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Science News Archive August 2024


Page 16 of 38

Organized youth sports are increasingly for the privileged

A study found that organized youth sports are increasingly dominated by privileged families, with those from educated parents being more likely to participate. Despite an overall increase in sports participation, there has been a concerning rise in kids dropping out of sports, affecting both generations.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Spectacular increase in the deuterium/hydrogen ratio in Venus' atmosphere

Researchers discovered an unexpected increase in H2O and HDO concentrations in Venus' mesosphere, with the HDO/H2O ratio rising 120 times higher than expected. This finding suggests that solar radiation broke down water isotopologues, producing hydrogen atoms that escape into space, leading to deuterium enrichment.

Ambitious people aren’t born leaders

A study of 472 executives found that leadership ambition is linked to self-rated effectiveness, but not third-party evaluations. This implies that society may need alternative approaches to choosing and training leaders.

How physical fitness and lifestyle impact biological aging

Researchers found associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and DNA methylation-based aging clocks in older men, suggesting that active lifestyles may delay biological aging. The study aims to establish fitness reference values to help prevent the onset of diseases associated with aging.

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.

Researchers uncover the secrets of “plant puberty”

A recent study by University of York researchers investigated the factors influencing plant development, finding specific genetic changes control timing. Plants redirect nutrients from leaves to reproductive organs earlier than anticipated, suggesting potential for improving crop uniformity and nutritional value.

Social responsibility audits can bias financial ones

A new study found that auditors are more likely to give in to companies' requests for lenient financial reports when they have already been involved in ESG audits. This can lead to inflated numbers and misrepresentation of a company's value to investors and shareholders.

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.

The sponge's precious metal glitters: Watch out! I am toxic!

Researchers discovered that sponges in the Gulf of Eilat employ a unique tactic to deter predators by storing high concentrations of toxic molybdenum. The symbiotic relationship between the sponge and a bacterium enables this process, allowing the sponge to accumulate metals and neutralize their toxicity.

A new reaction to enhance aromatic ketone use in chemical synthesis

Researchers developed a one-pot process to transform aromatic ketones into esters, simplifying the reaction process, reducing reaction times, and minimizing purification steps. The method enables seven different chemical transformations and has shown notable stability and reusability, making it scalable for industrial applications.

The underrated impact of humidity

A study from the University of Tokyo found that incorporating humidity data into heat stress indicators improves predictions of climate-related deaths. The researchers analyzed data from hundreds of cities and found that humid environments, such as coastal areas, are more accurate predictors of heat-related mortality.

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.

UCF researcher develops lotus-inspired tech to convert CO2 to fuels, chemicals

A University of Central Florida researcher has developed a nature-inspired filtration and conversion system that extracts carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere to create fuels and chemicals. The device mimics the lotus surface, capturing carbon dioxide with a microsurface comprised of a tin oxide film and fluorine layer.

Columbia to establish David Koch Jr. Glomerular Kidney Center

The new center aims to build on Columbia's groundbreaking work in developing innovative diagnostics and treatments for rare kidney diseases. It will also provide expert care to patients with glomerular disease and expand education and training for medical professionals through a fellowship program.

Extraterrestrial chemistry with earthbound possibilities

Undergraduate Kennedy Barnes led a study to explore the role of low-energy electrons in creating prebiotic molecules, which may have originated from extraterrestrial sources. The findings suggest that electrons play a more significant role than photons in synthesizing these molecules.

Planets contain more water than thought

Researchers found that as planet mass increases, water tends to integrate with the iron core, leading to a reevaluation of astronomical observation data and planetary habitability. This discovery has significant implications for the study of Super-Earths and the search for life beyond Earth.

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.

Molecular wires with a twist

Researchers at Osaka University have created molecular wires with periodic twists that increase electrical conductivity. The discovery could lead to the development of cheaper and biocompatible electronic devices.

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.

Tiny killers: How autoantibodies attack the heart in lupus patients

A team of researchers from Columbia University and Harvard University report that autoantibodies alone directly affect heart function in lupus patients. The study identified four autoantibodies that may directly affect the heart muscle, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies.

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.

Study finds Americans want pandemic-era ease of applying for Medicaid

A study by Texas A&M University found that Americans want their state governments to reduce Medicaid's administrative burden, allowing more people to enroll. The survey, which assessed burden tolerance during the pandemic, showed broad support for burden reduction, with bipartisan agreement on the need for easier enrollment processes.

Fossil hotspots in Africa obscure a more complete picture of human evolution

Researchers at George Washington University found that fossil hotspots in eastern Africa, such as the East African Rift System, bias our understanding of human evolution due to their limited geographic representation. The study suggests that scientists must take this bias into account when interpreting early human history and recommend...

Aceneuramic acid is the first approved drug for GNE myopathy treatment

A clinical study confirmed the safety of aceneuramic acid in treating distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (GNE myopathy), a rare disease causing progressive muscle weakness. The treatment, developed for an ultra-orphan drug, showed efficacy and was approved by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

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.

The invasion of Ukraine and European attitudes

The Russian invasion of Ukraine led to increased support for democracy, income redistribution, and the European Union among Europeans. Attitudes towards authoritarianism and anti-immigration views decreased as a result.

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.

Demand for low-quality credits undermines the voluntary carbon market

A new study by Kyoto University reveals that major companies relying on low-quality offsets undermine the effectiveness of the voluntary carbon market. The research finds that these companies collectively account for over one-fifth of all retired offsets, most of which fail to meet well-known quality standards.

AI can help rule out abnormal pathology on chest x-rays

A commercial AI tool was effective in excluding pathology and had lower rates of critical misses on chest X-rays compared to radiologists. The study found that the AI tool could autonomously report more than half of all normal chest X-rays without decreasing standard of care.

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.

Hospital bacteria tracked better than ever before with new technique

Researchers developed a new 'pan-pathogen' deep sequencing approach to capture multiple bacterial strains simultaneously. This method enables faster and more comprehensive tracking of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potentially preventing and managing common hospital infections quicker.

Predation drives opportunistic bacteria to become more virulent

A study published in Genome Biology and Evolution found that predation by protists increases the virulence of opportunistic pathogens like Serratia marcescens. The presence of the predator Tetrahymena thermophila led to stronger biofilm formation and greater antimicrobial resistance, resulting in higher mortality in honey bees.

Adaptive 3D printing system to pick and place bugs and other organisms

A first-of-its-kind adaptive 3D printing system developed by the University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers can identify organism positions and safely move them to specific locations for assembly. This technology saves time and money in bioimaging, cybernetics, and cryopreservation.

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.

'Molecular compass' points way to reduction of animal testing

Researchers at the University of Vienna developed a software tool called MolCompass to identify areas of 'chemical space' where machine learning models are weak. This helps toxicologists and regulatory authorities increase confidence in these models, reducing the need for animal testing.

Modic changes linked to microbial differences in lumbar spine

A study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery found a link between Modic changes and microbial diversity in the lumbar cartilaginous endplates. Patients with Modic changes had more severe lumbar disc degeneration and a distinct metabolite profile, suggesting potential contributors to its pathogenesis.

Scientists discover new code governing gene activity

Researchers identified a long-postulated hidden spatial grammar embedded in DNA, which holds the key to understanding how gene activity is encoded. The study found that transcription factors have a complex function, acting both as activators and repressors, and their position relative to genes influences gene expression.

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.

ASBMB honors 10 scientists for scientific and community contributions

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has announced its annual awards, recognizing outstanding scientific achievements and community contributions. The winners will give talks about their research at the society's annual meeting in April, with cash prizes ranging from $2,000 to $35,000.

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.