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Science News Archive 2023


Page 228 of 444

Surprise! Weaker bonds can make polymers stronger

Researchers discovered a way to strengthen polymers by introducing weaker bonds, increasing resistance to tearing up to tenfold. The approach doesn't alter other physical properties and can be used to improve the toughness of other materials like rubber.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Significant progress in small-cell lung cancer research

Researchers at MedUni Vienna's Department of Thoracic Surgery have made key findings in small-cell lung cancer, including the identification of tumor subgroups associated with varying clinical behaviors. They also propose promising therapeutic strategies for patients with characteristic molecular profiles.

Stellar demolition derby births powerful gamma-ray burst

Astronomers discovered a new way to destroy stars, generating powerful gamma-ray bursts in the process. The study found that stellar collisions in dense environments surrounding supermassive black holes can create these explosive events.

Mystery of how leaf-cutting ants gauge leaf portion size revealed

Researchers discovered that leaf-cutting ants use the position of their hind legs gripping the leaf edge and head position to guide cutting trajectory. The ants adapt their technique to cut smaller elliptical portions when faced with thick leaves, using a combination of sensory information.

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.

Do hummingbirds drink alcohol? More often than you think

A new study by University of California, Berkeley biologist Robert Dudley found that hummingbirds happily sip from sugar water with up to 1% alcohol by volume, without being repelled by it. The research suggests that birds are likely consuming ethanol produced by natural fermentation in flowers and nectar-filled feeders.

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.

Model blood-brain barrier could improve newborn meningitis treatment

Researchers developed a model of the blood-brain barrier to prevent newborn meningitis treatment, with a 50% mortality rate in developing countries. The organ-on-a-chip platform enables rapid and accurate testing of drugs for safety and efficacy, promising to improve treatment outcomes.

Are viruses keeping sea lice at bay in wild salmon?

Researchers have identified over 30 previously unknown RNA viruses in sea lice, suggesting they may play a role in controlling sea-lice populations. The viruses' ability to rapidly replicate and weaken their hosts maintains balance in nature.

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.

More positive outcomes when elderly are treated locally

A recent study found that elderly patients treated in local intermediate care units have lower mortality rates and fewer hospital readmissions. The research suggests that Norway's healthcare system has improved with the introduction of these units, providing better integrated services adapted to individual users.

Researchers make major strides toward an all-purpose biosensor chip

The researchers have demonstrated significant improvements for chip-based sensing devices that can detect or analyze substances across widely varying concentrations. They developed signal-processing techniques that enable seamless fluorescence detection of a mixture of nanobeads in concentrations across eight orders of magnitude.

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 clue is in the glue - Nature’s secret for holding it together

A study by John Innes Centre researchers has revealed how plants avoid cracking under stress by using a growth hormone called brassinosteroid to loosen the straitjacket effect on their skin. The findings, published in Science, have implications for our understanding of plant development and potentially improve crop yields.

Is the U.S. ready for an African swine fever outbreak?

A new study models the spread of African swine fever in US swine farms, finding that control actions can reduce secondary infections by up to 79% but an outbreak could still be persistent and costly. The model suggests that between-farm movements are the primary route of transmission.

SEB Centenary Conference 2023

The SEB Centenary Conference 2023 features over 800 talks on advances in animal, plant and cell biology. The conference marks the Society's 100th anniversary with special events and projects celebrating historically marginalised scientists.

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.

Covid-19 and Alzheimer's disease: the link finally established

Researchers establish a direct link between Covid-19 and Alzheimer's disease, attributing the connection to RAS overactivation caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. This dysfunction leads to increased b-amyloid protein accumulation, impairing brain cell synaptic connections and cognitive functions.

Now, every biologist can use machine learning

BioAutoMATED is an all-in-one AutoML platform designed for biologists, enabling easy analysis and interpretation of biological sequences. The platform uses three existing AutoML tools to generate models that can predict biological functions from sequence information.

Cancer drugs show potential in fight against malaria

Researchers have identified anti-malarial properties in cancer drugs, offering a potential solution to the growing crisis of drug-resistant malaria. The study found that certain protein kinase inhibitors exhibited strong anti-malarial effects, highlighting a new approach to accelerating drug discovery.

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.

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.

Discovery of novel primitive xeno nucleic acids as alternative genetic polymers

Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology explore co-polymerization of glycol nucleic acid monomers with dicarboxylic acids to produce branched and linear xeno nucleic acid polymers. These findings suggest that diverse prebiotic organic molecules could have led to population-level differences in abundance of genetic polymers.

Even "safe" air pollution levels can harm the developing brain, study finds

Research from Keck School of Medicine of USC found that everyday air pollution can alter brain development patterns in adolescents, linked to changes in brain connectivity over time. Exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide was associated with increased or decreased functional connectivity between brain regions.

In sensory perception, brain makes trade-offs between accuracy and speed

A new study reveals that the brain makes trade-offs between accuracy and speed in sensory perception. Initial visual processing is faster but less accurate compared to other parts of the brain. The findings contradict the efficient coding hypothesis, suggesting that the brain can process sensory inputs quickly with small errors.

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.

Brain activity helps predict restaurant sales

Researchers used fMRI to analyze brain activity in response to restaurant menu photos, finding a correlation between neural activity and dish sales. The study suggests restaurants can design menus based on predicted consumer preferences.

Rain gardens could save salmon from toxic tire chemicals

A specially designed garden, rain garden, can capture toxic tire chemicals associated with tires entering waterways by more than 90%. Researchers tested a Vancouver rain garden and found that it captured about 75% of the chemical, preventing it from entering salmon-bearing streams.

Could bamboo be the next source of renewable energy?

Research suggests that bamboo can be converted into bioethanol and biogas, offering an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. The chemical composition of bamboo varies across species, highlighting the need for further research on selecting optimal species for biomass production processes.

Photonic integration: Transforming the future of chip-scale applications

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking photonic integrated circuit chip that combines light source, modulator, photodiode, waveguide, and Y-branch splitter on a single substrate. The GaN-on-silicon platform reduces fabrication complexity and cost, enabling compact and high-performing devices.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Wildfire smoke downwind affects health, wealth, mortality

Research from Cornell University estimates that wildfire smoke can cause between 4,000 and 9,000 premature deaths and cost between $36 to $82 billion per year in the United States. Metropolitan regions near fire sources are likely to experience a large health burden and economic loss.

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.

Can humor help treat depression and anxiety?

A study published in Brain and Behavior found that humor therapy reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in participants from various countries. The analysis included 2,964 participants and nine different countries, suggesting that humor therapy may be a feasible complementary alternative for clinicians, nurses, and patients.

Scientists discover mechanism affecting heart development in Down syndrome

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered a molecular mechanism contributing to congenital heart defects in infants with Down syndrome. The study found that an abnormal interferon response inhibits key molecular events required for heart development, leading to impaired cardiogenesis.

Key material, solid electrolyte, created for all-solid-state batteries

Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have developed a solid electrolyte material for all-solid-state batteries, enabling rapid movement of lithium ions at room temperature. The achievement brings closer the realization of all-solid-state batteries and their adoption in electric vehicles.

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.

'All-inside' meniscal repair shows good long-term outcomes

A second-generation all-inside meniscal repair system demonstrates a high successful repair rate of 84-88% at 10 years, with low failure rates and no correlation to patient characteristics or surgical techniques. Patient-reported outcomes improve after meniscal repair and ACL reconstruction.

Exoplanet may reveal secrets about the edge of habitability

A newly discovered exoplanet, LP 890-9c, is providing important insights into conditions at the inner edge of a star's habitable zone. The team's models detail differences in chemical signatures generated by rocky planets near this boundary, based on variables including size, mass, and surface temperature.

New microcomb device advances photonic technology

A new microcomb device developed by researchers at the University of Rochester offers a promising approach to generating stable microwave signals. The device's high-speed tunability enables applications in wireless communication, imaging, atomic clocks, and more.

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.

Could your false teeth give you pneumonia?

Researchers found 20 times more potentially pneumonia-causing bacteria on dentures in people with pneumonia than those without. Poorly cleaned dentures may provide a new surface for disease-causing microbes to colonize.

Watch worms use electricity to jump

Researchers discovered that microscopic Caenorhabditis elegans worms can use electric fields to jump across Petri plates or onto insects, allowing them to attach themselves. This behavior is made possible by the natural electric charge of pollinators like bumblebees and hummingbirds.

KIMS redefined the role of the current collector!

Researchers at KIMS created a three-dimensional porous carbon-based current collector, improving energy density and lifespan. The new material overcame constraints of modifying current collector materials according to operating environment, enhancing cycling stability.