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Open-source plant database confirms top US bioenergy crop

Researchers have created an open-source database to facilitate bioenergy research, confirming Miscanthus as the top US bioenergy crop. The database, BETYdb, contains over 40,000 records of yield data for various biomass crops, revealing that Miscanthus is 2.4 times more productive than switchgrass under different environmental conditions.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJan 6, 2017

New PCR primer database to combat RNA viral epidemics

A new open-access database compiled by Korean scientists provides comprehensive PCR primers for detecting and identifying RNA viruses. The MTPrimerV database contains 152,380 primer pairs covering 1,818 viruses, with an accuracy rate of 100% against the latest NCBI RefSeq database.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateDec 25, 2016

Taking stock of the world's lakes

The new database provides a comprehensive overview of the world's lakes, with estimates of over 180,000 cubic kilometres of water stored in more than 1.4 million lakes. The study also reveals that lakes in hilly or mountainous regions tend to be deeper than those in flat landscapes.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 15, 2016
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.

Study examines how CEO power affects companies in times of crisis

A new study from UT Dallas finds that bestowing considerable power in the CEO does not create value for the firm during industrywide downturns. Concentrated power among CEOs leads to worse decision-making and a decrease in firm value, especially in competitive industries and high-discretion industries.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalGroup & Organization Management·DateDec 9, 2016

Wise plant analysis

A new method of plant analysis has identified more than twenty metabolites in tomatoes that had never been reported before, including certain antioxidants in the skin. The Weizmann team's tools, WeizMass and MatchWeiz, can help study plant metabolism and identify useful biological activity

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 5, 2016

No association between sex-discordant blood transfusions and risk of death

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have conducted a study on the impact of sex-discordant blood transfusions on post-cardiac surgery survival. Despite initial findings suggesting a possible increased risk, the new study found no association between these types of transfusions and mortality rates.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalCirculation·DateNov 22, 2016
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.

What molecules you leave on your phone reveal about your lifestyle

Researchers used mass spectrometry to detect molecules on phones and skin, creating personalized lifestyle profiles with diet, medication, beauty product usage, health status, and location information. The study has potential applications in crime scene investigations, airport screening, and environmental exposure studies.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2016

MAGNDATA: Towards a database of magnetic structures

A comprehensive digital database of magnetic structures, MAGNDATA, has been developed using systematic application of magnetic symmetry. The database contains over 400 commensurate and incommensurate magnetic structures, providing a standardized framework for description and storage of magnetic structures.

SourceInternational Union of Crystallography·JournalActa Crystallographica Section A·DateNov 2, 2016
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.

Crowdsourcing and cellphone data could help guide urban revitalization

Researchers at MIT used cellphone data and crowd-sourced images to identify visual features that contribute to perceptions of safety in urban environments. The study found that buildings with street-facing windows, green spaces, and well-maintained areas increase people's sense of safety, while poorly maintained areas decrease it.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateOct 24, 2016

Mapping the elephant ivory trade: New evidence revealed

Historic analysis of East African ivory reveals where elephants roamed and were hunted during the 19th century, shedding light on the ecological impact of the ivory trade. The study maps elephant geography in the region and informs contemporary conservation strategies.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalPublication Library and Information Science·DateOct 19, 2016

Giving credit where credit is due

Academic publishers are moving towards requiring data publication with citations, but current systems struggle to accommodate dynamic data structures. A new paper proposes an automated citation system that would generate standardized citations for extracted data, providing a solution for improving reproducibility and credibility.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalCommunications of the ACM·DateOct 14, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New study reveals major racial bias in leading genomics databases

A recent study found a measurable bias toward European ancestry data in top genomic databases, with African ancestry data underrepresented. This bias can lead to inaccurate medical genetic diagnoses and higher costs, highlighting the need for greater diversity in genomic databases.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 11, 2016

Big data processing enables worldwide bacterial analysis

Scientists at Technical University of Munich developed a new bioinformatics tool to search all bacterial sequences in databases and find similarities or check existence. The tool allows researchers to explore microbial communities and their habitats in detail, with potential applications in clinical diagnostics.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 6, 2016

UTIA receives grant to improve farm financial performance in Tennessee

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has received a grant to expand the farm financial management database FINBIN to include Tennessee farms. This expansion will provide benchmark financial information for producers, lenders, and other agricultural professionals, enabling them to make more informed financial decisions.

SourceUniversity of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture·DateOct 5, 2016
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.

Trauma patient deaths peak at 2 weeks

Researchers found that patients with lower severity trauma have peaks in mortality probability around 14 and 21 days after admission. The study used the largest trauma database in Europe to analyze 165,559 trauma cases, including 19,289 with unknown outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalComputers in Biology and Medicine·DateSep 2, 2016

Steroid treatment in very low birth weight infants may contribute to vision problems

A new study published in the Journal of AAPOS found a modest but significantly increased risk of retinopathy in very premature infants who received steroid treatment. The study analyzed data from 1,472 neonates and found that steroid-treated infants had a higher incidence of ROP than untreated infants.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus·DateAug 16, 2016

System helps protect privacy in genomic databases

Researchers from MIT and Indiana University developed a new system to protect genomic database privacy through differential privacy. The system adds noise to query results, making it difficult for attackers to extract private information.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalCell Systems·DateAug 9, 2016
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.

Spreadsheet-style tool could democratize database design

The new tool allows organizations to create custom database queries and reports using familiar functions, eliminating the need for in-house expertise. By enabling direct manipulation of data, it provides a hands-on approach that mimics physical interactions, reducing errors and increasing user productivity.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateJul 11, 2016

NIST 3-D ballistics research database goes live

The NIST Ballistics Toolmark Research Database provides a statistical foundation for reliably linking bullets to the guns that fired them. The database uses 3D topographic surface maps to analyze bullet markings, allowing researchers to quantify uncertainty and develop more accurate bullet-matching algorithms.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·DateJul 11, 2016

Massive open-access database on human cultures created

Researchers have created an expandable, open-access database to study human cultural diversity. The D-PLACE database brings together information on over 1,400 societies, allowing users to search and analyze data on language, geography, culture, and environment.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 8, 2016

Web-based data tool designed to enhance drug safety

A new web-based database, AERSMine, has been developed to analyze clinical responses of over 5 million patients to FDA-approved drugs. The tool identifies unexpected benefits and harm, as well as alternative treatment choices for individual patients.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJul 8, 2016

The BMJ reports on disclosure UK

The BMJ has released a series of infographics revealing UK doctors' payments from pharmaceutical companies, showing that those with the highest earnings are less likely to disclose payments. The database is seen as a step towards greater transparency and public accountability, but critics argue it is insufficient.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateJul 7, 2016
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.

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.

Centuries-old database reveals clues on human reproductive habits, trends

A centuries-old database was used to study reproductive patterns and parental investment, revealing that parents and offspring do not have similar lifespans or reproductive success. Siblings who share the same mother and father exhibit similar lifespans and reproductive success, suggesting a balance between investment and reproduction.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateJun 8, 2016

Florida drug database and 'Pill Mill' reg curbed state's top opioid prescribers

In the first year of two Florida laws aimed at reducing opioid prescriptions, the state's top prescribers wrote significantly fewer pain medication prescriptions, with a 6.2% drop in volume and 5.1% decrease in patients. Despite this, most physicians did not change their prescribing patterns.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence·DateJun 2, 2016

Cities try different tactics to regulate noise

A survey of nearly 500 large US cities reveals no standard approach to preserving peace and quiet. Decibel levels are used in 55% of ordinances, while nuisance standards prevail in 85%, often relying on subjective interpretation.

SourceAcoustical Society of America·DateMay 23, 2016

Public reporting measures fail to describe the true safety of hospitals

A study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that common measures of hospital safety do not accurately capture quality care, with only one out of 21 measures meeting scientific criteria. The researchers argue that patients deserve valid measures of quality and safety, and call for public rating systems to use clinical rather than billing ...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalMedical Care·DateMay 10, 2016
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Lowered birth rates one reason why women outlive men

A study of 140,600 individuals from the Utah Population Database found that lowered birth rates contribute to women's longer lifespan compared to men. The research suggests that reduced reproduction costs in females benefit their lifespan.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 18, 2016

RNA in stop-motion

Researchers from SISSA have developed a novel technique to visualize RNA dynamics using stop-motion animation, based on a huge international database of crystallographic images. This approach allows for the creation of coherent sequences of conformations, providing valuable insights into molecular transitions and dynamics.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateApr 18, 2016
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Learning Japanese ancient characters with your smartphone

The KuLA application enables users to study hentaigana and cursive-style kanji using images from Japanese historical books. Researchers can utilize these resources more effectively, bridging the knowledge gap in pre-modern materials between Japan and international studies.

SourceOsaka University·DateApr 6, 2016

New database gives scientists hope for helping coral reefs

A new global database allows scientists to quickly address unresolved questions about coral reefs. The Coral Trait Database houses physiological, morphological, ecological, phylogenetic, and biogeographic trait information.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies·JournalScientific Data·DateApr 5, 2016

Voice-controlled nutrition tracker may aid weight loss

A new web-based prototype of a speech-controlled nutrition-logging system has been developed to make meal logging easier. The system allows users to verbally describe the contents of a meal, and automatically retrieves pertinent nutritional data from an online database.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateMar 24, 2016
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.

Parsing conservation information on cycad species

The study analyzed cycad species in The Red List, verifying 303 accepted taxa and finding no canonical description of conservation metrics. The research revealed varying threat categories among genera and geographic regions.

SourceUniversity of Guam·JournalTropical Conservation Science·DateMar 21, 2016
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.

Study: Hip replacement too soon after a steroid injection increases infection risk

A new study published by Hospital for Special Surgery recommends patients wait at least three months after a steroid injection to avoid an increased infection risk before undergoing hip replacement surgery. Researchers found that the immune system is weakened by corticosteroids, contributing to a higher risk of surgical site infections.

SourceHospital for Special Surgery·DateMar 2, 2016

Surprising mathematical law tested on Project Gutenberg texts

A team of researchers from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona tested the mathematical law known as Zipf's Law on a large database of English-language texts in the Project Gutenberg. The study found that 55% of the texts fit perfectly into Zipf's Law, while 40% do when including rare words.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 22, 2016
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.

Public health researchers map world's 'chemical landscape'

Researchers have developed a searchable database of 10,000 chemicals with available safety data, predicting the toxicity of similar untested substances. The 'chemical landscape' map allows for safer product development and reduces animal testing.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·DateFeb 12, 2016

Scientists map movement of Greenland Ice during past 9,000 years

Researchers created a paleo-velocity map for Greenland, showing the ice sheet's flow pattern over the past 9,000 years. The study found that the ice sheet's interior is moving more slowly than during most of the Holocene period, while glaciers along the edges are rapidly thinning.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalScience·DateFeb 4, 2016
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.

Biggest database for cancer drug discovery goes 3-D

The canSAR database has been upgraded with 3D protein structures and maps of cancer communication networks, allowing scientists to design new treatments more effectively. The updated database will enable researchers to identify key targets for future cancer drug discovery and develop innovative drugs more rapidly.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateJan 3, 2016
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.