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Science News Archive May 2021


Page 24 of 47

Indigenous peoples in Canada have higher death rates, complications after surgery

New research published in CMAJ found Indigenous peoples in Canada experience higher rates of complications after surgery, lower surgery rates, and longer wait times for life-saving procedures. The study highlights the need for better data collection methods and real-time outcome monitoring to address structural racism in healthcare.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Part of the Greenland ice sheet may be close to a tipping point

An analysis of the Central-Western Greenland ice sheet reveals distinct marks of instability due to accelerated melting. The study suggests that this part of the ice sheet has reached a critical threshold, leading to severe consequences for global sea level and climate.

New technology converts waste plastics to jet fuel in an hour

Researchers at Washington State University have developed a catalytic process to efficiently convert polyethylene to jet fuel and high-value lubricants. The process converts 90% of plastic to usable products within an hour, offering a promising approach to reducing waste plastics.

Two biodiversity refugia identified in the Eastern Bering Sea

Scientists have identified two marine biodiversity refugia in the Eastern Bering Sea, where species richness and community stability are high. These regions, covering less than 10% of the study area, harbor 91% of analyzed species and support commercially important fish and crab populations.

Global land use more extensive than estimated

Researchers from KIT and Wageningen University created new high-resolution maps called HILDA+ that reveal global land-use changes have affected nearly one-third of the land area in just six decades. The study found land-use changes are about four times as extensive as previously known.

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.

NASA launches rocket in search of aurora answers

Scientists launched a sounding rocket to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, producing the aurora. The experiment deployed barium thermite canisters that generated plasma clouds, which interacted with ionospheric plasma, creating electromagnetic fields and waves.

Hospitalizations for ischemic stroke before, during COVID-19 pandemic

US patients with ischemic stroke experienced changes in hospital discharge rates and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. The study found that hospitalization rates for ischemic stroke decreased significantly before the pandemic, but increased again after vaccination efforts began.

Heart-protecting drugs likely unnecessary for many breast cancer patients

A new study suggests that cardioprotective drugs during adjuvant breast cancer therapy may not be necessary for most patients, especially those at low risk of heart disease. The research found no significant differences in heart function between patients who received these medications and placebos.

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.

Sperm help 'persuade' the female to accept pregnancy

Sperm deliver signals that increase the chances of conception by persuading female reproductive tissues to accept the male partner's genetic material. Factors like age, diet, and environmental exposures can affect sperm quality, impacting pregnancy health.

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.

Burnout rates double for cardiology clinicians amid COVID-19

A recent survey found that burnout rates doubled among cardiovascular clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, with half providing direct care to patients and reporting inadequate PPE. The study highlights the need for improved health system support and wellness initiatives to address burnout and its consequences.

A LiDAR device the size of a finger available

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) have developed a revolutionary LiDAR device the size of a finger using nanophotonics-based technology. The device can be used in autonomous vehicles, intelligent robots, drones, and augmented reality platforms.

No benefit to FFR-guided PCI in STEMI patients with multi-vessel disease

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that FFR-guided PCI had no significant benefits for STEMI patients with multi-vessel disease and was more expensive than angiography alone. The FLOWER-MI trial enrolled 1,171 patients who underwent a second stenting procedure after a STEMI heart attack.

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.

Clopidogrel superior to aspirin for long-term post-stent maintenance

The HOST-EXAM trial found that patients who received clopidogrel experienced a 30% reduced risk of adverse events compared to those on aspirin. This study confirms the effectiveness of long-term maintenance therapy with clopidogrel as an alternative to aspirin for patients who have completed dual antiplatelet therapy.

Future sparkles for diamond-based quantum technology

Two research breakthroughs accelerate the development of synthetic diamond-based quantum technology by addressing cost and fabrication difficulties. A new hard masking method enables precise engineering of optical defects in diamond devices, while a novel growth process uses lower-cost polycrystalline substrate.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

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.

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.

Zapping nerves with ultrasound lowers drug-resistant blood pressure

A new study found that ultrasound treatment, called renal denervation, significantly lowered blood pressure in patients with drug-resistant hypertension. The procedure, which uses brief pulses of ultrasound to disrupt nerve signals, resulted in a 8-point drop in daytime blood pressure and an average decrease of 8.3 points at night.

Shrinking planets could explain mystery of universe's missing worlds

Researchers investigating the 'radius gap' in exoplanet sizes found that younger mini-Neptunes shrink drastically over billions of years, leaving behind solid cores and becoming super-Earths. As planets age, their gas is stripped away, shifting the radius gap between rocky super-Earths and larger, gas-shrouded planets.

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.

Early biomarker warning of heart disease for diabetic patients

Researchers at Newcastle University discovered that tiny pieces of genetic material, miR-424-5p, increase in early stages of heart disease in type 1 diabetes patients. This biomarker has the potential to define additional therapeutic options to help patients with type 1 diabetes.

Left atrial appendage occlusion associated with low rate of stroke

The study analyzed over 36,000 LAAO procedures performed with the WATCHMAN device in older, higher-risk patients with atrial fibrillation. At one year, the estimated 1.53% ischemic stroke rate was lower than predicted by stroke risk scores, suggesting effective stroke prevention.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Simple surgery prevents strokes in heart patients

A large international study led by McMaster University found that removing the left atrial appendage significantly cuts the risk of strokes by more than one-third in patients with atrial fibrillation. The procedure is simple, quick, and safe for the majority of heart surgery patients with this condition.

Apixaban not superior to standard care after TAVR

Researchers found that apixaban reduced blood clot formation around implanted valves with no increased bleeding risk. However, a subset of patients showed higher rates of non-cardiovascular death without anticoagulation indication.

Climate change threatens one-third of global food production

New research by Aalto University warns that climate change could push a third of global food production out of safe climatic space if greenhouse gas emissions continue growing unchecked. The study assesses the impact of climate change on crop production and livestock, highlighting regions most vulnerable to changes.

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.

New research will improve safety and quality of Heparin

A new analytical approach for detecting contaminants in Heparin has been developed, increasing sensitivity by over 100 times and reducing analysis time and material requirements. This technique has the potential to improve the quality and safety of the widely used anticoagulant drug.

Building a foundation for high-power tech

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are working on new soft magnetic materials and manufacturing processes to enable ultra-high frequency power electronics switching devices. The four-year project aims to establish a foundation for ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials in novel power electronics switching devices.

The eyes offer a window into Alzheimer's disease

A new study reveals that retinal scans can identify early signs of Alzheimer's disease by detecting changes in blood vessels associated with the APOE4 gene. The research provides a potential path forward for early detection and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

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.

Bio-inspired scaffolds help promote muscle growth

Rice University bioengineers have created electrospun scaffolds from decellularized skeletal muscle that mimic native tissue and direct the growth of myotubes. The tunable scaffolds promote muscle regeneration with minimal crosslinking agents, offering a promising solution for reconstructive surgeries.

Is the past (and future) there when nobody looks?

Researchers investigate the limits of quantum theory in describing an observer's experience, leading to a 'no-go theorem' for the persistent reality of Wigner's friend perception. The study challenges traditional assumptions about the nature of reality and raises questions about the reliability of an observer's predictions.

Scientists rewrite the genesis of mosquito-borne viruses

Researchers have discovered a misinterpreted model of immature flavivirus particles, revealing an unexpected organisation that could lead to new and better vaccines. The study's findings define the exact wiring of the immature virus before it becomes infectious, providing a solid foundation for designing tomorrow's treatments.

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.