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Science News Archive October 2021


Page 12 of 40

Racial, ethnic disparities in COVID-19 hospitalizations, outcomes

A study of over 143,000 patients found significant racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, with minorities more likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus. American Indian or Alaska Native, Latino, Black, Asian, or Pacific Islander individuals had higher rates of severe illness compared to white individuals.

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.

Permanent Twitter ban of extremist influencers can detoxify social media

A Rutgers-led study found that banning right-wing extremists from Twitter significantly reduces the spread of anti-social ideas and conspiracy theories. Removing these individuals from social media platforms leads to a nearly 92% decline in tweets referencing them, as well as a 90% decrease in new users tweeting about them.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

How staphylococci protect themselves against antibiotics

Researchers at the University of Bonn discovered a novel resistance mechanism in Staphylococcus aureus, which protects the bacteria from vancomycin. By binding vancomycin to its cell wall, the strain prevents the antibiotic from reaching the membrane and killing the bacteria.

new chiral nanostructures to extend the material platform​

A research team developed a new material platform by transferring chirality from molecular to microscale through self-assembly. The resulting chiral nanomaterials exhibit broad optical activity in the short-wave infrared region, enabling applications such as infrared neural stimulation and imaging.

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.

US gun violence increased 30 percent during COVID-19 pandemic

A new study found that US gun violence increased by 30% during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 28 states experiencing significantly higher numbers of shootings. The researchers attribute this increase to added stress, worry, and fear, as well as increased access to firearms.

Measuring financial and digital literacy in vulnerable populations

A new approach to measuring financial and digital literacy is proposed by a team of researchers led by Angela Lyons. The study finds that while promoting literacy is important, it may not be enough to ensure resilience, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and those living in poverty.

New, promising opportunities for treating skin fibrosis

Scientists have shown that applying an electric field to the skin affects collagen pathways, temporarily reducing production and increasing degradation. This opens new therapeutic perspectives for the topical treatment of skin fibrosis characterized by excessive collagen deposition.

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.

New study helps in finally breaking the “silence” on the brain network

A recent study used gene-targeting drugs to suppress areas of the brain and then imaged brain activity, revealing how this affects other complex operational networks. The research team found that silencing specific brain regions can cause stimulatory and inhibitory changes in brain activity, which can be identified using fMRI.

Bat study reveals secrets of the social brain

Researchers measured brain activity of freely interacting Egyptian fruit bats to understand how they process group communication. They found that 'friendlier' bats induced higher correlations across the brains of group members, suggesting a connection between social behavior and neural activity.

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.

Disability among adults in US

A recent study using survey data estimates the proportion of US adults with a disability, revealing significant disparities in health and well-being. The research also sheds light on the prevalence of disabilities among different age groups and populations.

Tribocatalysis: challenges and perspectives

Researchers have been exploring tribocatalysis as an alternative clean energy technology. The process converts mechanical energy into electrical energy through the triboelectric effect, with potential applications in material synthesis and energy conversion. Further research is needed to fully develop this promising field.

Shape-shifting materials with infinite possibilities

Researchers created a shape-shifting material that can morph into any stable shape, enabling independent control of geometry and mechanics. The totimorphic structural materials have the potential to be used in robotics, biotechnology, architecture, and other applications.

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.

Science snapshots from Berkeley Lab

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have successfully engineered microbes to produce novel chemicals and developed a new technique for studying enzyme reactions in real-time. This breakthrough could lead to the production of sustainable fuels, pharmaceuticals, and renewable plastics.

Lower airways are distinct in cystic fibrosis even at younger ages

Researchers found a higher burden of infection, more inflammation, and lower diversity of microorganisms in children with cystic fibrosis compared to disease controls. This divergence was noted as early as toddlerhood, suggesting potential for earlier treatment and prevention of severe lung disease.

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.

Targeted drug shows activity against brain metastases in kidney cancer

A targeted drug, cabozantinib, has shown activity against brain metastases from kidney cancer, achieving a 50% response rate. The drug's ability to reach the brain through the blood-brain barrier offers a promising systemic option for patients with poor life expectancy and intervention tolerability.

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.

Study offers snapshot of celebs’ social media influence on COVID-19 info

A study published in the Atlantic Journal of Communication analyzed Instagram posts from 20 celebrity influencers about COVID-19 between March and May 2020. The researchers found that celebrities initially modeled guidance from health experts, normalizing suggested behaviors such as staying home and practicing hand hygiene.

COVID-19 vaccine gets strong response in some with weak immunity

A recent study by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines induced detectable antibodies in 99% of patients with bowel disease, regardless of their immunocompromising therapies. Researchers also noted a correlation between the antibody response and effective immunity in the community.

How to make a better polymer

A team of researchers at UMass Amherst has developed a method to count the number of strength-enabling entanglements in glassy polymers, which can be used to create stronger, more cost-effective materials. By combining computer simulations with experimental processes, they found that not every entanglement contributes to the polymer's ...

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.

Artificial intelligence spots anomalies in medical images

Researchers have trained a neural network to detect anomalies in medical images, adapting it to the nature of medical imaging and achieving better results. The new method uses weakly supervised training and can spot small-scale anomalies, accelerating the work of histopathologists and radiologists.

Supernova: A glowing DNA enzyme

Researchers at IOCB Prague have created a glowing DNA enzyme called Supernova, which catalyzes a chemiluminescent reaction. This breakthrough uses artificial evolution to identify light-producing deoxyribozymes in a vast library of DNA molecules, opening up new possibilities for point-of-care assays and high-throughput screens.

Neuroscientists see how practice really does make perfect

Researchers at Duke University used new tools to monitor neurons and analyze machine learning data to see how zebra finches practice their courtship calls. They found that a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline shuts down variability in the song, making it more precise when performed under pressure.

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.

Hidden costs of global illegal wildlife trade

The global illegal wildlife trade has a substantial impact on biodiversity loss, human health, and ecosystems. The trade results in estimated costs of $162.7 billion annually and contributes to the extinction of native species.

Quantum enhanced convolutional neural networks for NISQ computers

This work proposes a hybrid quantum-classical convolutional neural network that leverages the power of quantum computing to enhance machine learning. The quantum feature map allows for a much larger feature space exploration, potentially leading to higher learning accuracy.

Crisis pregnancy centers may be hurting public health efforts

New research from the University of Georgia reveals that crisis pregnancy centers offering STI and HIV services are not meeting quality care standards. Many CPCs fail to offer comprehensive testing, treatment, or referrals, despite advertising as medical facilities.

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.

Fingerprinting proteins with force

Researchers develop DNA Nanoswitch Calipers to measure distances within single molecules using force, enabling the identification of single proteins in samples. This technique creates a unique 'fingerprint' that can be used to identify known molecules or infer structural information about unknown ones.

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 online tool helps keep college campuses smoke and tobacco free

A recent study confirms the effectiveness of Tobacco Tracker in shaping college attitudes and behaviors towards smoke and tobacco-free (STF) policies. The online tool resulted in doubled awareness, tripled use, and increased support for STF policies on two California public universities.

Chip-based optical tweezers levitate nanoparticles in a vacuum

Researchers created tiny chip-based optical tweezers that can be used to optically levitate nanoparticles in a vacuum, reducing the footprint of traditional optical traps. The new design enables precise sensing applications and has potential uses for studying near-surface forces and quantum processes.

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.

SwRI-led team produces a new Earth bombardment model

A new model by a SwRI-led team applies geologic evidence to understand how oxygen levels in the Earth's atmosphere evolved. The results indicate that large impacts may have contributed to the scarcity of oxygen, delaying its oxidation.

Fungal outbreak in marine mammals began on land

A study explores how human activities on land can affect aquatic animals, specifically the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii. The research found that terrestrial hotspots were likely where spores settled before infecting marine mammals in the Salish Sea.

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.