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Science News Archive February 2024


Page 30 of 38

The unexpected long-term consequences of female fertility

Research from the German Cancer Research Center reveals that repetitive changes in female reproductive organs over time lead to chronic inflammation and fibrosis, which may contribute to increased uterine cancer risk. The study mapped the effects of estrous cycle, pregnancy, and aging on the reproductive tract.

Innovative screening can detect 'cancer fingerprint' in dogs

Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a simple, noninvasive, rapid screen to detect cancer in dogs using urine analysis. The test is more than 90% accurate and provides a preliminary understanding of whether a dog has cancer markers in minutes.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A study finds a molecular mechanism related to neuronal death

A study has identified a molecular complex regulating mitochondrial transport and distribution in neurons, which may help locate new therapeutic targets against neurodegenerative diseases. The discovery could also provide insights into the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Shaking up the future: A breakthrough in motion detection technology

A recent study introduces a MEMS accelerometer with advanced self-centering and stiffness control mechanisms, improving both precision and temperature stability. This innovation enables more reliable and accurate applications in critical areas like space exploration and environmental monitoring.

BESSY II: Molecular orbitals determine stability

Researchers at BESSY II used RIXS and DFT simulations to analyze the electronic structures of fumarate, maleate, and succinate dianions. The study found that maleate is potentially less stable than fumarate and succinate due to its delocalized HOMO orbital, which can lead to weaker binding with molecules or ions.

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.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Using cancer’s strength to fight against it

Scientists at Northwestern University and UCSF have developed a new technique to enhance the potency of human T cells against cancer. By studying mutations in malignant T cells, they were able to create T cells that can kill tumors derived from skin, lung, and stomach cancers in mice.

Scientists develop a low-cost device to make cell therapy safer

A microfluidic chip can remove undifferentiated cells that could form tumors before they are implanted in a patient, improving the safety and effectiveness of cell therapy. The device can sort over 3 million cells per minute without causing damage to fully-formed progenitor cells.

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.

Music may bring health benefits for older adults, poll suggests

A new poll of people aged 50 to 80 found that nearly all older adults say music helps relieve stress and improve their mental health. The study also revealed that music plays a significant role in social connections and brain health, with 98% of respondents benefiting from engaging with music.

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.

Getting to know the ​‘ghost’ inside batteries

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory discovered soft-shorts, tiny voltage fluctuations that indicate the early signs of battery failure. These transient short-circuits occur when lithium filaments grow from the anode to the cathode, disrupting ion flow between electrodes and potentially leading to permanent internal shorts.

Researchers develop and test the first unmanned forestry machine

Researchers developed an unmanned forestry machine that can safely pick up logs using computer vision, autonomous navigation, and manipulator control algorithms. The machine reduces labor costs while minimizing environmental impact, promoting sustainable forestry.

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.

Reducing harmful health screenings and overtreatment in older adults

Researchers at Northwestern University found a significant decrease in screenings for prostate cancer and urinary tract infections after implementing point-of-care alerts. The study showed a 9% reduction in PSA screenings and a 5.5% reduction in urine testing, with minimal changes in overtreatment of blood sugar.

Bacteria in the mouth linked to pulmonary fibrosis survival

A new study found that one bacterial species, Streptococcus mitis, dominates in IPF patients not treated with antibiotics and is associated with better lung function and survival. This protective relationship does not apply to patients who received antibiotics.

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.

MXene-coated devices can guide microwaves in space and lighten the payload

Drexel University researchers develop a lightweight alternative to metal components in satellites by coating 3D-printed polymers with MXene, a conductive nanomaterial. The MXene-coated waveguides weigh up to eight times less than traditional aluminum ones and maintain nearly 95% transmission efficiency.

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.

How the brain’s internal compass guides the body

A recent study published in Nature sheds light on how the brain's internal compass guides behavior, using fruit flies as a model organism. Three distinct groups of neurons enable communication between the compass and steering regions, translating signals into behavior to keep the fly moving in the right direction.

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.

Does your community have a personality type?

Researchers developed a novel approach to measuring community personality and found that people in like-minded communities tend to be happier, healthier, and more highly achieving. Communities differ significantly in terms of personality traits, with some counties having high proportions of open-minded or conscientious individuals.

AI as a physicist

Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich have programmed an AI that can recognize patterns in complex data sets and formulate them in a physical theory. The AI uses physics for machine learning to simplify complex interactions and build up a new theory.

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.

New guidelines for reporting clinical trials of biofield therapies

A new set of guidelines for reporting clinical trials of biofield therapies has been introduced, providing a 15-item intervention checklist to include detailed information on intervention protocols. The goal is to expedite peer review, facilitate trial replication, and inform decision-making in the clinical practice of biofield therapies.

Rice’s Santiago Segarra wins NSF CAREER Award

Assistant Professor Santiago Segarra at Rice University has won the NSF CAREER Award to develop a new approach for AI-powered climate prediction by leveraging structural properties in real-world data. The research aims to create more effective learning algorithms for structured domains.

Inexpensive, carbon-neutral biofuels are finally possible

A new study reveals that introducing a simple, renewable chemical to the pretreatment step can make next-generation biofuel production cost-effective and carbon neutral. A CELF biorefinery can more fully utilize plant matter than earlier methods, resulting in sustainable aviation fuel at a break-even price of $3.15 per gallon.

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.

EVs that go 1,000km on a single charge: Gel makes it possible

Researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology developed a new gel-based battery system using micro silicon particles and gel polymer electrolytes, enabling stable performance even with larger silicon particles. The system exhibits improved energy density and is ready for immediate application.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Group rehabilitation improves quality of life for people with long covid

A new trial published in The BMJ found that an online programme of physical and mental health rehabilitation can improve fatigue, pain, and depression in adults with long COVID. The REGAIN programme was well-tolerated and led to sustained improvements in quality of life at three and 12 months compared to usual care.

Q&A: Helping robots identify objects in cluttered spaces

Researchers developed a way for robots to recognize objects even when partially obscured, using a visual perception system and topology. The THOR (Teaching Humans Object Recognition) method outperforms current state-of-the-art models in cluttered spaces, including warehouses and homes.

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.

UK austerity politics correlated with increased frailty in the oldest adults

Researchers analyzed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and found that public spending cuts during austerity (2012-2018) led to a steeper increase in frailty with age compared to pre-austerity period. This association was observed across all population groups, but particularly among the oldest people.

England’s oldest became frailer during austerity, study suggests

Frailty levels dropped in the 2000s but increased steeply in the 2010s due to austerity measures, leading to a significant decline in health among the UK's oldest adults. The study warns that any new austerity measures should be carefully considered given their potential impact on long-term health.

Resting boosts performance of lithium metal batteries

Researchers at Stanford University have discovered that resting lithium metal batteries in the discharged state can restore capacity and boost overall performance. By reprogramming the battery management software, lost capacity can be recovered without additional cost or changes needed for equipment, materials, or production flow.