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Science News Archive December 2024 - Page 16


Page 16 of 39

Passion to serve others fuels social work graduate

A social work graduate has published her research on cognitive decline among refugees, finding that those who have experienced trauma are more likely to suffer from mild cognitive impairment. The study highlights the need for interventions that address these gaps in care and promote healthier aging.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalJournal of Gerontological Social Work·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 13, 2024

The great ripple - how a tsunami can disrupt global trade

A new framework evaluates tsunami risk to seaports and the global port network, estimating potential economic losses in trade caused by port disruptions. The study found that a Manila Trench tsunami could damage up to 15 international seaports under present-day sea-level conditions.

SourceTohoku University·Journalnpj Natural Hazards·DateDec 13, 2024

AI-powered blood test first to spot earliest sign of breast cancer

A new screening method combining laser analysis with AI identifies patients with breast cancer in its earliest stage, stage 1a. This non-invasive technique reveals subtle changes in the bloodstream that occur during the initial phases of the disease, outperforming existing early detection strategies.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalJournal of Biophotonics·DateDec 13, 2024

The CNIC presents iFlpMosaics, an innovative genetic toolkit for the study of gene function

The CNIC has developed a comprehensive set of genetic tools and mouse lines called iFlpMosaics, enabling accurate investigation of somatic mutations on cellular biology and disease. This toolkit facilitates the study of complex interactions between cells within their microenvironment.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2024
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Insights from the EUnetHTA 21 project for EU HTA from 2025 onwards

The EUnetHTA 21 project has developed guidelines and templates for joint HTA work at the EU level, tested in pilot assessments, and aims to improve HTA quality and reduce patient access inequalities. The results of the project will inform the implementation of the European HTA Regulation from 2025 onwards.

SourceInstitute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care·DateDec 13, 2024

Multinational enterprises are failing the world’s sustainability goals

A new study from the University of Surrey found that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are actively contributing to environmental problems despite claiming to address them. The research team argues that there is an urgent need for MNEs to reassess their innovation strategies to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalInternational Business Review·TypeObservational study·DateDec 13, 2024

Generic platinum chemotherapy shortages did not increase deaths

Researchers analyzed data from 11,797 adults with advanced solid cancers and found no difference in mortality rates during the shortage period. Prescription rates for cisplatin and carboplatin fell less than three percent overall, with alternative therapies helping mitigate the crisis.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 13, 2024
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.

Activating the hidden pharmaceutical potential of bacteria

Scientists at Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research have developed ACTIMOT, a genetic method that amplifies and isolates biosynthetic gene clusters from bacteria to produce new bioactive natural products. The approach enables faster and easier access to previously hidden pharmaceutical potential.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Infection Research·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2024

Changes in adult obesity trends in the US

Adult obesity trends in the US have declined for the first time in more than a decade, according to recent data. The South region experienced the largest decreases in body mass index and obesity prevalence, despite also facing high COVID-19 mortality rates among obese individuals.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateDec 13, 2024

New insights into genes' role in craniofacial development and genetic disorder

A team of experts has discovered that the ARID1A gene regulates a critical genetic program for cell migration, with ZIC2 identified as a crucial regulator in this process. This study expands our understanding of craniofacial development and provides valuable insights into the genetic causes of congenital diseases.

SourceUniversidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2024

Ligand-engineered copper nanoclusters could help combat CO₂ emissions

A breakthrough in electrochemical CO2 reduction processes has been achieved through ligand engineering of copper nanoclusters. The study reveals that variations in intercluster interactions significantly impact the stability and selectivity of these nanoclusters, leading to more efficient carbon conversion technologies.

SourceTohoku University·JournalSmall·DateDec 13, 2024
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Faster, safer complex head and neck reconstruction with preserved blood supply tissue

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University developed a new technique for head and neck reconstruction that achieves 100% success rate in high-risk patients. The pedicled latissimus dorsi flap technique provides a reliable, fast, and minimally invasive option for complex tissue defects.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open·TypeCase study·DateDec 13, 2024

Unlocking the potential to better target cancer with immunotherapy

Scientists at Monash University have discovered the structure of how LAG-3 interacts with its main ligand, providing a new targeted approach to improve immunotherapy's effectiveness for certain forms of cancer. This breakthrough could lead to the development of blocking LAG-3 therapeutics and further enhance cancer treatment.

SourceMonash University·JournalScience Immunology·DateDec 13, 2024
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.

The genetic basis of fertility, family and longevity

Researchers identified 159 genetic studies and 37 key genes linked to reproductive traits such as age at first childbirth, menopause timing, and hormones like FSH and testosterone. Genetic factors play a significant role in broader health outcomes and influencing fertility.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature Aging·TypeSystematic review·DateDec 13, 2024

ERC Consolidator Grant: 4 million euros to Bielefeld sociologists

Professor Minh Nguyen and Professor Carsten Sauer have received ERC Consolidator Grants to investigate financialization in Asia and gender-based wage differentials in Europe. Their projects aim to understand the impact of financial markets on working lives and labor market practices.

SourceBielefeld University·DateDec 13, 2024

Scientists innovate breeding strategies to create climate-smart crops

Researchers have created a novel breeding strategy to rapidly create climate-smart crops that can withstand heat stress. By optimizing carbon partitioning to sinks, they increased yields in staple grain and vegetable crops. The study showed improved fruit quality, sugar content, and yield resilience under heat stress conditions.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalCell·DateDec 13, 2024

Acoustic battles for the harem: How the calls of Siberian wapiti reveal their status and individuality

Researchers found that rutting calls of Siberian wapiti stags reflect their harem-holding status and individual characteristics. The study suggests that these acoustic displays enable females to assess a male's quality from a distance, while also signaling to rivals whether it's worth challenging him.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalJournal of Zoology·DateDec 12, 2024
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.

Revolutionizing bone regeneration: functionalized flat silkworm cocoon scaffolds with magnesium ions

Researchers have developed a novel strategy for bone defect repair using flat silkworm cocoon fiber scaffolds functionalized with magnesium ions. These innovative materials exhibit enhanced biological performance and simplify scaffold preparation, paving the way for cost-effective and efficient bone regenerative therapies.

SourceSongshan Lake Materials Laboratory·JournalMaterials Futures·DateDec 12, 2024

Illinois researchers develop model to evaluate food safety control strategies for produce industry

A new study from the University of Illinois aims to determine the most effective risk management strategies for the produce supply chain. The researchers found that improved process controls, such as washing, provided a greater reduction in overall risk than additional product testing.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Food Protection·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 12, 2024

Study reveals role of allele dosage in improving sweetpotato traits

A new study reveals insights into leveraging allele dosages in sweetpotato breeding practices to improve key agricultural traits. Researchers found that differences in allele dosage significantly impact root weight, plant architecture, and flesh color.

SourceBoyce Thompson Institute·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2024
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 insights into brain mechanisms underlying empathy

A research team from the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia has identified a key brain mechanism that modulates how animals react to others' emotions. This finding provides new insights into psychiatric conditions such as PTSD, autism, and schizophrenia.

SourceIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2024

Solar-powered plasma technology offers a sustainable solution for seed germination challenges

Researchers developed a solar-powered plasma water generator to enhance seed germination. The system produced plasma-activated water that modified the chemical environment for seed development, leading to a 135% increase in germination rates for spinach seeds stored for 23 years.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2024
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.

Diverse virus populations coexist on single strains of gut bacteria

A recent study found that multiple phage species can coexist stably on a genetically uniform strain of E. coli in the human gut. The researchers discovered that each phage species prefers slower or faster growing cells, allowing them to find a separate niche and maintain stable coexistence.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2024

Grant will fund development of vaccines to prevent dementia

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are developing vaccines to target misfolded proteins in the brain, with a focus on preventing inflammation and using peptide nanofibers. The goal is to prevent dementia by training the immune system against amyloid beta and tau proteins.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·DateDec 12, 2024

Ferroptosis and intrinsic drug-induced liver injury by acetaminophen and other drugs: a critical evaluation and historical perspective

The discovery of ferroptosis has renewed interest in non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms. While initially studied in cancer, ferroptosis is increasingly implicated in various diseases, including liver injury. However, the liver's robust antioxidant defenses question its widespread applicability.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology·DateDec 12, 2024
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.

Do animals get jealous like people? Researchers say it’s complicated.

A new UC Berkeley study analyzed over 60,000 animal observations and found no conclusive evidence of inequity aversion in non-human species. However, the researchers suggest that some animals may exhibit disappointment or social protest when their expectations are not met.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 12, 2024

Long-term exposure to air pollution linked to blood clots in veins that bring blood to the heart

A large US study found a strong association between long-term air pollution exposure and an increased risk of blood clots in deep veins, also known as venous thromboembolism. Participants with higher exposure to particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, and nitrogen dioxide had a significantly increased risk of developing these conditions.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalBlood·DateDec 12, 2024

Artificial intelligence improves mammography-based risk prediction

Artificial intelligence is enhancing breast cancer risk prediction through mammographic analysis, uncovering key features that predict breast cancer risk. These AI-generated features may inform personalized screening strategies, such as more frequent or less frequent screenings for women at high or low risk of breast cancer.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Cancer·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateDec 12, 2024
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.

Your immune cells are what they eat

Researchers at Salk Institute establish a novel framework for the relationship between nutrition and cell identity. They found that a nutritional switch from acetate to citrate plays a key role in determining T cell fates, shifting them from active effector cells to exhausted cells.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2024

Study shows American College of Lifestyle Medicine education initiative improves clinicians’ ability to make lifestyle and dietary interventions

The complimentary CME/CE course, offered in support of the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, has reported significant improvements in clinicians' knowledge, confidence, and practice of lifestyle medicine. Over 53,000 clinicians have registered for the course so far.

SourceAmerican College of Lifestyle Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Lifestyle Medicine·DateDec 12, 2024
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.

Local learning, global thinking: the power of digital dialogic teaching

A digital dialogic approach helped Chinese college students develop a stronger sense of global awareness by critically examining competing media narratives during COVID-19. The study found that this online approach encouraged critical thinking, media literacy, and bridged ideological divides.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Digital Education·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2024

Porous crystals detect nitric oxide

A copper-containing, electrically conducting, two-dimensional metal–organic framework has been developed for the highly selective detection of nitric oxide. The material detects NO at room temperature with high sensitivity and selectivity, making it suitable for air quality monitoring and medical applications.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2024
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.

Enhancing transverse thermoelectric conversion performance in magnetic materials with tilted structural design

Researchers developed artificial materials with improved transverse magneto-thermoelectric conversion performance through structural design. The findings provide new guidelines for designing materials and new ways to utilize the anomalous Nernst effect for practical applications.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2024

Researchers succeed in controlling quantum states in a new energy range

Scientists successfully produced and controlled hybrid electron-photon quantum states in helium atoms, enabling direct manipulation of these transient states. This breakthrough uses a new laser pulse-shaping technique and high-intensity extreme ultraviolet light pulses to achieve control over the hybrid quantum states.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·DateDec 12, 2024
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.

Researchers reveal key factors behind Japan’s plastic waste removal rates in rivers

A nationwide analysis of Japan's plastic litter removal from rivers found that natural disasters and extreme weather events contribute to spikes in collected plastic waste. The study, led by Tokyo University of Science, also identified positive correlations between basin population, plastic litter recovery, and cleanup activities.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 12, 2024

Older Australians turning to cannabis as cigarette prices rise

A study by Curtin University found that when cigarette prices increased, cannabis use among older Australians (aged over 50) rose, with 68,000 people expected to start using cannabis. Researchers used data from the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey and ran simulations to predict the impact of price increases.

SourceCurtin University·JournalJournal of Population Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 12, 2024

Uncovering hidden consequences of catch-and-release sport fishing

A recent study by UMass Amherst and international partners found that giant trevally sport fishing in Seychelles is sensitive to catch-and-release pressure. The research used acoustic telemetry and mark-and-recapture programs to track fish behavior, revealing potential unintended consequences of the practice.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences·DateDec 12, 2024

Durham University scientists unlock secrets of the longest runout sediment flows on earth using seabed seismographs

Researchers successfully monitored turbidity currents in the Congo Canyon-Channel, recording massive flows that travelled over 1,000 kilometres at speeds of up to 7.6 metres per second. The study provided critical new data on the duration and behaviour of turbidity currents, challenging traditional models.

SourceDurham University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 12, 2024
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.

Aldabra Atoll's remarkable shoreline resilience over 51 years

A new study published in Scientific Reports reveals that Aldabra Atoll's shoreline has maintained its net shoreline and total land area over 51 years, with an average change rate of 25 cm per year. The lagoon shoreline underwent more rapid changes than the ocean shoreline, particularly in areas exposed to wind and waves.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2024