A new study found higher education students are more engaged and motivated when they are taught using playful pedagogy rather than the traditional lecture-based method. The study was conducted by … [Read More...] about Introducing play to higher education reduces stress and forms deeper connection material
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Introducing play to higher education reduces stress and forms deeper connection material
Boundary of heliosphere mapped for the first time
For the first time, the boundary of the heliosphere has been mapped, giving scientists a better understanding of how solar and interstellar winds interact. (See video below.) "Physics models have … [Read More...] about Boundary of heliosphere mapped for the first time
Researchers create switchable mirrors from liquid metal
Researchers have developed a way to dynamically switch the surface of liquid metal between reflective and scattering states. This technology could one day be used to create electrically controllable … [Read More...] about Researchers create switchable mirrors from liquid metal
Extreme heat increasing in both Summer and Winter
New research shows that there are more extremely hot days during the summer and more days that are considered extremely hot for the time of year, like abnormally warm days in the winter. A new … [Read More...] about Extreme heat increasing in both Summer and Winter
Saliva can be more effective than nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 testing
The collection of nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples for COVID-19 diagnostic testing poses challenges including exposure risk to healthcare workers and supply chain constraints. Saliva samples are … [Read More...] about Saliva can be more effective than nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 testing
Environment
Data from community science is underutilized. New study aims to change that
In recent years, community science – also known as citizen science – has become a global phenomenon, engaging millions of people through wildlife observation platforms like iNaturalist and … [Read More...] about Data from community science is underutilized. New study aims to change that
Extreme heat increasing in both Summer and Winter
New research shows that there are more extremely hot days during the summer and more days that are considered extremely hot for the time of year, like abnormally warm days in the winter. A new … [Read More...] about Extreme heat increasing in both Summer and Winter
Declining growth rates of global coral reef ecosystems
If the trend of declining coral growth continues at the current rate, the world's coral reefs may cease calcifying around 2054, a new Southern Cross University study has found. Drawing on research … [Read More...] about Declining growth rates of global coral reef ecosystems
‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics
Researchers have created a plant-based, sustainable, scalable material that could replace single-use plastics in many consumer products. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, created a … [Read More...] about ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics
Population and climate change point to future water shortages
A new study suggests that reductions in agricultural water use will probably play the biggest role in limiting future water shortages. Climate change plus population growth are setting the stage … [Read More...] about Population and climate change point to future water shortages
Features
Could all your digital photos be stored as DNA?
On Earth right now, there are about 10 trillion gigabytes of digital data, and every day, humans produce emails, photos, tweets, and other digital files that add up to another 2.5 million gigabytes of … [Read More...] about Could all your digital photos be stored as DNA?
Men make more extreme choices and decisions, find scientists
This is the main finding of new research involving more than 50,000 participants in 97 samples, published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United … [Read More...] about Men make more extreme choices and decisions, find scientists
How a small fish coped with being isolated from the sea
The last ice age ended almost 12,000 years ago in Norway. The land rebounded slowly as the weight of the ice disappeared and the land uplift caused many bays to become narrower and form lakes. Fish … [Read More...] about How a small fish coped with being isolated from the sea
Sexual attraction preferences vary between men and women and across different ages
A new analysis suggests that men and women have broadly similar priorities in their sexual attraction preferences, but vary in degree of preference for certain traits. Preferences also appear to shift … [Read More...] about Sexual attraction preferences vary between men and women and across different ages
Solving the cocktail party problem
Conducting a discussion in a noisy place can be challenging when other conversations and background noises interfere with our ability to focus attention on our conversation partner. How the brain … [Read More...] about Solving the cocktail party problem
Space
Did heat from impacts on asteroids provide the ingredients for life on Earth?
A research group from Kobe University has demonstrated that the heat generated by the impact of a small astronomical body could enable aqueous alteration and organic solid formation to occur on the … [Read More...] about Did heat from impacts on asteroids provide the ingredients for life on Earth?
Hubble inspects a contorted spiral galaxy
This striking image showcases the unusually contorted appearance of NGC 2276, an appearance caused by two different astrophysical interactions – one with the superheated gas pervading galaxy clusters, … [Read More...] about Hubble inspects a contorted spiral galaxy
Hubble watches how a giant planet grows
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is giving astronomers a rare look at a Jupiter-sized, still-forming planet that is feeding off material surrounding a young star. "We just don't know very much about … [Read More...] about Hubble watches how a giant planet grows
Astronomers detect first ever hydroxyl molecule signature in an exoplanet atmosphere
An international collaboration of astronomers led by a researcher from the Astrobiology Center and Queen's University Belfast, and including researchers from Trinity College Dublin, has detected a new … [Read More...] about Astronomers detect first ever hydroxyl molecule signature in an exoplanet atmosphere
Hubble captures giant star on the edge of destruction
In celebration of the 31st anniversary of the launching of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers aimed the renowned observatory at a brilliant "celebrity star", one of the brightest stars seen in … [Read More...] about Hubble captures giant star on the edge of destruction
Engineering
Novel fast-beam-switching transceiver takes 5G to the next level
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and NEC Corporation jointly develop a 28-GHz phased-array transceiver that supports efficient and reliable 5G communications. The proposed … [Read More...] about Novel fast-beam-switching transceiver takes 5G to the next level
Scientists make powerful underwater glue inspired by barnacles and mussels
If you have ever tried to chip a mussel off a seawall or a barnacle off the bottom of a boat, you will understand that we could learn a great deal from nature about how to make powerful … [Read More...] about Scientists make powerful underwater glue inspired by barnacles and mussels
Similarity of legs, wheels, tracks suggests target for energy-efficient robots
A new formula from Army scientists is leading to new insights on how to build an energy-efficient legged teammate for dismounted warfighters. In a recent peer-reviewed PLOS One paper, the US Army … [Read More...] about Similarity of legs, wheels, tracks suggests target for energy-efficient robots
A helping hand for working robots
Until now, competing types of robotic hand designs offered a trade-off between strength and durability. One commonly used design, employing a rigid pin joint that mimics the mechanism in human … [Read More...] about A helping hand for working robots
Banning the sale of fossil-fuel cars benefits the climate when replaced by electric cars
If a ban were introduced on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, and they were replaced by electric cars, the result would be a great reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. That is the finding … [Read More...] about Banning the sale of fossil-fuel cars benefits the climate when replaced by electric cars