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Science News Archive March 2021


Page 10 of 53

Choosy females drive rapid speciation in birds that share a home

A new study finds that female choice regarding mate traits drives the emergence of new species in Iberá Seedeater songbirds. The study reveals pre-mating isolation as a powerful force in maintaining reproductive barriers between co-occurring species, leading to rapid speciation.

No increase in colorectal cancer after obesity surgery

A long-term study published in PLOS ONE found that bariatric surgery does not increase the risk of colorectal cancer in obese individuals. After a median follow-up period of 22 years, there were 57 cases of colorectal cancer in the surgery group and 67 in the control group, suggesting no association between the two.

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.

Design could enable longer lasting, more powerful lithium batteries

Researchers at MIT have developed a novel electrolyte that overcomes chemical reactions hindering metal electrode use in lithium-ion batteries. This breakthrough could lead to significantly improved capacity and cycle life, enabling new applications like long-range drones and robots.

Natural Sciences students' research published in prestigious journal

A team of undergraduate students from the University of Exeter's Natural Sciences department has published their second-year research in a top academic journal. They applied novel image analysis techniques to study the Belousov-Zhabotinsky chemical reaction, extracting features such as wave velocity and making unprecedented progress.

Turning wood into plastic

A research team has created a high-quality bioplastic from wood byproducts, showing promise for producing durable and sustainable plastics. The resulting material exhibits high mechanical strength, stability, and UV-light resistance, making it suitable for various applications, including packaging and automobile manufacturing.

Will COVID-19 vaccines need to be adapted regularly?

Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin studied genetic evolution of common cold coronaviruses, comparing with SARS-CoV-2. They found SARS-CoV-2 changes at a rate four times slower than the influenza virus, but still expected to need regular updates due to rapid evolution during pandemic.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

What is killing bald eagles in the U.S.?

A toxic cyanobacterial neurotoxin, aetokthonotoxin, causes vacuolar myelinopathy (VM) in bald eagles and their prey, linked to invasive aquatic plants. The toxin is produced when herbicides containing bromine stimulate its formation on plant leaves.

Gene discovery confirms role of serine deficiency in rare eye disease

A new study identifies gene variants that cause a metabolic deficiency in the eye, linking it to a rare eye disease called macular telangiectasia type 2. The research found that most patients have a serine deficiency that leads to toxic lipid accumulation, causing damage to retinal cells.

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.

Mobile app generates data for the energy management of the future

A mobile app developed by Graz University of Technology aims to optimize energy consumption through user participation and data collection. The app uses game-like elements to encourage users to share their energy usage data, which is then used to predict household energy consumption and inform smart grid management.

Salivary gland cells revealed as sites of COVID-19 infection

Researchers have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 can infect specific cells in the salivary gland, which could play a role in transmission to the lungs or digestive system via saliva. The study found live cells from the mouth were present in saliva and the virus replicated within these infected cells.

DNA damage 'hot spots' discovered within neurons

Scientists have identified specific regions within the DNA of neurons that accumulate a certain type of damage, which appears to be unique to neurons. This discovery challenges current knowledge about the cause of DNA damage and its potential implications in neurodegenerative diseases.

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.

Gearing up nanoscale machines

Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology have developed a means to visualize snapshots of ultrasmall gear trains in action. They created molecular cogwheels with tailored electronic properties using scanning tunneling microscopy images.

Women accumulate Alzheimer's-related protein faster

Research from Lund University in Sweden suggests that women accumulate Alzheimer's-related protein tau at a higher rate than men. The study found a 75% higher accumulation rate of tau in women compared to men in the temporal lobe affected by the disease.

Failed your New Year resolution again? Join the club

ECU researchers found that two thirds of participants gave up on their New Year resolutions within the first month. Setting specific resolutions with time, place and/or people is key to sticking to them, according to Professor Joanne Dickson. Flexibility in adapting to changing situations also predicts increased mental wellbeing.

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.

Ocean's mammals at crucial crossroads

A review of 126 marine mammal species reveals that accidental capture, climate change, and pollution are driving declines. Conservation efforts have saved some species, but many more are at risk, including the vaquita porpoise and North Atlantic right whale.

How tiny machines become capable of learning

Researchers developed microswimmers that can change direction by heating tiny gold particles, then learned to navigate through a virtual environment via external control and virtual rewards. The findings suggest an optimal speed is key to navigation, with implications for autonomous tasks and collective behavior in biological systems.

Cholesterol may be key to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes

A new approach has led to the discovery of a small molecule that may help regulate cholesterol levels in the brain, making it a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Increasing the activity of ABCA1 is expected to positively influence insulin signaling and reduce inflammation in the brain.

Protein fingerprinting in minutes

Researchers developed a mass spectrometry-based technique to measure thousands of proteins in blood plasma in just a few minutes. The new technology identified previously unknown proteins associated with disease severity, including those involved in the immune response to pathogens.

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.

Narcissism driven by insecurity, not grandiose sense of self

Researchers found that narcissists are insecure, using flexing behaviors to cope with low self-worth, which further aggravates their insecurities. The study's results suggest that vulnerable narcissism is a better understanding of genuine narcissism.

Does selfishness evolve? Ask a cannibal

Researchers found that less selfish behavior evolved under living conditions forcing frequent sibling interactions, verifying a key concept in evolutionary theory. The study provides insight into the importance of cannibalism in ecosystems and its potential application to studying human behavior.

Shrub willow as a bioenergy crop

Researchers have grown shrub willow on a semi-commercial scale to better understand its nuances as a bioenergy crop. Key findings include determining the best varieties to plant and how to handle planting and harvesting. The study also highlights the crop's ability to store carbon, host pollinators, and provide ecosystem services.

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.

Leap forward' in risk management of rectal cancer

A team at Washington University in St. Louis has developed an imaging technique using acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy co-registered with ultrasound and paired with deep learning to differentiate between residual tumors and healthy tissue in rectal cancer patients after chemotherapy and radiation. This technique shows promi...

Researchers identify brain's role in broken heart syndrome

A new study reveals that increased stress-associated metabolic activity in the brain can lead to a higher risk of developing broken heart syndrome. The research found that brain areas with higher metabolic activity were more prone to producing stressful responses, which may contribute to the development of TTS.

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.

Game on: Science edition

Researchers trained an AI agent to conduct scientific experiments using a virtual beamline simulation, allowing for efficient and remote experimentation. The team implemented reinforcement learning to train the AI, which enabled it to learn from experience and master the experiment.

Leveraging the 5G network to wirelessly power IoT devices

Georgia Tech inventors create a flexible Rotman lens-based rectenna system capable of millimeter-wave harvesting in the 28-GHz band, enabling large antenna operation with wide angle coverage. The technology achieved a 21-fold increase in harvested power compared to a referenced counterpart.

Study of NCOA3 yields novel findings of melanoma progression

Pre-clinical study finds NCOA3 activation contributes to melanoma development after exposure to ultraviolet light, promoting survival advantage and accumulation of DNA damage. A single nucleotide polymorphism in NCOA3 decreases protein production, increasing sensitivity to UV-mediated cell death.

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.

Oncotarget: Phase 1 study of Z-Endoxifen in patients with solid tumors

A Phase 1 study of Z-endoxifen in patients with solid tumors demonstrated antitumor activity and prolonged stable disease, even in those who had previously responded sub-optimally to tamoxifen. The trial found that 44.4% of patients at certain dose levels achieved partial responses or stable disease.

Combination therapy protects against advanced Marburg virus disease

A new study published in Nature Communications shows that combining monoclonal antibodies and remdesivir is effective in treating advanced Marburg virus disease. The combination therapy demonstrated an 80% protection rate against the lethal virus, offering promise for treatment of advanced infections.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Toxin in potatoes evolved from a bitter-tasting compound in tomatoes

Researchers discovered that the potato toxin α-solanine is biosynthesized from the spirosolane α-tomatine found in tomatoes. The conversion involves a dioxygenase enzyme called DPS, which can be suppressed with an inhibitor, offering a potential basis for suppressing poisonous compound synthesis in potatoes.

Duke-NUS clinician scientist and his team bag two prestigious awards

Professor David Matchar and his team received the Stroke Rehabilitation Award from the American Stroke Association for their project investigating incentives to improve outpatient rehabilitation services among stroke patients. The study found that providing incentives significantly increased the uptake of these services, highlighting a...

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.

'Climbing droplets' could lead to more efficient water harvesting

Researchers create liquid-lubricant surface that encourages tiny water droplets to move spontaneously into larger droplets, enhancing water harvesting. The 'coarsening droplet phenomenon' facilitates rapid collection of water droplets, clearing surfaces for new condensation.

HIV vaccine candidate's mysteries unlocked 20 years later

Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University have finally understood how their cytomegalovirus-based vaccine works in monkeys, generating a unique type of immune response to fight off SIV. The breakthrough sheds light on the design of future CMV-based vaccines and offers new hope against HIV.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

New insights into close encounters between albatross and fishing vessels

A novel analysis of albatross and commercial fishing vessel encounters provides new understanding of seabird behavior and environmental conditions that influence these interactions. Researchers found that birds are more likely to engage with vessels in foraging states, and certain vessel characteristics do not impact bird-vessel intera...

Rural Alaskans struggle to access and afford water

Researchers from McGill University warn of worsening water scarcity in rural Alaska due to climate change. Households often rely on rainwater catchment and grey water recycling, but affordability remains a significant issue, with costs exceeding household income.

Detecting hidden signals

The research team applied filter functions and optimal quantum control theories to detect known signals from background noise in quantum bit (qubit) sensors. They obtained analytical insight into the optimal control protocol when background noise is white, similar to classical matched filtering scheme.

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.

A clue to how some fast-growing tumors hide in plain sight

Researchers have identified a key protein, DAPK3, that plays a crucial role in the body's early immune response to cancer. The discovery highlights a new approach to cancer immunotherapy, where targeting the tumor's own innate immune system can help slow tumor growth and improve treatment outcomes.

C-Path launches acute kidney injury project with support from FDA

The Acute Kidney Injury Project aims to develop improved predictive and detection tools for kidney injury, addressing a global public health concern. The project will focus on developing prognostic tools to identify drug-induced kidney injury, with the goal of improving patient safety during clinical trials and advancing drug development.

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.