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Science News Archive March 2021


Page 24 of 53

Research reveals human immune system reduces potency of antibiotics

Research reveals that nitric oxide produced by the human immune system can render aminoglycoside antibiotics ineffective against E. coli strains from human infections. This may impact treatment choices for life-threatening infections such as sepsis, bladder infections, and kidney failure.

Pressure sensors could ensure a proper helmet fit to help protect the brain

Researchers have developed a highly sensitive pressure sensor cap that can help reveal whether a helmet is a perfect fit for an individual player's head. The device uses fabric-based sensors that map pressure in real-time, providing valuable information on helmet fit and potentially reducing the severity of sports-related head injuries.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Health promotion, prevention, and psychosocial health

An interdisciplinary team proposes an action model to promote psychosocial health by synergistically combining health promotion and prevention concepts. The model includes five elements: psychosocial health, health promotion, disease prevention, and their relationships.

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.

High speed air hand dryers spread contamination more than paper towels

A study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology found that high speed air hand dryers spread more contamination than paper towels, with levels of surface contamination 10 times higher after air dryer use. Microbes can also transfer to clothing and other surfaces via contaminated hands.

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.

Researchers identify head impact rates in four major high school sports

A large study from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that soccer had the highest head impact rate for both boys and girls, attributed to intentional headers. Basketball and field hockey had lower but still significant head impact rates, with notable differences between male and female athletes.

Hepatitis B: What people can learn from donkeys

Researchers identified a new hepatitis B virus in donkeys and zebras that causes prolonged infections, potentially leading to better understanding of chronic hepatitis B and development of new therapies.

Mitigating impact of artificial light at night in tropical forests

Researchers found that using amber-colored filters on 'warm white' LED lamps reduces insect attraction to nocturnal lighting in a tropical forest. Insects play crucial roles as pollinators, regulators, decomposers, and food sources; using filtered LEDs can mitigate the negative impacts of ALAN on wildlife.

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.

Tri-tube heart valve replacement adapts to the growing heart in lambs

Scientists developed a tri-tube heart valve replacement that can regenerate and grow over time, addressing the need for long-term valve replacements in children with congenital heart disorders. The new design showed improved growth dynamics and reduced calcification compared to clinically used bioprosthetic valves.

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.

Death enables complexity in chemical evolution

Researchers at the University of Groningen found that introducing a molecule that attacks self-replicating fibres allows for the emergence of more complex structures. This discovery solves Spiegelman's monster, which previously hindered the origin of complexity in life.

Missing baryons found in far-out reaches of galactic halos

Researchers used cosmic microwave background data to map location and density of missing baryons around galaxy groups. The measurements reveal that these halos extend up to 6 million light-years from their center, challenging previous models.

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.

Ultrafast intra-atom motion tracked using synchrotron radiation

Researchers have successfully tracked the ultrafast motion of electrons inside a Xenon atom using synchrotron radiation. By interfering with the coherent light waves, they observed the electron movement at a time scale of femtoseconds, significantly faster than previously thought.

Solar cells: Losses made visible on the nanoscale

Researchers used conductive atomic force microscopy to detect tiny channels for dark currents in solar cell surfaces, revealing the loss mechanism at the interface of silicon heterojunction solar cells. The study showed that these channels are caused by disorder in the a-Si:H layer and lead to trap-assisted quantum mechanical tunnelling.

Three times the gains

A groundbreaking global study maps ocean areas that, if strongly protected, can help solve climate, food and biodiversity crises. The research identified specific regions that could provide multiple benefits, including safeguarding nearly 80% of marine species and preventing the release of one billion tons of CO2 into the ocean.

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.

Astronomers see a 'space jellyfish'

An Australian-Italian team used the Murchison Widefield Array telescope to observe a cluster of galaxies in Abell 2877. The team discovered a radio 'jellyfish' structure with a steep spectrum that challenges current understanding. The discovery was made possible by the unique low-frequency capabilities of the MWA.

Artificial light at night may disrupt firefly mating

New research reveals that artificial light at night significantly suppresses courtship activity in fireflies, with bright amber light having the greatest impact on female receptivity. This study highlights the need to minimize outdoor lighting to protect firefly populations.

Cancer survivors face elevated heart disease risk, study finds

A new study found that cancer survivors have a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease in the next decade. Researchers estimate that about 8% of cancer survivors will develop heart disease or stroke over the 10-year period, compared to 5% of those without a cancer history.

A new view on plate tectonics

A new study published in Nature reveals that transform faults are actively involved in shaping the ocean floors, contradicting a previous assumption. The research found that these faults cause extension of the seafloor and magmatism at their outer corners.

Elusive protein complex could hold the key to treating chromosomal disorders

Scientists discovered the structural and molecular factors governing the stability of a protein complex involved in DNA repair pathways. The study reveals that exposure to organic solvents and oxidizing environments can cause the complex to disassemble, offering insights into novel phenomena and potential treatments for diseases such a...

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.

Christmas Island reptile-killer identified

A silent killer, Enterococcus lacertideformus, has been discovered as the cause of mysterious deaths in native reptile populations on Christmas Island. The bacterium grows in the animal's head and internal organs, causing death through direct contact or biting, highlighting the need for targeted antibiotic trials.

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.

SARS-CoV-2 infects cells via specific viral entry factors

A new study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 infects cells with high expression of ACE2 receptor and protease, found in lung epithelium and other organs. The study suggests that elderly people, men, and smokers are more severely affected due to increased viral entry factor expression.

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.

South African Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study a global game-changer

A landmark South African study validates the need for second-generation Covid-19 vaccines, as the AstraZeneca vaccine showed minimal protection against mild to moderate infections caused by the B.1.351 variant. Despite this, the WHO recommends continued deployment of the vaccine in countries where the variant circulates.

Modernizing the naval selection process

The US Navy is developing a virtual reality personality assessment tool to improve recruitment and selection processes. The Manpower and Personnel Assessment Battery (MPAB) will use virtual reality technology, physiological markers, and real-time data analytics to assess applicants' skills and personalities.

Inexpensive tin packs a big punch for the future of supercapacitors

Researchers have created a more powerful, fast-charging supercapacitor with improved connectivity and recyclability using affordable tin. The material enhances the properties of cobalt oxide-based electrodes, leading to increased conductivity and promising practical applications.

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.

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.

Donald Sparks honored by European Geosciences Union

Donald Sparks has won the 2021 Philippe Duchaufour Medal for his pioneering work on soil chemistry and carbon dynamics. He is recognized as a global leader in environmental soil chemistry, having carried out visionary science throughout his career.

Stimulating the immune system to fight cancer

Researchers from Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology have developed a cell-based assay that identifies highly potent IDO1 inhibitors with different mechanisms of action, which could lead to promising immunotherapies for cancer treatment. The new approach overcomes limitations of existing cell-free assays and holds promise for ...

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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