Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive July 2024


Page 18 of 41

From roots to leaves: The nitrogen connection to photosynthetic efficiency

Researchers found that different nitrogen forms impact leaf anatomy, affecting photosynthesis efficiency. NH4+ nutrition leads to lower photosynthesis due to thicker cell walls and fewer chloroplasts. Optimizing nitrogen form applications can enhance photosynthesis and plant growth, particularly in crops like Lonicera japonica.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

PEPITEM – a novel protective agent for inflammageing

Researchers found that administering PEPITEM to older mice reduced exaggerated immune responses, indicating a potential geroprotective agent. The study also revealed an age-related decline in the PEPITEM pathway, which could be rescued by the peptide.

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.

Rice researchers unveil secrets behind viral precision

Researchers from Rice University discovered that viruses achieve precise timing in cell lysis by balancing the buildup and breakdown of holin proteins. This balance ensures optimal cell bursting, essential for viral replication, despite underlying randomness in biological processes.

Can doomscrolling trigger an existential crisis?

A recent study found that habitual doomscrolling on social media can lead to feelings of existential anxiety, pessimism about human nature, and distrust. Researchers surveyed 800 university students from Iran and the US, discovering a link between excessive negative news consumption and increased anxiety, despair, and misanthropy.

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.

Energy efficiency may keep rodents at bay

A Yale University study suggests that retrofitting homes with efficient insulation and sealing leaky windows can reduce rodent infestations, while also decreasing wasteful energy usage. The research found that large-scale retrofitting schemes can be effective in excluding rats from homes and increasing predation across neighborhoods.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

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 therapist wants you to go outside

A meta-analysis of existing research found that spending time in nature, even as little as 10 minutes, can yield short-term benefits for adults with mental illness. The analysis examined 30 years of published research on the social, mental, and physical health effects of exposure to nature.

Peeling back the genetic layers of stone fruit domestication

Researchers have discovered significant chromosomal translocations in the apricot genome affecting acidity and sugar content. The study also found substantial gene flow between plum and apricot, with introgression regions linked to post-embryonic development and pollen germination.

Good timing: UNLV study unravels how our brains track time

The UNLV study found that brain activity patterns change with the number of experiences, not time, and that increasing speed affects perception. The research suggests that our brains register a 'vibe' about time, making it faster when we're having fun or doing tasks efficiently.

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.

Exoplanet-hunting telescope to begin search for another Earth in 2026

The European Space Agency's PLATO mission aims to find nearby potentially habitable worlds around Sun-like stars. The space telescope will blast into orbit in December 2026 and study the stars using a range of techniques, including asteroseismology, to work out their masses, radii, and ages.

Unlocking the power of nanopores

Researchers have successfully designed transmembrane β-barrel pores with custom shapes and properties, enabling miniaturization of sensing and sequencing applications into portable devices. The design method uses computational tools to control the shape and chemistry on a molecular level, resulting in stable and quiet signal generation.

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.

Nature's gender reveal: Key gene controls female flowers in Cucurbita pepo

A recent study has identified the CpMYB62 transcription factor as a key regulator of female flower development in Cucurbita pepo. The researchers found that this gene mutation impairs female floral transition and can be partially reversed by ethylene, indicating its critical role in sex determination pathways.

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.

Understanding the benefits of GLP-1 drugs beyond obesity

Research highlights additional health benefits of GLP-1 drugs beyond glucose and weight control, including reduced heart and kidney diseases. The potential mechanisms underlying these benefits include reducing systemic inflammation and its effects on various cellular pathways.

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.

Minerals play newly discovered role in Earth’s phosphorus cycle

Researchers discovered a new mechanism by which iron oxide minerals recycle phosphorus from DNA and RNA molecules, transforming them into bioavailable inorganic forms. This finding uncovers a missing piece of Earth's puzzling phosphorus cycle, highlighting the importance of understanding natural phosphorus recycling mechanisms.

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.

In China, property rights take wrong turn

A new study by Kishore Gawande finds that China's nationwide protection of private property rights in 2007 turbocharged its business climate. However, the country is now reversing course, with potential investors pulling back due to weakening property rights. This could lead to lower economic output and tax revenues for local governments.

Using AI to scrutinize, validate theories on animal evolution

A new study uses machine learning to analyze the genetic diversity of two amphibian species, finding that different processes shaped their evolution. The research suggests that population demographic events and contemporary landscape factors played a significant role in shaping the genetic variation of these species.

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.

AI-powered optical detection to thwart counterfeit chips

A new method uses deep learning and gold nanoparticle patterns to detect tampered chips with high accuracy. The approach outperforms previous methods in detecting counterfeit chips, offering a promising solution for the $75 billion industry.

Engineering: Tool predicts rogue waves up to 5 minutes in advance

A new neural network-based tool can predict the emergence of rogue waves up to five minutes into the future with 75% accuracy. The tool has been trained on 14 million sea surface elevation measurements and was able to correctly forecast rogue waves near 172 buoys in the continental US and Pacific Islands.

Foraging niches narrow near birds’ geographic range edges

Researchers found that fruit-eating birds eat more closely matched fruits near their geographic range edges, resulting in a narrower foraging niche. This specialization may help explain geographic variation in species' fitness and responses to environmental change.

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.

Illinois studies explore converting wastewater to fertilizer with fungal treatment

Studies explore converting leftover wastewater from hydrothermal liquefaction into fertilizer for agricultural crops. Using a fungal treatment, researchers found significant increases in nitrate and ammonia concentrations, increasing nutrient availability. The method also removes toxic compounds, enabling circular economy applications.

Bubbling with benefits: Hydrogen nanobubbles boost tomato antioxidants

Researchers discovered that hydrogen nanobubble irrigation boosts tomato antioxidants by 16.3–264.8% compared to traditional irrigation methods. The unique ability of hydrogen nanobubbles overcomes the limitations of hydrogen's low solubility and fast diffusion, promoting higher antioxidant levels in tomatoes.

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.