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Science News Archive July 2022


Page 13 of 34

Brain stimulation improves motor skill learning at older age

Researchers found that transcranial brain stimulation can improve accuracy and speed in older adults, facilitating the emergence of efficient motor chunks. The study suggests that this non-invasive technique may restore motor skill acquisition in individuals with diminished learning mechanisms.

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.

Desert climate overtaking more of Central Asia

A recent study found that the desert climate has extended 60 miles northward in Central Asia since the 1980s due to rising temperatures and dwindling precipitation. The region's high-altitude areas have seen an increase in precipitation, but this is largely in the form of rain rather than snow.

Chemists create artificial protein that peers into Earth’s chemical past

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed an artificial protein that could provide new insights into chemical evolution on early Earth. The protein, inspired by a key enzyme in energy production, has been shown to build molecules one step at a time, shedding light on how organic chemistry matured on the planet.

Statement from NIH and BARDA on the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine has been recommended by the CDC for primary series use in US adults ages 18+, following FDA authorization. The vaccine demonstrates 90.4% effectiveness in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% effectiveness against moderate-to-severe disease. NIH and BARDA supported its development, with NIAID scientists...

Overconfidence bolsters anti-scientific views, PSU study finds

A PSU study found that people with extreme anti-scientific attitudes tend to be overconfident in their knowledge of the issue. As attitudes diverge from scientific consensus, actual knowledge decreases, while perceived knowledge increases. This pattern holds true for issues like climate change, vaccination, and genetically modified foods.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Hormone replacement therapy doesn't lead to breast cancer reoccurrence

A large cohort study found that hormone replacement therapy for breast cancer survivors is not associated with an increased risk of recurrence. The study included over 8,400 Danish postmenopausal women and found no link between vaginal estrogen or menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer reoccurrence.

Tunable single-mode lasing on a high-Q resonator

The researchers achieved ultranarrow linewidths and wavelength tunability in the lithium niobate microlaser, enabling applications like lidar and metrology. The single-mode lasing is realized through simultaneous excitation of high-Q polygon modes at both pump and laser wavelengths.

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.

Modified rail cars clean air of CO2 and help mitigate climate change

Researchers developed Direct Air Capture technology to remove carbon dioxide from the air using special rail cars attached to trains. The technology harnesses sustainable energy generated during braking to capture significant quantities of CO2, making it commercially viable and attractive.

Hypertension elevates risk for more severe COVID-19 illness

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that people with hypertension are more likely to require hospitalization for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. The study, published in Hypertension, highlights the importance of avoiding infection and seeking medical attention if symptoms persist.

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.

Robots learn household tasks by watching humans

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a novel learning method for robots called WHIRL, which allows them to learn household tasks in the wild. The method enables robots to gather video data from human interaction and generalize it to new tasks, making them suitable for learning household chores.

Racial discrimination affects brain microstructure

A new study finds that racial discrimination affects brain microstructure, increasing the risk for health disorders in Black women. Traumatic experiences lead to changes in brain white matter tracts, which may enhance risk for negative health outcomes.

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.

Six new species of miniature frog discovered

A team of researchers, led by UTA biologist Eric Smith, has identified six new species of miniature frogs in Mexico. These tiny amphibians have evolved to retain juvenile characteristics, limiting their adult growth and size.

Researchers make new discoveries about severe alcoholic hepatitis

Researchers have identified two distinct phenotypes of inflammatory cell infiltration in severe alcoholic hepatitis, suggesting separate mechanisms driving liver injury and failure. These findings could lead to personalized treatment approaches, such as identifying patients who are more or less likely to respond to steroid therapy.

Association between rental assistance programs, hemoglobin A1c levels

Researchers found that federal rental assistance programs are associated with lower HbA1c levels among middle-age and older adults. The study assessed nearly 40,000 participants across the US, revealing a significant correlation between program participation and improved blood sugar control.

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.

Melanoma thickness equally hard for algorithms and dermatologists to judge

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg found that assessing melanoma thickness is challenging for both human dermatologists and machine-learning algorithms. Despite differences in success rates, both groups achieved comparable results when evaluating dermoscopic images, highlighting the need for further study to improve diagnost...

All-in-one solar-powered tower makes carbon-neutral jet fuel

A team of scientists has designed a system that uses water, CO2, and sunlight to produce synthetic kerosene, which can power long-haul commercial flights. The design has been implemented in the field, and its efficiency is around 4%, with plans to improve it to over 15%.

Bariatric surgery linked to doubling chance of marriage or divorce

A new analysis led by University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health epidemiologists found that adults who undergo bariatric surgery are more than twice as likely to get married within five years. Conversely, married patients who receive bariatric surgery are more than twice as likely to get divorced.

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.

Early detection by Tango

The Tango assay combines accumulation and a logical AND gate operation to identify prostate cancer biomarkers in blood samples. It achieves 91% accuracy in detecting prostate cancer in just 15 minutes, offering a non-invasive alternative to biopsies.

Deep learning for new alloys

Using the Stampede2 supercomputer, researchers have developed a deep learning model that predicts the properties of over 370,000 high-entropy alloy compositions. The study also applied association rule mining to discover design rules for high-entropy alloy development and proposed several compositions for experimentalists to synthesize.

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.

Law enforcement in the emergency department

Researchers examined law enforcement interactions with patients and clinicians in an urban emergency department, highlighting their impact on patient care. The study's findings suggest that effective communication between law enforcement officers and healthcare providers is crucial for safe and efficient patient treatment.

Johns Hopkins APL assembles first global map of lunar hydrogen

Scientists from Johns Hopkins APL have compiled the first complete map of hydrogen abundances on the Moon's surface using data collected over two decades ago. The map identifies two types of lunar materials containing enhanced hydrogen and corroborates previous ideas about lunar hydrogen and water.

Physiological features of Japanese black cattle with high methane production

Researchers analyzed physiological parameters to understand metabolic and nutritional characteristics linked to enteric methane emissions in Japanese Black cattle. Cattle with high methane emissions were found to have a higher butyrate-to-propionate ratio, decreased amino acid levels, and increased insulin concentrations.

Engineered mattress tricks your body to fall asleep faster

Researchers at UT Austin developed a unique mattress system that manipulates internal body temperature to facilitate sleep onset. The system, which combines warming and cooling functions, helps people fall asleep approximately 58% faster and improves the quality of sleep.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

U-M study: Paper wasps form abstract concept of 'same' and 'different'

Researchers demonstrate that paper wasps can learn, remember, and apply abstract concepts of sameness and difference. The insects were trained to distinguish between visual or olfactory stimuli associated with safety or danger and applied the concept to new stimuli, achieving an impressive 80% correct choice rate.

Burning woody biomass in power plants could reduce carbon

Replacing coal with woody biomass in Georgia's power plants reduces carbon emissions by 43%, according to a new study. The most carbon-efficient way to generate electricity is using both pulpwood and logging residues, which could be supplied by harvesting trees from six southern states.

Advance care planning experiences among sexual, gender minority people

A recent study sheds light on the challenges faced by sexual and gender minority individuals when it comes to advance care planning. Despite fears of disclosure and discrimination, many SGM individuals engage in discussions with medical decision-makers about their preferences and values.

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.

Magnetic memory milestone

Scientists have successfully switched the state of a bit in memory using spin-orbit torque switching in antiferromagnetic material Mn3Sn, promising faster and more efficient devices. This breakthrough could lead to radical improvements in performance compared to current electronic devices.

Review outlines methods to estimate life expectancy

A systematic review by Leicester researchers has explored common methods used to predict years of life lost, highlighting differences between basic and advanced methods. The study aims to provide a comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals and researchers, promoting better understanding of life expectancy metrics.

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.

Grab a coffee before shopping? You may want to think twice

A study published in the Journal of Marketing found that drinking caffeinated beverages before shopping leads to more items purchased and increased spending, particularly for high hedonic products. The researchers also discovered that the effects of caffeine are stronger for certain types of products and weaker for others.

Study details U.S. health spending by region

A new study analyzes US health spending by region and finds that distinct factors drive variation across payers. Regional utilization of healthcare services is highly correlated across payers, but spending itself shows minimal correlation between Medicaid and Medicare populations.

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.

Study shows that amino acid taurine could be used in anti-aging therapy

The study found that supplementing diet with taurine can increase levels of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and reduce oxidative stress. Taurine supplementation showed modest effects on markers of oxidative stress and mineral levels, suggesting potential benefits for anti-aging therapy.

Putting the brakes on "budding" viruses

Researchers have published the first-ever look at a key stage in the life cycles of measles and Nipah viruses, revealing how future therapies might stop these viruses. The study identifies how paramyxoviruses utilize a host cell lipid for viral spread, providing a new target for developing inhibitors of the assembly process.

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.

‘Pulling back the curtain’ to reveal a molecular key to The Wizard of Oz

Scientists have created a durable molecular encryption key using sequence-defined polymers that can store and transport digital keys securely. They successfully decrypted a file with text from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by extracting the key from ink in a letter, demonstrating the approach's potential for real-world applications.

Is there wealth stability across generations in the U.S.?

A study analyzing U.S. data from 1984-2017 found that grandparents' wealth is strongly positively correlated with their younger generation's asset components. However, Black individuals tend to be less invested in risky assets even after adjusting for intergenerational transfers.

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.