Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Mild hearing loss linked to brain atrophy in older adults

Researchers found that declines in hearing ability accelerate gray matter atrophy in auditory areas of the brain, leading to increased listening effort for speech comprehension. Early detection and intervention can help prevent speech comprehension difficulties in older adults.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·DateAug 30, 2011

Keeping up your overall health may keep dementia away

A recent study suggests that keeping up with general health factors, such as denture fit, vision, and hearing, may reduce the risk of developing dementia. The study found that each health problem increased a person's odds of developing dementia by 3.2 percent compared to those without such problems.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateJul 13, 2011
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

The loudest animal is recorded for the first time

The tiny water boatman has been recorded as the loudest animal on Earth, with a sound equivalent to 99.2 decibels. Researchers are now exploring the biological and engineering aspects of this phenomenon to clarify its mechanisms and potential applications.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology·DateJul 1, 2011

Retina holds the key to better vision in deaf people

Researchers at the University of Sheffield found that deaf people's retinas develop differently to capture more peripheral visual information, enabling them to see further into the periphery. This challenge previous thinking on how visual processing works and has implications for improving visual care for deaf people.

SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 1, 2011

Ocean acidification leaves clownfish deaf to predators

A new study reveals ocean acidification compromises fish hearing, leaving clownfish deaf to predators. Researchers reared larvae in different CO2 environments, showing that increased acidity impacts sensory systems, including those inside the fish's body.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalBiology Letters·DateMay 31, 2011

Mutated muscle protein causes deafness

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics discovered a genetic cause of progressive hearing impairment: mutations in the SMPX gene. The disease affects both males and females, although women are usually less severely affected.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateMay 30, 2011
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.

Falling on deaf ears

Researchers at UCL discovered 'inattentional deafness' when participants focused on tasks requiring high concentration. In experiments, only 2 out of 10 participants missed the tone when judging colors, but 8 out of 10 failed to notice it during length-discrimination tasks.

SourceWellcome Trust·DateMay 27, 2011

Comparable effectiveness shown for 2 common sudden deafness treatments

A large clinical trial has shown that direct injection of steroids into the middle ear is equally effective as oral steroids in restoring hearing levels in patients with sudden deafness. The study results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, have implications for treatment options and cost-effectiveness.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders·JournalJAMA·DateMay 24, 2011

Competing treatments comparable for sudden hearing loss

A new treatment for sudden hearing loss has been found comparable to oral steroids, providing patients with more treatment options. The study showed that both treatments led to similar hearing improvements, but patients with severe hearing loss benefited more from oral steroids.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJAMA·DateMay 24, 2011

CWRU researchers call for changing how research is done

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University are rethinking participation criteria in biomedical studies to make them more inclusive of people with disabilities. They argue that excluding people with disabilities from research can lead to missing crucial scientific evidence and health-related differences.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 11, 2011
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.

How extraneous factors impact judicial decision-making

A study by Columbia Business School and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that judges' willingness to grant parole can be influenced by time between breaks. After a break, 65% of cases were granted parole, with rates dropping to zero and then rising again. The study bolsters research on psychological biases in experienced judges.

SourceColumbia Business School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2011

2 drugs protect hearing better than 1

Researchers at WashU Medicine have identified a low-dose, two-drug cocktail that reduces hearing loss in mice when given before exposure to loud noise. The combination of anticonvulsant and glucocorticoid drugs shows comparable hearing protection at lower doses than when administered alone.

SourceWashU Medicine·DateFeb 23, 2011
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.

Hearing impairment common, perhaps preventable, chronic disease among middle-aged adults

Hearing impairment is a common condition among middle-aged adults, affecting up to 29 million Americans. The study found that cardiovascular disease risk factors and noisy occupations are associated with an increased likelihood of hearing impairment. Early detection and prevention may be possible if the condition is detected early.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateFeb 21, 2011

Hearing loss and dementia linked in study

Seniors with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia over time than those with normal hearing. The study found a significant link between the two conditions, with the risk of developing dementia increasing by twofold, threefold, and fivefold for individuals with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalArchives of Neurology·DateFeb 15, 2011

Workplace noise-related hearing loss affects sleep quality -- Ben Gurion U. researchers

A study by Ben-Gurion University researchers found that workers with occupational-related hearing loss experienced impaired sleep quality, including insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. The study also discovered a significant correlation between tinnitus symptoms and sleep disruptions in workers exposed to harmful noise.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalSLEEP·DateJan 25, 2011
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.

'Vast majority' of acoustic tumor patients benefit from surgery

According to a 21-year study, surgery for acoustic neuromas achieves gross total resection in the vast majority of patients, resulting in minimal morbidity and mortality. The procedure also preserves facial function in 90% of cases, with 44% of patients regaining useful hearing in the affected ear.

SourceLoyola Medicine·DateDec 7, 2010

Passive smokers at increased risk of hearing loss

Non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke are at risk of hearing loss, with men and older individuals more likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss. Even low levels of passive smoking can continue the progression of hearing loss in former smokers.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalTobacco Control·DateNov 15, 2010

University research reveals deaf adults see better than hearing people

Research by University of Sheffield finds that deaf adults can react more quickly to objects at the edge of their visual field than hearing people. Children born deaf initially have slower reaction times, but improve as they age and develop better-than-normal peripheral vision by adulthood.

SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateNov 10, 2010
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.

Were our tetrapod ancestors deaf?

Researchers studied the closest living relative of tetrapods, the African lungfish, and found that they lack sensitivity to airborne sound. The inner ear's structure suggests a high vibration sensitivity but limits hearing to very low frequencies, implying that early tetrapod ancestors were probably deaf to airborne sound.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalBiology Letters·DateNov 8, 2010
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.

Squid studies provide valuable insights into hearing mechanisms

Researchers have made significant discoveries about squid hearing mechanisms, shedding light on how they navigate, sense danger, and communicate with each other. Squid use statocysts to detect sound waves, but their hearing is limited to specific frequencies, which may explain why they are a prolific food source.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateOct 15, 2010

Insight gained into age-related hearing loss

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School studied two closely linked genes that contribute to hearing function in mice, revealing separate maintenance pathways for β-actin and γ-actin proteins. These findings suggest important roles for each protein in maintaining auditory function during aging.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 14, 2010

Research discovers how the deaf have super vision

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario discovered a causal link between enhanced visual abilities and reorganization of brain areas in congenitally deaf cats. Visual localization and motion detection are the two specific abilities that are enhanced in deaf individuals.

SourceUniversity of Western Ontario·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 10, 2010

Noise and chemicals: Workers are losing their hearing

A Spanish study reveals that combining noise and chemical contaminants can exacerbate hearing loss in workers. While protective masks can filter particles, they have limited effect on toxic gas molecules.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalAnales del Sistema Sanitario de Navarra·DateSep 28, 2010
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.

Study finds proximity could be key to success of healing prayer

A new study found that praying for another person's healing can be effective, especially when the prayerer is physically near the person. The study, which measured improved hearing and vision in rural Mozambican subjects, revealed statistically significant benefits after proximal intercessory prayer (PIP) was administered.

SourceIndiana University·JournalSouthern Medical Journal·DateAug 5, 2010
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Humans imitate aspects of speech we see

Researchers at UC Riverside found that people who lipread a silent face articulate words sound like the person speaking, rather than their own words. This suggests that our brains are primed by speech articulation and can imitate speech patterns even when we're not actively listening.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateAug 5, 2010

Restore hearing thanks to new drug

A new drug called ADAC has been found to restore hearing in rats with noise-induced hearing loss. Early treatment with multiple injections of ADAC significantly attenuated noise-induced hearing loss and improved sensory hair cell survival.

SourceSpringer·DateJun 30, 2010

New cochlear implant could improve outcomes for patients

Researchers developed a new cochlear implant with more electrodes and a thinner, more flexible wire, which can improve the quality of sound and preserve residual hearing. This innovation allows for more precise stimulation of the auditory nerve, resulting in better sound resolution.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·DateJun 30, 2010
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.

A stress-response system in the ear protects against hearing loss

Researchers at Tufts University have identified a hormone-like signaling system in the ear that helps protect against noise-induced hearing loss. The system, which mirrors the body's fight-or-flight response, works at lower intensity sounds than previously thought.

SourceTufts University, Health Sciences Campus·JournalNeurobiology of Disease·DateMay 3, 2010

Music therapy fails dyslexics

Research debunks claims of a link between music and dyslexia, finding no correlation between musical skill and phonological processing; music therapy is unwarranted as a treatment for the condition.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Arts and Technology·DateApr 8, 2010
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Researchers find how brain hears the sound of silence

A University of Oregon team has isolated an independent channel in the brain's auditory cortex that deals specifically with shutting off sound processing at appropriate times. This finding supports an emerging theory that a separate set of synapses is responsible for both processing sounds and their disappearance.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalNeuron·DateFeb 10, 2010

'Squeaker' catfish communicate across generations

Researchers have found that young squeaker catfish can detect sounds made by their older relatives, challenging prior assumptions about auditory development. The study suggests that fish of all ages use the 'squeaking' sound to communicate, increasing in level and duration as they grow.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Biology·DateJan 28, 2010
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.

Going to the gym shouldn't be a workout for your eardrums

Research by University of Alberta's Bill Hodgetts found that exercising in gyms often leads to increased volume levels, potentially causing hearing loss. The solution lies in using earphones with earplugs or sealant materials to reduce background noise and protect auditory health.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalInternational Journal of Audiology·DateJan 20, 2010
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.

Rocket science leads to new whale discovery

Researchers use X-ray scanners and advanced computing to create detailed replicas of a whale's hearing anatomy. The study suggests mid-frequency sonar sounds are largely filtered, while higher frequencies used by whales for hunting are amplified.

SourceOffice of Naval Research·DateNov 24, 2009

Active hearing process in mosquitoes

A mathematical model explains how male mosquitoes can hear the faintest beats of a female's wings while resisting loud noises. The model reveals that scolopidia located toward the tip of Johnston's organ contribute to mechanical amplification.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateNov 19, 2009

Squeak, squeak -- can you hear me now?

Researchers created a new strain of mice with outstanding hearing as they age, studying the phenomenon known as golden ears. The study offers clues about maintaining good hearing while aging and provides a new tool to explore protective factors that allow some organisms to retain their hearing for their whole lives.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalNeurobiology of Aging·DateNov 9, 2009
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.

Specialists in hearing, HIV come together to study AIDS patients

Experts are conducting a large-scale study to measure the hearing of people with HIV/AIDS and compare it to those without, aiming to uncover the relationship between the disease and hearing loss. The research, supported by a $1.9 million grant, will also explore potential factors contributing to age-related hearing loss in these patients.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·DateNov 3, 2009

Hearing on the wing: New structure discovered in butterfly ears

Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a unique structure in the ear of the Blue Morpho butterfly, which may allow it to distinguish between high and low pitch sounds. The membrane's properties suggest that butterflies can hear lower pitches more sensitively than other insects.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateOct 21, 2009

Chinese and American paleontologists discover a new Mesozoic mammal

A new species of mammal, Maotherium asiaticus, has been discovered in China, providing insight into the evolution of the mammalian middle ear. The fossil's ear structure shows a unique connection to the lower jaw, similar to embryonic mammals and pre-mammalian ancestors.

SourceCarnegie Museum of Natural History·JournalScience·DateOct 8, 2009
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.