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Calcium supplements linked to longer lifespans in women

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that taking calcium supplements up to 1,000 mg per day can lower the risk of death in women. The research, conducted on 9,033 Canadians over 12 years, showed no benefit for men and no conclusive evidence that vitamin D has an impact on mortality.

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.

Preterm infants may need 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day

A new study finds that preterm infants require a daily dose of 800 IU of vitamin D3 to reduce the risk of vitamin D insufficiency. Higher doses led to better bone mineralization, but excess levels caused no major effects.

Vitamin D: More may not be better

New research from Johns Hopkins finds that high doses of vitamin D supplements do not confer additional benefits on cardiovascular health or longevity in healthy adults. However, elderly individuals, postmenopausal women, and those with kidney disease may still benefit from higher blood levels of the sunshine vitamin.

Optimal vitamin D dosage for infants uncertain

A study found that no vitamin D dosage maintained plasma concentrations within the recommended range by pediatric societies, but all dosages raised levels within a lower range. The 1,600-IU/d dosage was discontinued due to elevated plasma 25(OH)D concentrations, indicating the need for further studies on optimal dosages.

Low vitamin D levels a risk factor for pneumonia

A University of Eastern Finland study found that low serum vitamin D levels are a significant risk factor for pneumonia. The risk was more than 2.5 times higher in individuals with the lowest vitamin D levels compared to those with high levels, particularly among older adults and smokers.

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.

The right amount of vitamin D for babies

A new study by McGill University confirms that a daily dose of 400 IU vitamin D is sufficient for infants under 1 year of age. The research followed 132 infants and found no additional benefits from higher doses.

Researchers pinpoint upper safe limit of vitamin D blood levels

A study of 422,000 people found that the safe range of vitamin D levels lies between 20 to 36 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency was linked to increased risk of acute coronary morbidity or mortality, while elevated levels above 36 ng/mL were associated with a slightly higher risk.

Sunshine hormone, vitamin D, may offer hope for treating liver fibrosis

Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered that a synthetic form of vitamin D can deactivate the switch governing fibrotic response in mouse liver cells, suggesting a potential new therapy for fibrotic diseases. This finding could lead to the development of a safer and more effective treatment for liver fibrosis.

Study: Mushrooms provide as much vitamin D as supplements

Researchers discovered that eating mushrooms containing vitamin D2 can effectively increase and maintain vitamin D levels in healthy adults. The study found that mushroom powder was as effective as taking supplemental vitamin D2 or vitamin D3.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Researchers discover mushrooms can provide as much vitamin D as supplements

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine discovered that eating mushrooms containing Vitamin D2 can increase and maintain vitamin D levels comparable to taking supplements. The study found that ingesting mushroom powder containing Vitamin D2 was as effective in raising and maintaining healthy adults' vitamin D status.

Month of birth impacts on immune system development

A study published in JAMA Neurology found that the month of birth affects immune system development and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in UK babies. Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in May-born babies compared to November-born babies, while autoreactive T-cells were higher.

Vitamin D proven to boost energy -- from within the cells

A study from Newcastle University found that vitamin D supplements improve muscle efficiency in patients with severe deficiency, leading to reduced fatigue and improved mitochondrial oxidative function. The research suggests a link between vitamin D and mitochondrial function, potentially offering a new way to boost energy levels.

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.

Low vitamin D linked with lower kidney function after transplantation

A study found that low vitamin D levels at three months post-transplantation were associated with lower kidney function and increased scarring at one year. Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with kidney failure. Maintaining normal vitamin D levels may prevent renal function deterioration after transplantation.

Vitamin D benefits breathing in tuberculosis patients

A recent study found that vitamin D levels in the blood are linked to improved lung function in adults. The study also discovered that people with a history of tuberculosis had lower vitamin D levels, which improved when levels rose.

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.

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.

Vitamin D may lower blood pressure in African-Americans

A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that vitamin D supplementation can help reduce systolic blood pressure in African-American adults. The study showed modest but significant gains, suggesting that widespread use of vitamin D supplementation could have substantial public health benefits for this demographic.

Too much vitamin D during pregnancy can cause food allergies

A study by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research found a link between high vitamin D levels in expectant mothers and increased infant allergy risks. Mothers with low vitamin D levels had fewer food allergies in their children, while those with high levels had higher risks.

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for Feb. 26, 2013

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends against daily supplementation with vitamin D ≤ 400 IU and calcium ≤ 1,000 mg for fracture prevention in postmenopausal women. Daily supplementation has no net benefit and increases the risk of kidney stones, according to a systematic evidence review.

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.

Modern life may cause sun exposure, skin pigmentation mismatch

As people move more often and become more urbanized, their skin color may lose its evolutionary advantage. With limited exposure to sunlight in cities, many people are at risk of a vitamin D catastrophe. Using vitamin D supplements is the safest way to address this issue.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Obesity leads to vitamin D deficiency

A recent study published in PLOS Medicine found a strong association between obesity and vitamin D deficiency. The research, led by Dr Elina Hypponen, used genetic markers to explore the link between body mass index (BMI) and genes associated with vitamin D synthesis and metabolism.

Low vitamin D levels may increase risk of Type 1 diabetes

Researchers found that white, non-Hispanic young adults with higher serum levels of vitamin D had about half the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes than those with lower levels. The study suggests that inadequate vitamin D intake may be an important risk factor for autoimmune diseases.

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.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Obese moms risk having babies with low vitamin D

A new Northwestern Medicine study found that obese mothers pass on insufficient vitamin D to their babies, leading to lower levels in newborns. The study also suggests that obese women may need increased vitamin D supplementation to provide sufficient levels for their babies during pregnancy.

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.

Mother's vitamin D level linked to birth weight

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that a mother's vitamin D level is positively related to birth weight and head circumference. Additionally, a deficiency in vitamin D during the first trimester was negatively associated with the risk of a baby being born small for gestational age.

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.

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.

Newly discovered effects of vitamin D on cancer

Researchers at McGill University discovered vitamin D's molecular basis for potential cancer prevention effects. Vitamin D inhibits cMYC production and function, slowing cell proliferation and potentially slowing cancer progression.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to Type 1 diabetes

A six-year study found a correlation between vitamin D3 serum levels and subsequent incidence of Type 1 diabetes, suggesting a preventive role for vitamin D3 in this disease. Researchers estimate that achieving an optimal serum level of 25(OH)D at 50 ng/ml can lower the risk of developing type 1 diabetes by half.

Vitamin D may prevent clogged arteries in diabetics

Research found that people with diabetes who have adequate vitamin D are less likely to develop clogged arteries. In contrast, insufficient vitamin D leads to immune cells binding to blood vessels and trapping cholesterol.

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.

Vitamin D supplements may benefit lupus patients

Researchers found vitamin D supplementation improved SLE symptoms by increasing beneficial CD4+ cells, Treg cells, and decreasing effector Th1 and Th17 cells. Vitamin D also reduced memory B cell and anti-DNA antibodies in patients.

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with mortality in older adults

A new study by The Endocrine Society reveals that low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased mortality in African American and Caucasian older adults. Vitamin D insufficiency was found to be common among African Americans, and its impact on remediating low levels may be greater for this population.

Vitamin D supplementation does not reduce rate or severity of colds

A recent study published in JAMA found that vitamin D supplementation did not significantly reduce the incidence or severity of colds in healthy adults. The researchers studied 322 participants who received either a monthly dose of 100,000 IU of vitamin D3 or a placebo for 18 months.

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.

Study questions value of calcium and vitamin D supplements

Researchers reviewed clinical trials on calcium and vitamin D supplements for men with prostate cancer undergoing hormone therapy, finding that these supplements did not prevent bone loss. The study suggests that these supplements may actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and aggressive prostate cancer.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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