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Science News for July 5, 2024


Military service's hidden health toll: servicewomen and their families endure increased chronic pain

A new study reveals that military women and female family members face significantly higher risks of chronic pain, with those serving during periods of heightened combat deployments facing a 53% higher likelihood of developing the condition. The study also found associations between chronic pain, mental health, and socioeconomic status.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateJul 5, 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.

Smoking a key lifestyle factor linked to cognitive decline among older adults

A new study published in Nature Communications found that smoking is a key lifestyle factor contributing to cognitive decline among older adults. Non-smokers who engaged in healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, and social activity experienced significantly slower cognitive decline compared to smokers.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 5, 2024

Migrating starlings are no copycats

Researchers re-analyzed historical data from a classic displacement experiment and found that young starlings migrated independently, using their own direction. Adult starlings adjusted their migratory orientation to reach their normal wintering areas, while local conspecifics influenced the route of relocated young starlings.

SourceNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW)·JournalBiology Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 5, 2024

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and 13 obesity-associated cancers in patients with type 2 diabetes

Researchers found GLP-1 receptor agonists lower risks of certain obesity-associated cancers in patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting potential benefits for cancer prevention in high-risk populations. The study provides preliminary evidence supporting further preclinical and clinical studies to prevent specific obesity-linked cancers.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 5, 2024

Diagnosing and managing obesity – no longer just about BMI

A new framework for diagnosing and managing obesity in adults proposes modernizing obesity diagnosis to take account of all the latest developments in the field. The authors recognize that BMI alone is insufficient as a diagnostic criterion and that body fat distribution has a substantial effect on health.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of Obesity·JournalNature Medicine·DateJul 5, 2024
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Ionic liquids: “Don’t shake it”

Researchers developed a technique to separate well-mixed mixtures, creating an economically viable process for synthesizing and purifying ionic liquids like [bmim][BF4]. High-purity [bmim][BF4] was produced with a purity exceeding 99%, and the recovered layer containing methylimidazole could be recycled.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·DateJul 5, 2024

Why aortic aneurysms form at the arch or in the abdominal segment

Researchers identified patterns of upregulated genes in aortic endothelium that contribute to aneurysm formation. They also found stiffer endothelium in sites prone to aneurysms, which can lead to vessel wall alterations and increased risk of rupture.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngiogenesis·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2024

Self-driving technology: improving safety through sound

A new partnership has developed a functional safety sensing platform based on 3D ultrasound, providing an additional layer of safety and reliability for autonomous vehicles. The technology complements existing systems and enables vehicles to detect their surroundings in real-time, even in extreme conditions.

SourceCranfield University·DateJul 5, 2024
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Fresh wind blows from historical supernova

Researchers recreated the structure of supernova remnant SN 1181 using a new computer model, explaining its double shock formation. The study also found that high-speed stellar winds may have started blowing from its surface within the past 20-30 years.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 5, 2024

"Motion picture" view of warped Milky Way reveals shape of its dark matter halo

A research team used the "motion picture" method to measure the precession rate of the Milky Way's disk warp, revealing a slightly oblate dark matter halo with a flattening ratio between 0.84 and 0.96. The study found that the current dark matter halo exhibits a retrograde precession direction at a rate of 2 km/s/kpc.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 5, 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.

MIT engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions

Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to make microbes hardy enough to withstand industrial processing, high temperatures, radiation, and long-term storage. The method involves mixing bacteria with food and drug additives, resulting in stable formulations that can be used in various applications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 5, 2024

Innovative battery design: More energy and less environmental impact

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to reduce fluorine in lithium metal batteries, increasing their stability and efficiency. The new design requires only 0.1% by weight of fluorine, reducing the environmental footprint of these high-energy batteries.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateJul 5, 2024

Why the U.S. food system needs agroecology

The US food system is dominated by industrial agriculture, which perpetuates global challenges like food insecurity and biodiversity loss. Agroecology offers a solution, prioritizing ecological and social sustainability without sacrificing one for the other.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalNature Food·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 5, 2024

Based on the improvement of detection technology, a new summary is proposed for the application of liquid biopsy, future clinical trial design and patient management of NSCLC

Researchers propose a new TNMB staging system incorporating blood minimal residual disease status to enhance accuracy in lung cancer prognosis. Liquid biopsy technology shows promise in early detection, treatment evaluation, and recurrence monitoring of NSCLC.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateJul 5, 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.

Desert-loving fungi and lichens pose deadly threat to 5,000-year-old rock art

A study published in Frontiers in Fungal Biology reveals that microcolonial fungi and lichens on petroglyphs in the Negev desert can cause gradual erosion and damage. The researchers identified multiple species of these fungi and lichens, which are known to thrive in hot and cold deserts.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Fungal Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2024

Thousands of high-risk cancer gene variants identified

Scientists have mapped over 5,000 genetic variants in the 'tumour protection' gene BAP1 that significantly increase cancer risk. These variants can be used to develop new treatments, including IGF-1 inhibitors, to slow down or prevent cancer progression.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2024

New probe reveals water-ice microstructures

A team developed a new detection method using organic phosphorescent probes and phosphorescence spectroscopy to study organic molecules in water ice. The study found that adding trace amounts of small or large molecular organics can significantly inhibit the crystalline order of water ice.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateJul 5, 2024

Current strategies ineffective in controlling Salmonella Dublin in Danish cattle

Researchers found that disease transmission between farms persists despite movement restrictions, with cattle movement activities being the strongest predictor of farm infections. The study calls for a multifaceted approach to managing Salmonella Dublin, including closer monitoring and targeted interventions.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalJournal of Dairy Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 5, 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.

How listening for the right buzz keeps mosquitoes from mating with the wrong species

Researchers discovered that male mosquitoes listen for specific sound frequencies made by females of their own species to avoid mating with the wrong species. This finding has implications for developing innovative mosquito control strategies using artificial flight sounds. The study aims to prevent mosquito populations from reaching u...

SourceInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2024

Offshore windfarms – A threat for electro-sensitive sharks?

New research reveals offshore windfarm electromagnetic fields have minimal impact on shark growth and survival, but ongoing studies aim to improve understanding of effects on marine species. The study focused on small-spotted catshark development under control and windfarm-impacted conditions using AC or DC currents.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology·DateJul 5, 2024

A 2D device for quantum cooling

Researchers at EPFL's Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures have fabricated a device that efficiently converts heat into electrical voltage at temperatures lower than outer space. The innovative device exploits the Nernst effect, a complex thermoelectric phenomenon, to achieve unprecedented performance.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 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.

Scientists create first mouse model with complete, functional human immune system

Researchers have developed a humanized mouse model with a fully functional human immune system, enabling the study of immunotherapy development, disease modeling, and vaccine development. The new model, called TruHuX, mounts specific antibody responses and can develop full-fledged systemic lupus autoimmunity.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2024

Revealing a master controller of development and ageing

University of Queensland researchers have unlocked molecular secrets of ageing in cells, identifying 'master controller' genes that regulate development and ageing processes. The study found these genes progressively activate adult genes while dialling down early-life genes involved in development.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 5, 2024

USTC realizes time reversal through input-output indefiniteness

A research team from USTC has demonstrated the realization of time reversal through input-output indefiniteness in a photonic system, achieving a high success probability of 99.6%. This breakthrough shows significant advantages over traditional methods and opens up new possibilities for quantum information and photonic technologies.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 5, 2024