Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive April 2024


Page 2 of 41

Protecting endangered monkeys from poachers, habitat loss

Researchers emphasize that field stations studying primates contribute to biodiversity conservation by deterring poaching, deforestation, and natural resource extraction. The authors call for increased funding and support for red colobus conservation efforts.

Paper Power: Origami Technology Makes its Way into Quadcopters

A team of researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology developed a self-folding origami gripper that can be mounted onto drones, enabling them to grasp and hold objects. The gripper weighs only 5 grams but demonstrates grasping force equivalent to holding a 130-gram object.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Study: racial bias is no 'false alarm' in policing

A University of Michigan study analyzing 98 million traffic stops found that innocent Black drivers were searched about 3.4 to 4.5 percent of the time, while innocent white drivers were searched about 1.9 to 2.7 percent of the time.

Childcare pick-up: a 1-hour window to build healthier eating habits

A study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center found that children aged 3-5 consume a significant portion of their daily calories during the hour after picking up from childcare, with high amounts of added sugar and salt. Experts recommend preparing healthy snacks in advance to instill healthier habits.

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.

How the plant world shapes the climate cycle

Researchers have found that plants help regulate the planet's atmosphere by trapping carbon and emitting oxygen, acting as a buffer against rapid climate changes. However, when climate shifts too fast for vegetation to adapt, it can lead to mass extinctions and extreme environmental changes.

Keeping the noise down for critical patients

A study by Edith Cowan University and Fiona Stanley Hospital found that up to 50% of ICU patients experience sleep disturbance due to noise, which can hinder recovery. The researchers identified potential for medical equipment designers to consider alarm speakers' directivity and reducing volume levels to minimize noise exposure.

Shaping the Future of Neuroendocrine Tumor Management

The newly updated guidelines provide clinicians with the latest recommendations for staging and management of neuroendocrine tumors. The guidelines highlight recent changes for treating these tumors, including emerging molecular imaging techniques known as theranostics.

Should chatbots chime in on climate change?

Researchers found that chatbots like ChatGPT can provide accurate information on climate change-related topics, but not all responses are reliable. The study compared the chatbots' answers to hazard risk indices generated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and found more accuracy with tropical storms than droughts.

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.

Deep-learning decoding for a noninvasive brain-computer interface

Researchers used deep-learning decoders to enhance a non-invasive brain-computer interface's performance in tracking virtual objects. The system allowed users to control a fast and continuously moving computer cursor using only sensor-space brain waves, demonstrating promising results for neuro-assistive robotics.

Astronomers share climate-friendly meeting solutions

Researchers estimate CO2-equivalent emissions for astronomy meetings in 2019, suggesting preferential virtual meetings and hybrid formats. This approach can reduce long-haul travel and make astronomy more inclusive for underrepresented groups.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A new anticoagulant with no risk of bleeding

A new anticoagulant with on-demand reversible activity has been developed by a team from UNIGE and the University of Sydney. This breakthrough offers a more reliable and easier-to-use option for surgical procedures, reducing the risk of serious bleeding associated with current treatments.

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.

$3.6 million to advance nuclear energy awarded to U-M

Four University of Michigan projects aim to improve the monitoring of nuclear reactors during operation, explore advanced reactor designs, develop ethical siting guidelines for nuclear facilities, and upgrade a facility for studying radiation damage. These initiatives may lead to safer and more efficient nuclear energy production.

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.

Inexpensive spring truffles or exquisite piedmont truffles?

Scientists develop new analytical method to detect food fraud in truffles, distinguishing between expensive Piedmont and cheaper spring truffles based on two volatile markers. The method uses automated Solvent-Assisted Flavor Evaporation and has low equipment requirements for routine analysis.

Innovation promises to prevent power pole-top fires

Researchers at RMIT University have developed a new silicone rubber composite material that can prevent fires and electrical sparking on power poles. This innovation could save power companies time and resources by reducing damage to assets.

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.

Is it time to retire the best-before date?

Researchers have developed a system to detect food contamination, which could save hundreds of billions of dollars globally by reducing food waste. The technology would replace the current 'best before' date system, which often leads to perfectly safe food being wasted.

One-two punch treatment delivers blood cancer knockout

A novel combination of two existing drugs has been discovered to eradicate AML cancer cells in lab-based tests, offering hope for patients diagnosed annually with the disease. The treatment, pairing venetoclax with a STING agonist, showed high promise in AML samples driven by a mutated p53 protein, a type of AML generally harder to treat.

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.

Quitting smoking during pregnancy may have a positive effect on placental weight

Researchers found that expectant mothers who quit smoking had a lower birth weight relative to the weight of their placenta compared to those who continued smoking. This suggests that quitting smoking may help restore the balance between placental weight and birthweight, with potential benefits for both mother and child health.

Tsetse fly protein provides anticoagulant with its own on-off switch

Researchers have developed a new anticoagulant with an on-off switch, providing rapid control of bleeding risks in surgery and blood clots. The supramolecular approach combines a tsetse fly protein with a synthetic peptide, allowing for the anticoagulant to be rapidly deactivated by introducing correctly matched strands of free PNA.

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.

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.

An important step forward in the future of self-health monitoring

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a soft, self-charging material that can track vital signs like blood pressure and heart activity wirelessly. This innovation has significant implications for early disease detection and timely interventions in chronic conditions.

UT Arlington student links worm behavior to brain disease

A UT Arlington student has made a groundbreaking connection between worm behavior and brain disease in humans. Through her research, she found that worms with mutations in neurodegeneration genes exhibit abnormal reactivity to stimuli, similar to those affected by schizophrenia and other neurological disorders.

Women are 40% more likely to experience depression during the perimenopause

A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that women in the perimenopausal stage are significantly more likely to experience depression. The meta-analysis of seven studies involving over 9,000 women from around the world reveals a 40% increased risk of depressive symptoms during this life-stage.

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.

The carbon emissions of academic astronomy

A recent study found that air travel to professional conferences contributes substantially to academia's carbon emissions, with an estimated 42,500 tCO2e released in 2019. To mitigate this issue, researchers suggest prioritizing venue locations near most participants and exploring virtual meeting solutions.

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.

Big data reveals true climate impact of worldwide air travel

Researchers used big data to calculate per-country greenhouse gas emissions from aviation for 197 countries, revealing gaps in reporting requirements under the UNFCCC treaty. Countries like China and the US were found to emit the most aviation-related emissions.

People who inject drugs are transitioning to smoking

A San Diego study found that the proportion of people solely smoking opioids and methamphetamine increased from 0% to 34% between 2020 and 2023. The shift towards smoking may reduce health risks associated with injection, such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

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.

Activity in a room stirs up nanoparticles left over from consumer sprays

A Rutgers study found that nanoparticles from household products can be resuspended in the air, reaching human breathing zones, and increasing exposure for children. The researchers used an enclosed chamber to simulate spraying and resuspension of particles, confirming the potential health risks.