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Science News Archive March 2023


Page 28 of 44

Crab shells could help power the next generation of rechargeable batteries

Researchers have used crab shells to create anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, which could lead to more sustainable battery technologies. The team found that the porous structure of the crab carbon provided a large surface area, enhancing its conductivity and ability to transport ions efficiently.

Changing landscapes alter disease-scapes: Study

Researchers used cumulative pressure mapping and machine learning to understand the impact of human pressures on six vector-borne diseases. They found that changes in land use can lead to abrupt shifts in infectious disease burdens and public health needs.

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on incidence of long-term conditions in Wales

A population data linkage study found fewer people in Wales diagnosed with long-term conditions in 2020 and 2021 than expected, indicating a potential backlog of undiagnosed patients. This disparity affects chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and anxiety disorders, corresponding to over 30 and 80 missing diagnoses respectively.

Checking children’s wellbeing: Before and after COVID-19

Researchers found that girls generally fared better than boys in terms of wellbeing, but boys tended to improve when returning to school. The study also showed that children with lower family support scores suffered more from the lockdowns.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

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.

Health: Mediterranean diet associated with decreased risk of dementia

A traditional Mediterranean-type diet rich in seafood, fruit, and nuts is associated with a lower risk of dementia. Individuals with higher adherence had up to 23% lower risk compared to those with lower adherence. The study, published in BMC Medicine, analyzed data from 60,298 individuals from the UK Biobank.

Remote blood pressure management program enhanced care during pandemic

A remote hypertension program, operated by Mass General Brigham, successfully supported patients through the COVID-19 pandemic in achieving their blood pressure goals. Participants who enrolled during the pandemic reached and maintained their goal blood pressures an average of two months earlier than in the pre-pandemic period.

Organosulfur content of vegetables quantified

A research team at Osaka Metropolitan University has developed a selective and sensitive method for detecting reactive polysulfides in vegetables. The study found high levels of reactive polysulfides in leek genus vegetables like onions and garlic, as well as cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.

AI and multispectral imaging facilitate keyhole surgery

Researchers from German Cancer Research Center developed an AI-powered method to monitor kidney tumor resection using multispectral imaging, eliminating the need for contrast agents. This technology enables real-time visualization of tissue perfusion, reducing procedure duration and minimizing patient risks.

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 new immune pathway sheds light on ALS

The study reveals that gasdermin E drives changes in neurons that contribute to disease progression, leading to mitochondrial damage and axon degeneration. Inactivating gasdermin E prevents cellular damage and delays the progression of ALS in mice.

High-performance detectors to combat spies

A team from UNIGE and ID Quantique has developed single-photon detectors that can generate secret keys at a rate of 64 megabits per second, overcoming current limitations. This innovation enables ultra-secure data transfer for banks, healthcare systems, governments, and the military.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Health care providers rarely ask patients about access to firearms

A Rutgers study found that healthcare providers rarely screen their patients for firearm access, with only 17.1% of participants being asked about it. Researchers argue that adding screening to standard practice can provide resources on secure storage to families at risk.

Too hot to handle

A new study from the University of Pittsburgh reveals that metal organic frameworks (MOFs) can heat up significantly when absorbing gases, leading to a loss of efficiency. The researchers identified MOFs with high densities and small pores as more capable of conducting heat, paving the way for their practical commercial implementation.

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.

People should have right to shape marine environmental decisions

A new study by the University of Exeter and the University of Bristol Law School suggests that governments should empower citizens to shape marine environmental decisions. The researchers propose a new definition of marine citizenship, recognizing rights as well as responsibilities, to create transformative change for sustainability.

Minke whales are as small as a lunge-feeding baleen whale can be

A new study of Antarctic minke whales found that a smaller whale cannot capture enough food to survive using the lunge-feeding strategy. The researchers observed remarkably high feeding rates for minke whales, especially at night, which are essential for their survival.

HOTIs ream higher orbitals

Scientists have developed a new pathway to explore novel orbital phenomena mediated by higher band topology in synthetic platforms. They discovered the first higher-orbital hotis using photonic breathing kagome lattices, exhibiting unique topological features and perspectives.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

COVID-19 can cause 'face blindness'

A Dartmouth study found that COVID-19 can cause 'prosopagnosia,' or face blindness, and impairments in navigational abilities. Researchers worked with a patient who experienced difficulty recognizing faces and navigating, leading to dissociation between face recognition and cognitive map representation.

A quick new way to screen virus proteins for antibiotic properties

Scientists have developed a high-throughput genetic screening approach to identify viral proteins that target bacterial cell walls, leading to potential new antibiotics. The method uses a coded library of DNA fragments to investigate unknown genes in environmental samples, sidestepping the need for culturing bacteria.

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.

New tool to diagnose and assess the severity of sarcopenia

Researchers developed a new tool to diagnose and assess sarcopenia using musculoskeletal ultrasound scans, which provides a muscle quality scoring system. The technique is validated with anatomical and histological samples and has potential applications in other muscle diseases and sports rehabilitation.

New study aims to break the taboo surrounding spirituality

A new study has revealed that Danes experience strong spiritual needs, including finding inner peace and giving to others, which should be integrated into the healthcare system. The study, based on a questionnaire survey of over 100,000 Danes, shows that these topics are highly valued and essential for patients' well-being.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Providing clinicians with an AI sidekick to help to identify cirrhosis

Researchers developed a deep learning-based AI model to automate cirrhosis identification using large amounts of data from EHRs. The model successfully identified patients with cirrhosis with a precision of 97%, offering potential for early diagnosis and improved management of the disease.

New research takes step towards laser printed medical electronics

Researchers have successfully printed flexible electronics using polypyrrole and demonstrated its compatibility with living organisms, paving the way for patient-specific implants. The technology has potential applications in real-time health monitoring and treating conditions like epilepsy or pain.

The right cocktail of gut enzymes can stop c. diff in its tracks

Researchers found that certain enzymes within a class known as bile salt hydrolases (BSHs) can restrict Clostridioides difficile (C. diff.) colonization by altering existing bile acids and creating a new class of bile acids within the gut's microbial environment. Selecting the right suite of BSH-producing bacteria is critical, as inter...

Study reveals inequity in journal peer review

A study by Michigan State University researchers found that authors from historically excluded groups face worse peer review outcomes, with authors from Asia and countries with low social and economic development facing rejection rates of up to 50% higher than those from Western countries. The study suggests that journals can adopt sol...

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Magnetism fosters unusual electronic order in quantum material

Physicists at Rice University have found that magnetism subtly modifies the landscape of electron energy states in iron-germanium crystals, promoting and preparing for the formation of a charge density wave. This is one of the few known examples of a kagome material where magnetism forms first, leading to charges lining up.

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.

Research highlights gender bias persistence over centuries

Researchers analyzed dental records from 10,000 people across 139 European sites to find that individuals living in areas with historically pro-male attitudes display more bias today than those living in egalitarian areas. Historical gender biases persist even after significant social and economic changes.

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.

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.

Benefits of the net-zero emissions strategy for Nepal

A study by the Research Institute for Sustainability found that Nepal's long-term strategy for net-zero emissions can deliver large reductions in air pollutant emissions and improve energy security. The strategy also promises to boost equity, with benefits including improved health outcomes and reduced impacts on climate change.

Rice labs seek RNA programming for ‘smart’ antibiotics

Researchers at Rice University aim to create genetically encoded antibiotics that selectively kill pathogenic bacteria while sparing beneficial microbes. The goal is to develop targeted, tailored RNA antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance and improve treatment outcomes.

UK scientists discover a new way to help prevent breast cancer ‘time bomb’

Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research discovered that molecular changes in lung tissue can trigger breast cancer cells to 'reawaken' and form secondary tumors. They found that blocking PDGF-C activity with an existing cancer growth blocker could help prevent this, offering a potential strategy to defuse these 'time bombs'. Th...

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.

Triggering bitter taste receptors could someday treat asthma, COPD

Researchers have designed a potent and selective compound that could lead to new therapies for asthma and COPD by activating bitter taste receptors. The new ligand is six times more potent than a known NSAID and highly selective for the TAS2R14 subtype, minimizing potential side effects.