Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Music aids Alzheimer's patients in remembering new information

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine found that music enhances recognition memory for Alzheimer's patients, but not healthy older adults. The study suggests that understanding musical processing and memory may lead to effective therapies for this prevalent disease.

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.

Entertainment needs drive innovative mobile phone uses in India

Researchers found that Indians use mobile phones to transfer media files via Bluetooth for free, overcoming cumbersome processes, and even construct elaborate systems for entertainment content. The study suggests that motivation and not just usability barriers drive innovative uses of mobile phones in India.

What if all software was open source? A code to unlock the desktop

A University of Washington project aims to make all software open source, allowing users to add custom features to widely used programs. The Prefab system hijacks the display to customize user interaction, enabling people with disabilities to access previously inaccessible interfaces.

New research shows babies are born to dance

Infants as young as five months old show a strong response to music's beat, moving in sync with the rhythm. This innate ability may be linked to human evolution and music processing.

Gadgets not related to teenagers' brain pain

A study published in BMC Neurology found no association between teenagers' use of computer games, mobile phones, or television and headaches. However, daily music consumption was significantly associated with suffering from any type of headache. The researchers suggested that music might be a self-therapy by relaxation.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

From music to sports: Autonomy fosters passion among kids

A Canadian study links parenting style to children's relationships with hobbies, finding autonomy fosters passion while control predicts obsessive behavior. The research team evaluated over 500 participants between six and 38 years old.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Music and speech based on human biology

Research at Duke University reveals that music scales are based on the physics of the human voice, mirroring speech's emotional content. This study provides new insights into why humans appreciate music, suggesting it mimics speech's emotional expression.

Farmers' markets harvest new business

A recent study published in HortScience found that Indiana's farmers' markets have grown at twice the national rate, with factors like paying fees, customer numbers, and WIC vouchers influencing vendor participation. Cooking demonstrations also boosted customer traffic, attracting up to 200 more customers per week.

Electrical engineers go head to head with Genius on music playlists

Researchers created a music recommender system that generates playlists as good as or better than Genius, but with less user data required. The system uses auto-tagging algorithms to label songs based on their acoustic content, leading to high-quality playlists including lesser-known songs.

Looking for the origins of music in the brain

Using electrophysiological recording techniques, researchers found neurons tuned to fundamental frequencies and harmonic sounds in awake monkeys. This discovery sheds light on the neural mechanisms of music processing and its potential therapeutic benefits for patients with severe neurological disorders.

Scary music is scarier with your eyes shut

Researchers found that closing eyes during emotional stimulation increases brain activity in the amygdala, a region responsible for emotions. This could lead to new therapies for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurological diseases.

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.

Ultra-flat loudspeakers with powerful sound reproduction

Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT created ultra-flat loudspeakers with resonant properties, enabling improved sound quality. The new design allows for integration into surroundings without sacrificing audio quality.

Monkeys get a groove on, but only to monkey music

Researchers found that cotton-top tamarins responded to music with emotions such as anxiety and calmness, mirroring human responses. The study suggests that animals use musical elements to convey emotional content, similar to humans, and could have deep evolutionary roots.

Music is the engine of new U-M lab-on-a-chip device

Researchers at U-M have developed a lab-on-a-chip device that uses sound waves to drive experimental samples through the device. This innovation replaces traditional electromechanical valves with resonance cavities, amplifying specific musical notes to create air pressure controlling droplets.

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.

Wagner's 'difficult' reputation unwarranted says research

A new study finds that Richard Wagner used the acoustics of the soprano voice to create music drama with improved intelligibility and ease of production. Wagner's operas often featured vowels sung with an open mouth, which were matched to high notes in a way that enhanced both performer and listener experience.

Free music, sampled

A study by Yanbin Tu and Min Lu found that high-quality digital music samples are more effective in increasing consumer evaluation and willingness to pay. In contrast, low-quality samples with short durations discourage consumers from buying the full product.

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.

Tone language is key to perfect pitch

Researchers found that students speaking East Asian tone languages fluently scored nearly 100% on a perfect pitch test, while those who were only fairly fluent or not fluent at all performed worse. The study suggests that nurture may play a significant role in developing this rare ability.

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.

Love at first aria

Researchers discover that opera fans learn to appreciate the art form by forming emotional connections and decoding its meaning. Through social interaction and personal experience, fans develop a deeper understanding of opera's nuances, ultimately becoming passionate advocates for the art.

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.

Musicians have biological advantage in identifying emotion in sound

A study by Northwestern University researchers suggests that musical training enhances an individual's ability to recognize emotion in sound. Musicians were found to have finely tuned auditory systems and more efficiently process the complex part of the sound carrying emotional elements.

Sexual lyrics in popular songs linked to early sexual experiences

A study found that teenagers who preferred popular songs with degrading sexual references were more likely to engage in intercourse or pre-coital activities. High exposure to such lyrics was independently associated with higher levels of sexual behavior among young adolescents.

3 NASA Goddard scientists receive special honors

Claire Parkinson, Marc Kuchner, and Neil Gehrels received recognition for their leadership in understanding sea-ice changes through satellite measurements and detecting extra-solar planets. The scientists' research has greatly advanced astronomers' understanding of climate change, exoplanet formation, and gamma-ray bursts.

Study finds brain hub that links music, memory and emotion

A recent study found that a specific region of the brain serves as a hub linking familiar music, memories, and emotions. The medial prefrontal cortex region is crucial for supporting and retrieving memories, and it also tracks tonal progressions in music, strengthening autobiographical memory connections.

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.

New iPod listening study shows surprising behavior of teens

A new study by the University of Colorado at Boulder found that teenagers who express concern about hearing loss risk actually play their music louder than peers, while those with lower concerns listen at safer volumes. The study also shows teens play music louder than young adults and may inaccurately perceive volume levels.

Adolescents involved with music do better in school

A new study reveals that music involvement has a positive effect on academic performance, especially during high school years. Socioeconomic status and ethnicity also impact music participation rates, with higher socioeconomic groups and Whites more likely to participate.

Marching to the beat of the same drum improves teamwork

A new study suggests that synchrony fosters cooperation, even when individuals have financial incentives to behave selfishly. Volunteers who participated in synchronized activities, such as walking in step or moving cups to music, were more likely to cooperate with others and report feeling part of a team.

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.

Loud music can make you drink more, in less time, in a bar

A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that loud music in bars increases drinking behavior. The research, conducted by Nicolas Guéguen and his colleagues, discovered that high sound levels led to increased drinking within a shorter time frame.

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.

Men share their creative work online more than women

A Northwestern University study found that men are more likely to share their creative work online than women, with almost two-thirds of men reporting online sharing compared to half of women. The disparity persists even when controlling for digital literacy and Web know-how, suggesting that internet access is not an equal playing field.

New catfish species named for museum mail supervisor

A new species of catfish, Rhinodoras gallagheri, has been named in honor of Frank Gallagher, a retired Academy of Natural Sciences mailroom supervisor. The Orinoco thicklip catfish was discovered in the Academy's collection and is found in the Orinoco basin in Venezuela and Colombia.

Genetic loci assigned for musical aptitude in Finnish families

A study of 15 Finnish families has pinpointed genetic regions associated with musical aptitude, including genes involved in neural development. The findings suggest that musical talent may be regulated by multiple predisposing genes/variants, offering new insights into music's relationship to language and brain function.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Dana Foundation releases arts and cognition research

A three-year study at seven major universities reveals that children motivated in the arts develop attention skills and strategies for memory retrieval that also apply to other subject areas. The research identifies eight key points relevant to interests of parents, students, educators, neuroscientists, and policy makers.

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.

Jingle bells not merry for tone-deaf individuals

A study by Montreal Neurological Institute researchers found that tone-deaf individuals have a thicker cortex in regions involved in auditory and musical processing. This parallels the observed cortex thickness in dyslexia, suggesting abnormal neuronal migration or cell pruning during development may contribute to the disorder.

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.

Printing in 3-D

Researchers believe 3D printing will revolutionize consumer goods, individualized custom products, and product development with its ability to print solid objects almost instantly. The technology allows for rapid prototyping, digital downloads, and on-demand production, making traditional retail models obsolete.

Music training linked to enhanced verbal skills

A Northwestern University study finds that music training improves the brain's multi-sensory processing, leading to enhanced verbal communication skills. The research suggests that musical training could help children develop literacy skills and combat literacy disorders.

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.

Pop stars more than twice as likely to die an early death

A study of over 1050 North American and European musicians found that they are more than twice as likely to die an early death compared to the general population. Long-term drug or alcohol problems accounted for nearly one in four deaths, with some stars continuing to experience higher death rates even 25 years after achieving fame.

Scuppering pirates improves Internet audio

A new digital watermarking system protects music and media files from online pirates while ensuring high-quality playback for legitimate users. The system, developed by researchers at the University of Ottawa, embeds an image within the audio file to prevent piracy without compromising sound quality.

Music moves brain to pay attention, Stanford study finds

A Stanford study using fMRI scans found that music engages brain areas involved with paying attention, making predictions, and updating memory. Peak brain activity occurred during silence between musical movements, a process called event segmentation.