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Science News Archive January 2022


Page 21 of 34

A catalyst for more efficient green hydrogen production

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new water-splitting process and material that maximize the efficiency of producing carbon-free green hydrogen. The hybrid catalysts show superior performance for both oxygen and hydrogen splitting, making it an affordable and accessible option for industrial partners.

New study shows novel crystal structure for hydrogen under high pressure

Researchers from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have identified a new crystal structure for hydrogen at low temperatures near 0 K and high pressures. The team used supercomputer simulations and data science to generate several candidate patterns, which were then validated through high-resolution simulations.

Being in space destroys more red blood cells

A world-first study found that space travel causes a 54% increase in red blood cell destruction, leading to severe anemia upon return to Earth. Astronauts experienced prolonged effects of anemia even after months of recovery.

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.

New study sheds light on origins of life on Earth

Researchers explored metal-binding proteins, discovering shared features that define life. The study suggests that rearrangements of these building blocks may have given rise to the range of proteins and functions that characterize life on Earth.

Rivers speeding up Arctic ice melt at alarming rate, experts say

Researchers have found an unprecedented increase in winter stream flow rates over the last 25 years, with nearly 80% above average, driven by permafrost melt and forest fires. The combined effects of these factors are accelerating Arctic ice melt and exacerbating global warming.

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 free-energy principle explains the brain

Researchers at RIKEN CBS demonstrate that neural networks minimize energy cost and solve mazes efficiently, pointing to a set of universal mathematical rules. The findings will aid in analyzing impaired brain function and generating optimized neural networks for artificial intelligences.

Bald eagle rebound stunted by poisoning from lead ammunition

A recent study reveals that lead poisoning from eating contaminated carcasses has reduced bald eagle population growth by 4-6% annually in the Northeast. The researchers emphasize the need for hunters to choose copper-based ammunition to mitigate this issue, which could impact other species as well.

New rapid tests will detect adulteration of meat products

Scientists developed a simple method to detect chicken and pork meat in sausages and processed products within 15 minutes. The new approach uses recombincase polymerase amplification and test-strip detection, providing fast and affordable results.

TU Wien: Research team publishes new, precise COVID-"epidemometer"

A new method has been published by a team at TU Wien to predict the susceptibility of populations to infection based on official data. The approach combines epidemiological state estimation with the determination of unknown exogenous drivers, enabling more reliable forecasting of essential quantities such as hospital occupancy.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

COVID variant siblings show different levels of virulence

New research highlights key differences between COVID-19 variants alpha and omicron, including the impact on virulence and disease severity. The study suggests that omicron's genetic makeup is less conducive to causing severe illness compared to its older variant sibling, alpha.

Researchers make important new findings about how to test cancer-fighting drugs

A team of researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine has made significant breakthroughs in testing cancer-fighting drugs by simulating physiological oxygen levels. By exposing tumor tissues to different oxygen levels, the scientists found that drug sensitivity varies greatly, leading to more effective treatment options.

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.

Compost is a major source of pathogenic aspergillus spores

Researchers found that compost and compost-enriched soils contain high concentrations of Aspergillus fumigatus spores, which can cause serious lung infections. Handling compost exposes individuals to large numbers of aerosolized spores, highlighting the need for behavioral changes and industry action

Green-Med Diet Seems to Slow Age-Related Neurodegeneration

A green Mediterranean diet rich in polyphenols and low in red and processed meat may slow age-related brain atrophy. The DIRECT PLUS 18-month trial found significant attenuation of brain atrophy among participants who adhered to both diets.

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.

NSF funds Rice effort to measure, preserve quantum entanglement

Physicist Guido Pagano has won a prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study quantum entanglement and develop new error-correcting tools for quantum computation. He aims to understand how measurement affects entangled systems and create tools to correct errors caused by quantum decoherence.

UT Southwestern develops nanotherapeutic to ward off liver cancer

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a promising liver-specific microRNA drug that shows minimal toxicity in mice, preventing cancer cells from establishing themselves in the liver. The new treatment has potential as a candidate for companies developing mRNA vaccines for COVID-19.

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.

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.

Face masks ‘make wearers look more attractive’, study suggests

Researchers at Cardiff University found that medical face masks increase facial attractiveness more than cloth masks, with blue masks being the most attractive. The study suggests that people associate masks with healthcare workers and find them reassuring, leading to a positive perception of the wearer.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Epstein-Barr virus may be leading cause of multiple sclerosis

A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers found a strong association between Epstein-Barr virus infection and multiple sclerosis. The risk of MS increased 32-fold after EBV infection, while serum levels of neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of nerve degeneration, only increased after EBV infection.

New photonic effect could speed drug development

Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a new photonic effect that can measure chirality in tiny volumes, which may help develop chiral drugs. The effect could accelerate drug discovery and screening by analyzing vast libraries of chemical compounds with high accuracy.

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.

‘Slushy’ magma ocean led to formation of the Moon’s crust

Scientists have proposed a new model for the Moon's crust formation, suggesting that a 'slushy' magma ocean played a key role. The research suggests that crystals remained suspended in liquid magma over hundreds of millions of years, eventually forming the lunar crust.

Examining how stress affects Parkinson’s disease

UC researchers received a $1.2 million grant to examine the impact of stress hormone receptors on cell degeneration in Parkinson's disease. The study aims to develop a new model that better replicates the progression of the disease, which may lead to treatments targeting stress hormone blockers or next-generation therapeutics.

Dried goji berries may provide protection against age-related vision loss

A study published in Nutrients found that consuming a small serving of dried goji berries five times a week for 90 days increased lutein and zeaxanthin levels in healthy participants' eyes. This increase provides antioxidant protection and filters out harmful blue light, potentially delaying age-related vision loss.

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.

Discovery could hold the key to alleviating metabolic disease

Researchers found a key role for Tmem120a in promoting expression of fat genes and shutting off muscle genes in fat tissue. This mechanism may explain why metabolic diseases like diabetes appear under certain circumstances, such as high-calorie diets. The discovery has implications for other metabolic diseases and muscle disorders.

Tuning the bonds of paired quantum particles to create dissipationless flow

A new graphene-based platform allows researchers to control the interaction strength between electrons and holes, enabling the formation of quantum condensates at room temperature. The platform's tunability enables testing of theoretical predictions about superconductivity and its potential for higher temperature limits.

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.

Unprecedented cellular maps of tissues enabled by new tool

Researchers developed a new tool called cell2location to visualize cell function and spatial information. The tool combines single-cell sequencing data with spatial transcriptomic data, enabling the identification of rare cell subtypes and their precise locations within tissues.

There’s no longer one rural America – could there be five?

Researchers in Ohio identified five distinct types of rural communities, each with unique characteristics and attracting different demographics. The study found that rural areas near metropolitan cities are experiencing growth, while more remote areas are losing residents.

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.

World's largest fish breeding area discovered in Antarctica

Researchers have discovered a massive fish breeding area in Antarctica, spanning 240 square kilometers and estimated to be home to 60 million icefish. The breeding site is located near the Filchner Ice Shelf in the Weddell Sea and is believed to be the largest contiguous fish breeding colony ever found globally.