Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Line and hook fishing techniques in Epipaleolithic Israel

A study at Jordan River Dureijat site in northern Israel uncovered a wide variety of hook shapes and sinkers, indicating humans had profound knowledge of fish behavior. The findings coincide with the beginning of agriculture in the region, highlighting the importance of aquatic resources for human subsistence.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateOct 6, 2021

Early Homo sapiens groups in Europe faced subarctic climates

Researchers at Max Planck Institute found that early human groups in Europe endured cold climatic conditions for over 7,000 years. The team used archaeological materials to generate climatic data, revealing a higher degree of climate flexibility than previously believed.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 22, 2021
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.

Jaws; or, how an African ray-finned fish is helping to rethink the fundamentals of evolution

New research reveals that the evolution of cichlid jaws is linked across multiple levels, challenging a quarter-century-old assumption. This finding highlights the importance of evolutionary constraints in shaping biodiversity, and suggests that they may play a wider role in the evolutionary success of species around the world.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 16, 2021

DNA researchers develop critical shortcut to detect and identify known and emerging pathogens

Researchers have developed a sophisticated new tool to detect and identify rare and unknown viruses and potentially deadly bacterial pathogens. The algorithm helps isolate DNA sequences shared among related organisms, enabling faster detection and identification of pathogens in clinical or wildlife settings.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalCell Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 15, 2021

Species in polar regions hard hit by climate change

A mathematical model developed at Linköping University predicts that many species in polar regions will become extinct due to global warming, with ecosystems already showing signs of strain. The model simulates the impact of climate change on species interactions and diversity, highlighting the importance of considering ecological proc...

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 14, 2021
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.

More pepper, please

Researchers found that pepper plant fruit scents contain complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds, including alpha-caryophyllene and 2-heptanol, which attract specific bat species. The study suggests bats use these chemical signals to select ripe fruits and find the specific Piper species they eat most.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2021

Birds that disperse more types of seed have better evolutionary chances

A study at the University of São Paulo found that bird species interacting with more plant species have higher evolutionary stability. This is because they occupy central positions in seed dispersal networks, leading to longer lifespans and increased species accumulation.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalScience·DateAug 11, 2021

Far out: Why political parties go to extremes

A recent study modelled social, economic, and personal factors influencing voters and parties to identify four key levers that tip the balance towards political extremes. Social contagion and macro-economic factors such as employment and economic growth play a significant role in driving polarization.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 5, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers discover new findings on the evolution of galaxies

A study by NYU Abu Dhabi researchers reveals the connection between central supermassive blackholes and the evolution of their host galaxies. The findings outline gas ejection mechanisms and how they relate to the activity of these blackholes, shedding new light on galaxy evolution.

SourceNew York University·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateAug 3, 2021

How do leaders and influencers emerge?

A computer simulation modelled by Associate Professor David Goldbaum suggests a leader emerges through a dynamic self-reinforcing social process, even with identical attributes among group members. The study finds that building up influence and gaining popularity is key to becoming a leader.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalEconomic Modelling·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 2, 2021

Scientists observe gas re-accretion in dying galaxies for the first time

Researchers using ALMA data have observed gas re-accreting onto galaxies affected by ram pressure stripping, potentially slowing down their demise. This process creates unique structures resistant to ram pressure's effects, with mass and a sticky nature that holds onto material more tightly.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateJul 29, 2021
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.

New study sheds light on function of sex chromosomes in turtles

A new study led by Iowa State University scientist Nicole Valenzuela sheds light on the function of sex chromosomes in turtles. The research found that temperature affects the dosage compensation mechanism in softshell turtles, leading to an imbalance in protein production.

SourceIowa State University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateJul 25, 2021

Neuro-evolutionary robotics: A gap between simulation and reality

Researchers at Université libre de Bruxelles compare popular neuro-evolutionary methods for offline robot swarm design, observing a 'reality gap' where simulated neural networks fail in the real world. To address this, they propose reducing method 'power' to adopt simpler approaches with predefined building blocks.

SourceUniversité libre de Bruxelles·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 16, 2021
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.

Articles for Geosphere posted online in April

Scientists study the Central Anatolian Plateau and Southern Rocky Mountain Volcanic Field, while examining fluvial siliciclastic rocks from the San Juan Basin. In another study, researchers investigate the evolution of the Portland and Tualatin forearc basins in Oregon, highlighting their relation to the Cascadia convergent margin. Add...

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeosphere·DateApr 30, 2021

Where's my horse-sized rabbit?

A research team at Kyoto University investigated the fossil record and evolutionary history of lagomorphs to answer why they don't rival horse sizes. They found that larger herbivore competitors and energetic disadvantage hindered their growth, with body sizes of ungulates being a key predictor.

SourceKyoto University·JournalEvolution·DateApr 19, 2021
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.

Distinctive MJO activity during 2015/2016 super El Niño

Research reveals enhanced western Pacific MJO-related convection during the 2015/2016 super El Niô event. The warm SST anomaly was located more westward than previous events, leading to increased moisture and air temperature in the central-western Pacific.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 6, 2021

Does selfishness evolve? Ask a cannibal

Researchers found that less selfish behavior evolved under living conditions forcing frequent sibling interactions, verifying a key concept in evolutionary theory. The study provides insight into the importance of cannibalism in ecosystems and its potential application to studying human behavior.

SourceRice University·JournalEcology Letters·DateMar 25, 2021
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.

Death enables complexity in chemical evolution

Researchers at the University of Groningen found that introducing a molecule that attacks self-replicating fibres allows for the emergence of more complex structures. This discovery solves Spiegelman's monster, which previously hindered the origin of complexity in life.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateMar 17, 2021

Optimality in self-organized molecular sorting

The study reveals that the propensity to molecular aggregation is the main control parameter of the sorting process, with an optimal value ensuring maximum speed. This finding has implications for understanding the origin of pathologies like cancer and developing targeted therapies.

SourcePolitecnico di Torino·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 24, 2021

A glimpse into the formation of mitoribosome

A recent study published in the EMBO Journal has provided new insights into the formation of mitoribosomes, revealing a complex network of assembly factors that shield the sensitive ribosomal core. The researchers identified five key assembly factors that are conserved across different species, including humans.

SourceScience For Life Laboratory·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateFeb 16, 2021
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Cloud simulations get a dose of realism

A new cloud simulation model developed by KAUST researchers captures atmospheric conditions and thermodynamic processes, allowing for more realistic simulation of cloud formation. The model can simulate various cloud types, including cumulonimbus clouds and supercell thunderstorms, with high accuracy.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalACM Transactions on Graphics·DateFeb 15, 2021

THz spectroscopy tracks electron solvation in photoionized water

The study uses THz wave absorption to probe the temporal evolution of quasifree electrons in laser-induced plasma, showing a unique two-step decay characteristic. The researchers also find that as electron density increases, traps related to bound states saturate, leaving many electrons unsolvated.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateFeb 9, 2021

Pangolin coronavirus could jump to humans

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered structural similarities between SARS-CoV-2 and a pangolin coronavirus, suggesting that a pangolin coronavirus could infect humans. The study found that the pangolin virus was able to bind to receptors from both pangolins and humans.

SourceThe Francis Crick Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 5, 2021
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.

Neuronal recycling: This is how our brain allows us to read

Researchers found that the brain processes letters and words similarly to how it processes other visual stimuli, using statistical frequency of specific symbols. This common cognitive process, known as unsupervised learning, is also seen in animals such as baboons that can learn to recognize words.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 21, 2021

Cyber-evolution: How computer science is harnessing the power of Darwinian transformation

Researchers in Arizona State University's Biodesign Center explore how evolutionary computation simulates nature's evolution principles, enabling machines to find novel solutions to complex problems. The study highlights six hallmarks of Darwinian evolution and demonstrates progress in applying these features to AI and engineering design.

SourceArizona State University·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateJan 18, 2021
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Seeking answers in ferroelectric patterning

Ferroelectric materials display unique patterns due to non-equilibrium dynamics and topological defects, driving subsequent evolution. A new study finds phase separation kinetics as a common framework for understanding these patterns.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 18, 2020
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.

"Birthday" of the roof of the world recalibrated

New research challenges previous understanding, finding Third Pole grew at a much slower pace than thought. The findings shed light on regional and global climate processes.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 9, 2020

From fins to limbs and water to land

Researchers analyzed 40 3D fossil humeri to understand functional evolution of locomotion in early tetrapods. They found that the emergence of limbs coincided with a transition onto land, but early tetrapods weren't very good at moving on it.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateNov 25, 2020

Genetic adaptation to climate change is swift in crop pests

A new study found that fruit flies can adapt quickly to changing climates by adjusting their internal seasonal timer. Researchers discovered that polygenic traits, involving many small genes working together, drive the rate of development during dormancy and enable the flies to emerge earlier in the year.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Denver·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 17, 2020
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

UT Herbarium among recipients of NSF Grant

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville Herbarium is part of a $3.6 million National Science Foundation grant to image and digitize metadata for over 1.2 million lichen and bryophyte specimens. Researchers will access specimen metadata and photos to study cryptobiotic communities.

SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·DateSep 3, 2020

First exposed planetary core discovered

Scientists have discovered an exoplanet with an exposed core, similar in size to Neptune, orbiting a star about 730 light years away. The researchers believe the planet may be a gas giant that lost its atmosphere or failed to form one due to special circumstances.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalNature·DateJul 1, 2020

New Curtin research uncovers the two 'faces' of the Earth

Researchers found two chemically distinct hemispheric faces, with the Pacific ring of fire being the surface expression of the boundary between them. The African domain contains continental materials brought down by subduction systems, while the Pacific domain has been protected from such infiltration.

SourceCurtin University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 30, 2020
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.

Order out of disorder in ice

An international research team identified a temperature/time-dependent kinetic pathway with three distinctive transitions in the structural evolution from metastable crystalline ice (ice VII or ice VIII) to the thermodynamically stable ice I. The end result is a juxtaposition of these processes, where intermediate amorphous-ices compet...

SourceCenter for High Pressure Science & Technology Advanced Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 24, 2020
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.

Investigating the dynamics of stability

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory found that electrolyzer materials exhibit dynamic stability on an atomic scale, allowing for better oxygen production. This discovery will guide the design of new materials for electrochemical fuel production.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Energy·DateMay 6, 2020

Ballistic tongue projection in salamanders

Researchers found that salamanders' ballistic tongue projection is less temperature-dependent than muscle-powered systems, relying on elastic-spring mechanics to achieve extreme performance. The study identified key morphological features, including rearranged collagen structures, as central to the function of this system.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 27, 2020

Evidence for plate tectonics on earth prior to 3.2 billion years ago

Researchers found evidence of modern-like plate motion velocities at 3.2 Ga in rocks from the Honeyeater Basalt, pushing back the date for plate tectonics' onset. The discovery supports the theory that continuous uniform processes shaped Earth's crust.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 22, 2020
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.

Re-thinking 'tipping points' in ecosystems and beyond

A new model by Catalina Chaparro-Pedraza and André de Roos shows how small environmental changes can induce slow evolutionary changes in species, leading to delayed regime shifts. This research has implications for understanding complex systems beyond ecosystems, including financial markets.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMar 2, 2020
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.

Explosion or collapse?

A team of scientists has successfully measured the electron capture rate in intermediate-mass stars, revealing that they are more likely to undergo a thermonuclear explosion than collapse. This finding has significant implications for galactic chemical evolution and the discovery of iron-60 in deep-sea sediments.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 10, 2020

Fin-to-limb transition in vertebrate evolution

A study on pectoral fin rays of ancient fish species uncovers key structural changes enabling fins to give rise to limbs. The transformation is marked by the appearance of digits, reducing dermal fin rays and fin webs.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 30, 2019