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Science News Archive December 2023


Page 11 of 29

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.

Computational model captures the elusive transition states of chemical reactions

A team of MIT researchers has created a computational model that can calculate the structures of transition states in chemical reactions much more quickly than traditional methods. The new model uses machine learning and can generate accurate predictions for thousands of reactions, enabling chemists to design new catalysts and fuels.

Acid sensor and calcium store discovered in plants

Researchers have identified a previously unknown endogenous acid sensor in plant cells that responds to changes in pH levels. The acid sensor triggers the release of calcium ions from an endoplasmic reticulum, which activates cellular responses to external stimuli such as infections or drought.

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.

North America’s first people may have arrived by sea ice highway

Researchers propose that early Americans used a 'sea ice highway' to migrate into North America along the Pacific coastline, traveling on winter sea ice between 24,500-22,000 years ago and 16,400-14,800 years ago. This theory provides a new framework for understanding human migration without a land bridge or easy ocean travel.

Racial equity in living donor kidney transplant centers

A study of 57,000 adults reveals racial disparities in access to living donor kidney transplants, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing systemic inequalities in transplant programs and centers.

US adults eat a meal’s worth of calories of snacks in a day

A new study suggests that US adults consume almost a quarter of their daily calories in snacks, often more than they do at breakfast, yet these snacks offer little nutritional value. Researchers analyzed data from over 20,000 people and found that snacks accounted for between 19.5% to 22.4% of total energy intake.

Mineral coatings could enable shelf-stable mRNA therapies

Researchers have developed a mineral coating that maintains mRNA activity for up to six months at room temperature. This breakthrough enables the storage of mRNA therapeutics like COVID-19 vaccines on medical shelves, bridging the gap between rich and poor communities.

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.

Discovery reveals lipid-signaling microdomains in cells

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine found lipid-signaling microdomains in condensates, previously thought to function primarily in cell membranes. These discoveries may lead to a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's disease.

Eating meals early could reduce cardiovascular risk

Research suggests that timing food intake earlier in the day can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Eating breakfast within an hour of waking and finishing dinner before 8 pm may help reduce this risk, with longer night-time fasting periods also associated with lower cerebrovascular disease rates.

Physical and social activities promote healthy brain aging

A recent study published in NeuroImage found that physically active individuals experienced less decline in entorhinal cortex thickness over a seven-year period. Cognitive reserve is also boosted through regular mental stimulation, suggesting that brains can be trained like muscles to counteract age-related decline.

Bats declined as Britain felled trees for colonial shipbuilding

A study by the University of Exeter and the Bat Conservation Trust found that Britain's tree felling for colonial shipbuilding led to a significant decline in Western barbastelle bat populations. The study used DNA analysis to discover a historical decline, which coincided with widespread tree-felling from about 500 years ago.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Iron accumulation: a new insight into fibrotic diseases

Researchers at IRB Barcelona discover iron accumulation as a driver of pathological senescence and fibrosis, highlighting its role in various fibrotic disorders. The study identifies potential methods for non-invasive assessment and treatment of fibrotic diseases via MRI and chemical compounds.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Researchers find way to weld metal foam without melting its bubbles

Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified a welding technique that can join composite metal foam components without impairing their properties. The new method uses induction welding, which penetrates deeply into the material and insulates it against heat.

‘Long flu’ has emerged as a consequence similar to long COVID

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine reveals that people hospitalized for seasonal influenza face increased risks of long-term health effects, including death, hospital readmission, and organ system problems. Long flu is more debilitating than initially thought, with patients experiencing health loss similar to tho...

Quantum batteries break causality

Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a new way to charge quantum batteries using optical apparatuses and the phenomenon of indefinite causal order. This approach enables significant gains in energy storage and thermal efficiency, even with lower power chargers.

Can an app improve your romantic relationship?

A new relationship app, developed by a University of Rochester psychologist, has been shown to improve romantic relationships. The app sends daily prompts that encourage meaningful conversations, enhancing awareness and promoting moments of connection among couples.

Astronomers discover first population of binary stripped stars

Researchers have identified a population of massive stars stripped of their hydrogen envelopes by their companions in binary systems. These hot helium stars are believed to be the origins of hydrogen-poor core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers, shedding new light on a long-theorized phenomenon.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Research sheds light on how brain implants can mess with heads

Researchers have discovered that brain cells sense continuous motion caused by everyday bodily functions, leading to friction and inflammation around implanted devices. Anti-inflammation approaches, such as coating implants with soft gels, could help prevent damage and increase device lifespan.

SNAP recipients may struggle to meet dietary goals, especially in food deserts

A new study found that SNAP participants in low-income households face difficulties in meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans' nutritional values. Despite using optimization methods to maximize nutrition within their budget, researchers discovered that trade-offs must be made to stretch funds, often resulting in increased sodium ...

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.

Mice with humanized immune systems to test cancer immunotherapies

Researchers at Kobe University developed a new model of mice with humanized immune systems to test anti-cancer drugs targeting the immune system. The study showed that a therapy blindfolding immune cells to self-recognition can activate them to attack tumor cells, promoting an effective cancer response.

New gene therapy could significantly reduce seizures in severe childhood epilepsy

Researchers at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology have developed a new gene therapy that significantly reduces seizures in mice with focal cortical dysplasia. The treatment, which involves the overexpression of a potassium channel, has shown an average reduction of 87% in seizures without affecting the mouse's memory or behavior.

Multiple sclerosis: Possible basis for vaccine researched

A study by researchers at the Medical University of Vienna found that natural killer cells may play a crucial role in protecting against multiple sclerosis (MS) disease. The investigation revealed that strong EBV-specific and autoreactive immune responses combined with poor autoimmunity control increase MS risk.

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.

Rubber that doesn’t grow cracks when stretched many times

Researchers developed a new approach to improve particle-reinforced rubber's fatigue threshold by increasing polymer chain length and entanglement density. This multiscale stress deconcentration method increases the material's resistance to crack growth under repeated stretching, reducing pollution from shed rubber particles.

From forest gaps to landscapes: new insights into ecosystem functions

A new statistical method developed by the DFG research group BETA-FOR can analyze the contributions of biodiversity between local ecosystems to the multifunctionality of entire landscapes. The study breaks down multifunctionality into two components, relating them to local biodiversity and habitat diversity.

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.

Insights into the metabolism of plastic-eating bacteria

Researchers have elucidated the metabolic pathways of Halopseudomonas bacteria that break down plastic coatings. The study shows the bacteria can rapidly degrade polyester polyurethanes, making it a promising solution to global waste problems.

What do Gifted dogs have in common?

A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that a group of exceptionally gifted dogs, known as Gifted Word Learners (GWLs), share common characteristics. The researchers identified 41 dogs from various breeds and countries with the ability to learn hundreds of toy names, highlighting their unique talent for language acquisition.

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.

Responsible stewardship over ultrathin materials research

Researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design propose a new unifying framework to identify low-risk materials for further development. The team screened 3,000 entries in the materials database to find 25 candidate materials that exhibit high performance and are sustainable at the material level.

Updated Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines advise against routinely taking aspirin daily for primary prevention of heart attack or death but acknowledge there may be a role for some people

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society has updated its guidelines to no longer recommend routine daily aspirin use for primary prevention of heart attacks or death. However, daily aspirin may be considered for people with high risk factors for heart attack, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking. The new guidelines emphasize the ...

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.

How the immune system fights to keep herpes at bay

Researchers have discovered key mechanisms by which the host immune system blocks viral infection in the cell's nucleus, including the role of signaling proteins called interferons and host protein IFI16. These findings could lead to new treatments for herpesviruses and other nuclear DNA viruses.

News sites continue to stigmatize people’s weight, study suggests

A new study published in the Journal of Health Communication found that news sites, especially UK and US sources, continue to use stigmatizing images when reporting on obesity. The research highlights the need for news media to be mindful of the images included in health news articles.

Enabling early detection of cancer

Scientists at Paul Scherrer Institute achieve breakthrough in detecting developing tumors at an early stage and monitoring therapy success. They used artificial intelligence to analyze blood cell chromatin, distinguishing between healthy and sick cells with high accuracy, and identifying tumor types with over 85% precision.

Tunable shells to encapsulate tiny droplets

Researchers at IISc create a novel technique to coat droplets in composite shells containing oil-loving and hydrophobic particles. This method offers flexible shell thickness control over a wide range, enabling the encapsulation of droplets with different sizes.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Being overweight costs society far more than obesity

The study found that people who are only slightly overweight, with a BMI of 25-30, and those with mild obesity, have the highest costs for healthcare services. This is because these individuals represent a larger proportion of the population than obese individuals, who have a higher risk of disease but lower costs.

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.

Menstrual cycles affect day-to-day suicide risk, UIC researchers find

A new study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers found that female patients with a history of suicidality experience increased suicidal ideation and planning during the premenstrual phase, offering new guidance for clinicians. The study identified individual differences in how the menstrual cycle affects symptoms and suicidality.