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Science News Archive February 2022


Page 33 of 40

New atlas finds globe’s glaciers have less ice than previously thought

A new atlas measures the movement and thickness of over 250,000 mountain glaciers worldwide, revealing a mixed picture of the globe's ice-bound freshwater resources. The research suggests there is 20% less ice available for sea level rise than previously thought, with significant implications for water availability and climate change.

Light just got harder to hack

Researchers created a spatial and nonlinear encryption method for images using photorefractive crystals, increasing security in documents, currency, and credit cards. The method is immune to traditional phase-retrieval-based known-plaintext attacks and robust against machine learning-based cracking due to its image-dependence.

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.

New research bites holes into theories about Megalodons

A new study using a two-dimensional drawing technique has found no general patterns in the fin and body shapes of five warm-blooded Lamniformes species to determine Megalodon's shape. The research challenges previous conclusions about the extinct shark's body form, suggesting that warm bloodedness does not make sharks differently shaped.

Latest study reveals no one still knows what the Megalodon really looked like

A new study by DePaul University researchers has found that all previously proposed body forms of the Megalodon shark are based on speculations. The lack of scientific evidence means that the public image of a massive, monstrous shark remains unchanged, while paleontologists continue to search for clues in the fossil record.

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.

Key amino acid in heme production helps fight aging in muscles

A dietary supplement combining 5-aminolevulinic acid and sodium ferrous citrate helps slow down aging-related muscular decline in fruit flies. The study reveals improved muscle architecture and mitochondrial function, offering a potential therapeutic option to address age-related muscle health.

Tweaked genes borrowed from bacteria excite heart cells in live mice

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a gene therapy that helps heart muscle cells electrically activate in live mice. The approach features engineered bacterial genes that code for sodium ion channels, which could lead to therapies to treat electrical heart diseases and disorders.

UCF lands new project to study effect of rain on hypersonic travel

A new $1 million project at UCF aims to understand how raindrops interact with hypersonic shock waves. Researchers will use computer simulations and experiments to predict conditions for safe hypersonic travel. The knowledge gained could prevent damage and improve rocket launch accuracy.

45 finalists named for the 2022 Hertz Fellowships

The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation announced 45 finalists for the 2022 Hertz Fellowships, selected from over 650 applicants. The finalists will advance to a culminating round of interviews for one of the most competitive Ph.D. fellowships in the nation.

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.

First human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) in Europe

A human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) was confirmed in England, with the individual remaining asymptomatic despite close contact with infected ducks. The investigation found that the virus exhibited four nucleotide mutations, but no increased zoonotic risk was detected.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

How to get people interested in invasive species? Catchy news and viral videos

A study analyzing Wikipedia searches found no significant increase in attention towards invasive alien mammals after the publication of a blacklist in Europe. However, temporary peaks in searches were observed following sensational news and viral videos about specific species. The research suggests that blacklists may not be an effecti...

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Yellowstone wolves change behavior with bears about

Researchers at the University of Montana found that Yellowstone wolves' handling times increase when bears are present, and they move back and forth from kill sites to avoid confrontations. This dynamic affects wolf behavior and kills rates in the presence of bears.

Housing insecurity high among cancer survivors

A new study found nearly 17% of cancer survivors experience moderate or increased housing insecurity, complicating disease management and healthcare navigation. Housing insecurity also correlates with lower household income, educational attainment, and being Black.

Too many disk galaxies than theory allows

Researchers found that the number of flat disk galaxies in our universe exceeds predictions from the Standard Model of Cosmology. The discrepancy suggests that dark matter may not be as prevalent as thought, forcing scientists to reevaluate their understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.

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.

Change in Medicaid enrollment early in pandemic

A study of 790,000 Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees found that maintenance of eligibility requirements were associated with decreased enrollment, while pandemic-related employment shocks led to significant increases in enrollment. The study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on Medicaid enrollment patterns.

Resistance to “defund” or “abolish” the police rooted in policy proposals

A new study finds that support for policing reform depends on people's beliefs about how proposed policies would affect crime and public safety. A substantial majority of people are concerned about police violence and support measures that change how the police operate, such as making it easier to fire officers guilty of misconduct.

Mechanical control of a reconfigurable intelligent surface

A mechanical RIS has been developed with high reconfiguration degree of freedom, low power consumption, and real-time dynamic control capabilities. It uses a robust control method to determine the rotation angle of each meta-atom and offers a new energy-saving and environmentally friendly alternative for wireless communications systems.

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.

Thread spread - A never-before-seen way bacteria infect cells

Researchers at San Diego State University have discovered a novel way bacteria infect cells by producing long threads, which grows up to 100 times the size of a bacterium in 30 hours. This mechanism allows the bacteria to rapidly infect multiple cells and access more nutrients for growth.

RNA ‘heroes’ can disarm bad-actor proteins in leukemia: Study

Researchers at UT Health San Antonio have discovered that specific RNA molecules can bind to and inhibit the activity of two proteins (METTL-3 and METTL-14) that drive DNA changes in leukemia. This finding provides a potential therapeutic target for treating this cancer.

Healing nerves on spider silk

Researchers have produced double-sided spider silk fibers that can attract nerve cells and stimulate their growth. The fibers were created using a biotechnological approach and modified with different proteins to make one side more attractive to cells, while the other side could be used to attach factors or substances.

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.

Underwater 'breathing' plants could be key to stress-resistant crops

Scientists from Nagoya University investigate the formation of air channels in wetland plants, which help them survive floods and droughts. The study reveals that a phytohormone called auxin is required for normal root growth, and two factors lead to the induction of aerenchyma formation in response to flooding.

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.

Even the smallest pollution particles change the rainfall regime in the Amazon

Researchers found nanoparticles from human activities rapidly grow in atmosphere and influence cloud formation, affecting raindrop formation and changing rainfall regime. The study provides new insights into the impact of small aerosols on precipitation and improves climate change studies based on mathematical models.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Whether or not to discontinue natalizumab before pregnancy

A recent study analyzed 274 pregnancies of MS patients who discontinued natalizumab before or during pregnancy, finding that stopping the drug can lead to 80% MS relapses within four to seven months. Pregnancy does not provide protection and may even increase risk

Traces of Viking raids remain visible in contemporary Russian economy in politics

A new study reveals that Viking raids in ancient Scandinavia had a profound effect on the economic and political landscape of modern-day Russia. The plunder economy, which existed until the early Middle Ages, continued to shape local economies and societies in Eastern Russia, particularly in the Volga, Caspian, and Caucasus regions.

The abyssal world: the last terra incognita of the Earth surface

A massive DNA sequencing project has mapped the deep-sea biodiversity, revealing a vast and unknown ecosystem that plays a crucial role in ocean food-webs and carbon sequestration. The study sheds light on the connection between surface and deep-water ecosystems, with implications for understanding climate change.

European-wide review on how community pharmacies dealt with COVID

A European-wide review of community pharmacy interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic found 31 pharmacy interventions across 32 European countries. These interventions included prevention, response, and recovery measures, as well as improved access to medicines, rapid antigen testing, and COVID-19 vaccination.

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.

Evolution: Biology teachers often fail to recognise misconceptions

Researchers argue that biology teachers need special training to address students' incorrect ideas about evolution, which can hinder scientific understanding. The study found that experienced teachers diagnosed around 60% of misconceptions correctly, while those with no experience did so only half the time.

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.

Protons are probably actually smaller than long thought

A team of physicists from the University of Bonn and TU Darmstadt has developed a method to analyze proton radius data from older and more recent experiments, revealing no difference between the values. This suggests protons are about 5% smaller than previously assumed.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Nature’s colors can replace toxic pigments

Researchers have discovered a practical and inexpensive way to produce non-toxic, recyclable, and sustainable colors using nanotechnology and nature's approach. The method mimics normal color mechanisms in nature, creating physical colors from almost transparent materials like clay suspended in water.