Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive September 2024


Page 38 of 41

Strictest abortion-ban states offer least family support

A Northwestern University study reveals that states with severe post-Dobbs abortion restrictions also lack policies to support families, particularly those of low socioeconomic status and marginalized individuals. The authors argue that advocates should leverage child protection arguments to advocate for improved family welfare policies.

New gene for "spindle hair" decoded

Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn identified a new gene, KRT31, responsible for dominantly-inherited monilethrix, a rare congenital form of hair loss. The discovery improves diagnosis and sheds light on the genetic mechanism underlying this condition.

Immune cells prevent lung healing after viral infection

A study published in Nature found that immune cells called CD8+ T cells prevent lung healing and repair post-infection, leading to pulmonary fibrosis. This discovery may lead to new therapeutic treatment options for patients with long COVID.

A new role for intelligent tutors powered by AI in brain surgery?

Researchers at McGill University developed AI-guided feedback systems that outperformed human instructors in teaching neurosurgical skills. The study found that expert instruction alone led to poorer surgical learning outcomes, highlighting the potential of AI to enhance learner surgical skills acquisition.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Chiral quantum heating and cooling with an optically controlled ion

The study reveals the link between chirality and heat exchange in a quantum system, highlighting the role of non-adiabatic transitions and the Landau-Zener-Stückelberg process. The experiment paves the way for new explorations in quantum thermodynamics and efficient quantum chiral devices.

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.

Researchers develop nanostructures to improve immune response to cancer

The study developed three types of nanostructures that combine L-phenylalanine with metal ions, reshaping the tumor's immune-suppressive environment and enhancing ICB immunotherapy effectiveness. The nanostructures activate DC maturation, triggering pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and promoting the innate immune response.

Flexible tentacle electrodes precisely record brain activity

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed ultra-flexible tentacle electrodes that can precisely record brain activity over extended periods, enabling detailed analysis of neural activity. The technology has the potential to diagnose and treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy, depression, and schizophrenia.

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.

Scientific review reveals top three effective ways to stop smoking

A major review by the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group identifies three effective ways to stop smoking: counseling, bupropion, and nicotine replacement therapy. The study found that combining these strategies with behavioral support yields the best results for quitting smoking.

Novel immunotherapy improves recovery from spinal cord injury

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine developed an immunotherapy to minimize damage from traumatic spinal cord injury. The therapy protects neurons from immune cells, improving mobility in mice and showing potential for treating people with spinal cord injuries.

Psychedelics show promise for treating PTSD by suppressing learned fear responses

A new study suggests that psychedelics like psilocybin can suppress learned fear responses in individuals with PTSD by altering activity in the amygdala, a key brain region involved in processing fear and anxiety. The findings propose that psychedelic drugs enhance inhibitory signaling from GABAergic interneurons onto excitatory neurons.

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.

Wild and human-cared spotted dolphins harbor different gastrointestinal microbiomes

A recent study revealed notable differences in gastrointestinal microbial communities between wild and human-cared spotted dolphins, suggesting that food source variations play a significant role. The findings highlight the importance of understanding marine mammal gut microbiomes and underscore the need for comprehensive future research.

Air quality impacts racehorse speed, according to new research

A new study by Colorado State University researchers found that horse speed was negatively impacted by concentrations of PM2.5 far below the EPA's current safe limit, highlighting a relationship between air quality and athletic performance in horses. The study's findings could also have implications for better understanding the impact ...

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

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.

Study suggests gun-free zones do not attract mass shootings

A first-of-its-kind study published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas found that gun-free zones have a preventive effect and do not attract active shooters. Researchers matched 150 places with shootings to 150 control places without shootings, finding that active shootings were 62.5% less likely to occur in gun-free establishments.

Adolescent glioma subtype responds to CDK4/6 inhibitor

Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered that a specific subtype of pediatric high-grade glioma responds well to CDK4/6 inhibitors. Treatment with ribociclib slowed tumor growth and extended patient survival for 18 months, offering new hope for this devastating form of brain cancer.

Mathematicians model a puzzling breakdown in cooperative behaviour

A new model reveals that cooperative behaviour between species may break down when conditions are ripe for mutual benefit. Researchers found that as cooperation becomes easier, it can unexpectedly disappear, with asymmetric clusters forming and interacting across lattices.

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.

Vision-based ChatGPT shows deficits interpreting radiologic images

The study found that ChatGPT-4 Vision performed well on text-based radiology exam questions but struggled with image-related questions, achieving an accuracy of 65.3%. The model's performance varied across subspecialties and images, with limitations in interpreting certain types of radiologic images.

Rein tension may affect horse behavior

A study by researchers at the University of Helsinki found that high rein tension can cause horses to open their mouths, indicating discomfort. Horse trainers should monitor horse behavior and adjust training to prevent mouth injuries.

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.

New study reveals relationship between HIV risk factors for LGBTQ+ youth

Researchers found an exponential relationship between HIV risk factors, demonstrating that having multiple risk factors is much worse than having only one. The study used data from a survey of LGBTQ+ youth and suggests that interventions addressing multiple risk factors can provide substantial benefits.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

New species of pāua found

A new species of pāua, Haliotis pirimoana, has been discovered on the Manawatāwhi Three Kings Islands. The discovery sheds light on the region's unique biodiversity and the need for conservation efforts.

Rice lab develops protein assembly road map for gas vesicles

Researchers at Rice University have created a roadmap showing how proteins interact to form the nanometer-thin shell of gas vesicles. This breakthrough enables the development of medically useful GV varieties in the lab, which can be used for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Dangerous airborne fungus boosted by California droughts

Researchers identified seasonal patterns in Valley fever cases influenced by California droughts. The study found that while most cases occur from September to November, drought periods temporarily dampen these peaks, but lead to bigger surges once rain returns.

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.

Plant proteins could be radical alternative to oil-based super lubricants

Researchers from the University of Leeds and international partners have created an oil-free super-lubricant from potato proteins, achieving near zero friction. The material uses natural protein building blocks with a lower carbon footprint, opening doors for sustainable biomedical applications and low-calorie foods.

How cheerful is that water bottle?

Researchers discovered people in a positive mood use 'happier' words when searching for products, increasing ad clicks by 50%. Marketers may benefit by targeting happier shoppers earlier in the buying process.

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.

A double twist makes cracking easier to resist

By combining design schemes with robotic additive manufacturing, researchers increased crack resistance in concrete by up to 63% compared to conventional cast concrete. The technique relies on mechanisms that shield cracks, interlock fractured surfaces, or deflect cracks from a straight path.

Keep devices out of bed for better sleep – Otago study

A University of Otago study found that screen use before bed does not significantly affect youth sleep, but using screens while in bed severely disrupts sleep patterns. The study suggests reevaluating sleep guidelines to accommodate modern lifestyles.

No link found between popular diabetes medication and suicide

A large-scale study in Sweden and Denmark found no clear link between the use of GLP-1 analogues and an increased risk of suicide or self-harm. The research analyzed data from over 300,000 adults treated with the medication, concluding that it is reassuring to see no apparent increase in suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

How bright is the universe’s glow? Study offers best measurement yet

A new study uses observations from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft to measure the cosmic optical background, a phenomenon known as the universe's glow. The results suggest that the glow is roughly 100 billion times fainter than sunlight and provides valuable insights into the history of the universe since the Big Bang.

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.

Unlocking peach growth mysteries: a new gene analysis method

Scientists developed an efficient gene functional analysis method for peach seedlings, overcoming hurdles in genetic transformation. The new approach enables in-depth analysis of genes essential for growth and development, shortening the transformation timeline to just 1.5 months.

De New AI learning model improves stance detection performance and efficiency

A new AI model has been developed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of stance detection in low-resource scenarios, leveraging collaborative knowledge infusion and selective feature learning. The model outperformed existing AI models on three publicly available datasets, achieving F1 scores between 79.6% and 86.91%.

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.