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Science News Archive April 2023


Page 8 of 37

Medium-sized black holes eat stars like messy toddlers

Astrophysicists have discovered that intermediate-mass black holes eat stars in a series of violent passages, ejecting the leftovers across the galaxy. The star's remains create a signature that might help astronomers pinpoint these elusive objects.

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.

Bioengineering a better adeno-associated virus vector for gene therapy

Researchers have developed a bioengineered AAV3B capsid variant with improved transduction to human liver cells and reduced seroreactivity to human serum samples. The variant, AAV3B-V04, demonstrates enhanced hepatocyte tropism and immune evasion, making it a promising candidate for gene therapy.

Connecting the brain’s hot zone

A study by Michigan Medicine researchers found that nitrous oxide, LSD, and ketamine induce similar changes in brain connectivity, particularly in the cortical 'hot zone' where conscious experience is determined. This common biology may hold the key to using psychedelics as therapeutics.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Researchers 3D print a miniature vacuum pump

MIT researchers developed a miniature vacuum pump for portable mass spectrometers, overcoming design limitations of traditional pumps. The 3D-printed pump can create and maintain lower pressure vacuums, increasing the device's lifetime and enabling its use in remote locations and space exploration.

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.

Research links common insecticide to neurodevelopmental disorders

A UToledo-led study found early exposure to pyrethroids may increase the risk of autism and developmental disorders in mice. The researchers discovered behavioral changes, including hyperactivity and repetitive behaviors, which are similar to symptoms seen in human patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.

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.

‘Smart’ tech is coming to a city near you

Smart city technologies track foot traffic, driving patterns, and air quality, raising concerns about community impact. Americans worry that smart city tech may contribute to racial disparities in policing and negatively affect low-income neighborhoods.

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.

Biomarker pattern found in kids with COVID 19-linked inflammatory syndrome

A study funded by the NIH found that children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) have unique biochemical indicators of cell injury and death. The researchers developed a method to distinguish MIS-C from other conditions, which could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for these patients.

CO2 recycling: What is the role of the electrolyte?

Researchers have developed an electrolyte to improve the efficiency of CO2 conversion into useful hydrocarbons. The study found that controlling the concentration of the electrolyte is crucial in regulating product formation, with too much potassium leading to clogage and reduced selectivity.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Better social drinkers don’t earn more

A study of working men in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea found that alcohol-tolerant individuals do not earn more than their intolerant colleagues. Despite the cultural pressure to drink, better social drinkers did not experience a wage premium in terms of working hours or earnings.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Mysterious underwater acoustic world of British ponds revealed in new study

Researchers at the University of Bristol collected 840 hours of underwater sound recordings from five ponds in England, revealing clear daily acoustic activity cycles. The study provides insights into the health of freshwater ecosystems and the potential for assessing species presence without disturbing the environment.

$1.6 million grant awarded to develop open-source software toolkit

A team of researchers from University of Missouri and University of Nebraska-Omaha are working on a three-year, $1.6 million grant to make open-source software tools more accessible and understandable to a wider range of people and tech companies. The project aims to identify what OSS projects are good to invest in for commercialization.

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.

Luring the virus into a trap

Heidelberg researchers have identified key proteins that can prevent the formation of fusion pores, allowing viruses like influenza A and Ebola to be trapped in a lipid membrane. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for preventing infections with these highly infectious viruses.

Study identifies a new building block in the navigation system of fish; boundary vector cells in central telencephalon of goldfish enable unique encoding of position, documented here for the first time in the largest group of vertebrates

Researchers identified boundary vector cells in goldfish central telencephalon that encode spatial information for the first time in a vertebrate. These cells enable unique positioning and represent a significant discovery in understanding fish navigation systems.

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.

Inclusive authorship reduces barriers to participation

A new framework for collaboration, developed by Elizabeth Borer and her NutNet colleagues, overcomes key barriers to meaningful contributions from all authors. The approach ensures substantive contributions by all co-authors, promoting a more inclusive authorship model.

New insight into dying cells in Parkinson's disease

Scientists found that dopamine-containing nerve cells from Parkinson's patients have poorer ability to form extensions, leading to severe dopamine deficiency. Researchers also discovered a medication that makes these cells better at forming nerve extensions.

Water pollution complaints decline during COVID 19 outbreak

A study by Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) analyzed water pollution complaints in Alabama and found a significant decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research team used AI methodologies to examine sentiment changes and correlations with climatic extremes.

Higher rates of HIV diagnoses found amongst mental health service users

Research at King's College London found a higher prevalence of HIV diagnoses among people who use mental health services in South London. The study suggests that there is a complex relationship between HIV and mental illness, with potential risks for both acquiring HIV or developing mental illness.

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.

Mixing theory, observation to envision warmer world

Researchers combine theory and observation to understand damselfly responses to warming temperatures, discovering a more realistic predator-prey simulation model. This work provides groundwork for understanding how other species will adapt to a warmer world, particularly species like mosquitoes.

Woodpecker guides post-fire forest management

A new online tool predicts the potential abundance of Black-backed Woodpeckers after fire by incorporating pyrodiversity into forest management decisions. This helps balance human and wildlife needs in post-fire landscapes.

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.

Gene that confers seed tolerance to salinity identified

Researchers have identified a gene that enables plants to tolerate salinity stress by regulating hormone signaling. This breakthrough could lead to crop improvements with larger seeds that germinate well in adverse environments, solving limitations on productivity due to soil salinization.

Even as SARS-CoV-2 mutates, some human antibodies fight back

Researchers discovered a 'cocktail' of human antibodies that show promise in fighting severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, including Omicron variants. The study revealed how the original Moderna vaccine could prompt the body to produce these broad-spectrum antibodies.

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.

A simple paper test could offer early cancer diagnosis

Researchers have designed a new nanoparticle sensor that can detect cancer with a simple urine test. The sensors use DNA barcodes to analyze urine samples, which can reveal distinguishing features of a particular patient's tumor.

Jellyfish-like robots could one day clean up the world’s oceans

Researchers have developed a jellyfish-like robot capable of collecting and transporting waste particles in the ocean without causing harm to marine species. The robot uses electrohydraulic actuators to swim and create currents, allowing it to trap objects along its path and transport them to the surface for recycling.

Lead vocal tracks in popular music go quiet

An analysis of popular song recordings from 1946 to 2020 found a significant decrease in the lead vocal to accompaniment ratio, indicating that lead singers are getting quieter. Changes in music technology appear to be behind this trend until 1975.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Metamaterials: Time crystal gives light a boost

Scientists at KIT have created a two-dimensional photonic time crystal, which amplifies electromagnetic waves and can be used to build more powerful and efficient wireless transmitters and receivers. This breakthrough discovery also enables surface wave amplification, improving communication efficiency in integrated circuits.

Scientists build human lungs in a dish to test medicines

Researchers have developed advanced human lung models in the lab, allowing for accelerated discovery of new drugs and reduced reliance on animal testing. The mini lungs can be personalized to individual patients and tested for a range of reactions, including toxicity from pollutants.