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Science News Archive July 2024


Page 20 of 41

Researchers identify brain circuits tied to the behavior of schooling fish

Studies in glassfish reveal that vision plays a crucial role in coordinated schooling behavior, with maturity also essential for developing this ability. Researchers discovered that older fish can distinguish between movement patterns of their social partners, allowing them to align their bodies and swim together effectively.

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.

Genome recording makes living cells their own historians

Researchers have developed ENGRAM, a method that records cell signals and biological states as they occur inside living cells. This approach offers a novel way to capture biological information in living systems, potentially helping answer questions about cellular pasts and futures.

Gender inequality across US states revealed by new tool

A new tool has been developed to compare gender inequality among different US states, revealing substantial gender disparities across the country. States with higher gender inequality scores tend to have lower measures of women's wellbeing and fewer tweets about the #MeToo movement.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A hydrogel implant to treat endometriosis

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a hydrogel implant to treat endometriosis by preventing retrograde menstruation and acting as a barrier to sperm. The implant can be easily destroyed and is compatible with native tissue, offering a promising non-surgical solution for women suffering from the condition.

Groundwater is key to protecting global ecosystems

A new study maps global ecosystems dependent on groundwater, revealing 53% are under threat from depletion and only 21% protected. The dataset provides critical information for conservation efforts, with an accuracy rate of 87%.

The courtship of leopard seals off the coast of South America

Researchers have made groundbreaking insights into the reproductive behaviors of a mysterious apex predator, leopard seals. A two-hour courtship interaction between a male and female leopard seal in Laguna San Rafael, Chile, revealed complexity in their behavior, including in-air calls by females and underwater vocalizations.

Want to spot a deepfake? Look for the stars in their eyes

Researchers analyzed reflections of light on human eyeballs in real and AI-generated images, finding that fake images often lack consistency between left and right eye reflections. The study employed methods typically used in astronomy to quantify the reflections and checked for consistency.

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.

New antidote for cobra bites discovered

A team of scientists at the University of Sydney has repurposed a commonly used blood thinner, heparin, as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom. The discovery could drastically reduce the impact of snakebites worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where cobra species account for most snakebite incidents.

Autoantibodies behind lifelong risk of viral infections

A new study reveals that about two percent of the population develop autoantibodies against type 1 interferons, making them more susceptible to severe viral infections. The autoantibodies remain detectable in the blood for life and are associated with a compromised type 1 interferon system.

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.

Engineering resilience: Advanced FEM enhances earthquake impact assessment

Researchers introduce a velocity-based space-time finite element method to tackle complex dynamics of soil-structure interaction during seismic events, offering superior accuracy and stability in long-duration simulations. This approach can contribute to the creation of safer and more resilient infrastructure, potentially saving lives ...

Soft, stretchy ‘jelly batteries’ inspired by electric eels

Scientists have created a new type of battery that is soft and stretchable, making it suitable for wearables and medical implants. The 'jelly batteries' use hydrogels to deliver an electric current and can be stretched up to ten times their original length without losing conductivity.

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.

Groundwater is key to protecting global ecosystems

A new study maps global ecosystems dependent on groundwater, revealing 53% exist in areas with known depletion. The analysis provides critical data for conservation efforts, but highlights the need for policy protection and preservation.

Immune cells monitor blood platelet maturation in bone marrow

Researchers at LMU University Hospital have discovered that plasmacytoid dendritic cells control the formation of new megakaryocytes from progenitor cells in bone marrow, regulating platelet production and potentially treating Covid-19. The study found pDCs precisely adjust MK quantities to meet bodily needs.

Scientists bridge the 'valley of death' for carbon capture technologies

A team of scientists from Heriot-Watt University has developed an AI-powered platform called PrISMa to accelerate the discovery of top-performing materials for carbon capture applications. The platform uses advanced simulations and machine learning to identify cost-effective and sustainable material-capture process combinations.

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.

Llama nanobodies: A breakthrough in building HIV immunity

Researchers at Georgia State University have developed a new antibody therapy using llama-derived nanobodies that can broadly neutralize numerous strains of HIV-1. The nanobodies mimic the recognition of the CD4 receptor, offering unprecedented neutralizing abilities and potential for single-molecule treatment.

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.

Forests endure as carbon sink despite regional pressures

The world's forests continue to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, with an average of 3.5 billion metric tons per year, nearly half of global fossil fuel emissions between 1990 and 2019. Despite disruptions, certain land management practices can help preserve this critical carbon sink.

Singing the science: Using karaoke to examine blushing

A new study uses karaoke to examine the neural substrates of blushing. Researchers found that blushing is associated with increased activity in the cerebellum and early visual areas, suggesting a role for automatic arousal in self-conscious emotions.

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.

Although tiny, peatland microorganisms have a big impact on climate

Peatland microorganisms have been found to metabolize polyphenols using alternative enzymes with and without oxygen. This discovery highlights the significance of polyphenols in peatland carbon dynamics and suggests that climate change may release more stored carbon into the atmosphere than previously thought.

Mayo Clinic scientists define new type of memory loss in older adults

Mayo Clinic scientists have established criteria for a memory-loss syndrome in older adults that specifically impacts the brain's limbic system. The syndrome, called Limbic-predominant Amnestic Neurodegenerative Syndrome (LANS), progresses more slowly and has a better prognosis than Alzheimer's disease.

The most endangered fish are the least studied

A recent study published in Science Advances found that the most threatened reef fishes receive less attention from scientists and the public due to commercial value vs. ecological importance. Small fish families like blennies and gobies are underrepresented despite their crucial role in trophodynamics.

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.

Sea ice's cooling power is waning faster than its area of extent

Researchers found that sea ice's cooling power decreased by about twice as much as the decrease in annual average sea ice area since 1980. The Arctic has seen the largest declines in sea ice cooling power, while the Antarctic's cooling power has also weakened since 2016.

All FODMAPs aren’t created equal: Working toward alternative diets to manage IBS

New studies suggest a simplified, less restrictive low FODMAP diet may be effective for managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The alternative 'FODMAP-simple' diet restricts only fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides without restricting other FODMAP groups. This approach may reduce symptoms and improve patient adherence to the diet.

Children living in greener neighborhoods show better lung function

A meta-analysis of 35,000 children from eight European countries has found a robust link between exposure to green spaces and better lung function. Children living in greener neighborhoods had higher forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), indicating improved airway function.

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.

Key driver for epithelial cancer development identified

A distinct TNF-α signaling program has been identified as a key driver of epithelial cancer development, contributing to cell proliferation and invasion. The researchers found that this program is active in both normal tissues and tumors, but its level of activity correlates with tumor aggressiveness.

Data protection laws reduced breaches but affected firms’ value

Research by University of East Anglia and University of Texas found that stricter data privacy laws significantly reduced breaches, but negatively affected firms' market value. Companies compliant with GDPR invested more in data protection and were less likely to experience data breaches.

Forests endure as carbon sink despite regional pressures

A new study reveals that global forests have consistently absorbed carbon dioxide for the past three decades, with tropical forests experiencing a decline in their ability to absorb carbon due to deforestation. However, temperate forests have shown an increase in their carbon sink capacity, largely due to extensive reforestation efforts.

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.

Smart soil can water and feed itself

A newly engineered hydrogel-infused soil system has been developed to capture water from the air and release nutrients, resulting in larger, healthier plants using less water and fertilizer. The technology has shown promising results in experiments, with a 138% increase in stem length compared to regular soil.

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.

Paving the way to extremely fast, compact computer memory

The layered multiferroic material nickel iodide (NiI2) has been found to have greater magnetoelectric coupling than any known material of its kind, making it a prime candidate for technology advances. This property could enable the creation of magnetic computer memories that are compact, energy-efficient and can be stored and retrieved...

Logged forests can still have ecological value – if not pushed too far

A study analyzing 127 studies reveals 'thresholds' for logged rainforests to sustain themselves. Beyond a certain threshold, serious proactive conservation is needed to maintain biodiversity; otherwise, the forests rapidly lose their ecological value. The findings expand the scope of which forests are considered worth conserving.

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.

University of Cambridge students who undertook an 8 week mindfulness course were still reporting more frequent experiences of disembodiment and of unity a year later, in randomized controlled trial examining altered states of consciousness

University of Cambridge students who undertook an 8-week mindfulness course reported increased frequencies of disembodiment and unity up to a year after the program. The randomized controlled trial found long-term effects of mindfulness on altered states of consciousness.

A new approach to accelerate the discovery of quantum materials

Researchers developed a new method to find breakthrough materials for quantum applications by combining theoretical screening with atomic-scale fabrication. The approach identified promising defects in materials such as tungsten disulfide, which have never been seen before.

Breastfeeding priorities most important to parents

A collaborative effort between The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and Reaching our Sisters Everywhere identified key components of a successful breastfeeding journey as defined by parents and families. The findings aim to inform research priorities and promote patient-centered outcomes in infant and young-child feeding.