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Science News Archive May 2021


Page 1 of 47

Researchers report reference genome for maize B chromosome

The researchers reported a reference sequence for the supernumerary B chromosome in maize, with key properties such as its origin and molecular mechanism remaining unclear. The study found that the current gene content is a result of continuous transfer from the A chromosomal complement over an extended evolutionary period.

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.

New 'Swiss Army knife' cleans up water pollution

Researchers develop porous membrane that sequesters up to 99% of phosphate ions from water, making it reusable and efficient. The technology has promise in scaling up to tackle massive environmental problems like eutrophication.

Diabetes remission diet also lowers blood pressure and reduces need for medication

A weight management program has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce the need for anti-hypertensive medications in people with type 2 diabetes. The program, developed by researchers at Universities of Glasgow and Newcastle, induces substantial weight loss and leads to remission of type 2 diabetes in 8 out of 10 participants.

Overconfidence in detecting false news

A study of two surveys involving 8,285 US participants found that people who were overconfident in their news judgments on legitimate versus false news were more likely to visit untrustworthy websites and share false content. This overconfidence may contribute to the spread of false information via social media.

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.

Oxygen levels and eukaryote evolution

Researchers analyzed Raman spectral analysis data from nine geological formations to estimate oxygen levels during the Proterozoic Eon, finding minimum oxygen levels were 2-20% of present levels. This suggests that oxygen did not hinder eukaryote and early animal evolution during this time period.

Newly discovered African 'climate seesaw' drove human evolution

African researchers identify ancient El Niño-like weather patterns as major climate drivers, challenging existing views on human evolution. The 'climate seesaw' shifted rainfall between eastern and western Africa over 100,000 years, influencing vegetation, mammal fauna, and human dispersal.

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.

The secret lives of Canada lynx

Scientists used accelerometers and audio recorders to study the behavior of Canada lynx, capturing detailed sounds of hunts, escapes, and social interactions. The findings provide valuable insight into the hunting habits and social dynamics of this elusive species.

Gene plays major role in brain development

A study has identified a gene that plays a crucial role in brain development, with mutations affecting inheritance patterns. The Plexin-A1 gene is found to have dominant and recessive forms, which can cause significant damage to the brain and eyes.

Overweight or obesity worsens liver-damaging effects of alcohol

A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people with overweight or obesity are at a greater risk of developing liver diseases compared to those within a healthy weight range. The study analyzed data from nearly half a million participants and found that even moderate alcohol consumption can lead...

Emotional impact of mass shootings

Researchers analyzed US adult survey data from 2008-2016 to understand mass shooting emotional impact. They found a short-lived emotional response in days following a mass shooting, restricted to local residents.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Uncertainties in climate model inputs

A study analyzing climate simulations reveals that small differences in aerosol forcing can significantly affect simulated temperatures and Arctic sea ice area. The results show that natural and anthropogenic forcing uncertainties can markedly impact simulations of Earth's past and future climate.

The price is right: Modeling economic growth in a zero-emission society

A study by Tokyo University of Science researchers analyzed the relationship between economic growth and environmental preservation. The model indicates that achieving a 'zero-emission society' is compatible with economic growth, but only if GDP is above a certain level and pollution reduction allocation is flexible.

Extreme CO2 greenhouse effect heated up the young Earth

New research suggests that high CO2 levels in the atmosphere may have warmed the young Earth's climate, accounting for apparent anomalies such as hot seawater temperatures above 70°C. The study proposes a plausible explanation for these phenomena, indicating temperatures closer to 40°C when considering ocean composition changes.

Declining deer population likely due to natural regulation

The Yakushima sika deer population has been declining since 2014, with an estimated annual decrease of 15%. The decline is attributed to natural factors, with only 3.5% of the population migrating outside the Hanyama district. Natural regulation may hold the key to managing sika deer populations in Japan.

Study suggests tai chi can mirror healthy benefits of conventional exercise

A new study shows that tai chi mirrors the beneficial effects of conventional exercise by reducing waist circumference in middle-aged and older adults with central obesity. The 12-week intervention found significant reductions in waist circumference, body weight, and improved lipid profiles among those who practiced tai chi.

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.

Overconfidence in news judgement

A new study published in Proceedings of National Academics of Sciences found that individuals who believe they can identify false news are more likely to fall victim to it. The researchers used two large surveys with 8,285 respondents and found that 90% reported being above average in their ability to discern false news headlines.

Neuronal basis of duet singing in plain-tailed wrens

Researchers found that HVC neurons increase activity during solo syllable production and decrease when the partner sings, suggesting inhibition of motor circuits. This neural mechanism enables rapid turn-taking in duet singing, where males and females rapidly take turns singing at a rate of 2 to 5 Hz.

A new soft electronic material for human-machine-interfacing

Researchers have developed CareGum, a green and recyclable sensor material that can monitor motor impairment associated with neurological disorders. The material offers stretchability, self-healing capacities, and electrical conductivity, allowing for personalized bioelectronics and real-time monitoring of movements.

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.

Low levels of omega-3 associated with higher risk of psychosis

Research found that adolescents with higher levels of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, were less likely to develop psychotic disorder in early adulthood. Those with lower levels of DHA had a higher risk of developing the condition, even after accounting for other factors.

Duetting songbirds 'mute' the musical mind of their partner to stay in sync

Researchers studied the brain activity of singing male and female plain-tailed wrens, discovering that they synchronize their duets by inhibiting the song-making regions of their partner's brain. This inhibition allows for a seemingly telepathic performance, with the birds becoming a single entity through sensory linkages.

Greenhouse effect warmed early Earth

Carbon dioxide played a crucial role in warming early Earth's climate, offsetting the reduced light from the young Sun. The δ18O ratio of ancient seawater suggests a warm but not hot environment, with high CO2 concentrations, around 3 billion years ago.

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.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Ethnically diverse research identifies more genetic markers linked to diabetes

A global collaboration has identified 24 new loci linked to glycemic traits, improving our understanding of type 2 diabetes and its impact on different ancestries. This study highlights the importance of including diverse populations in genetic research, yielding better results and enabling more precise diagnosis and treatment.

Hybrid redox-flow battery with a long cycle life

A team of researchers from the University of Freiburg has developed a non-aqueous All-Manganese Flow battery with a long cycle life, achieving an energy density roughly twice that of previous batteries. The new design uses sustainable manganese as its active material and has shown promising results for stationary energy storage.

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.

Unraveling DNA packaging

Scientists from Kanazawa University use HS-AFM to study DNA-histone interactions, revealing spatiotemporal dynamics and real-time observations of wrapping, sliding, sandwiching, and wrapping motions. The study provides valuable insights into the compactification of DNA and its potential applications in understanding human diseases.

Isolating an elusive missing link

Researchers from ICIQ's Lloret-Fillol group have isolated and fully characterised an elusive intermediate in the Water Oxidation Reaction (WOR), a key reaction for producing atmospheric oxygen. The breakthrough provides direct evidence of the oxygen-oxygen bond formation mechanism, opening doors for efficient catalyst design.

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.

Mind the nanogap: Fast and sensitive oxygen gas sensors

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new strategy to produce nanogap oxygen gas sensors with fast response times and low operating temperatures. The study presents a promising approach to create scalable gas-sensing platforms for various applications.

A mechanism that reduces blood vessels in Alzheimer's patients

Alzheimer's disease disorganises blood vessels around amyloid plaques, causing loss of vessels and worsening pathology. This mechanism aggravates the disease by reducing the brain's ability to clean toxic substances, leading to increased strain on oxygen and nutrient supply.

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.

Academic journal Polar Science features science in the Arctic

The journal features a special issue on the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability Project (ArCS), which covered topics such as climate change, atmospheric science, and oceanography. The project aimed to understand the impacts of global warming on the Arctic environment and human society.

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.

Right-wing rhetoric and the trivialization of pandemic casualties

High-level government officials and influential commentators in the US trivialized pandemic casualties by adopting a tone that suggested premature death was normal. This misleading rhetoric ignored the collective costs of unchecked disease transmission and offered false reassurance about the risk of infection.

Trust the machine -- it knows what it is doing

A study by Manuel Santos Gutiérrez and colleagues reveals that machine learning-based simplified climate models can build an actual understanding of the climate system. The findings indicate that data-driven methods are dynamically and physically sound, producing robust simulations. This breakthrough has significant implications for va...

Hydraulic instability decides who's to die and who's to live

Researchers discovered that hydraulic instability amplifies small volume differences between germ cells, leading to their selection for growth or shrinkage. The study reveals a mechanical mechanism governing the life and death decision in the nematode germline.

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.

Holocene winter rain and Sahara greening

Researchers analyzed a sediment core from Lake Tislit, Morocco, and found that the Sahara expanded with greenery during the African Humid Period. The expansion was caused by increased winter precipitation rather than a northward expansion of the monsoon.

Using fossil plant molecules to track down the Green Sahara

Researchers analyzed pollen and leaf waxes to reconstruct vegetation cover and rainfall in the past. Mediterranean plants tolerate arid conditions with winter rain, suggesting a southward shift of westerlies during the African Humid Period. This climate scenario produced a Green Sahara with two seasonal rains.

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.