shows

Research by University of Southampton and Central University of Jharkhand found a significant environmental improvement in major urban areas across India during the 2020 March to May lockdown. The study revealed a 12% decrease in Nitrogen Dioxide and a 40% reduction over New Delhi, with land surface temperature decreasing by up to 1°C.

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.

Mumpreneur success still requires conventional masculine behaviour

Research reveals that women entrepreneurs who identify as mumpreneurs prioritize traditional masculine behaviors over feminine traits, sacrificing personal time for business growth. This hybrid approach perpetuates existing power structures in the business world, devaluing those who choose to spend time with their families.

Research team investigates ride-sharing decisions

A study published in Nature Communications analyzed 360 million real-world ride requests from New York City and Chicago, revealing two adoption patterns that depend on demand. When demand is high, passengers are more likely to book a solo ride despite lower comfort levels.

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.

A 'jolt' for ocean carbon sequestration

Scientists have discovered that bacteria found in brackish sediments can 'eat' electricity and absorb climate-warming carbon dioxide. This unusual skill was previously thought to be exclusive to freshwater bacteria, but may be common in marine bacteria.

Canadian prescription opioids users experience gaps in access to care

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that people treated for opioid use disorder are less likely to find a new primary care provider within a year. This is particularly true for those receiving opioid agonist therapy, where patients are 45% less likely to secure another primary care physician.

Closer hardware systems bring the future of artificial intelligence into view

Integration of a mobility-enhanced field-effect transistor (FET) and a ferroelectric capacitor enables the creation of high-density, energy-efficient embedded memory directly on a microprocessor. This design significantly reduces signal travel distance, speeding up learning and inference processes in AI computing.

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.

Mass of human chromosomes measured for the first time

Scientists have measured the mass of human chromosomes using X-rays for the first time, finding them to be significantly heavier than expected. The study's results suggest there may be unexplained excess mass in chromosomes, which could have important implications for understanding human health and diagnosing cancer.

How AI could alert firefighters of imminent danger

Researchers developed P-Flash, an AI-powered tool predicting flashover in burning buildings. It uses temperature data from heat detectors and shows promise in anticipating simulated flashovers, identifying unmodeled physical phenomena that can improve forecasting in real fires.

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.

New Geology articles published online ahead of print in May

Researchers studied sediment scour and bedrock erosion in waterfall plunge pools, finding mass balance controls on these processes. Climate change was also explored during the end-Permian extinction, with a focus on the impact of chemical weathering and land surface temperature.

How space weather affects energy infrastructure

A space physicist from UTA is collaborating with an international team to study the impact of coronal mass ejections on earth's magnetic field and technological systems. The research aims to improve forecasting and mitigation capabilities for solar flares, which can cause widespread blackouts.

Curtin study finds WA's natural 'museums of biodiversity' at risk

A Curtin University study finds that up to three-quarters of Western Australia's iconic Banded Iron Formations (BIF) biodiversity could be lost forever after mining. The research highlights the challenges of rehabilitating these unique ecosystems, which are home to nearly every plant species in the region.

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.

The narrative of becoming a leader is rooted in culture

A University of Vaasa study compares the growth stories of Finnish leaders to those in Väinö Linna's novels, revealing culturally established modes of discourse that shape leadership narratives. The research highlights the importance of considering cultural heritage in leader development and education.

Diet plays critical role in NASH progressing to liver cancer in mouse model

Researchers discovered that a Western diet high in fat and cholesterol can lead to obesity, diabetes, and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which progresses to liver cancer, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. Switching to a normal chow diet improves NASH and liver fibrosis, prevents cancer progression and mortality.

Analysis reveals global 'hot spots' where new coronaviruses may emerge

Research identifies areas with favorable conditions for horseshoe bats carrying coronaviruses, including forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion, and concentrated livestock production in China and Southeast Asia. These hot spots are at risk of becoming even more conducive to disease transmission due to changes in land use.

'Electronic nose' accurately sniffs out hard-to-detect cancers

A Penn-developed odor test using AI and machine learning distinguishes between cancer cells and benign tumors in blood samples. The tool achieves high accuracy rates for detecting ovarian and pancreatic cancers, showing promise as a non-invasive screening approach.

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.

Study pinpoints key causes of ocean circulation change

A new study reveals that winds play a crucial role in driving changes in ocean circulation patterns, particularly in the sub-polar North Atlantic. The study's findings suggest that future climate change may alter annual AMOC variability in this region.

Small 'snowflakes' in the sea play a big role

Researchers found that smaller marine snow particles, which are abundant and sink slowly, transport more nitrogen than larger flakes. This discovery is crucial for improving Earth system models and understanding the marine nitrogen cycle.

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.

The role of computer voice in the future of speech-based human-computer interaction

A team of researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology and RIKEN, Japan, conducted a meta-synthesis to understand human perception and interaction with computer voices. They found that users prefer human-like voices, particularly those with high pitches and empathetic tones, and that the inclusion of vocal fillers improves interactions.

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.

SwRI works to improve atmospheric water harvesting

Researchers at Southwest Research Institute are developing a cost-effective method for harvesting water from atmospheric air using silica gel beads. This approach can capture water vapor molecules at low humidity levels, making it a promising solution for communities with limited access to clean water.

Self-aware materials build the foundation for living structures

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new class of self-aware metamaterials that can sense pressure, stresses, and generate power. These materials are scalable, efficient, and can be used in various civil, aerospace, and biomedical engineering applications.