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Science News Archive July 2022


Page 12 of 34

Tomatoes, but not farm workers, gardeners, safe from soil lead

A University of Illinois study found tomatoes in Chicago backyard gardens have low levels of lead, making them relatively safe for consumption. However, improper soil handling and lack of washing can still pose health risks. Researchers recommend minimizing dust with heavy mulch and careful fruit washing to safely grow tomatoes.

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.

Protein discovered in Parkinson’s disease could lead to new treatments

A team of scientists has discovered a key link between the protein αSyn and Parkinson's disease, finding that it interacts with immune responses in neurons. This interaction may play a critical role in the development of the disease, suggesting a potential new approach for treatments by targeting inflammatory pathways.

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.

Asthma medication not working? Try another

Researchers found that patients who switched to a different medication experienced a significant reduction in exacerbations, with 89% continuing treatment. The study suggests that different medications work for different people, making it essential to try alternative options.

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.

Competition limits the ranges of mountain birds

A new study using 4.4 million citizen science observations found that competition from other species limits the elevation ranges of tropical mountain birds. The research suggests that when bird species overlap with each other, their ranges become smaller.

A new method to detect exoplanets

Researchers have discovered a new technique for detecting dim bodies, including planets, orbiting Cataclysmic Variables (CVs). The method analyzes changes in brightness caused by perturbations of a third body orbiting the inner two stars. Two out of four studied CV systems show signs of planetary mass objects in orbit around them.

New insights on pest fruit fly species across oceanic islands

Researchers used phylogenomics to evaluate relationships among species in the B. frauenfeldi complex, concluding there are five distinct species and a continuum between B. frauenfeldi and B. albistrigata pests. The study's findings provide essential data for pest management and international agricultural trade.

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.

New findings reveal how neurons build and maintain their capacity to communicate

Neuroscientists have uncovered the step-by-step process of how calcium channels accumulate at active zones in neurons, a critical component of synaptic transmission. The study reveals that alpha2delta plays a key role in regulating Cac levels, and its function has important clinical effects on conditions such as epilepsy and nerve pain.

Molecular breast imaging lexicon informs interpretation

A retrospective study of molecular breast imaging (MBI) findings suggests that the MBI lexicon's lesion descriptors can inform interpretation and guide the incorporation into the BI-RADS Atlas. The study found high positivity rates for malignancy among mass lesions, those with marked uptake intensity, and certain distribution patterns.

A new measure of psychological safety for patients

Researchers created a new scale to assess how safe patients feel, dividing it into three sub-scales: Social Engagement, Compassion, and Bodily Sensations. The Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) has potential applications in tracking progress in psychological therapy or assessing hospital outcomes.

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.

Psychological resilience linked to better walking capacity after hip surgery

A study published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older adults with high psychological resilience can walk faster and longer after hip surgery than those with low resilience. Researchers measured resilience through a questionnaire and assessed walking capacity at baseline and 16 weeks later.

Higher voice pitch lets female faces appear younger

Researchers found that a higher voice pitch leads to faces being assessed as half a year younger on average. However, the face itself provides crucial information for evaluating attractiveness, femininity, and health, making the voice less influential in these evaluations.

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.

How organoids can guide pancreatic cancer therapy

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a rapid organoid screening test that can predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients. This test may help optimize personalized treatment plans and improve patient outcomes.

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.

Improving serious illness communication for patients with advanced cancer

A quality improvement project at Dartmouth Cancer Center increased serious illness conversations between patients and providers from 0% to 70%, reflecting the importance of early discussions on prognosis and treatment options. The project's success was attributed to standardized work, an engaged interdisciplinary team, and system-level...

Praise for Australia's economic policy response to COVID-19

Researchers found that immediate government macroeconomic responses had a stabilizing effect on the domestic banking and capital market sectors. The study suggests a strong emphasis on macroeconomic policy moves as the best tool for managing the sector during crises.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

What makes Omicron more infectious than other COVID-19 variants

Researchers used virus-like particles to identify mutations in Omicron that make it more infectious and escape antibodies. The study found that mutations in the nucleocapsid protein are crucial for enhancing spread, highlighting potential new vaccine targets.

Surgery risks go up depending upon the anesthesiologist’s workload

A new study published in JAMA Surgery found that surgeons who oversee multiple surgeries simultaneously have a higher risk of complications and death. For surgeries involving one anesthesiologist directing CRNA or resident care, those managing three to four overlapping cases saw complication rates rise by 14%.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Zooming across the political divide

A UCLA study found that conversations between liberals and conservatives over Zoom can be meaningful and congenial, with participants reporting less conflict and stress. The presence of an ideological ingroup's audience can make conversations more conflicted, but even then, participants still find them more enjoyable.

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.

New discovery in cancer progression paves way to combat cancer

Scientists from A*STAR and NUS Cancer Science Institute identified a key cancer progression mechanism that could lead to more effective treatments. The discovery involves reactivating the hTERT gene, which is responsible for prolonging telomeres in cancer cells.

First report from the worlds most ambitious sequencing project

The study found 600 million SNPs and indels in 150 thousand genomes, corresponding to 7% of the theoretical possible variants. This large dataset allowed scientists to separate regions tolerant to sequence diversity from those not, shedding light on human survival and procreation.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Study debunks rise of conspiracy theories

A new study published in PLOS One suggests that the number of people believing in conspiracy theories has not increased over time. The research, conducted by University of Miami academics and supported by a U-LINK grant, analyzed data from polls dating back to the 1960s and found no significant increase in belief in these theories. Des...

Learning to fight infection

Researchers developed a new machine learning method called MotifBoost that can predict infections based on limited T-cell receptor data. By focusing on short sequences of amino acids in the receptors, the approach achieved more accurate results with smaller datasets, shedding light on the human immune system's recognition of germs.

Finding the right target to prevent medulloblastoma relapse

Researchers have found that targeting the GLI protein is more effective in treating medulloblastoma than previously thought, with a potential breakthrough in reducing tumor aggressiveness. The study's findings offer new hope for improving treatment outcomes and survival rates for children with this rare cancer.

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.

Mammals were not the first to be warm-blooded

A team of international scientists found that endothermy appeared in mammalian ancestors about 233 million years ago, well before the origin of mammals. Fossils from South Africa's Karoo region played a key role in this discovery, providing an unbroken record of life's evolution.

Designer materials to keep plastic out of landfills

A team of scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has designed a new material system to overcome the challenges of mixed-plastic recycling. They created customized polydiketoenamine (PDK) plastics that can be recycled efficiently and indefinitely, providing a low-carbon manufacturing solution for plastic products.

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.

Home and hospital healthcare could be in 'hot water'

A new study by Flinders University experts warns that some drinking water treatment methods may be ineffective against certain waterborne pathogens, posing a threat to immune-compromised individuals. Regular maintenance checks and cleaning of shower and tap faucets can help reduce the risk of waterborne infections in home care.

Beliefs in conspiracy theories may not be increasing

Researchers found no statistically significant evidence that beliefs in conspiracy theories have increased over time, despite popular claims. The study suggests that some conspiracy theories are gaining popularity while others recede into history.