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Using your smartwatch to reduce stress

Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a smartwatch technology that can monitor and help lower stress levels by detecting changes in skin conductance response. The device sends reminders to listen to relaxing music when stress is detected, forming a closed-loop system.

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.

Corals go hungry long before they bleach

Researchers found that prolonged warm water causes coral heat stress, disrupting nutrient cycling and leading to starved corals. Monitoring nutritional status can help anticipate bleaching problems.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

New Skoltech sensor tracks 'stress hormone' in real time

Researchers developed a fluorescence-based sensor for continuous cortisol detection, overcoming existing laboratory methods. The new sensor showed low levels of detection and reversible response in vitro, paving the way for an implantable sensor for real-time monitoring.

Study shows DHA supplement may offset impact of maternal stress on unborn males

A recent study published in Biology of Sex Differences suggests that DHA supplementation during periods of high stress may reverse the negative impact of maternal stress on unborn males. Researchers found that exposure to prenatal distress decreased placenta and embryo weight in males but not females, while DHA groups showed a reversal...

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.

The quick choice might be a choice-overload avoidance strategy

New research from the University at Buffalo suggests that satisficers, who make minimal decisions, may feel incapable of managing their choices due to stress. This approach is often misunderstood as being less particular or careless, but rather a defense mechanism against overwhelming decision-making stress.

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.

Male baboons with female friends live longer

A new study on over 540 baboons in Amboseli National Park in Kenya reveals that male baboons who have close female friends are more likely to survive than those without them. Males with strong social connections, particularly with females, live longer lives.

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.

Life-hack: Rituals spell anxiety relief

Researchers study rituals as a mechanism of resilience against anxiety, finding that performing familiar rituals reduces psychological and physiological stress. This approach suggests that ritual provides the brain with a sense of control and structure, alleviating stress and potentially coping with chronic anxiety.

GW researcher receives $2.2 million for chronic stress study

Researchers at GW University are investigating changes in the ventral tegmental area of the brain during chronic stress, a common contributor to depression and anxiety disorders. The study aims to understand how stress affects the reward circuitry and identify potential treatments.

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.

No disadvantages to having kids early

A recent NTNU study on wild boars in France reveals that rapid growth and early maturity may not come at a cost. In fact, faster-growing males had lower mortality rates due to hunting and natural causes, while females showed no significant impact from early reproduction.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Yale researchers find where stress lives

Yale researchers have identified a neural home of the feeling of stress in the brain, revealing a network of connections from the hippocampus to the dorsal lateral frontal cortex. This discovery may help develop targeted therapies for anxiety and other mental health disorders.

Found: Neural circuit that drives physical responses to emotional stress

A neural circuit in deep brain areas drives physical responses to emotional stress, including increased blood pressure and heart rate. Blocking this circuit may help reduce stress symptoms in rats, suggesting a potential target for treating stress-related disorders like panic disorder and PTSD.

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.

LSU Health New Orleans research shows how stress remodels the brain

Research led by Dr. Si-Qiong June Liu found that stress changes the structure of the brain and affects communication between nerve cells. A single stressful event can produce quick and long-lasting changes in astrocytes, which may lead to new pharmacological targets for preventing or reversing stress-induced changes.

Elephant welfare can be assessed using two indicators

Researchers at the University of Turku found that elephants with higher cortisol levels also had higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratios, indicating a positive correlation between biological measures of stress. Additionally, elevated stress was linked to weight loss in Asian elephants.

Changing forests

Forests are shifting towards communities that can cope with greater water stress, driven by the death of less hardy trees and the growth of more resilient ones. This adaptation may buffer forests against climate change effects in the short term.

The harmful effects of stress during pregnancy can last a lifetime

Researchers at Yale University found that mice exposed to stress in the womb and after birth experience lifelong immune system deficiencies, making them more susceptible to bacterial infections and tumors. Early-life exposure to glucocorticoids permanently alters immune responses, rewiring the body to respond differently.

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.

Can't sleep? Prebiotics could help

Researchers found that prebiotic dietary fiber can influence gut bacteria and produce bioactive molecules that may modulate stress physiology and sleep. The study used mass spectrometry to analyze rats' fecal samples and found that those on the prebiotic diet had a different metabolome, including higher levels of fatty acids and sugars.

The 'purrfect' music for calming cats

Researchers at LSU found that cats were less stressed when played cat-specific music, with lower cat stress scores and handling scale scores compared to classical music and no music. The study suggests that cat-specific music may benefit both cat welfare and owner experience.

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.

Certain meditation strategies may help perfectionists

A study using high frequency heart rate variability found that mindfulness meditation sessions incorporating nonjudgment led to better recovery in perfectionists. Nonjudgment element improved mental health outcomes compared to general mindfulness sessions.

Plants can improve your work life

A study published in the American Society for Horticultural Science journal HortTechnology found that simply gazing at an indoor plant can reduce psychological stress in office workers. The researchers discovered that even passive involvement with plants, such as having a plant on their desk, contributed to significant anxiety reduction.

Forests face climate change tug of war

The study reveals that the winner of the climate tug of war between CO2 fertilization and heat stress depends on the ratio between the two. If forests can acclimate, they can tolerate a lower ratio, but if not, it's above 89 parts per million CO2 per degree C of warming. Other factors like forest fires, insect infestation, and exceptio...

Forest responses to climate change

A study simulates forest responses to projected climate changes using a model of plant physiology. Acclimation allows trees to adjust leaf area, photosynthetic capacity, and stand density to avoid stress, but its effectiveness varies with warming levels.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Exposing office distractions and effects on worker productivity

Researchers found that minute facial sweating can measure stress during knowledge production, while presenting views to management is more stressful than producing them. The study also revealed that spell checkers save time in long writings and that neurotic individuals perform better with email distractions.

New analytical screening tools for the detection of cardiovascular disease

Researchers propose a novel framework to analyze thousands of complete data sequences from stress echocardiography, revealing early signs of cardiovascular disease. The method uses Multiple Kernel Learning (MKL) to project heterogeneous data into a low-dimensional space, distinguishing between healthy and pathological responses.

Study finds no such thing as a low-risk surgery for frail patients

A new study reveals that frail patients are at a significantly higher risk of death after even minor surgeries, including laparoscopic gallbladder removal. The researchers found that patients classified as frail or very frail had mortality rates of up to 43% after moderate-stress procedures.

Study: E-cigarettes may be more harmful to heart health than tobacco

A landmark study suggests that e-cigarette use is associated with coronary vascular dysfunction at rest, even in the absence of physiologic stress. The researchers found that blood flow decreased after both inhalation and handgrip stress in e-cigarette users compared to traditional cigarette smokers.

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.

Study demonstrates stress reduction benefits from petting dogs, cats

Researchers at Washington State University discovered that interacting with animals for just 10 minutes can lower cortisol levels, a major stress hormone, in college students. The study involved 249 participants divided into four groups, with the first group showing a significant reduction in cortisol levels after petting cats and dogs.

In HIE, lower heart rate variability signals stressed newborns

Research at Children's National Hospital found that infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) exhibit lower heart rate variability, a marker of autonomic nervous system stress. This study suggests heart rate variability as a valuable physiological biomarker for detecting brain injury in babies with HIE.

How to combine 'leg day' with running

James Cook University scientists found that ignoring recovery between endurance and resistance training can impair endurance development. The team suggests prioritizing recovery periods and adjusting training variables such as intensity and volume to minimize fatigue between modes of training.

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.

Ability to control stress reduces negative impact

Researchers found that controlled stress in adolescence attenuates HPA axis activation in adulthood, reducing motor impulsivity and increasing dopamine type 2 receptors. Uncontrollable stress, however, increases impulsivity and cognitive inflexibility.

A disconnect between migrants' stories and their health

A small Ohio State University study found a disconnect between Mexican immigrants' positive accounts of living in the US and their physical signs of stress, such as high blood pressure and obesity. The researchers believe these migrants use positive narratives to cope with discrimination and stress.

Russian scientists show changes in the erythrocyte nanostructure under stress

Researchers from Lobachevsky University have discovered that erythrocytes undergo changes in their nanostructure when subjected to stress, which can lead to programmed cell death. This finding has significant implications for the development of optimal treatment regimens for patients with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

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.

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.

Stress and brain blood flow

A study found that chronic stress alters blood flow regulation in specific brain regions, including the temporal and prefrontal cortex. The researchers suggest understanding these changes may aid in assessing individuals' risk for stress-related illnesses.

Maternal depression may alter stress and immune markers in children

New research suggests that depression in women may impact their children's stress and physical well-being, leading to higher cortisol and s-IgA levels. Children of depressed mothers tend to exhibit psychiatric disorders and social withdrawal. Early interventions targeting maternal stress and parenting behavior are advocated.