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Science News Archive September 2021 - Page 20


Page 20 of 40

Ancient bone tools found in Moroccan cave were used to work leather, fur

Researchers found 62 bone tools at Contrebandiers Cave, Morocco, with shaping and use marks indicating they were used for scraping hides to make leather and furs. The discovery highlights the pan-African emergence of complex culture and provides evidence for the earliest clothing in the archaeological record.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·TypeObservational study·DateSep 16, 2021

Mistrust of government tops reasons for vaccine hesitancy

An Australian study found that trust in government approval of safe COVID-19 vaccines is the primary driver of vaccine uptake. Perceived effectiveness in protecting others was also a significant factor. The study revealed lower rates of vaccine uptake among younger, unemployed individuals and those with lower altruistic beliefs.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalVaccine·TypeSurvey·DateSep 16, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Working Smarter: Leveraging Machine Learning to Optimize CO2 Adsorption

A recent study employs machine learning to guide the design of novel materials for CO2 capture, identifying elemental composition and textural properties as key factors. The research team's findings suggest prioritizing adsorption parameters and surface area optimization for high CO2 adsorption efficiency.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021

Parental alienation, partner abuse: Two sides of same coin, says CSU social psychologist

A new study by CSU social psychologist Jennifer Harman finds that parental alienating behaviors closely resemble coercively controlling violence, intimate terrorism, and battery. The research highlights power imbalances in families affected by parental alienation, emphasizing the need to treat it similarly to other forms of abuse.

SourceColorado State University·JournalPersonal Relationships·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

Grow and eat your own vaccines?

Researchers aim to produce enough mRNA vaccines from spinach and lettuce to rival traditional shots. They're exploring chloroplasts as a key to making plant-based mRNA vaccines that can be stored at room temperature.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateSep 16, 2021

Climatically driven landscape evolution during warm periods

A comprehensive investigation of a lake landscape in southern Wendland reveals that strong rises and falls in water levels were caused by climate changes, soil erosion, and vegetation. The study provides valuable insights into how landscapes respond to climatic shifts and offers clues for predicting future changes.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalEarth Surface Processes and Landforms·DateSep 16, 2021

Advanced model and field data add up to better cover crop management

A new University of Illinois study integrates field data and advanced mathematical modeling to understand how cover crops affect soil water, nitrogen, and oxygen dynamics. The research finds that proper management of cover crops can balance their benefits with cash crop yields, while ignoring the impacts without optimization.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalField Crops Research·DateSep 16, 2021

A new species of otter discovered in Germany

Researchers have discovered a new species of otter in Germany that dates back to 11.4 million years ago. The Vishnu otter genus was previously known only from Asia and Africa, but this finding suggests they also occurred in Europe.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

True behavior of the ‘pleasure molecule’ will reshape how we treat psychiatric diseases and addiction

Research reveals that dopamine levels increase with stressful stimuli, rewriting the 'pleasure molecule' narrative, and suggesting new treatment approaches for psychiatric diseases and addiction. The discovery has significant implications for understanding dopamine's role in behavior and developing evidence-based treatments.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 16, 2021
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Jaws; or, how an African ray-finned fish is helping to rethink the fundamentals of evolution

New research reveals that the evolution of cichlid jaws is linked across multiple levels, challenging a quarter-century-old assumption. This finding highlights the importance of evolutionary constraints in shaping biodiversity, and suggests that they may play a wider role in the evolutionary success of species around the world.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 16, 2021

Researchers identify tube-forming proteins in mycobacterial outer envelope

Scientists have identified tube-forming proteins in mycobacterial outer envelope that enable protein secretion. The discovery, using x-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, reveals a novel method for studying substance transport mechanisms in pathogenic mycobacteria.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 16, 2021

Pyrrole chemistry: Good things come in threes

Researchers have successfully formed rings made of three pyrroles for the first time, which could be used to produce compounds with unique properties. The discovery explains why tripyrrolic macrocycles were not observed before due to strain issues.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021

Researchers reveal multi-path mechanism in electrochemical CO2 reduction

A research group synthesized a Pb-alloyed Cu catalyst, showing high activity for electrochemical CO2 reduction with selectivity to formate. The study reveals a multi-path mechanism for CO2 reduction through COOH* and HCOO* intermediates.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 16, 2021

A blue food revolution

Global demand for aquatic foods is set to double by 2050, with aquaculture production expected to meet the majority of this growth. This 'blue food revolution' has the potential to tackle malnutrition, lower environmental footprints and provide livelihoods, particularly in regions where people rely heavily on these systems.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

Friend or foe? Researchers investigate the mysterious microbes living inside corals

A team of researchers has discovered a new group of coral-infecting microbes called Corallicolida. Despite lacking photosynthetic genes, they express chlorophyll genes and may still play a role in their host cells. The authors propose that Corallicolida could be an ancient parasite that lost its photosynthetic machinery.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 16, 2021

Studies biased toward white genomes still predict cancer risk in diverse groups

A new study found that genome-wide association studies (GWAS) results from people with European ancestry can still be applied to predict breast and prostate cancer risk in diverse groups. However, the findings emphasize the need for more diverse participants in GWAS analyses to realize the full potential of polygenic risk scores.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021

Statins may be effective treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis

Researchers found statins significantly decrease the rate of surgical treatment, anti-inflammatory medication use, and hospitalization for patients with ulcerative colitis. Patients taking statins had a 50% lower risk of colectomy and were less likely to be hospitalized.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 16, 2021

Selectively staining neutrophils in white blood cells

A new fluorescent probe, NeutropG, selectively stains healthy neutrophils in blood samples, allowing for accurate quantification. The Metabolism-Oriented Live-cell Distinction (MOLD) method enables the selective identification of active neutrophils without affecting their native functions.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

Patients with multiple sclerosis show robust T-cell responses to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines

Researchers found that patients with MS receiving aCD20 treatment generated robust CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to the COVID-19 vaccination. The study measured both antibody and T cell responses in 20 patients with MS who were undergoing aCD20 treatment, compared to those in a group of healthy controls.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 16, 2021

Link between inflammation and pancreatic cancer development uncovered

Pancreatic cells display adaptive response to repeated inflammatory episodes, reprogramming gene expression and epigenetic regulation that cooperates with mutant KRAS to promote tumor formation. Inflammation drives long-term changes in epithelial cells that select for cancer-causing mutations.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021

Missing the reef for the corals

A new study reveals unexpected trends in coral reef condition and its environment, contrary to prevailing scientific expectations. The authors found that local threats such as pollution do not lead to a decrease in coral cover, and biogeophysical forcings poorly predict ecosystem-scale coral reef condition.

SourceBermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 16, 2021
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Study reveals gophers’ biofluorescence

Researchers at the University of Georgia have found that pocket gophers are biofluorescent, emitting a colored glow when illuminated with ultraviolet light. The phenomenon has been documented in flying squirrels and opossums before, but this is the first time it has been observed in pocket gophers.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalThe American Midland Naturalist·DateSep 16, 2021

A simple way to get complex semiconductors to assemble themselves

Researchers developed a simple and fast way to create complex semiconductors by growing 2D perovskites precisely layered with other materials, resulting in crystals with wide electronic properties. The assembly takes place in vials where chemical ingredients tumble around in water, with barbell-shaped molecules directing the action.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

Researchers establish a practical safety protocol for home visits in the era of COVID-19

A new protocol has been established to guide healthcare professionals on donning and doffing personal protective equipment during home visits. The protocol aims to address gaps in existing guidelines, providing a clear step-by-step process for healthcare workers interacting with patients potentially infected with COVID-19.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateSep 16, 2021

Research reveals drug targets for memory enhancement

A Bristol-led research team has identified specific receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that re-route information flowing through memory circuits in the hippocampus. The discovery holds promise for developing new, safer treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateSep 16, 2021

Exploring the role of social relationships in Hispanic health

Researchers study social support networks and health outcomes of over 670 Hispanic and non-Hispanic lung cancer patients to understand the Hispanic Health Paradox. The study aims to identify cultural differences in social interactions that influence health outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·DateSep 16, 2021

Reforestation could help save coral reefs from catastrophe

A University of Queensland-led study found that nearly 85% of coastal areas leach sediment to coral reefs, a major threat. Reforestation can help by reducing sediment transport, increasing light levels for coral growth and reproduction. Land restoration is crucial for building coral resilience.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

Manic episodes in bipolar disorder linked to abnormal brain changes

Patients with bipolar disorder experiencing manic episodes show abnormal brain changes, including faster cortical thinning, compared to those without episodes. The study also found associations between brain ventricle enlargement and accelerated cognitive decline in bipolar patients.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 16, 2021

For some peptides, killing bacteria an inside job

Researchers have found that certain peptides can target the internal mechanisms of bacteria, making them effective against antibiotic-resistant microbes. The study suggests that these peptides could be used to design therapeutic agents that succeed where standard antibiotics fail.

SourceRice University·JournalInterface·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 16, 2021

Can fruit fly research help improve survival of cancer patients?

Researchers at UC Berkeley found that tumors release chemicals compromising the blood-brain barrier, leading to inflammation and tissue wasting. Blocking these chemicals could extend life span and improve health for cancer patients, reducing the need for toxic drugs.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

Study: As a population gets older, automation accelerates

Researchers found that aging workforces, characterized by a higher ratio of workers 56 and older to those ages 21-55, are associated with increased robot deployment in 60 countries. This study suggests that automation adoption is partly driven by labor shortages, particularly middle-aged labor needed for blue-collar work.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Review of Economic Studies·DateSep 16, 2021

Ultrasound at the nanometre scale reveals the nature of force

Scientists used picosecond ultrasonics to measure atomic bonds in 2D materials without damaging them. The study found that sound travels at different speeds in different phases of the same substance, opening possibilities for designing materials with tunable properties.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021

Why salespeople avoid big-whale sales opportunities

Research reveals that salespeople conduct rational benefit–cost analyses when deciding which opportunity to pursue. They also use a calibration decision-making strategy for solution selling, which can lead to serious under- or overestimation of conversion rates. The findings highlight the importance of managing salespeople's avoidance ...

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

The deforestation risk of making livestock systems greener

New research suggests that scaling up silvopastoral systems in Colombia's Amazon Rainforest can lead to deforestation if safeguards are not put in place. The study found that excess male cattle produced by these systems may be sold to farms in nearby areas, contributing to deforestation.

SourceThe Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture·JournalConservation Science and Practice·DateSep 16, 2021

Research provides new insight into fundamental workings of the immune system in response to therapy to treat skin cancer

Researchers at the University of Birmingham discovered that T cells send messages from five specific genes in their immune response to drugs given to treat skin cancer. This finding suggests that an optimal level of stimulation is required for a strong immune response, and blocking certain immune brakes may re-awaken dormant T cells.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalImmunity·DateSep 16, 2021

Finding new alloys just became simpler

Researchers developed a theoretical model to predict the strength of millions of alloys at high temperatures. Experiments confirmed the predictions, highlighting the importance of edge dislocations in determining yield strength in complex high-entropy alloys.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 16, 2021

Climate change threatens base of polar oceans’ bountiful food webs

A new study suggests that climate change is displacing cold-water communities of algae with warm-adapted ones, threatening to destabilize the delicate marine food web. The research found a clear boundary between these communities at moderate water temperatures, highlighting the vulnerability of polar ecosystems.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 16, 2021

How a new imaging tool helps to better stage men with prostate cancer

A new PSMA PET imaging technique can detect prostate cancer lesions throughout the body, enabling more precise treatment. The study shows that 64% of patients opted for alternative treatments after scanning due to detected metastasis outside the prostate.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Oncology·DateSep 16, 2021
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.

Palaeontology: Fossilized footprints reveal prehistoric elephant nursery

Researchers discovered fossilized footprint tracks of straight-tusked elephants, indicating a Late Pleistocene nursery site in Huelva, Spain. The tracks suggest that young elephants, possibly up to two years old, were raised in this area, which may have provided a food source and reproductive habitat for female elephant herds.

SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 16, 2021

Staying young, from the cells on up

Researchers at Université de Montréal and McGill University have discovered a new multi-enzyme complex that reprograms metabolism and overcomes cellular senescence. The enzyme complex, named HTC, can inhibit cells from aging and has potential applications in treating various cancers.

SourceUniversity of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM)·JournalMolecular Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021

Mushballs stash away missing ammonia at Uranus and Neptune

Researchers propose that giant hailstones called mushballs carry ammonia deep into the atmospheres of ice giants Uranus and Neptune, hiding it from detection. This process could explain the unexpected lack of ammonia in their atmospheres compared to other planets.

SourceEuroplanet·DateSep 16, 2021

Health: Therapeutic potential of Mozart for medication-resistant epilepsy

Researchers found that listening to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K448) for at least 30 seconds was associated with a significant reduction in epilepsy-associated electrical activity spikes. The study suggests that the therapeutic effects may be linked to positive emotional responses triggered by the music.

SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 16, 2021
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.