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Science News Archive February 2024


Page 17 of 38

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.

Researchers discover two new isotopes

Researchers have synthesized two new isotopes, osmium-160 and tungsten-156, which may indicate that lead-164 could be a doubly magic nucleus with increased stability. The study explores the relationship between proton number and decay rate, suggesting an enhancement of shell closure towards the proton drip line.

SFU researchers develop AI that can understand light in photographs

Researchers at Simon Fraser University have developed an AI approach to intrinsic decomposition, separating images into lighting effects and true colours of objects. This innovation enables a range of applications, including image compositing and augmented reality, making it accessible to content creators and post-production artists.

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.

Submonolayer biolasers: Lower gain, higher sensitivity

Researchers developed submonolayer biolasers on optical fibers with ultrahigh Q-factors, achieving a six-order-of-magnitude improvement in lower limit of detection compared to monolayer biolasers. The sensors showed potential for high-throughput clinical diagnosis and cost-effective early disease detection.

It's the spin that makes the difference

Scientists discover magnetic effects trigger preferential binding of molecules to surface, filtering out 'wrong' spins. This finding could have implications for understanding the origins of life's homochirality.

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.

Cracking the code to a healthier potato chip

Researchers have identified the specific gene responsible for cold-induced sweetening and uncovered the regulatory element that switches it on under cold temperatures. This discovery holds promise for developing potatoes that are naturally resistant to cold-induced sweetening and producing toxic compounds.

Blocking key protein may halt progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Scientists have discovered that inhibiting the Mdm2 protein can prevent the destruction of synapses and dendritic spines in Alzheimer's disease. This breakthrough could lead to a new approach for treating the disease, which may be more effective than current anti-amyloid therapies.

High persuasiveness of propaganda written by AI

A study published in PNAS Nexus found that AI-generated propaganda was almost as effective as real propaganda in persuading US adults. The research used a large language model to generate new articles based on existing propaganda, with 43.5% of respondents agreeing with the claims after reading the AI-written articles.

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.

Warm Atlantic water is melting Greenland’s largest floating ice tongue

A team from the Alfred Wegener Institute found that warm Atlantic water is melting Greenland's 79° North Glacier, causing it to grow thinner. The study used a high-resolution ocean model to simulate the circulation below the ice tongue, revealing that higher ocean temperatures in the Atlantic are chiefly determining the melting rates.

Avid appetite in childhood linked to later eating disorder symptoms

A new study found that high food responsiveness in early childhood is linked to a higher likelihood of experiencing eating disorder symptoms in adolescence. Children who exhibited high levels of hunger and desire for food were more likely to develop binge eating, emotional eating, and restrictive eating behaviors.

Bar-Ilan University researchers produce “laboratory testicles”

The team successfully created 'laboratory testicles' that closely simulate a natural testicle, allowing for the potential production of sperm cells in the lab. The artificial testicles were cultured from immature testicular cells sampled from neonatal mice and showed signs of meiosis, a process in which gametes are produced.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

A sustainable fuel and chemical from the robotic lab

The Swiss Cat+ project uses a combination of artificial intelligence and automated laboratory infrastructure to find new and better metal catalysts for producing methanol from CO2. The team successfully developed around 150 catalyst compositions in under six weeks, saving time and improving conversion rates.

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.

Failure to pass fire levies can lower house values

UC economists found that fire protection funding has a significant impact on housing values, with cuts resulting in an average decrease of $15,000. However, prices return to normal within a few years. In contrast, parks and recreation funding is associated with higher home values three years after renewal.

Researchers are using RNA in a new approach to fight HIV

A new approach to fighting HIV has been developed using RNA, specifically small interfering RNAs (siRNA), which regulate gene expression in cells. This nanomedicine was shown to reduce HIV replication by 73% and is intended for vaginal application to prevent sexual transmission.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Engineering a coating for disease-free produce

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a coating that bolsters the safety of fresh produce and provides enhanced protection against bacteria and fungi. The coating combines wax with nano-encapsulated cinnamon-bark essential oil in protein carriers to enhance antibacterial properties.

Ancient genomes reveal Down Syndrome in past societies

Researchers identified six ancient individuals with an extra copy of Chromosome 21 and another with three copies of Chromosome 18, indicating care and appreciation from their communities. These findings suggest that children with Down Syndrome and Edwards Syndrome were not stigmatized but rather recognized as part of their societies.

275 million new genetic variants identified in NIH precision medicine data

Researchers have identified over 275 million previously unreported genetic variants from nearly 250,000 participants in the All of Us Research Program. These discoveries provide new pathways to understand the genetic influences on health and disease, particularly in communities historically left out of research.

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.

Paderborn physicists develop new solar cell

Physicists at Paderborn University have developed a new solar cell design using tetracene, which significantly increases efficiency. The introduction of defects in the organic layer accelerates exciton transfer to silicon, reducing energy losses and increasing overall yield of usable energy.

Annual breast cancer screening beginning at 40 saves lives

A new study published in Radiology found that annual breast cancer screening beginning at age 40 and continuing until 79 results in the highest mortality reduction. The study analyzed Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) estimates and showed that annual screening reduces breast cancer deaths by 41.7%.

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.

Rutgers professor of computer science is named Sloan Fellow

Aaron Bernstein, a Rutgers professor of computer science, has been selected as a 2024 Sloan Research Fellow for his groundbreaking research on graph algorithms. He plans to use the fellowship to fund a postdoctoral associate on a new project and advance his work on optimizing computational procedures.

Junk DNA in birds may hold key to safe, efficient gene therapy

A new technique employing a retrotransposon from birds may provide a safer alternative to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing by inserting genes into a designated 'safe harbor' in the genome. This approach could complement CRISPR technology and enable efficient gene supplementation for hereditary diseases.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

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.

Drug overdose deaths higher among American visitors to Florida than rest of US

Researchers found that American visitors to Florida were 63% more likely to die from a drug overdose compared to visitors to all other states. The high proportion of overdose deaths among visitors to Florida may be attributed to the state's 'Florida Shuffle' treatment loop and lack of regulation in pain management clinics.

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.

To boost a preschooler’s language skills, consider reminiscing

A study by Florida Atlantic University finds that reminiscing with children elicits high-quality speech from parents, similar to book sharing. The activity was found to increase lexical richness and grammatical complexity in parent speech, benefiting children's language growth.

Genetic risk prediction for 10 chronic diseases moves closer to the clinic

A team of researchers at the Broad Institute has developed 10 polygenic risk scores for use in clinical research, optimizing them for diverse populations. The tests calculate a person's lifetime odds of developing diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and can help guide clinical decision-making.

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.

Giant new snake species identified in the Amazon

A new species of giant anaconda, Eunectes akayima, has been discovered in the Amazon by a team of scientists led by Professor Bryan Fry. The anaconda measures up to 6.3 meters long and weighs around 500 kilograms, making it one of the largest known species of anacondas.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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