Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive February 2023


Page 1 of 36

Wastewater sector emits nearly twice as much methane as previously thought

New research reveals that municipal wastewater treatment plants release significantly more methane into the atmosphere than previously estimated. The findings suggest that existing guidelines underestimate emissions equivalent to 5.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Anaerobic digesters, used in some facilities, are particularly s...

New study shows people are willing to start cycling more post-COVID-19 pandemic

A new study by University of Central Florida researchers found that people who are more environmentally friendly and satisfied with their life are more likely to cycle post-pandemic. The survey analysis of over 7,000 respondents showed a significant increase in cycling intentions among women without vehicles and full-time employees.

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.

Breathing is going to get tougher

A new study finds that rising temperatures will increase harmful plant emissions and dust, leading to a 14% boost in air pollution. The degradation in future air quality from natural sources is predicted to be significant, with two-thirds of the pollution coming from plants.

Less than one in ten Phase III clinical trials are ever cited at the point-of-care

A decade-long analysis reveals that most clinical trials are never cited by the time they reach point-of-care, with less than one in two Phase III trials being cited across 9 out of 18 medical specialties. The study found that NIH funding correlates strongly with citation rates, with costs ranging from $48,086 to $874 per new citation.

Profiling abortions in low- and middle-income countries

A new study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that factors such as marriage status, age, and education are associated with pregnancy termination in 36 low- and middle-income countries. The study used data from over 1.2 million women aged 15-49 and found that married women, those over 30, and those with higher education were ...

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.

Annals HRSA Special Supplement February 2023 Media Tip Sheet

This special supplement from Annals of Family Medicine highlights the work of six HRSA-funded academic units focused on advancing health care equity and improving primary care practices. The articles cover topics such as workforce training, mental health care seeking, socioeconomic issues, and whole-person oriented healthcare.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Parental investment may have aided evolution of larger brains

A review of evidence suggests that increased parental energy investment in young offspring may have facilitated the evolution of larger brains in some species. This is particularly true for warm-blooded species, which tend to invest more energy in their young through actions such as egg production and lactation.

Flower power: Research highlights the role of ants in forest regeneration

Research from Binghamton University highlights the importance of ants in forest regeneration, with over 95% of New York state forests relying on them to disperse seeds. Ants take seeds with fatty rewards back to their nests, protecting them from consumption by rodents and other organisms, promoting a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Galactic explosion offers astrophysicists new insight into the cosmos

Researchers studied a Type 1a supernova in a faraway spiral galaxy, NGC 1566, to understand how certain chemical elements are emitted into the surrounding cosmos. The study confirms that ejecta doesn't escape the confines of the explosion, validating many assumptions about how complex entities work.

New insights from an ancient asteroid

Researchers at Tohoku University analyzed samples from Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft and identified what they believe may be the oldest solids from the solar system. The grains were likely transported outward from the inner regions of the early solar system to their current location in the outer reaches.

Sexting found to be associated with negative mental heath

A recent study found that sexting is associated with negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Participants who only sent sexts reported more mental health issues than others. The study highlights the need for further research into the correlations between sexting and mental health.

Young snapping shrimps’ tiny claws accelerate in water like a bullet

Researchers discovered that young snapping shrimp's upper claws can accelerate at speeds of up to 580,000m/s², surpassing their parents' abilities and producing powerful cavitation bubbles. The study, published in Journal of Experimental Biology, highlights the impressive mechanical capabilities of these tiny crustaceans.

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.

School-based wellness initiative shown to reduce average student BMI

A school-based wellness initiative led by MUSC's Boeing Center for Children's Wellness has been shown to reduce the average student BMI over time. The program, which targets policy, systems and environmental change, uses evidence-based strategies such as physical activity, nutrition and social-emotional wellness.

The strong Meiyu in history, beginning with the flood of 1608

Researchers found interdecadal variability of solar radiation impacted strong Meiyu events, particularly in the Yangtze River. The study analyzed historical data and simulations, revealing a correlation between strong solar radiation and higher frequency of strong Meiyu events.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Ancient eggshells unlock discovery of extinct elephant bird lineage

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown lineage of elephant bird that roamed the wet, forested landscapes of northeastern Madagascar, using ancient eggshell DNA. This breakthrough reveals new insights into the diversity of birds that once inhabited Earth and provides clues about their extinction.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Precarious work associated with high BMI

A UIC study published in Obesity links precarious work to increases in body mass index, particularly among Latino and Black women with lower education. The researchers analyzed 20 years of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and found a 2.18-point increase in BMI for every 1-point increase in precarious employment.

Spinal cord stimulation may help diabetic neuropathy

A study found that high-frequency spinal cord stimulation significantly reduced average pain levels by 76%, while improving motor function and sensation. The therapy's long-term safety and potential disease-modifying effects are promising, but further studies are needed to confirm the results.

HIV reservoirs are established earlier than expected

Researchers have discovered that HIV creates reservoirs as early as the first days of infection, hiding and persisting during antiretroviral therapy. This finding is a major obstacle to curing HIV, but it also offers new opportunities for treatment development.

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.

How to predict city traffic

A new machine learning model can predict city traffic activity in different zones of cities, enabling targeted responses from policymakers. Understanding people's mobility patterns is crucial for improving urban traffic flow, and the model provides insights into urban interactions.

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.

Scientists find that bison are impacting streams in Yellowstone National Park

A new study finds that bison herds in northern Yellowstone National Park are negatively impacting riparian plant communities, leading to biotic impoverishment and loss of ecosystem services. The effects of increased bison numbers are exacerbating climate change, shifting plant communities towards warmer and drier conditions.

Liquid nitrogen spray could clean up stubborn moon dust

A liquid nitrogen spray developed by WSU researchers can remove almost all simulated moon dust from space suits with minimal damage. The technology uses the Leidenfrost Effect to clean spacesuits, performing better in vacuum environments than previous methods.

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.

Social media provide space for digital cosmopolitanism

A study by Dr. Roman Lietz and Dr. Fergal Lenehan found that socially engaged Twitter users share similar values and motivations, including a commitment to human rights, tolerance, and understanding. Despite the harsh environment of social media, these individuals demonstrate surprising similarities in their perspectives on society.

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.

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.

Identifying the inflammatory cells behind chemo brain

Researchers identified microglia as key players in chemo brain inflammation, suggesting a potential target for treatment. In a mouse study, deleting microglia restored memory and lowered brain inflammation after paclitaxel treatment.

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.

Obesity makes it harder to diagnose and treat heart disease

A new review paper from Mayo Clinic outlines how obesity impacts common tests used to diagnose heart disease, such as ECG, CT scan, MRI, and echocardiogram. The study highlights the need for alternative approaches to prevent weight gain in patients with heart disease.

Protein-based nanoparticles designed to neutralise the SARS-CoV2 virus

Scientists at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona have created spherical nanoparticles inspired by amyloid proteins that bind to the SARS-CoV2 spike protein with high affinity, preventing cell infection. The biocompatible and stable nanostructures also show great potency in blocking viral particles.

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.

Making drinking water bacteria-free

Researchers have created a simple and inexpensive method to disinfect drinking water using silver sulfide quantum dots encased in a peptide coat. When exposed to near-infrared light, these nanoparticles kill bacteria with high efficiency, making them a promising alternative to traditional methods.

A motion freezer for many particles

A team from TU Wien has developed a method to cool several particles simultaneously by adapting the spatial structure of a laser beam to particle motion. The technique uses far-field wavefront shaping to optimize cooling and can be achieved without knowing the exact location or movement of the particles.