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Science News Archive March 2024 - Page 28


Page 28 of 42

Advancing tissue engineering with shape memory hydrogels

Scientists create a hydrogel system that can remember its shape, allowing them to control cell adhesion behavior. The elastic modulus of the hydrogel is adjusted by compressing it into different thicknesses at high temperatures.

SourceDoshisha University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2024

Explicit socioemotional learning can have a key role in PE lessons, study says

Researchers found that explicitly teaching socioemotional skills in PE lessons can have a key role in supporting students' communication skills, handling stress and accepting failure. This approach can be integrated into everyday teaching to ensure young adolescents enjoy positive outcomes linked to wellbeing and academic success.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPastoral Care in Education·TypeObservational study·DateMar 13, 2024

A breakthrough in all-solid-state battery technology, enhancing the performance of the lithium from the bottom

A research team developed an anode protection layer to prevent random electrodeposition of lithium, promoting stable 'bottom electrodeposition' and reducing unnecessary consumption. The breakthrough results in all-solid-state batteries with stable electrochemical performance over extended periods using ultrathin lithium metal anodes.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalSmall·DateMar 13, 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.

“Find pearls in the soil” unveiling the magic of hydrogen production from municipal sewage

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology created a novel catalyst that enhances the efficiency of reactions using contaminated municipal sewage to produce hydrogen. The catalyst, called nickel-iron-oxalate (O-NFF), successfully lowers the voltage required for hydrogen generation and promotes the urea oxidation reaction.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 13, 2024

Simple trick could improve accuracy of plant genetics research

Researchers have developed a technique to account for global changes in transcription, revealing new insights into how plants respond to environmental stimuli. By using artificial spike-ins, they found that temperature changes at different times of day affect gene expression more significantly than previously thought.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalThe Plant Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2024
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.

Explaining a supernova's 'string of pearls'

Researchers found that the Crow instability predicts the number and distribution of hydrogen gas clumps around supernovas, including SN1987A. The study suggests that the same mechanism responsible for breaking up airplane contrails may be at play, creating the 'string of pearls' effect.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 13, 2024

Lives could be saved from tropical disease with new rapid test

A new rapid test for melioidosis uses CRISPR technology to detect the genetic target of Burkholderia pseudomallei with 93% sensitivity. The test can diagnose patients in hours, allowing health professionals to prescribe the correct antibiotics faster and potentially saving lives.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalThe Lancet Microbe·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2024

Communications of the ACM relaunched as open access, web-first publication

Communications of the ACM has been revamped as a web-first, open-access publication, enabling rapid article publication and enhanced reader experience. The new model aims to increase engagement with the broader computer science community, expand author reach, and showcase cutting-edge ideas and research.

SourceAssociation for Computing Machinery·DateMar 13, 2024
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.

ANYmal can do parkour and walk across rubble

Researchers at ETH Zurich taught ANYmal, a quadrupedal robot, to perform parkour and navigate rubble using machine learning. The robot uses its camera and artificial neural network to determine obstacles and perform movements likely to succeed based on previous training.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Robotics·DateMar 13, 2024

Drought, soil desiccation cracking, and carbon dioxide emissions: an overlooked feedback loop exacerbating climate change

Tufts scientists highlight the overlooked feedback loop between drought, soil desiccation cracking, and carbon dioxide emissions, which could accelerate climate change. The study suggests that soil's 80% carbon storage capacity is releasing increasing amounts of greenhouse gases as droughts trigger cracks in soils.

SourceTufts University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2024

Steroid drugs used for HRT can combat E. coli and MRSA

Researchers from the University of Kent have identified steroid drugs used for hormone replacement therapy that can stop the growth of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and effectively kill MRSA. These findings suggest an alternative to conventional antibiotics, providing a potential solution to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 13, 2024

Tirzepatide reduces body weight and waist circumference in people living with overweight or obesity regardless of duration of their condition

New research shows tirzepatide consistently reduces bodyweight and waist circumference, with greater reductions in participants with longer disease durations. Tirzepatide also achieves higher weight loss targets and reduces waist circumference more significantly than placebo across all disease duration categories.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of Obesity·DateMar 13, 2024
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A simple intervention benefits cancer patients while saving hospitals money, Pitt study showed

A Phase III clinical trial showed that cancer patients who received specialized mental health support experienced lasting improvements in quality of life, reduced pain, depression, and fatigue. The intervention also led to lower risk of cardiovascular disease in family caregivers and substantial cost savings for the healthcare system.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalThe Lancet·DateMar 12, 2024

Breathing easy: new study declares waste-to-energy plants a low health risk

A recent study highlights the negligible impact of waste-to-energy plant emissions on public health in China's Bohai Rim. The research used advanced regression analysis to evaluate the health risks associated with living near WtE plants, finding that levels of pollutants were below international safety thresholds.

SourceNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEE·JournalEco-Environment & Health·DateMar 12, 2024

Discovery of a natural protective response in the brain could lead to treatments for concussions

A team of researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina has discovered a novel protective response by which the brain naturally repairs itself after traumatic brain injury. Protein p17 plays a crucial role in this process, triggering the restorative mechanism of mitophagy to remove damaged tissue and initiate healing.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2024
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.

Study reveals the role of the protein Kdm1a in maintaining neuronal identity

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that the Kdm1a protein is essential for preserving neuronal identity, and its loss or natural aging triggers the expression of genes that normally should not be expressed in neurons. The researchers found that eliminating this protein accelerates neuronal aging at an epigenetic level.

SourceUniversidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2024

Social-emotional growth linked to higher math and English scores

A new study found that increases in growth mindset and self-management predict higher math and ELA scores, as well as improved attendance rates comparable to additional days in the classroom. The research evaluated over 49,000 middle school students across four California districts.

SourceNew York University·JournalAERA Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 12, 2024
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Maternal obesity may promote liver cancer

A study found that maternal obesity increases the risk of developing liver disease and liver cancer in offspring, due to the transmission of an altered gut microbiota. The risk is significantly higher in mice fed a junk food diet, highlighting the importance of microbiome health.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalJHEP Reports·TypeNews article·DateMar 12, 2024

Human activity on Curaçao began centuries earlier than previously believed, study finds

A team of international partners has extended the earliest known human settlement of Curaçao by centuries, adding pieces to the puzzle of pre-Colombian Caribbean history. The study, published in the Journal of Coastal and Island Archaeology, places human occupation on the island as far back as 5735 – 5600 cal BP.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalThe Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology·DateMar 12, 2024

Low-cost versatile mesoscope makes brain imaging in rodents more accessible

Researchers developed a custom-built, low-cost mesoscope that can adapt to different neuroimaging experiments in live mice and rats. The system offers excellent spatial and temporal resolutions, achieved through its reversible tandem lens configuration, which enables flexible experimentation.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalNeurophotonics·DateMar 12, 2024

US drug approvals 2010-2019 align with US, but not global, burden of disease; expedited approval programs may make the gap worse

A study from Bentley University's Center for Integration of Science and Industry found that US drug approvals were aligned with the US, but not global, burden of disease. The increasing number of expedited approval programs may make this gap worse, as these programs tend to favor conditions with lower disease burden.

SourceBentley University·JournalBMJ Open·TypeObservational study·DateMar 12, 2024
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.

New study quantifies health impacts from oil and gas flaring in U.S.

A new study quantifies the significant health impacts of oil and gas flaring in the US, resulting in over 700 premature deaths and 73,000 asthma exacerbations annually. The research highlights the need for stronger controls on emissions from this sector to improve public health and mitigate climate change.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalGeoHealth·DateMar 12, 2024

Exploring the transferability of extracytoplasmic function switches across bacterial species

A recent study successfully transferred ECF switches from Escherichia coli to Sinorhizobium meliloti, demonstrating high transferability and functionality across species. The findings suggest that these bacteria could serve as universal hosts for synthetic biology applications.

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalBioDesign Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2024

Researchers identify distinct sleep types and their impact on long-term health

A study by Penn State researchers identified four distinct sleep patterns, with over half of participants classified as insomnia sleepers or nappers. These suboptimal sleep patterns were linked to a higher likelihood of chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and depression. The study suggests that promoting healthy s...

SourcePenn State·JournalPsychosomatic Medicine·DateMar 12, 2024
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.

How does AI work?

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University discovered that each filter recognizes small clusters of images, with sharpened recognition as layers progress. This breakthrough can improve AI performance by reducing latency and memory usage while maintaining accuracy.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 12, 2024

Multi-objective multigraph feature extraction for the shortest path cost prediction

Researchers develop novel feature extraction methods for multigraphs to predict shortest path costs, improving airport operations and sustainability. The proposed statistics-based and learning-based approaches show promising results, outperforming traditional exact search algorithms in computational efficiency.

SourceGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 12, 2024

‘Curved’ walking and a depth camera: new tool detects early cognitive decline

A first-of-its-kind study uses gait analysis to detect subtle impairments in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, suggesting curved path walking as a more sensitive detection method. The novel system employs a non-invasive depth camera to record gait and provides detailed information on functional performance.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalJournal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports·TypeImaging analysis·DateMar 12, 2024
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.

Ultrablack coating could make next-gen telescopes even better

Researchers have created an ultrablack thin-film coating that absorbs nearly all visible light, enhancing the performance of advanced telescopes and optical systems. The coating, developed using atomic layer deposition, is durable enough to withstand harsh conditions and has been applied to magnesium alloys used in aerospace applications.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Vacuum Science & Technology A Vacuum Surfaces and Films·DateMar 12, 2024

Expertly engineered saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain in the optimized production of carotenoids

A novel S. cerevisiae yeast strain has been successfully developed to selectively overproduce carotenoids, overcoming the challenges of extraction and purification from natural sources. The optimized strain can increase carotenoid output by 5-fold and store carotenoids within the yeast microorganisms.

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalBioDesign Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2024

IMS developing Japan's first "Cold (neutral) atom" quantum computers: new collaboration with 10 industry partners toward commercialization

The Institute for Molecular Science (IMS) is accelerating the development of novel quantum computers based on 'cold (neutral) atom' technology, leveraging expertise from 10 industry partners. The partnership aims to launch a start-up company and develop practical applications of quantum computers by end FY2024.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·DateMar 12, 2024
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.

Delta-8-THC use reported by 11% of 12th graders in 2023

A recent study found that 11% of 12th-grade students in the US used delta-8 THC, with higher rates in states without cannabis legalization or delta-8 regulations. The survey also showed that delta-8 use was more common in the South and Midwest regions.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·JournalJAMA·DateMar 12, 2024

The surprising effect of presence hallucinations on social perception

Researchers found that people with Parkinson's disease who experience presence hallucinations overestimate the number of people in a room due to a perceptual disorder. The study used virtual reality and robotics to induce presence hallucinations and measure susceptibility, developing an online test for early detection.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 12, 2024
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.

Setting realistic expectations for recovery after robotic lung surgery

Researchers found that patients recovering from robotic lung surgery do not fully recover even after 90 days, despite common expectations. The study suggests a more thoughtful approach to pre-surgery communication with patients is needed to better understand their recovery experiences.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Robotic Surgery·DateMar 12, 2024

Maternal health support critical in the development of children born to mothers with pre-existing diabetes

A meta-analysis by Associate Professor Diana Arabiat found that children born to mothers with pre-existing diabetes have lower mental and psychomotor development scores compared to those without previous exposure. This delay in psychomotor development can be related to numerous risk factors, including premature birth or intrauterine gr...

SourceEdith Cowan University·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 12, 2024
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 a natural compound from sea squirts combats cancer

Researchers have deciphered trabectedin's precise mechanism of action, revealing its ability to induce persistent DNA breaks in cancer cells. This disruption of the transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) pathway leads to long-lasting DNA breaks that ultimately kill cancer cells.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2024

Researchers expand our understanding of how the body and brain communicate

Researchers have discovered that specific neurons in the thalamus are actively involved in processing cardiac and respiratory signals. This breakthrough understanding of brain-body integration may help characterize how subcortical regions process signals through a functional pathway from internal organs.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateMar 12, 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.

CHLA researchers find that length of opioid treatment for hospitalized infants differs by institution and geography

Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found significant variation in opioid treatment for critically ill infants across different institutions and geographic regions. The study reports wide variability in opioid prescribing practices, which can impact hospitalization length of stay, healthcare costs, and long-term outcomes.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 12, 2024

Researchers provide recommendations for understanding music therapy’s impact on chronic pain

A recent article recommends measuring meaningful outcomes such as pain interference, self-efficacy, and physical functioning to improve the evidence-base for music therapy within sickle cell disease populations. Music therapists can play an important role in chronic pain management by addressing stress, depressed mood, and loneliness.

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalNordic Journal of Music Therapy·DateMar 12, 2024

Tsetse fly fertility damaged after just one heatwave, study finds

A single heatwave has been found to damage the fertility of both male and female tsetse flies, with more daughters being born than sons. This effect on fertility is particularly concerning given the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves due to climate change.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 12, 2024

“In−N−Out” design enabling high-content triethyl phosphate−based non−flammable and high−conductivity electrolyte for lithium−ion batteries

Researchers have developed a novel 'In−N−Out' strategy to mitigate safety issues in flammable electrolytes. The design allows for high-phosphate-content electrolytes without compromising Li+ insertion at the graphite anode. Excellent ion conductivity is achieved, making it suitable for extended battery application.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Chemistry·DateMar 12, 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.