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AIBS names emerging public policy leader

Julia Omotade, a Ph.D. candidate at Emory University, has been awarded the AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award for her leadership in advocating for federally supported research. Her efforts have resulted in over 600 letters to Congress and recognition as an outstanding leader in science policy.

SourceAmerican Institute of Biological Sciences·DateMar 3, 2016
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.

Teens take fewer risks around slightly older adults

A recent study found that adolescents are more prudent in their decision-making when a slightly older adult is present. The researchers discovered that groups with younger soldiers benefited from the inclusion of a mid- to late-20s soldier, who led to fewer risks and a stronger preference for delayed rewards.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJan 28, 2016

Nanotube letters spell progress

The Rice researchers used experiments and simulations to study the stiffness of joined nanotubes and found that some types are tougher than others, with all having potential uses in macroscale structures. The team discovered that the X's were the stiffest and most able to bounce back to nearly their original shapes.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateDec 7, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

People who rely on their intuition are, at times, less likely to cheat

A study by University of Missouri graduate student Sarah Ward found that people who trust their gut feelings are less likely to cheat after considering past immoral behavior. Participants in the experiment were asked to imagine acting immorally and then complete an unsolvable IQ test, with results showing that up to 23% cheated. The re...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateNov 24, 2015

What counts as fair?

A new study found that counting ability was a strong predictor of whether children would distribute resources based on merit, not age or education. Children as young as 3 can understand the concept of rewarding more effort, but struggle to translate it into an accurate distribution.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateNov 10, 2015

Faster optimization

Researchers have developed a new cutting-plane algorithm that improves upon existing methods, offering huge efficiency gains for specific optimization problems. The algorithm has been applied to various types of problems, including submodular minimization and semidefinite programming, resulting in significant speedups.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateOct 23, 2015
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.

Push to dramatically broaden access to nanotech equipment in the Triangle

The Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network aims to increase innovation by making nanotechnology accessible to faculty, students, businesses, and educators across the Triangle and nation. The initiative provides graduate students with peer-to-peer training opportunities and 'Nano-Nights' programs for grades 7-12 classrooms.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·DateSep 17, 2015

SfN announces winners of Brain Awareness Video Contest

The Society for Neuroscience has announced the winners of its fifth annual Brain Awareness Video Contest, featuring nine winning videos that explain complex neuroscience concepts in an engaging way. The contest winners, including Matthew Sugrim and Guillaume Riesen, have received awards and recognition for their innovative videos.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·DateSep 4, 2015
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.

Want a better relationship and a better sex life?

Research by Georgia State University sociologists found that men sharing child-care duties lead to better relationships and sex lives, while women shouldering most responsibilities result in lower quality relationships. Couples with egalitarian arrangements reported equal levels of satisfaction with their sex lives.

SourceGeorgia State University·DateAug 23, 2015

Self-assembling, biomimetic membranes may aid water filtration

Researchers have developed a second-generation synthetic water channel that improves on earlier attempts to mimic natural aquaporins. The peptide-appended pillar[5]arenes (PAP) membranes are more stable and easier to manufacture, making them suitable for highly efficient water purification membranes.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 31, 2015

Everyday access to nature improves quality of life in older adults

A recent study by University of Minnesota researchers highlights the importance of everyday contact with nature for healthy aging in seniors. Green and blue spaces are found to promote feelings of renewal, restoration, and spiritual connectedness, as well as provide opportunities for multi-generational social interactions.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalHealth & Place·DateJul 9, 2015

The peaks and valleys of silicon

USC Viterbi researchers have developed new layered semiconducting materials that can be adjusted to achieve unique electronic and optical properties. These materials have potential applications in LIDAR systems, infrared thermal imaging technology, and flexible night vision glasses.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 26, 2015
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.

'Natural' sounds improve mood and productivity, study finds

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that playing natural sounds in offices boosts worker moods and improves cognitive abilities. The study tested three different sound stimuli: typical office noises with a conventional masking signal, an office soundscape with a 'natural' masker, and an office soundscape with no masker.

SourceAcoustical Society of America·DateMay 19, 2015

Object recognition for free

Researchers at MIT have created a system that can label visual scenes according to type and also detect particular objects. The system uses deep learning and achieved an accuracy of 50% in labeling scenes, outperforming human performance in some cases.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateMay 8, 2015

UH professor awarded fellowship to teach American history in China

Raúl A. Ramos, a UH associate professor of history, has been selected for the Organization of American Historians' 2015 China Residency to teach a one-week seminar on the American West in Beijing, China. This fellowship marks an opportunity for global academic collaboration and exchange between Chinese scholars and US faculty.

SourceUniversity of Houston·DateMay 8, 2015
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.

Cloud security reaches silicon

The new chip features a data structure known as a tree, where every address is randomly assigned to a path through the tree -- a sequence of nodes stretching from the top of the tree to the bottom, with no backtracking. This approach improves efficiency by minimizing extra data needed between the chip and memory.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateApr 22, 2015

Mathematics department at Iowa State receives AMS national award

The Iowa State University Department of Mathematics has received the American Mathematical Society's Award for an Exemplary Program or Achievement in a Mathematics Department. The department has made significant improvements in undergraduate teaching, increasing retention rates and expanding its diversity through outreach programs like...

SourceAmerican Mathematical Society·DateApr 13, 2015
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Archeologists discover Maya 'melting pot'

Archeologists discover that mobile and sedentary Maya groups co-existed and collaborated on construction projects, participating in public ceremonies. This finding challenges the idea that sedentary and mobile communities were separate.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 23, 2015

Is US immigration policy 'STEMming' innovation?

A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers found that foreign-born STEM students are more likely to stay in the US than return home, with 44% of Silicon Valley startups including a foreign founder. The study suggests that visa requirements and lack of mentorship opportunities may be driving these students abroad.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 11, 2015

Could squirmy livestock dent Africa's protein deficit?

Researchers Valerie Stull and Rachel Bergmans are introducing insect farming kits to sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to address the region's protein deficiency. The kits, developed in partnership with Tiny Farms, provide a sustainable and culturally appropriate way for rural women's cooperatives to produce mealworms as a source of protein.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·DateFeb 26, 2015

Parallelizing common algorithms

A new way of implementing priority queues allows for performance improvement even with the addition of new cores. The algorithm uses a skip list data structure to make moving through the hierarchy more efficient, reducing collisions and achieving better scalability.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateJan 30, 2015
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.

'Sticky' ends start synthetic collagen growth

Researchers at Rice University have made significant breakthroughs in the study of synthetic collagen fibers, demonstrating how they self-assemble through their sticky ends. The discovery could lead to improved synthetic collagens for tissue engineering and cosmetic medicine.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 27, 2014
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.

New frontier in error-correcting codes

Researchers have developed an interactive-coding scheme that can approach the optimum on all three measures: noise tolerance, transmission rate, and decoding complexity. The scheme uses list decoding to create a list of likely candidates, allowing devices to zero in on optimal decoding with perfect knowledge of their own messages.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateOct 1, 2014

Tilted acoustic tweezers separate cells gently

Researchers have developed a device that uses tilted-angle standing surface acoustic waves to separate cells with minimal energy. The method is gentler than traditional methods like centrifugation and can efficiently sort cells with high purity.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 25, 2014
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.

Young researcher discovers source of disco clams' light show

Lindsey Dougherty, a University of California graduate student, has discovered the source of the disco clam's flashing light show - tiny silica nanospheres on its mirrored lip. The nanospheres reflect blue light, creating the clams' distinctive rippling display.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateJun 24, 2014

Relaxation helps pack DNA into a virus

Researchers discovered that DNA relaxes to pack into virus heads at speeds determined by physics. The process counteracts the molecule's tendency to repel itself due to its negative charge.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 26, 2014

Nanoreporters tell 'sour' oil from 'sweet'

Rice University scientists have created a nanoscale detector that checks for and reports on the presence of hydrogen sulfide in crude oil and natural gas while they're still in the ground. The detection method is sensitive enough to detect low concentrations, making it an important tool for improving safety and efficiency in oil fields.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 22, 2014
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.

What happened when? How the brain stores memories by time

A recent study from the University of California, Davis, found that the hippocampus stores memories based on their temporal context, which includes what happened before and after an event. This means that the brain uses context to represent specific objects, rather than just their content.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNeuron·DateMar 12, 2014

System that automatically fills gaps in programmers' code gains power

Researchers have developed a new version of Sketch that can handle complex synthesis tasks more efficiently, enabling it to produce working code in milliseconds. The system treats program synthesis as a search problem and finds a way to shrink the search space, making it more suitable for real-world applications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateFeb 25, 2014
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.

'Steak-knife' teeth reveal ecology of oldest land predators

Researchers have discovered that the oldest land predator, Dimetrodon, had 'steak-knife' teeth with serrated edges, allowing it to efficiently eat large prey. The study suggests a gradual change in feeding habits over 25 million years of evolution.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 7, 2014

Flying the not-so-friendly skies

A new MIT study found that passengers of low-cost upstarts tend to complain less about service quality than network carriers. In a study published in the Journal of Air Transport Management, Michael Wittman tallied airline-related complaints made to the U.S. Department of Transportation from 2002 to 2012.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Air Transport Management·DateJan 30, 2014

How best to go about getting seed money through crowdfunding

A study of over 20,000 Kickstarter campaigns found that entrepreneurs who emphasized their own projects were more likely to succeed than those who focused on themselves. The research also suggests that this approach is particularly effective for artistic ventures.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·DateJan 1, 2014

Never forget a face

Researchers developed an algorithm that subtly modifies facial features to make a face more memorable. The system uses machine learning to analyze subtle trends in facial features and applies these changes to produce a new image. In tests, the algorithm succeeded in making faces more or less memorable in around 75% of cases.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateDec 17, 2013
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.

5 Michigan universities awarded NSF partnership grant to improve academic success

A collaborative project between five Michigan universities aims to increase the academic success of underrepresented minority graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in STEM fields, as well as women graduate students. The project will strengthen mentoring relationships and engage students in interdisciplinary learning communities.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·DateDec 12, 2013

UNH scientists launch 'CubeSats' into radiation belts

Researchers launched two small satellites, FIREBIRD, into the outer radiation belt to investigate microbursts, which can pose a risk to spacecraft. The mission aims to improve our understanding of the radiation belts and design more resilient satellites.

SourceUniversity of New Hampshire·DateDec 9, 2013

Astronomers discover planet that shouldn't be there

The discovery of HD 106906 b, a giant planet orbiting its star at 650 times the average Earth-Sun distance, has puzzled astronomers. The planet's unusual orbit and mass throw doubt on existing planet formation theories, leaving scientists searching for alternative explanations.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateDec 5, 2013

AAPS presents awards to exemplary researchers

Researchers Leaf Huang, Sukyung Woo, Shyh-Dar Li, and Raj Suryanarayanan received awards for their groundbreaking work on non-viral gene therapy, tumor evasion mechanisms, nanomedicine, and physical pharmacy. Their research holds promise for future development of clinically effective gene and anti-cancer therapies.

SourceAmerican Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists·DateNov 10, 2013

Grandiose narcissism reflects US presidents' bright and dark sides

Researchers found that grandiose narcissism in US presidents is linked to high ratings for public persuasiveness and crisis management, as well as impeachment resolutions. Lyndon B. Johnson scored highest on markers of grandiose narcissism, followed by Theodore Roosevelt.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalPsychological Science·DateNov 7, 2013
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.