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Science News Archive August 2022


Page 22 of 38

Underwater snow gives clues about Europa’s icy shell

A new study suggests Europa's ice shell could be orders of magnitude purer than previously thought due to the formation of frazil ice, which keeps salt in seawater. This could affect the ice's strength and heat transfer, making it crucial for understanding Europa's habitability.

Patient survey reveals preference and economic cost of breathlessness services

A new study surveyed 190 patients and 68 carers in the UK, revealing that patients prefer breathlessness services offered in hospital outpatient clinics or at home. The research found that these services improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs, with estimated savings ranging from £663 to £5086 per person.

Today’s heat waves feel a lot hotter than heat index implies

Researchers at UC Berkeley find that the traditional heat index, which calculates how hot it feels based on temperature and humidity, fails to account for physiological responses to extreme heat. The new study suggests that this underestimation can lead to increased stress on the human body, particularly in sweltering conditions.

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.

Sugar metabolism is surprisingly conventional in cancer

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that cancer cells metabolize glucose in their mitochondria, following conventional biochemical patterns. The study suggests that limiting glucose uptake may not be an effective strategy to target cancer cells, and glucose metabolism may need to be reevaluated as a therapeutic target.

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.

No-till farming study shows benefit to midwestern land values

A new study from North Carolina State University reveals no-till farming boosts agricultural land values in the Midwest, with a 1% increase translating to a $7.86 per acre gain. This finding supports the economic and environmental benefits of adopting soil conservation practices like no-till farming.

The best way to take pills according to science

A new model, StomachSim, simulates human stomach mechanics to show that posture can impact pill absorption by up to an hour. Lying on the right side is best for quick dissolution, while standing upright is a decent second option.

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.

Weird and wonderful world of fungi shaped by evolutionary bursts, study finds

Scientists at the University of Bristol discovered that fungal diversity stems from evolutionary increases in multicellular complexity. The study found that fungal disparity has evolved episodically through time, with greater morphological variety emerging after the emergence of multicellular fungi and complex fruiting bodies.

Research Brief: Immune intolerance unlocked with food-specific T-cells

A new study reveals that certain food proteins can cause white blood cells to become dysfunctional, leading to immune intolerance. Researchers found that the gut-associated-lymphoid tissue is a suppressive environment where lymphocytes undergo arrested development, preventing dangerous immune reactions to food.

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.

Thirdhand smoke exposures surpass health risk guideline levels

A new study by Berkeley Lab scientists reveals that thirdhand smoke can exceed health risk guidelines, putting whole households at risk. The study found that concentrations of toxic chemicals in indoor environments where cigarettes have been smoked can lead to exposure through inhalation, dust ingestion, and dermal absorption.

Carbon market could offset Australia’s huge fire recovery bill

A new study suggests that investing $16 billion a year can restore 65% of fire-impacted species habitat and sequester up to 291 megatons of carbon dioxide. The research also highlights the need for urgent removal of invasive species, replanting, and stopping native forest logging.

Sugar chain on cell surface directs cancer cells to die

A study led by Toho University identified a glycan structure, Lewis glycans, on the cell surface that makes cancer cells vulnerable to TRAIL-induced death. Cancer cells highly expressing this structure are more sensitive to TRAIL therapy and can serve as a predictive biomarker.

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.

Hypertension common among poorest, least educated around the world

A study of over 1.2 million people in 76 low- and middle-income countries found that hypertension prevalence is high among the least educated and poorest individuals, despite common assumptions. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to lower blood pressure in these regions.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Survey finds uneven training in cannabis therapy among cannabis dispensary staff

A new study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that dispensaries often prioritize sales skills over cannabis therapeutics training, leading to a lack of reliable guidance for patients. The study's findings highlight the need for standardized training and education in cannabis therapy to ensure patients receive accurate information.

Researchers assess diagnostic criteria for canine glioma

A multi-institutional team assessed the diagnostic criteria for canine glioma using the Comparative Brain Tumor Consortium's guidelines. The study found that consensus was achieved for 71 out of 85 cases (84%), with a moderate level of inter-pathologist agreement.

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.

DREADDful mimicry

Researchers successfully developed artificial replicas of GPCRs, allowing for controlled activation and replication of original functionality. The method enables precise modulation of immune cells' responses, holding promise for treating diseases targeted by GPCRs.

Low school test scores linked to racial segregation and lead exposure in NC

Research by Duke University finds that black children exposed to lead have lower test scores, with effects exacerbated in racially segregated neighborhoods. Lead-based paint, aging pipes, and living near polluting sources contribute to environmental contamination, narrowing the achievement gap among minority groups.

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.

Targeted cancer vaccines eliminate tumors and prevent recurrence in mice

Researchers at Tufts University have developed a targeted cancer vaccine that delivers mRNA directly to the lymphatic system, resulting in potent immune responses and complete remission in mice with metastatic melanoma. The vaccine's effectiveness was demonstrated by a 40% rate of complete response and excellent immune memory.

Cath labs’ regard for patients’ DNR wishes varies widely

A study of cardiology programs found that patients' documented DNR preferences are often suspended during TAVR procedures, with varying durations across programs. Only 26% had formal policies governing clinicians' responsibilities in these decisions.

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.

Exercise answer: Research shows it’s how often you do it, not how much

A new study from Edith Cowan University found that exercising six times a day for five days can increase muscle strength by over 10% and improve muscle thickness. The research suggests that daily exercise is more beneficial for maintaining muscle mass and strength, rather than infrequent, longer workouts.

Thawing Arctic hillsides are major climate change contributors

Researchers have found that thawing Arctic hillsides are releasing a significant amount of organic carbon, which was previously locked in frozen ground for thousands of years. This phenomenon is expected to contribute to an already warming climate, and its impact needs to be accounted for in global climate models.

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.

Thinking like a cyber-attacker to protect user data

MIT researchers found a vulnerable component in computer processors that can be exploited by malicious agents. They developed two mitigation strategies, including scheduling sensitive software on less vulnerable cores and reserving susceptible cores for trusted applications.

A fresh look into grasslands as carbon sink

Researchers provide a fresh analysis of grassland soil carbon sequestration, highlighting the importance of microbial transformations and necromass. They found that 80% of European grasslands have unmet potential for carbon storage, while high biodiversity promotes carbon storage.

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.

The circadian clock makes sure plant cells have the time of their lives

Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology found that the circadian clock regulates cell cycle progression and differentiation in Arabidopsis. The study used single-cell analysis to show that clock genes directly trigger cell differentiation, revealing a guiding role for the plant circadian clock in cell fate determination.

Linked lanthanides shine light on field of crystal engineering

Scientists have connected two soft crystals and observed energy transfer between them, leading to the potential development of sophisticated materials. The study used rare earth metals called lanthanides, which can luminesce, to create a molecular train that exhibited green luminescence at one end and yellow luminescence at the other.

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.

Exploring the manipulation of Majorana zero modes in iron-based nanowires

The study proposes a modified platform using iron-based superconducting nanowires, enabling controllable coupling between different Majoranas and manipulable braiding operations. This allows for the exploration of non-Abelian statistical properties and potential applications in fault-tolerant topological quantum computing.

Overcoming a major manufacturing constraint

Researchers characterize material properties of IP-Q using Raman spectroscopy and nanoindentation, revealing elastic parameters and their effects on acoustic behavior. The study optimizes elastic parameters for TPP-fabricated structures, benefiting applications in life science, mobility, and industry.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Vitamin D supplementation seems to alleviate depressive symptoms in adults

A large meta-analysis suggests that vitamin D supplementation may alleviate depressive symptoms in adults with depression. The analysis included 41 studies and found that vitamin D was more effective than a placebo in alleviating symptoms. However, the results were limited by study heterogeneity and risk of bias.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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