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Science News Archive January 2023


Page 2 of 35

Smart stitches could reduce infection and simplify post op monitoring

A new antimicrobial suture material has been developed to reduce infection rates and improve post-operative monitoring. The material, which combines iodine and nanoparticles, can be used for internal stitches and mesh implants, providing a promising alternative to existing products.

Scientists document two separate reservoirs of latent HIV in patients

Researchers have identified a distinct latent reservoir of HIV-infected CD4+ T cells in the central nervous system (CNS), separate from the latent reservoir in blood and lymph tissue. This finding highlights a new challenge in creating a cure for HIV, as any curative therapy would need to activate both dormant reservoirs.

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.

Bot gives nonnative speakers the floor in videoconferencing

A new study at Cornell University introduced an automated participant that periodically interrupts the conversation to give nonnative speakers a chance to speak. The AI bot increased participation from 12% to 17% of all words spoken, with nonnative speakers feeling valued and appreciated for their perspectives.

Seawater split to produce green hydrogen

A team of researchers has successfully produced green hydrogen from seawater without pre-treatment, achieving nearly 100% efficiency. This breakthrough uses a non-precious and cheap catalyst in a commercial electrolyser, offering a solution to directly utilize seawater for hydrogen production.

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.

More variability helps learning

A study with human subjects found that varying training conditions led to better generalization of task performance, even in the presence of irrelevant stimuli. This suggests that more variability in training can lead to improved learning outcomes by enabling the brain to create invariant representations.

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.

When bugs swipe left

Researchers discovered a single protein called Gr8a that plays an inhibitory role in mating decision-making, helping flies avoid inter-breeding with the wrong partner. The findings provide insight into how signal production and perception are tied together, shedding light on pheromone communication.

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.

With rapidly increasing heat and drought, can plants adapt?

A new study by University of California, Berkeley researchers suggests that iconic desert plants came preadapted to stresses of arid living. The rock daisy study found these pioneers developed adaptations on dry, exposed rock outcrops within older areas, making it easier for them to thrive in expanding deserts.

Can a computer teach babies to count?

A two-year study by Rutgers researcher Jinjing Jenny Wang found that babies between 14 and 19 months old benefit from watching counting videos, engaging them with real-life scenarios. The study's findings suggest these videos could reduce disparities in children who may not receive enough counting exposure from caregivers.

Copying nature to resist viruses

A new study uses CRISPR-Cas9 to modify a gene that makes plants susceptible to viruses, resulting in strong resistance to multiple potyvirus isolates. This approach broadens genetic diversity and generates resistance without altering protein function or expression.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

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.

Do sleep medications increase your chances of dementia?

A new study found that sleep medications increase the risk of dementia in white adults. However, the relationship between sleep medications and dementia risk varies by medication type and socio-economic status. The study suggests that patients with poor sleep should consider alternative solutions before taking medications.

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.

ERC Consolidator Grant for Philip J. W. Moll

Philip J.W. Moll's ERC Consolidator Grant aims to engineer electronic interactions within a single material, exploring new paradigms for interfaces between two regions of different electronic behaviors, such as superconductivity and magnetism.

‘Ghostly mirrors’ for high-power lasers

Researchers have developed a new way to produce mirrors that can withstand extremely high powers, enabling the creation of small footprint, ultra-high-power laser systems. This breakthrough has significant implications for various fields such as medicine, biology, and physics.

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.

Autonomous steering system keeps human drivers engaged

Researchers developed a haptics-based automated driving system that encourages continuous engagement between drivers and automation. The system achieves this through three functionalities: interaction, arbitration, and inclusion, resulting in increased safety and comfort for human drivers.

Ancient fossils shed new light on evolution of sea worm

Fossils of a type of sea worm, Iotuba chengjiangensis, have provided new insights into the evolution of annelid worms. The discovery suggests that these worms diversified into different lineages around 515 million years ago, during the Cambrian explosion.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Deer browsing is just one of many factors shaping North American forests

A recent study published in Forest Ecology and Management found that deer browsing had relatively little long-term impact on two tree species in a northern forest. Researchers discovered that seedling survival and growth were more greatly influenced by light availability, soil nitrogen, and size attained before gaps were created.

Researchers create first supermode optical resonator

The new optical resonator developed by Capasso's team provides precise control over the mode of light and enables multi-mode coupled light to exist within the resonator. This breakthrough could influence how resonators are understood and open doors for new capabilities, including fundamental physics experiments and manipulation of mate...

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.

Sports-related sudden cardiac arrest is rare in older adults

A study of 4,078 cases found that sports-related cardiac arrests in people 65 and older are rare, occurring in only 1.9% of cases. Those who experienced exercise-related cardiac arrests tended to have fewer cardiovascular risk factors and better health outcomes.

Research shows impact of 'hyper-palatable' foods across four diets

A study published in Nature Food found that hyper-palatable foods consistently led to increased calorie intake across four different dietary patterns. These meals were characterized by high energy density, fast eating rates, and specific combinations of fat, sugar, sodium, and carbohydrates.

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.

Tweezers untangle chemotherapeutic’s impact on DNA

Etoposide's impact on DNA structure has been untangled by Cornell researchers using optical tweezers and magnetic tweezers. The study found that etoposide promotes DNA loop trapping and barrier formation by topoisomerase II, enabling the creation of sensitive screening tools for improving patient treatment.

Marburg vaccine shows promising results in first-in-human study

An experimental vaccine against Marburg virus demonstrated a good safety profile and induced strong, long-lasting immunity in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The vaccine candidate, cAd3-Marburg, induced an immune response in 95% of participants and maintained that response for over 48 weeks.

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.

People with arthritis 20% less likely to be in work

A new study published by the University of Leeds reveals that people with arthritis are 20% less likely to be in work compared to their peers without the condition. The most striking finding is that non-university educated women aged 60-plus are at least 37% less likely to be in work if they have arthritis.

Mating causes ‘jet lag’ in female fruit flies, changing behavior

Researchers found that seminal fluid protein sex peptide alters the female fly's behavior by changing the expression of genes involved in metabolism and the circadian clock. Post-mating, sex peptide increases egg-laying, aggression, activity and feeding while reducing sleep and interest in mating.

“Spleen-on-a-chip” yields insight into sickle cell disease

Researchers developed a microfluidic device to model the spleen's filtration function in patients with sickle cell disease. The study found that low oxygen levels can cause the spleen's filters to become clogged, while boosting oxygen levels can unclog them, potentially explaining how blood transfusions help patients.

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.

$1 smart glove could help prevent dangerous births by sensing fetal position

A new study reveals a low-cost sensing glove that can identify fetal position and measure force applied to the fetal skull during labor, potentially improving birth outcomes in low-resource regions. The technology provides real-time data during vaginal exams, allowing clinicians to take corrective action early on.