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Science News Archive March 2021


Page 29 of 53

Sweden's quantum computer project shifts up a gear

The Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology is doubling its annual budget to SEK 80 million, enabling the development of a more powerful quantum computer. The new funding will focus on improving qubit quality and software, with plans to increase the number of researchers from 60 to 100.

UNIST takes top prize at 2021 Samsung Humantech Paper Award

UNIST students won multiple awards at the 2021 Samsung Humantech Paper Award, including the grand prize for Jong Won Oh's work on multimodal holograms. The institute has a strong track record of producing excellent research, with 2 Silver and 5 Bronze awards also given to students.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Melting glaciers could speed up carbon emissions into the atmosphere

A study linking glacier-fed rivers to higher rates of plant material decomposition reveals a major process in the global carbon cycle. The research found that warmer river water temperatures and reduced sediment movement create conditions favourable for fungi growth, leading to increased carbon dioxide release.

Race influences flood risk behaviors

A study by researchers at the University of Connecticut and others found that race and stream flow are significant indicators of flood risk behavior in US cities. The models showed two diverging patterns among metro areas, with 'risk-enduring' communities taking less action against flooding after a disaster.

Oncotarget: Folinic acid in colorectal cancer: Esquire or fellow knight?

A retrospective study found that folinic acid with fluorouracil improves progression-free and overall survival in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. The combination also shows a clear clinical benefit regardless of RAS mutational status or tumor side. This suggests folinic acid may be a valuable addition to chemotherapy protocols.

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.

Community banks a key resource for small businesses when crises arise

Research from University of Florida finds community banks play a vital role in helping small businesses access Paycheck Protection Program funding, providing faster response times and more loans per dollar of deposits. Community bank focus on personal ties with customers enables quicker decision-making and higher loan volumes.

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.

Antarctic peninsula likely to warm over next two decades

The Antarctic peninsula is expected to experience significant warming over the next two decades, with temperatures rising by 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2044. Precipitation in the region is also projected to increase by 5% to 10%, posing a threat to the ice shelves and glaciers that cover it.

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.

Voltage from the parquet

Scientists at Empa and ETH Zurich create piezoelectric wood by dissolving lignin using a biological process, resulting in an elastic material that generates a voltage when deformed. The technology has potential applications as a sensor or electricity-generating floor, and researchers are exploring its industrial feasibility.

New research adds to evidence that POTS may be an autoimmune disorder

Recent studies suggest that postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by elevated inflammatory markers and autoantibodies. Researchers have documented significant elevations of five inflammatory markers in patients with POTS, similar to those seen in other autoimmune disorders.

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.

Improved tool to help understand the brain, one section at a time

Researchers have developed an automated silicon-substrate ultra-microtome to improve the speed and quality of brain neural connection reconstruction. The device reduces manual collection skill requirement and ensures high-quality imaging without post-processing operations.

When 'eradicated' species bounce back with a vengeance

A study led by University of California, Davis found that invasive European green crabs increased 30-fold after 90% were removed from a California estuary. The explosion was due to cannibalization of younger individuals by adult decapod crustacea.

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.

Enzymatic danse macabre of lung cancer

Researchers discover histone-lysine N-methyltransferase (NSD3) as a main driver of squamous cell carcinoma lung cancer. Targeting NSD3 could improve treatment and survival rates.

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.

Pre-term births in Tennessee decreased during pandemic

A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that preterm birth rates in Tennessee declined by 14% during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily attributed to lower late preterm infant births. The study suggests that stay-at-home orders may have contributed to this reduction.

Brown researchers explore possibilities for an ultra-secure gun registry

A team of Brown University computer scientists has devised a way to implement a national gun registry that protects privacy and allows counties to control their data. The proposed system uses advanced encryption and decentralized data control, allowing authorized users to search the database without decrypting it.

Mitochondria found to be protected by ketogenesis

Researchers at Kumamoto University found that ketogenesis maintains mitochondrial function, preventing excessive acetylation and fatty liver development. This discovery may lead to future therapies for protecting mitochondria and organs in newborns and individuals with nutritional deficiencies.

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.

LAMOST reveals new footprints of the Gaia -sausage-enceladus merger event

The LAMOST survey has identified 1534 low-α metal-rich member stars of the Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus galaxy, challenging previous understanding of the merging process. The newly discovered component extends from a previously detected metal-poor region and suggests that these stars were formed during subsequent evolution.

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.

How do good metals go bad?

Researchers found that exotic metallic materials exhibit poor electrical conductivity due to tiny amounts of impurities or defects. These defects cause electrons to remain localized, hindering current flow at low frequencies, but allowing it at high frequencies.

Immigrants in ICE detention face high risks in COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers found that 42% of detained immigrants had chronic conditions and faced disrupted healthcare upon entering facilities. The study highlights the need for government action to reduce reliance on immigration detention, citing concerns over COVID-19 infection risks.

Ancient light illuminates matter that fuels galaxy formation

Researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries about the formation of galaxies and stars using data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. By analyzing microwave observations, they found that only a small percentage of gas in galaxies (about 10%) is turned into stars, shedding light on why galaxy formation remains inefficient.

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.

How can new technologies help reduce the harm of drug use?

Researchers analyzed online requests from people who use drugs in Russia and found that online platforms provide essential support and services. The study highlights the effectiveness of remote work in reducing harm and increasing help-seeking behavior among individuals with problematic drug use.

Researchers discover how the brain learns from subconscious stimuli

A study published in Neuron reveals that the brain learns from subconscious visual stimuli through the activation of dopamine-producing cells. The discovery has significant implications for developing targeted therapies for conditions like Parkinson's disease and improving brain plasticity in situations such as trauma or ageing.

Injections or light irradiation?

Researchers at POSTECH have developed an on-demand drug delivery system that utilizes organic photovoltaic cells and upconversion nanoparticles to convert near-infrared light into visible light, allowing for controlled drug release in medical devices.

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.

Cancer immunotherapy approach targets common genetic alteration

Researchers developed a new cancer immunotherapy that uses engineered T cells to target a genetic alteration common among all cancers. The approach stimulates an immune response against cells with the loss of one gene copy, called loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and has shown promising results in laboratory studies and mouse models.

Exercise during pregnancy may save kids from health problems as adults

Research suggests that maternal exercise during pregnancy can prevent the transmission of metabolic diseases from parent to child. The study found that maternal exercise only during pregnancy completely blocked the negative effects of either mother's or father's obesity on the offspring.

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.

Lemurs can sniff out hidden fruit from afar

Researchers found that ring-tailed lemurs can detect ripe cantaloupe from a distance of up to 56 feet using their sense of smell. The study demonstrates the first time primates track distant smells carried by wind.

Two UNIST faculty members elected as 2020 KAST fellows

Distinguished Professor Sang Il Seok was recognized for his record-breaking efficiency of next-generation perovskite solar cells. Professor Jong-Beom Baek was elected a 2021 Fellow of KAST in engineering field for successfully achieving mass production of graphene.

Faster drug discovery through machine learning

DeepBAR, a new machine learning-based technique, quickly calculates binding affinities between drug candidates and their targets, offering a faster and more efficient approach to drug discovery and protein engineering. The approach yields precise calculations nearly 50 times faster than previous methods.

Scientists stunned to discover plants beneath mile-deep Greenland ice

Researchers find fossilized plant structures at the bottom of a 4560-foot-deep ice core, indicating that most of Greenland was ice-free within the last million years. The discovery highlights the vulnerability of the Greenland ice sheet to climate warming and sea-level rise, posing a significant threat to coastal cities worldwide.

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.

Insulin rises before cells develop resistance, new diabetes research implies

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg found that free fatty acids in the blood trigger insulin release even at normal blood-sugar levels, contradicting the long-held hypothesis. The study suggests that obesity and excess fat tissue contribute to increased FFAs, which may be an early sign of incipient type 2 diabetes.

Golfers against cancer funds three CU cancer center researchers

Golfers Against Cancer funds three CU Cancer Center researchers: Matthew Sikora studying genetic predispositions to ovarian cancer, Jamie Studts exploring lung cancer screening access, and Jenna Sopfe developing a standardized approach to sexual dysfunction in pediatric cancer survivors.