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Cows prefer "live" co-moo-nication, study reveals

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that cows are more relaxed when spoken to directly by a live human than when listening to a recorded voice. The researchers observed higher heart rate variability and lower heart rates after the live interaction, indicating improved mood.

New theory predicts movement of different animals using sensing to search

A Northwestern University research team developed a new theory that can predict the movement of an animal's sensory organs while searching for vital information. The theory, called energy-constrained proportional betting, provides insight into how animals gamble on energy expenditure to get useful information.

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.

Eyckian Lamb of God reveals her secrets

Chemical imaging modalities have helped reveal the Eyckian Lamb of God's hidden facial features, including v-shaped nostrils and forward-gazing eyes. A smaller, more naturalistically shaped body with a sagging back and rounded hindquarters has also been discovered, suggesting revisions to the original design.

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.

How bats cope with acoustic clutter

In cluttered environments, bats use lowest broadcast frequencies to detect nearby objects and ignore distant echoes. By ignoring long-delay echoes elicited by initial broadcasts, bats can accurately match echoes with corresponding broadcasts.

Why the Victoria Plate in Africa rotates

Researchers from GFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam found that the rotation of the Victoria microplate is controlled by the configuration of weaker and stronger lithospheric regions. They used 3D numerical models to compute the dynamics of the last 10 million years, showing a best fit with GPS-derived data.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Novel electric impulses relieve the pain

Researchers at TU Wien and MedUni Vienna have developed a novel method for electric stimulation of the vagus nerve in the ear. A microanatomical study revealed the optimal placement of tiny electrodes to stimulate the nerve, resulting in effective pain relief. The triphasic signal pattern was found to be particularly effective.

Causes of tinnitus

A team of researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg has developed a computer-based model to explain chronic tinnitus. The model is based on stochastic resonance, which amplifies white noise in the brain to compensate for hearing loss and increased nerve cell activity.

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.

Aarhus University opens the world's first center for ear-EEG

The university has received a grant to further develop the method, which measures small voltage changes on the surface of the skin inside the ear caused by electrical activity in the brain's neurons. The technology holds huge potential for research and applications, including characterizing hearing loss and exploring human sleep patterns.

Shaking head to get rid of water in ears could cause brain damage

Researchers at Cornell University and Virginia Tech found that shaking the head to free trapped water in the ear canal can cause brain damage in small children, due to acceleration of up to 10 times gravity. A solution using liquids with lower surface tension, such as alcohol or vinegar, may help remove water without causing harm

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Tracing the evolution of vision

Researchers find that opsin proteins and retinal enzymes have independent biological functions beyond vision, including hearing. This discovery challenges current understanding of eye evolution and highlights the importance of molecular components in multiple sensory pathways.

Neanderthals commonly suffered from 'swimmer's ear'

A recent study revealed that Neanderthals had an exceptionally high frequency of external auditory exostoses, also known as 'swimmer's ear', in their remains. This suggests that they spent a significant amount of time collecting resources in aquatic settings.

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.

Ear motions and Doppler shifts in bats' biosonar

Bat species use self-generated Doppler shifts to detect prey motions and navigate, revealing new principles for sensory systems. The study found that pinna motion parallel to echo propagation maximizes Doppler shift, providing information on echo source direction.

Iconic Australian working dog may not be part dingo after all

A recent genetic study published in Genes journal found no detectable common DNA between domestic and wild Australian dogs, contradicting myths that kelpies originated from dingos. The research characterized gene variants of both kelpie types and compared them with those in sequenced Australian dingoes.

UC Riverside study busts myths about gossip

A UC Riverside study challenges long-held assumptions about gossip, finding that younger people gossip more negatively than older adults, while extraverts gossip far more frequently than introverts. The study also reveals that women gossip more in neutral conversations with friends, contradicting popular 'best habits of the rich' books.

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.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Surfer's ear points to ancient pearl divers in Panama

Researchers found seven cases of surfers' ear in males and one in a female skull from sites near the Gulf of Panama. The bony growths are believed to be caused by cold water or stress in the ear canal, similar to bone spurs.

Exosomes 'swarm' to protect against bacteria inhaled through the nose

A research team from Massachusetts Eye and Ear discovered a new mechanism by which the immune system protects itself against bacteria inhaled through the nose. The 'exosome swarm' process involves tiny fluid-filled sacs that directly attack bacteria and shuttle protective antimicrobial proteins along the airway to protect other cells.

People donate more when they sense they are being watched

A field study found that exposure to eyes increases donations by an average of $0.01 per patron, with a significant increase of $12 per week. The presence of eyes enhances people's reputational concern and motivates self-presentational behaviors.

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.

Energy harvesting and innovative inputs highlight tech show gadgetry

Dartmouth's research projects demonstrate innovative thinking and technical skills essential for developing next-gen wearables. The lab developed a battery-free energy harvester, a novel conductive system for smartwatches, and self-powered gesture recognition using ambient light to power devices.

Built-in sound amplifier helps male mosquitoes find females

Researchers found that male mosquitoes amplify female wingbeats using a phantom tone, creating an auditory illusion that helps them locate mates. The study's findings could lead to the development of acoustic lures for controlling disease-carrying mosquito populations.

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.

Autoimmune response drives vision loss in glaucoma

Researchers discover immune cells in eye contribute to progressive vision loss from glaucoma. Elevated eye pressure triggers autoimmune response attacking neurons, leading to optic nerve degeneration and permanent vision loss. The findings offer a promising new target for future therapies.

Study: Small talk not as bad as previously thought

Researchers confirm that quality conversations are linked to greater happiness, but find small talk has no relationship with happiness. The study's results hold true for both introverts and extroverts, contradicting previous findings.

Microglia protect sensory cells needed for vision after retinal detachment

Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear found that microglial cells rapidly migrate into the injured retina, forming close connections with infiltrating immune cells and removing injured photoreceptors. This protective role of microglia may suggest a new therapeutic avenue for preserving photoreceptors after retinal detachment.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Virtual reality technology opens new doors of (spatial) perception

Researchers use virtual reality to study sound perception in immersive settings, revealing variability in brain processing of spatial cues. The technology holds promise for developing more accurate diagnoses of auditory disorders and enhanced audio experiences in video games.

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.

Sound localization: Where did that noise come from?

Researchers found that humans can efficiently localize sounds when moving, using auditory motion parallax to estimate relative distances. This mechanism is particularly useful in noisy environments and allows for improved sound discrimination.

How the brain represents sound elevation

Researchers found that the brain's auditory cortex does not solely represent acoustic environments but also incorporates perception. Custom ear molds disrupted participants' elevation perception, revealing different responses to sounds between sessions, indicating a dynamic relationship between sensory encoding and perception.

Sea swimming associated with increased ailments

A large-scale research analysis found that sea bathing doubled the odds of reporting general ear ailments and increased the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses by 29%. The study suggests pollution is still an issue affecting swimmers in high-income countries like the UK.

Want to listen better? Lend a right ear

Researchers at Auburn University discovered that both children and adults rely more on their right ear for processing information in noisy environments. The study found that when cognitive demand increases, the right-ear advantage persists in mature auditory systems.

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.

Invasive cells in head and neck tumors predict cancer spread

A recent study has created the first atlas of head and neck cancer, revealing the unique structural transition involving cancer cells and normal cells that allows tumors to spread. This finding may have implications for other common cancers as well.

New method analyzes corn kernel characteristics

A new imaging machine developed at the University of Illinois estimates the number of kernels per ear and provides detailed information about each kernel's shape, size, and location. The technology has the potential to revolutionize plant breeding and genetic research by enabling high-throughput phenotyping.

Wearables to boost security of voice-based log-in

Researchers developed a wearable device called VAuth that creates a unique and secure signature using speech-induced vibrations on the user's body. The technology has achieved a 97-percent detection accuracy and successfully thwarts various practical attacks, making it a promising solution to enhance voice authentication security.

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.

Researchers identify potential biomarkers of age-related macular degeneration

A new study has identified potential lipid biomarkers in human blood plasma associated with age-related macular degeneration, which may lead to earlier diagnoses and better treatment options. The study's findings also suggest that metabolomics profiling may provide novel insights into the relationship between lipids and AMD.

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.