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Science News Archive 2023


Page 331 of 444

Tiny eye movements are under a surprising degree of cognitive control

Researchers discovered that ocular drifts, tiny jitters in the eyes, can be influenced by prior knowledge of expected visual targets, indicating a surprising level of cognitive control. This study adds to our understanding of how vision is controlled and directed by cognitive processes.

Smart watches could predict higher risk of heart failure

A new study published in The European Heart Journal – Digital Health found that smart watch data can predict a higher risk of developing heart failure and irregular heart rhythms. Researchers used machine learning to analyze ECG recordings from wearable devices and identified extra beats as indicators of increased cardiovascular risk.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Fast light pulse triggers charge transfer into water

Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum have observed a sudden change in pH value after a proton is released from pyranine molecules excited by light. The study used new technology to capture the process in real-time, revealing an oscillation that subsides over time and promotes excited-state proton transfer.

Can investigators use household dust as a forensic tool?

A North Carolina State University-led study found that household dust can contain DNA from residents and non-occupants over 90% of the time. This could aid investigators in finding clues in difficult cases, particularly in establishing ancestry and physical characteristics.

Silk confirmed as a promising material for repair of injured nerves

Researchers used silk from silkworms and spiders to create nerve conduits that successfully repaired severed nerves in animal models. The study found that the porous walls of silkworm silk tubes allowed for nutrient exchange, while spider silk threads served as a guiding structure for regenerating tissue.

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.

Team finds major storage capacity in water-based batteries

Texas A&M researchers have found a significant increase in energy storage capacity of water-based battery electrodes, paving the way for safer and more stable batteries. The discovery could provide an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which are facing material shortages and price increases.

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.

Genetics of preterm birth and pregnancy length clarified

A major international study published in Nature Genetics has provided new insights into the genetics of preterm birth and pregnancy length. The research reveals a mutually antagonistic effect between the woman's and unborn child's genes, favoring earlier labor for the mother's survival and extending pregnancy for the child's weight gain.

Spike protein implicated in post-COVID-19 memory loss, Brazilian study finds

A recent Brazilian study found that the Spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 is implicated in post-COVID-19 memory loss, with researchers identifying TLR4 receptor as a potential therapeutic target. The study involved experiments with mice and showed that infusion of the Spike protein induced delayed memory impairment.

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.

Forgive or forget: what happens when robots lie?

A study on robot deception found that participants were overly trusting of AI and required explicit admission of lying in apologies to repair trust. Apologies that did not admit to deception were more effective at repairing trust, suggesting a need for designers to understand the ramifications of their design choices.

Smells influence metabolism and ageing in mice - research

Exposure to female odours causes weight loss and extends the life spans of mice, potentially influencing human metabolism and ageing. The study found that male mice exposed to female odours experienced increased energy expenditure and reduced body fat levels.

Simulating a secure future

A recent project at KAUST has reported multifunctional logic gates that offer users a range of hardware security advantages, including tamper protection and watermarking. The gates use spintronic devices called magnetic tunnel junctions, which can be easily switchable and obscure their layout, making them hard to reverse engineer.

UCC and Columbia University develop new method to improve climate policy

Researchers at UCC and Columbia University have developed a new machine learning approach called TrebuNet to accurately estimate future transport demands, which collectively account for 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The new method achieves superior performance compared to traditional regression methods and neural networks, pr...

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.

Researchers designed a mechanism for peer-to-peer energy trading in smart grids

Researchers designed a mechanism for peer-to-peer energy trading in smart grids using a blockchain-based environment and an Arrow-d’Aspremont-Gerard-Varet (AGV) system to ensure security, efficiency, and transparency. The study found that the AGV mechanism is Bayesian incentive-compatible and budget-balanced under weak participation re...

Late HIV diagnosis still an issue in Aotearoa

A University of Otago study finds that 40% of people diagnosed with HIV in Aotearoa were diagnosed late, highlighting the need for improved awareness and access to testing services. Early diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment and preventing transmission to sexual partners.

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.

A printable multi-energy X-ray detector with high sensitivity

A printable multi-energy X-ray detector made from perovskite thin films has been developed with enhanced flexibility and sensitivity. The detector can operate in a broad energy range, from 0.1 KeV to tens of KeV, making it suitable for real-time detection and imaging applications such as disease diagnosis and explosives detection.

Can AI be used to predict ocean waves?

A team of scientists has developed an AI model that can accurately predict ocean wave sizes, reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming numerical methods. The ConvLSTM model outperforms existing methods in terms of accuracy and efficiency, paving the way for real-time ocean forecasting.

New type of friction discovered in ligand-protein systems

Researchers at the University of Freiburg have discovered a new type of friction in proteins called anisotropic friction, which depends on direction. The discovery was made using single molecule experiments and simulations, revealing that friction increases with the pulling angle applied to a ligand from a protein.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Strike (aging) when the iron is hot

Scientists at SENS Research Foundation have discovered a new class of broad-spectrum senolytic drugs that target the key vulnerability in destructive aging cells. These drugs are effective against both primary and secondary senescent cells, making them a promising approach for treating age-related diseases.

What caused the record-low Antarctic sea ice in austral summer 2022?

Researchers found record-low Antarctic sea ice in austral summer 2022 due to stronger positive sea surface temperature anomalies and unprecedented ozone reduction. The anomalies triggered the deepening of an Amundsen Sea Low, leading to sea ice retreat via horizontal wind anomalies.

New UNC Chapel Hill study quantifies $562M in financial risk from Hurricane Florence using novel modeling approach that evaluates risk of mortgage default and property abandonment

A new study published by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill estimates $562 million in previously unquantified financial risks arising from property value changes and uninsured flood damages in eastern North Carolina. The research team developed a new modeling framework using data on homes sales, mortgage loa...

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.

Risk of sudden cardiac arrest rises sharply in Ventura county

A study by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found a 38% increase in sudden cardiac arrest among all Ventura County residents and a 77% increase among Hispanic residents during the first two years of the pandemic. Overall survival from sudden cardiac arrest declined from 15.3% to 10%.

Mathematical model provides bolt of understanding for lightning-produced X-rays

A Penn State-led team has discovered a new physical mechanism explaining naturally occurring X-rays associated with lightning activity in the Earth's atmosphere. The researchers developed a mathematical model that explains how electric fields amplify electrons, driving the phenomenon of relativistic runaway discharges in air.

Harnessing nature to promote planetary sustainability

The latest issue of PLOS Biology features a special collection on biology-based solutions to reduce plastic pollution, carbon dioxide emissions, and produce food or energy more sustainably. Insect enzymes may degrade plastic waste, while photosynthetic algae can capture CO2 produced by industrial applications.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

At the end of the dry season: CO2 pulses over Australia

Researchers from Heidelberg University discovered CO2 pulses in Australian atmosphere at end of dry season, triggered by soil microorganisms activated by heavy rainfall. This finding suggests dry regions have a significant influence on the global carbon cycle, contributing to climate modelling and understanding.

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.

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.

Can cities make room for woodpeckers?

Researchers found that corridors with abundant mature trees and deadwood help pileated woodpeckers adjust to urban landscape fragmentation. The Little Miami River corridor is one of the best places for these birds in Hamilton County, Ohio.

Engineered E. coli delivers therapeutic nanobodies to the gut

Researchers engineered a strain of E. coli to secrete proteins that block inflammation and inhibit tumor necrosis factor alpha, showing efficacy comparable to injected antibodies in mice with inflammatory bowel disease. The engineered bacteria offer a potential treatment for intestinal-based diseases with reduced side effects.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

ORNL’s Lee named Materials Research Society Fellow

Ho Nyung Lee, a condensed matter physicist at ORNL, has been elected a Fellow of the Materials Research Society for his distinguished accomplishments in advancing materials research. He is recognized for his leadership and service to the community, particularly in precision synthesis and complex oxide thin films.

Plastic transistor amplifies biochemical sensing signal

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new technology that boosts weak biochemical signals by over 1,000 times using plastic transistor amplification. This enables real-time health diagnostics and disease monitoring without complex electronics.

Hope for salamanders? Illinois study recalibrates climate change effects

Researchers at University of Illinois have recalibrated climate change effects on salamanders, showing a somewhat more hopeful future. The study found that incorporating microclimate data at fine spatial scales reduced predicted habitat loss by 55-80% compared to using free-air temperature data.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual preteens spend 4 more hours on screens daily

A new study found that LGB preteens ages 10-14 reported 10.4 hours of daily recreational screen time, which was nearly four hours more than their straight peers. The researchers argue that parents should regularly talk to their children about screen usage and develop a family media use plan.

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.

Uneven Indian Ocean warming unlocked

A recent study reveals that uneven future warming in the Indian Ocean can cause shifts in monsoon precipitation, with potential impacts on societies and ecosystems. The research identifies key mechanisms driving these changes, including winds and ocean currents.

Study examines how social rank affects response to stress

Researchers at Tulane University found that social rank affects the stress response in adult female mice, particularly in how they respond to chronic social stress. The study revealed differences in brain areas activated by social encounters based on social status, with higher-ranking mice more susceptible to social isolation and lower...

New study offers clues to how cancer spreads to the brain

Researchers used microfluidic devices to track what happens to cancer cells as they migrate and take root in the brain. They found that Dkk-1 triggers cancer cell migration, and reducing its levels near tumor cells may disrupt crosstalk between brain niche cells and cancer cells.