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Science News Archive August 2022


Page 3 of 38

Returning to football after COVID-19 infection

A study by LSU found that elite student-athletes could safely return to practice and play football after COVID-19 isolation, with their immune system returning to baseline levels. This contrasts with older adults with comorbidities, who are at higher risk for serious side effects.

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.

Better blood sugar control in teens may limit diabetes-related brain damage

A study published in Nature Communications suggests that better glucose control can improve brain structure and function in youth with Type 1 diabetes. The findings indicate that participants using a hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system showed significant improvement in key brain metrics compared to those receiving standard care.

UBC team developing oral insulin tablet sees breakthrough results

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have made a breakthrough in developing an oral insulin tablet that is absorbed by the body in the same way as injected insulin. The tablet is designed to dissolve when placed between the gum and cheek, releasing all the insulin into the liver without wasting or decomposing it.

Wildlife hunting motivations vary across Africa and Europe

Research reveals that wildlife hunting motivations differ across Africa and Europe, shifting from economic to socio-cultural and recreational factors as socio-economic conditions increase. Hunting intensity is surprisingly constant, while densely populated areas experience increased conflict-related killings.

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.

Brain’s support cells may hold key to new Huntington’s treatments

A new study identifies how the suppression of a specific transcription gene triggers changes that impair oligodendrocyte function in Huntington's disease. The researchers believe replacing or fixing defective glia cells may prove a far easier proposition than replenishing neurons lost in the disease.

SUTD researchers develop new strategies to teach computers to learn like humans do

Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) have developed a new Brain-Inspired Replay model that enables continual learning in edge computing systems without storing data. This approach achieves state-of-the-art accuracy and high energy efficiency, overcoming the stability-plasticity issue in traditional models.

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.

Probing sustainable agromet services and outcomes on agriculture in Laos

A case study in Laos explores the application of climate services for agriculture, demonstrating improved agricultural planning and decision-making through ICT-based platforms like LaCSA. The project successfully co-created agromet services with local stakeholders, increasing capacities and promoting resilience to climate risks.

Study reveals flaws in popular genetic method

A new study from Lund University reveals that the most common analytical method in population genetics is deeply flawed, leading to incorrect results and misconceptions about ethnicity and genetic relationships. The method has been used in hundreds of thousands of studies, including medical genetics and commercial ancestry tests.

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.

Domestic violence consultations in Japan before vs during pandemic

A significant increase in help-seeking consultations for domestic violence occurred in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise may be attributed to worsening economic conditions, heightened exposure to exploitative relationships, and diminished social support infrastructure.

New blood test for ALS promises rapid diagnosis

Researchers at Brain Chemistry Labs have developed a new blood test for ALS using microRNA sequences, which accurately discriminated between patients and healthy individuals. The test works even with varying environmental conditions, offering hope for rapid diagnosis and improved patient outcomes.

Exiled leaders increase instability in their countries of origin

Research shows that exiled rulers can destabilize politics in their home states through direct and indirect mechanisms, increasing the risk of violence and political instability. The study argues that granting a safe haven to exiled leaders can be a short-term solution but a longer-term problem.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Interacting brains sync without physical presence

A study at the University of Helsinki found that brains synchronize in similar ways during cooperative online gaming, leading to better performance and increased empathy. The study used brainwave synchronization measurements to investigate the connection between inter-brain synchronization and game performance.

Study identifies sex-adapted color-change gene in locusts

Researchers have identified a sex-adapted color-change gene in locusts that signals between males to reduce mating mistakes in swarming conditions. The discovery reveals a previously unknown sexual dimension to desert locusts' phase polyphenism, providing insights into the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.

New project to assist libraries with data storytelling

A new project led by University of Illinois researchers aims to empower librarians with a toolkit for creating data-driven stories. The initiative, backed by an $99,330 grant, will provide easy-to-use templates for visualizing and structuring data narratives.

Key step toward growing human kidneys in the laboratory

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a highly efficient method to generate human kidney cells, including principal and intercalated cell lines. This breakthrough could lead to new therapies for treating congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract, such as polycystic kidney disease.

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.

3D artificial pneumatic muscles for future “makers”

The Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia team developed GRACE actuators, 3D-printed structures that mimic muscle tissue in nature. The actuators can be manufactured using various materials and sizes, providing a range of movement options for robots.

General method for circular bivalent functional nucleic acids engineering

Researchers developed a strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition strategy to engineer circular bivalent aptamers, improving their stability, recognition, and binding abilities. This method enables the design of new aptamer-based targeted drug delivery strategies and cell behavior regulation techniques.

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.

3D imaging helps to better understand the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers used novel 3D imaging technology to study a human brainstem nucleus and found intriguing complexity and previously undescribed cellular forms of tau pathology. The study reveals dendritic atrophy as an early sign of tau-bearing neuron degeneration, potentially contributing to symptoms like sleep disturbances and anxiety.

Reading global catastrophes needs a new lens for sharp solutions

The authors propose a metacoupling framework to uncover complexities in the real world, providing an integrated way to analyze human-nature interactions globally. This approach recognizes that global catastrophes have broader, faster impacts than traditional lenses can capture.

Arctic lakes are vanishing in surprise climate finding

A new study reveals that Arctic lakes have shrunk or dried completely over the past 20 years, threatening local Indigenous communities and industries. The research found that permafrost thaw is accelerating lake drainage, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere and exacerbating climate change.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Subarctic cave bacteria could be at risk due to climate change

New study reveals that subarctic cave bacterial communities are more diverse and complex than surface soil ones, but climate change poses a significant threat to these unique ecosystems. The scarcity of nutrients in caves drives bacteria to cooperate with each other, which may be affected by global warming.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Possible new cancer treatment target discovered

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have identified a protein called HnRNPK that controls tumor growth by binding to messenger RNA, potentially enabling the development of new cancer drugs with fewer side effects.

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.

Ethnicity, poverty, low community involvement linked to lasting loneliness

A study of 641 participants found that midlife and older Hispanic/Latinx adults were more likely to experience prolonged loneliness, with 16% persistently lonely. The researchers suggest that culturally important familism was disrupted by social distancing, and reduced access to transportation and community activities may contribute to...

Hydrogel glass: a novel glass design for energy saving in buildings

Researchers have developed a novel hydrogel-glass design that enhances indoor illumination while reducing cooling consumption, demonstrating potential for widespread energy savings in buildings. The study published in Frontiers of Optoelectronics shows significant reductions in energy use ranging from 2.37 to 10.45 MJ·m−2 ·year−1.

Asking about food insecurity at hospital admission is feasible, effective

A quality improvement project at a hospital found that asking patients about food insecurity is feasible and effective. The process, which included two simple questions, identified 6% of patients as needing assistance with food resources, resulting in reduced healthcare costs and improved patient health outcomes.

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.

Artificial protein shell to combat COVID-19

Researchers at Indian Institute of Science create a novel virus-like particle (VLP) to safely study SARS-CoV-2 mutations and trigger an immune response. The VLP is stable, can attach to host cells, and elicit antibodies that neutralize the live virus.

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.

Bone transplant could resolve aging jaw defects

Researchers at Tohoku University have created a scaffold that supports the growth of new bone in large jaw defects in mice, bringing them closer to addressing the issue of aging jaw bone loss in humans. The technique uses a polylactic acid scaffold and has shown promise for treating large bone defects.

Breast MRI illuminates risk of second breast cancer

A recent study found that background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) at surveillance breast MRI is independently associated with an increased risk of future second breast cancer. Women with dense breasts and minimal BPE may no longer need to undergo contrast-enhanced breast MRI every year if other risk factors are absent.

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.

Keeping toxic cadmium out of rice, the genetic way

Researchers discovered a genetic mechanism that lowers cadmium accumulation in rice without affecting its quality and yield. The duplicated OsNramp5 gene increases the uptake of manganese, competing with cadmium for translocation to shoots, reducing its accumulation.

Understanding the expanded role of clinical ethicists

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing reveals how clinical ethicists provided consultation and guidance during the pandemic. The study's findings shed light on the experiences of clinical ethicists during this time and their impact on hospital operations.

A breakthrough for fast, efficient production of human immune cells

Researchers at UBC develop new process to produce T cells, the most essential human immune cells, in the lab with improved efficiency. The breakthrough could lead to cost-effective production of cancer-fighting cells for CAR T therapy, a treatment with an efficacy rate of close to 50%.

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.