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Science News Archive April 2024


Page 12 of 41

Bacteria for climate-neutral chemicals of the future

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to produce chemicals using bacteria that feed on methanol, a renewable resource. The microbes can efficiently convert methanol into desired biochemical substances, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil-based chemicals.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Radiologists propose actions to combat climate change

Radiologists are proposing actions to reduce their department's greenhouse gas emissions and become more resilient to the effects of climate change. They suggest implementing a coordinated approach, establishing sustainability teams, and optimizing scanner usage to reduce emissions by up to 33% for MRI and CT scans.

Perfecting the view on a crystal’s imperfection

A new study shines light on the properties of hexagonal boron nitride, a material used in electronic and photonics technologies. The research reveals fundamental energy excitation occurring at 285 millielectron volts, triggering single photons in harmonic electronic states.

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.

Biomolecular condensates: Are they condensates?

Researchers assess role of liquid-liquid phase separation drivers in cell division, revealing poor predictive power of established assays. Theoretical models fail to accurately predict protein interactions and localization in the complex cellular environment.

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.

Towards sustainable food systems: global initiatives and innovations

A three-step approach is proposed to address global hunger and hidden hunger by focusing on calorie needs, high-quality protein, and emission reduction. The study suggests optimizing crop and livestock cycles, introducing novel foods like insect-based products and lab-grown meats, and enhancing global trade and spatial planning.

Innovative microscopy demystifies metabolism of Alzheimer’s

Researchers used state-of-the-art imaging techniques to discover the metabolism driving Alzheimer's disease, suggesting new treatment strategies. Lipid droplet metabolism can malfunction in Alzheimer's, leading to a cycle of stress and inflammation that worsens the disease.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

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.

Gut microbiota acts like an auxiliary liver

A new study reveals that gut microbiota significantly impacts host amino acid and glucose metabolism, leading to a second liver-like function. The research identifies specific bacterial metabolic genes responsible for depleting amino acids, which can be targeted to treat conditions such as type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

Dedication to a research journey towards commercial aqueous batteries

XIE Congxin, a researcher at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, has made significant progress in improving the energy density of aqueous batteries. He developed a multi-electron transfer cathode based on bromine and iodine with a specific capacity exceeding 840 Ah/L. The full battery test showed an energy density of 1200 Wh/L.

Exploring brain synchronization patterns during social interactions

Researchers at Waseda University discovered that pairs of strangers exhibit greater intra-brain synchronization in the theta band compared to acquainted pairs. This finding challenges conventional understanding and highlights the importance of weak social ties in shaping social relationships.

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.

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.

Why do we move slower the older we get? New study delivers answers

Researchers found that older adults tend to conserve energy by modifying their movements under certain circumstances. The findings suggest that the effort costs of reaching are a determining factor in slowing movement with age. This research may lead to new tools for diagnosing diseases, including Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

Zap Energy achieves 37-million-degree temperatures in a compact device

Scientists at Zap Energy have achieved a major breakthrough in fusion technology, creating a plasma with electron temperatures of up to 37 million degrees Celsius. The company's sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch device far exceeds the previous record and offers a promising path to commercial fusion energy.

Gentle defibrillation for the heart

Scientists developed a new method of gentle defibrillation to control cardiac arrhythmias using low-energy pulses. The approach uses optical light pulses triggered by measured arrhythmic activity, effectively terminating arrhythmias with minimal impact on the heart.

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.

New research develops forest extent map for Mexico

A team of researchers from the University of Delaware developed a forest extent agreement map for Mexico, combining seven remote sensing products and two independent datasets to identify consensus areas of agreement. The study found high agreement in heavily forested areas and disagreement in complex ecological zones.

Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago

A recent study by the Smithsonian has pushed back the earliest dated origin of bioluminescence in animals by nearly 300 million years, dating it to around 540 million years ago in marine invertebrates called octocorals. The ability to produce light is involved in various behaviors such as camouflage, courtship, and hunting.

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.

Critical minerals recovery from electronic waste

Researchers at PNNL have developed a simple, water-based solution to separate and purify rare earth elements from e-waste. The new process uses the unique properties of metals to form solids at different rates, resulting in nearly pure minerals recovered in hours rather than days.

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.

Health information on TikTok: The good, the bad and the ugly

A recent study analyzed health information on TikTok to identify trends in video quality, finding that nearly half of the videos contained non-factual information. The researchers also found that non-medical influencers were more likely to produce misleading content, which can lead to detrimental health outcomes.

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.

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

UCalgary researchers can predict kidney failure more accurately

A new digital tool, KDpredict, developed by University of Calgary scientists can more accurately predict the risks of kidney failure and death in adults with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease. The tool uses four variables readily available in clinic practice to calculate one-to-five year risks of kidney failure and death.

Genetics predict type 2 diabetes risk and disparities in childhood cancer survivors

Researchers identified four genetic variants associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk in childhood cancer survivors. The findings also showed that polygenic risk scores derived from diverse ancestry datasets were more informative in assessing diabetes risk in survivors of both European and African ancestries, highlighting the imp...

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.

Marine plankton communities changed long before extinctions

Ancient marine plankton communities showed subtle changes before major extinctions, serving as an early warning system for future ocean life loss. These findings offer new insight into how biodiversity responds to global warming and its relevance to worst-case scenarios.

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.