Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive August 2022


Page 7 of 38

Tendon tissue plus parathyroid hormone reproduces a normal meniscus

A group of researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University found that administering parathyroid hormone to rat Achilles tendons increased the production of cartilaginous matrix and promoted chondrogenic differentiation. This breakthrough discovery may lead to improved outcomes for meniscal reconstruction surgery, protecting knee cartila...

Brothers and sisters shape character less than thought

A study of over 80,000 adults from nine countries found that siblings have a surprisingly small impact on personality in adulthood. The research refutes the idea that growing up with brothers or sisters causes certain personality traits to develop in the long term.

Cameras candidly capture bushmeat mammals to avert crisis

A team of researchers from Kyoto University and Cameroon used camera trap surveys to predict the total biomass of large rodents and duikers in southeast Cameroon. They developed six candidate indicators, including the ratio of red duikers to blue duikers, which showed positive linear correlations with total bushmeat biomass.

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.

The evolution of mucus: How did we get all this slime?

Researchers identified 15 instances of mucinization, where new mucins emerged from non-mucin proteins by adding repeating sequences. This process transformed the proteins into mucins with gooey consistency, contributing to their various biological functions.

Keeping balance between inside and outside

Gut epithelial cells control mutualism between host immune system and gut microbiome by regulating SFB and Th17 cell levels. Lack of IκBζ gene impairs defense mechanisms against pathogens, leading to inflammatory diseases.

Penn State awarded $1.6M to study if COVID-19 contributes to cognitive decline

Researchers are investigating whether COVID-19 contributes to the development of cognitive decline that may lead to dementia. The study will analyze data from over 500 participants, including those with Parkinson's disease and related disorders, to determine if there is a connection between COVID-19 infection and neurocognitive decline.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Optimizing wind flow simulations

Researchers at the University of Oldenburg and Fraunhofer IWES collaborate on a new project to develop more accurate wind flow simulations using artificial intelligence. The goal is to reduce computing times and enhance precision, ultimately accelerating innovation in wind turbine design.

Mimicking termites to generate new materials

Scientists at Caltech have developed a framework for designing new materials inspired by the fundamental rules of termite nests. The 'virtual growth program' simulates natural growth patterns and generates disordered geometries with unique mechanical properties.

Cardiac arrest survival rate rising

The study found that the probability of surviving cardiac arrest outside hospital has more than doubled in 30 years, from approximately 5% to 11%. The improvement is attributed to increased CPR training and better healthcare resources. However, ambulance delays and an increase in difficult-to-treat cases are hindering further progress.

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 drug candidate developed to treat type 2 diabetes

Researchers have combined tesaglitazar and GLP-1 in a new hormone combination for type 2 diabetes treatment, improving glucose metabolism with minimal doses. The new drug has shown promise in animal studies, reducing kidney damage and increasing insulin sensitivity.

Natural climate solutions help mitigate climate change in China

A Chinese research group found that China's natural climate solutions (NCS) can counterbalance 11-12% of industrial CO2 emissions by 2030. The study quantified NCS pathways, including conservation, restoration, and improved forest management, and estimated their contribution to climate change mitigation.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Neuronal back-up system discovered

A study at MedUni Vienna identified a glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle system as an essential back-up in neurons, ensuring sufficient energy supply even when one regulatory system fails. The system follows a hierarchy, with deployment triggered by the failure of other two mechanisms to function adequately.

Tracking small-scale fishers

Researchers gauged small-scale fishers' willingness to use vessel tracking systems, finding that safety functionality and ownership of data were key factors. In a survey of 211 fishers, 67% were willing to pay for the technology, while those citing corruption as their main problem were more likely to participate if paid.

Economical PEF production

A new titanium-based photocatalyst overcomes production inefficiencies in polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF), a biobased plastic replacement for PET. The catalyst increases efficiency by shifting light absorption to the visible range, reducing unwanted byproducts and requiring less UV light.

Durable coating kills COVID virus, other germs in minutes

A new durable coating developed by University of Michigan engineers can kill 99.9% of microbes, including SARS-CoV-2, E. coli, and MRSA, for months on end. The coating combines tea tree and cinnamon oils with polyurethane to create a long-lasting antimicrobial surface.

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.

Oldest case of a rare genetic condition discovered

Researchers have discovered the oldest clinical case of Klinefelter Syndrome in a 1,000-year-old skeleton from Portugal, providing new insights into the prevalence of the condition throughout human history. The study used a combination of genetic, statistical, and anthropological analysis to confirm the diagnosis.

New treatment principle for chronic hepatitis B and D infections

Researchers have developed a new treatment principle that combines DNA-based and protein-based vaccines to stimulate the immune system against both hepatitis B and D viruses. The treatment has been shown to protect cultured cells against HBV and HDV infection, producing high levels of neutralizing antibodies and T-cells.

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.

Bacterial pore formers pack a punch, one molecule at a time

Researchers developed a single-molecule technique to investigate how bacterial proteins form pores in mammalian cells. They tracked the assembly of perfringolysin O protein and found that it forms pores even before complete ring formation is completed.

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.

Cotton gene-editing project paves a new path for plant protection

A three-year project aims to research novel pest management tools for cotton production by modifying terpene biosynthesis in cotton using a transgene-free CRISPR/CAS9 approach. The goal is to silence genes that produce monoterpenes, reducing infestations and pesticide use.

Feeling anxious or blue? Ultra-processed foods may be to blame

Researchers found a strong association between ultra-processed food consumption and adverse mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and mentally unhealthy days. The study suggests that the high sugar, salt, and saturated fat content of ultra-processed foods may contribute to these negative effects.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

3D printing of starch for personalised medicine development

A University of the Basque Country team has successfully produced starch-based pharmaceutical tablets using 3D printing technology. The tablets display varying release properties depending on the type of starch used, offering promising solutions for personalized medicine and tailored drug delivery.

Trapping heat like black holes

Scientists discovered a mechanism to generate asymmetric temperature profiles without dynamic modulation, allowing for the imitated advection of heat. This phenomenon enables thermal trapping like that observed in black holes, with potential applications in waste heat recovery and thermal funneling.

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 demonstrates how maternal fat metabolism very early in pregnancy and fetal abdominal growth influence child weight and adiposity by 2 years of age.

A new study found patterns of fetal abdominal growth associated with maternal lipid metabolites that track newborn growth, adiposity, and development into childhood. The study monitored over 3,500 babies from birth to 2 years of age, providing insights into the complex interaction between maternal and fetal nutrition early in pregnancy.

Glowing tags reveal split-second activity of pathogenic circuitry

Researchers at Rice University have created a new optical tool called homo-FRET that allows them to observe the real-time activity of two-component systems in bacteria. This breakthrough enables scientists to study the behavior of deadly pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, shedding light on their mechanisms and potential targe...

New CRISPR-Cas system with on-off switch cuts proteins

Researchers from TU Delft discovered a CRISPR-Cas system that cuts proteins instead of DNA, opening doors to sensing RNA molecules in pathogens. The cutting protein has an on-off switch that only activates when recognizing viral RNA, causing dormancy and preventing virus multiplication.

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.

Nontoxic material found to be ultra-strong solar energy harvester

Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new material, sodium bismuth sulfide (NaBiS2), that can absorb comparable levels of sunlight as conventional silicon solar cells but with 10,000 times lower thickness. The material has potential for making lightweight solar cells suitable for aerospace applications.

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.

Study shows a single cover crop can outperform mixtures

A recent study found that a single high-performing cover crop can effectively suppress weeds, even surpassing the benefits of mixtures containing multiple species. The research demonstrated that monoculture cover crops, such as buckwheat and oat, outperformed average mixtures in terms of productivity and weed suppression.

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.

Concordia researchers present a blueprint for building green

A new paper from Concordia University's Next-Generation Cities Institute outlines the challenges and realities of sustainable real estate development. The study identifies key stakeholders and building life-cycle processes to reduce carbon footprint. Cities can use municipal policies and incentives, such as fast-track zoning and densit...

A cellular engineering breakthrough: High-yield CRISPR without viral vectors

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes and UCSF have developed a new approach to introduce long DNA sequences into cells with remarkable efficiency. The technology, which uses single-stranded DNA templates, overcomes the limitations of traditional viral vectors and has the potential to make cell therapies faster, better, and less expensive.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.