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Science News Archive March 2023


Page 15 of 44

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.

Does care during pregnancy differ based on patient race in the United States?

A US analysis of perinatal care found that discretionary care varied by patient race, with Non-Hispanic Black women being 20% less likely to receive a prenatal depression screen and 60% more likely to have a urine drug test when denying drug use. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Asian women were also less likely to receive similar tests.

Like flipping the switch

Researchers at The University of Tokyo have developed a programmable gate driver for solid-state electronic transistor switches, reducing switching loss under changing input current and temperature fluctuations. The device includes automatic timing control, allowing for single-chip integration and real-time control.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A brain-inspired computer model that understands speech like humans

Researchers developed a computer model based on human brain mechanisms to improve speech comprehension. The model extracts multilevel information from ongoing speech and uses non-linguistic knowledge for disambiguating word meanings. This approach is more human-like than existing language models like ChatGPT.

Sweets change our brain

Researchers found that eating small amounts of high-fat and sugar foods regularly rewires the brain to prefer these types of foods. The brain's dopaminergic system is activated, leading to a subconscious preference for rewarding food.

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.

Frequent COVID testing of nursing home staff protected residents, saved lives

A new study found that frequent COVID surveillance testing protected nursing home residents by detecting infected staff earlier, disrupting transmission chains. The research showed that high testing frequency facilities had clinically meaningful reductions in resident cases and deaths, particularly before vaccine availability.

Hidden 'super spreaders' spur dengue fever transmission

A new study by Emory University researchers found that asymptomatic individuals account for a significant proportion (74%) of dengue infections in an Amazonian city. The 'super spreader' spaces, where infected people frequent, are crucial in predicting and controlling outbreaks.

A review by Community Care Behavioral Health Organization of UPMC in Psychiatric Services journal confirms Pennsylvania's Medicaid program offers a national model for behavioral-physical health integration

A county-based approach in Pennsylvania's Medicaid program integrates behavioral health and physical health services, resulting in improved access to care and better outcomes. This model has been recognized as a national best practice, with the state ranking among the top three for addressing mental health challenges.

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.

NASA’s Webb spots swirling, gritty clouds on remote planet

Researchers have pinpointed silicate cloud features and detected water, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of VHS 1256 b. The team's findings provide the largest number of molecules identified all at once on a planet outside our solar system.

Survey finds patients value immediate access to test results

A survey of over 43,000 patient portal users found that 96% prefer immediate online access to clinical test results. Most respondents reported seeking additional information after reviewing their test results and valued the convenience of receiving results through a patient portal.

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.

Road noise makes your blood pressure rise – literally

A new study published in JACC: Advances confirms that exposure to road traffic noise can elevate hypertension risk. The research analyzed data from over 240,000 people and found a robust association between road traffic noise and hypertension, even after adjusting for air pollution.

Known active ingredient as new drug candidate against “monkeypox”

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt have identified nitroxoline as a potential treatment alternative for mpox. The antibiotic demonstrates effectiveness against both the current mpox virus and a tecovirimat-resistant strain, offering a promising solution to combat the outbreak.

Global warming undermines greenhouse gas sink function of pristine wetlands

A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that pristine wetlands are currently a greenhouse gas sink, but this function will be reduced by over half in response to a 1.5-2°C temperature increase. Warming promotes net methane and nitrous oxide emissions from these ecosystems, posing a positive feedback on global warming.

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.

How fisheries threaten seals and sea lions in South America

Two species, South American sea lion and fur seal, are primarily involved in interactions with fisheries and aquaculture activities. The economic losses to fisheries related to sea lion depredation are low, while incidental capture and mortality of seals remain unknown.

Copper artifacts unearth new cultural connections in southern Africa

Researchers found previously unknown interactions among people in southern Africa between the 5th and 20th centuries, revealing a complex network of cultural exchange. The study used geochemical analyses on copper objects to reconstruct connectivity across the region, providing new insights into the history of the area.

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.

New NIH study reveals shared genetic markers underlying substance use disorders

A new NIH study has identified common genetic markers underlying various substance use disorders, suggesting a link to dopamine signaling regulation. The findings may lead to more effective treatments and prevention strategies for multiple substance use disorders, including those with co-occurring mental health conditions.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

New microchip links two Nobel Prize-winning techniques

Physicists at Delft University of Technology have developed a new technology on a microchip combining optical trapping and frequency combs to measure distances with high precision in opaque materials. The technology uses sound vibrations instead of light, offering a simple and low-power solution for applications such as monitoring the ...

Tackling counterfeit seeds with “unclonable” labels

A team of MIT researchers has created an 'unclonable' label system to combat counterfeit seeds in Africa, where fake seeds can cost farmers up to two-thirds of expected crop yields. The system uses biodegradable silk-based tags with unique codes that cannot be replicated.

New mosquito species reported in Florida

A new mosquito species, Culex lactator, has been found in Florida, with thriving populations reported in three counties. Scientists are concerned about the potential for this species to transmit diseases, particularly given the lack of research on its disease risk.

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.

Is bone health linked to brain health?

A study published in Neurology found an association between low bone density and an increased risk of developing dementia. Researchers analyzed data from 3,651 participants and found that those with the lowest total body bone density were 42% more likely to develop dementia than those with the highest bone density over a 10-year period.

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.

Cover crops help mitigate farmer losses

A North Carolina State University study found that cover crop adoption can reduce crop insurance losses due to prevented planting in the US Midwest. Longer term use of cover crops also leads to larger reductions in prevented-planting risk, with a 1% increase translating to nearly $40 million in reduced indemnities.

Semiconductor lattice marries electrons and magnetic moments

Researchers stack ultrathin monolayers of semiconductors to create a moiré lattice that traps individual electrons in tiny slots. This configuration allows for continuous tuning of electron mass and density, leading to the observation of heavy electrons and potential emergence of a 'strange' metal phase.

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.

New UBC water treatment zaps ‘forever chemicals’ for good

Engineers at UBC developed a new water treatment that captures up to 99% of PFAS particles, eliminating them from drinking water. The technology is particularly beneficial for rural communities with limited resources, offering a decentralized and in-home solution.

Memory B cell marker predicts long-lived antibody response to flu vaccine

A new subset of memory B cells, marked by the FcRL5 receptor protein, has been identified as a predictor of long-lived antibody responses to influenza vaccination. These effector memory B cells can be detected seven days after immunization and correlate with vaccine antibody responses months later.

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.

Hunting Venus 2.0: Scientists sharpen their sights

The study identifies five exoplanets that resemble Venus in terms of radii, masses, and atmospheric conditions. By observing these 'exo-Venus' planets using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists hope to uncover valuable insights into Earth's future and the possibility of a runaway greenhouse climate.

How vision begins

The study found that a microscopic change in a protein in the retina occurs within a fraction of a trillionth of a second, triggering the perception of light. This process involves the transformation of a molecule called retinal from its 11-cis form to its all-trans form, which takes just one picosecond.

Smaller, denser, better illuminators for computational microscopy

A team of researchers at the University of Connecticut created freeform illuminators that enable flexible illumination design and calibration using a blood-coated sensor. The newly developed technology simplifies microscopy experiments by reducing size, increasing density, and adjusting angle of illumination.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Biophysics: Droplets in motion

Enzymatic droplets in cells exhibit directed self-propulsion and positioning, driven by influx of energy. The findings suggest a novel mechanism for controlling cell division, distinct from thermal equilibrium dynamics.