A high-energy shape memory polymer could someday enable robots to “flex their muscles”, according its developers. When stretched or deformed, shape memory polymers return to their original shapes … [Read More...] about High-energy shape memory polymer could enable robots to ‘flex their muscles’
Main Content
News
High-energy shape memory polymer could enable robots to ‘flex their muscles’
How birds, mammals and children learn sounds
Alex the grey parrot, who famously asked “what color?” when looking in the mirror, had astonishing abilities to mimic human speech. Interest in the ability of animals to learn sounds dates back … [Read More...] about How birds, mammals and children learn sounds
Study shows tiger sharks have social preferences for one another
Scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM) and the Institute of Zoology at the Zoological Society London (ZSL) found that tiger sharks, often … [Read More...] about Study shows tiger sharks have social preferences for one another
Gut and heart signals affect how we see ourselves
New research has discovered that the strength of the connection between our brain and internal organs is linked to how we feel about our appearance. Published in the journal Cortex, the study is … [Read More...] about Gut and heart signals affect how we see ourselves
Making methane from CO2: Carbon capture grows more affordable
In their ongoing effort to make carbon capture more affordable, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a method to convert captured carbon … [Read More...] about Making methane from CO2: Carbon capture grows more affordable
Environment
Making methane from CO2: Carbon capture grows more affordable
In their ongoing effort to make carbon capture more affordable, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a method to convert captured carbon … [Read More...] about Making methane from CO2: Carbon capture grows more affordable
How does a flood become a disaster?
What are the causes, patterns and effects of disastrous river flood? An international group of researchers led by GFZ hydrologist Bruno Merz has investigated this question in a review article … [Read More...] about How does a flood become a disaster?
A database of 3,000 lead isotope analyses in geological and archaeological samples from the Iberian Peninsula
"This work set out to compile all possible data on lead isotopes in the Iberian Peninsula and to make them accessible to everyone; the data have a set of geological criteria, whereby the mines can be … [Read More...] about A database of 3,000 lead isotope analyses in geological and archaeological samples from the Iberian Peninsula
Sea levels influence eruptions on volcanic island
The rise and fall of sea levels influence the likelihood of volcanic eruptions on the Greek island of Santorini, new research led by Oxford Brookes University has discovered. Analysing the timings … [Read More...] about Sea levels influence eruptions on volcanic island
Can East Asian monsoon enhancement induce global cooling?
The study of the orogenic effects of the Tibetan Plateau uplift on global climate during the Cenozoic has focused almost exclusively on the India-Asia collision zone, the Himalayas. The strong … [Read More...] about Can East Asian monsoon enhancement induce global cooling?
Features
Secret garden: Drug-resistant pathogen strains meet and evolve on plant bulbs
Just when we thought it was safe to go to the local garden center, researchers from Japan have discovered that fungicide-resistant strains of a nasty pathogen have been getting up to no good among the … [Read More...] about Secret garden: Drug-resistant pathogen strains meet and evolve on plant bulbs
Scientists research ‘matter waves’ to shine light on post electronics future
Most modern technologies owe their success to advances in electronics. These devices harness the flow of electrons in different ways to create computers, charge batteries, light-up displays, and move … [Read More...] about Scientists research ‘matter waves’ to shine light on post electronics future
Desolination: Unique energy and water project combines solar power and desalination
A unique, €10 million European “Desolination” project, involving 19 partners and 12 countries, aims to develop a first-of-its-kind efficient coupling of concentrated solar power and desalination … [Read More...] about Desolination: Unique energy and water project combines solar power and desalination
Research shows flocking birds, schooling fish, other collective movements can stabilize ecosystems
In addition to being visually stunning, schools of herring, herds of wildebeest and countless other groups of organisms that act in concert can help complex ecosystems maintain their diversity and … [Read More...] about Research shows flocking birds, schooling fish, other collective movements can stabilize ecosystems
New study suggests falcons have natural ‘eye makeup’ to improve hunting ability
Dark "eyeliner" feathers of peregrine falcons act as sun shields to improve the birds' hunting ability, a new scientific study suggests. Scientists have long speculated that falcons' eye markings … [Read More...] about New study suggests falcons have natural ‘eye makeup’ to improve hunting ability
Space
Space scientists reveal secret behind Jupiter’s ‘energy crisis’
New research published in Nature has revealed the solution to Jupiter’s ‘energy crisis’, which has puzzled astronomers for decades. Space scientists at the University of Leicester worked with … [Read More...] about Space scientists reveal secret behind Jupiter’s ‘energy crisis’
Astronomers probe layer-cake structure of brown dwarf’s atmosphere
Jupiter may be the bully planet of our solar system because it’s the most massive planet, but it’s actually a runt compared to many of the giant planets found around other stars. These alien … [Read More...] about Astronomers probe layer-cake structure of brown dwarf’s atmosphere
Supermassive black holes put a brake on stellar births
Black holes with masses equivalent to millions of suns do put a brake on the birth of new stars, say astronomers. Using machine learning and three state of the art simulations to back up results from … [Read More...] about Supermassive black holes put a brake on stellar births
A bug’s life: Millimeter-tall mountains on neutron stars
New models of neutron stars show that their tallest mountains may be only fractions of millimetres high, due to the huge gravity on the ultra-dense objects. The research is presented today at the … [Read More...] about A bug’s life: Millimeter-tall mountains on neutron stars
Scientists use NASA satellite data to track ocean microplastics from space
Scientists from the University of Michigan have developed an innovative way to use NASA satellite data to track the movement of tiny pieces of plastic in the ocean. Microplastics form when plastic … [Read More...] about Scientists use NASA satellite data to track ocean microplastics from space
Engineering
Tau invents wire that doubles the power of electric motors and raises €10.25 million
A startup company called Tau, which specializes in materials science and automotive electrification, says it has delivered a prototype wire that enables electric motors to double their power output … [Read More...] about Tau invents wire that doubles the power of electric motors and raises €10.25 million
Scientists research ‘matter waves’ to shine light on post electronics future
Most modern technologies owe their success to advances in electronics. These devices harness the flow of electrons in different ways to create computers, charge batteries, light-up displays, and move … [Read More...] about Scientists research ‘matter waves’ to shine light on post electronics future
Quantum laser turns energy loss into gain?
Scientists at KAIST have fabricated a laser system that generates highly interactive quantum particles at room temperature. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Photonics, could lead to … [Read More...] about Quantum laser turns energy loss into gain?
Skin in the game: Transformative approach uses the human body to recharge smartwatches
As smart watches are increasingly able to monitor the vital signs of health, including what's going on when we sleep, a problem has emerged: those wearable, wireless devices are often disconnected … [Read More...] about Skin in the game: Transformative approach uses the human body to recharge smartwatches
Sound-induced electric fields control the tiniest particles
Engineers at Duke University have devised a system for manipulating particles approaching the miniscule 2.5 nanometer diameter of DNA using sound-induced electric fields. Dubbed "acoustoelectronic … [Read More...] about Sound-induced electric fields control the tiniest particles