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Science News Archive May 2025


Page 22 of 50

Empowering robots with human-like perception to navigate unwieldy terrain

Researchers at Duke University developed a novel framework called WildFusion that fuses vision, vibration and touch to enable robots to sense complex outdoor environments like humans do. The system was tested in real-world settings and showed remarkable ability to accurately predict traversability and improve robot decision-making.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Light-powered evaporator robot

The research team developed a solar-powered floating robot that combines photocatalysis, evaporation, and autonomous navigation for efficient water purification. The system uses a hybrid material and responds efficiently to sunlight across a broad spectrum.

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.

Stars or numbers? How rating formats change consumer behavior

Research from Cornell University found that consumers tend to overestimate fractional star ratings and underestimate numeric ratings, which can lead to companies overpromising and underdelivering. The study's findings highlight the need for new industry standards on rating formats.

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.

Low-cost antennas power high-precision space-based positioning

Researchers have developed a joint pseudo-range and Doppler positioning technique that achieves remarkable accuracy, surpassing traditional navigation approaches by 35%. The method uses low-cost wide-beam antennas and a specially designed time-frequency inversion algorithm to reconstruct key signal parameters.

How to swim without a brain

A team of scientists simulated the movement of microorganisms in liquids without a central control system. They found that simple rules and decentralized control can lead to efficient swimming behavior, potentially enabling nanobots to transport drugs or perform other complex tasks.

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.

With evolutionary AI, scientists find hidden keys for better land use

The AI system uses evolutionary computing to find optimal policy solutions that balance trade-offs between carbon storage, economic disruptions, and environmental benefits. It recommends nuanced approaches to land-use strategies, such as replacing crop land with forest, rather than simply converting all land into forests.

Luminous magnets

Researchers visualized new quantum phenomenon: luminous excitons appearing on surface of antiferromagnetic semiconductor CrSBr. Excitons are created when photons strike the material, absorbing light and storing energy.

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.

The US has a new most powerful laser

The US National Science Foundation-funded ZEUS facility at the University of Michigan has roughly doubled the peak power of any other laser in the country with its first official experiment reaching 2 petawatts. Research at ZEUS will have applications in medicine, national security, materials science and astrophysics.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Journalism: Online headlines shift from concise to click-worthy

The study found that online headlines have become more emotionally dynamic and narrative-driven, appealing strongly to emotions, while also becoming more negative on average. This shift reflects the growing importance of headlines as a key element in digital competition for attention.

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.

UTA-based TMAC wins award for pioneering pollution tech

The University of Texas at Arlington's (UTA) Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) has developed a real-time sensor data system to track environmental impact. The program helps Texas manufacturers reduce pollution, lower emissions, and save costs by identifying energy waste, water consumption, and air leaks.

MSK Research Highlights May 19, 2025

Researchers at MSK uncovered a key signaling molecule involved in the body's immune response against leptomeningeal metastasis. A new grading system to assess thrombocytopenia risk after CAR T cell therapy was also developed. Additionally, a statistical method called UnitedMet estimates metabolic characteristics from challenging clinic...

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.

GNN-guided discovery of Cu-HEA CO2 reduction catalysts

Researchers developed a computational framework to navigate surface complexities in HEAs, integrating Monte Carlo/Molecular Dynamics simulations and graph neural networks. The approach revealed promising bulk compositions for enhanced catalytic performance in CO2 reduction.

Brain health score identified as key predictor of stroke risk among women

Researchers from Mass General Brigham have identified a key predictor of stroke risk among women: brain health scores. Women with higher McCance Brain Care Scores (BCS) had a reduced risk of experiencing a cerebrovascular event, with those with a five-point higher baseline score being 37% less likely to experience an event.

Is understanding propaganda a necessary skill for modern democracy?

Propaganda has become an inevitable part of modern life, affecting even those who try to avoid it. Understanding its techniques is crucial for democratic participation and mastering the arts of persuasion. Propaganda can be used ethically to promote social change and resist manipulation.

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.

Family of parasite proteins presents new potential malaria treatment target

Researchers have discovered a family of exported proteins in the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum that may hold promise for identifying new drugs. The proteins, known as FIKK kinases, were found to be necessary for the parasite's survival and likely played a key role in its evolution to infect humans.

Beyond intuition: using mathematical models to shape behavior

Researchers developed a novel approach called choice engineering, which uses computational models and optimization techniques to influence human decisions. The study found that this approach outperformed traditional psychology-based methods in shaping behavior, paving the way for smarter decision-making tools.

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.

Whisker whisperers

Research reveals that mouse whiskers can 'hear' the world by generating sounds that are encoded in the auditory cortex. The study shows that mice use these sounds to recognize objects, even when touch sensation is abolished.

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.

Hari Kalva, Ph.D., inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame

Hari Kalva, a pioneer in video technology, has been inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. His work has enabled the pixels of modern life, from Netflix streams to smartphones. He is also credited with developing the MP4 file format and pioneering machine learning for video encoding.

Tiny microlaser sensors offer supercharged biosensing

Researchers have developed a 3D micro-printed sensor that uses whispering-gallery-mode microlasers to detect biomarkers with attogram per milliliter sensitivity. The sensors' unique Limacon-shaped design improves efficiency and enables on-chip integration, making them suitable for high-performance lab-on-a-chip devices.

Bees facing new threats, putting our survival and theirs at risk

A new report identifies emerging threats to pollinators, including war zones, microplastic particles, and light pollution. The top 12 threats are outlined, along with steps to protect pollinators, such as transitioning to electric vehicles and creating flower-rich habitats within solar parks.

Personality traits influence the development of insomnia

A study by the University of São Paulo found a direct relationship between personality traits and insomnia, revealing that high levels of neuroticism are common among insomniacs. High openness was associated with low levels of insomnia, while anxiety played a key role in perpetuating the disorder.

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.

Scientific breakthrough: We can now halve the price of costly cancer drug

A research team from the University of Copenhagen has developed a biotechnological method to produce Taxol, a widely used cancer drug. The new method involves cloning taxol-producing genes and inserting them into yeast cells, making it more cost-effective and sustainable than traditional chemical synthesis.

Can police be trained to be fairer? A groundbreaking study says yes

A groundbreaking study found that training police officers in procedural justice leads to notable changes in their behavior, including increased patience, neutrality, and transparency. The results suggest that this approach can be a high-impact, low-cost strategy for improving public trust and community relationships.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Human brain activity linked to memory recall

Researchers discovered that oscillatory activity in two brain regions plays a crucial role in integrating auditory and visual information during memory recall. The study used movie clips with synchronized or asynchronous speech sounds and lip movements to explore this phenomenon.