A new type of nanoscale engine has been proposed that would use quantum dots to generate electricity from waste heat, potentially making microcircuits more efficient. “The system is really a simple one, which exploits certain [...]
10 U.S. Presidents Have Suffered a Stroke
Ten of the nation’s 44 presidents likely suffered a stroke during their presidencies or after leaving office, according to Dr. José Biller, a Loyola University Medical Center neurologist. Woodrow Wilson was so incapacitated by a [...]
Promising new approach to halting breast cancer
Doctors currently struggle to determine whether a breast cancer tumor is likely to shift into an aggressive, life-threatening mode—an issue with profound implications for treatment. Now a group from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has [...]
Hope for frogs in a biodiversity hotspot: No chytrid in West Africa
Amphibians are one of the most threatened animal groups in the world; almost one third of all species are under acute threat. One of the main reasons for their decline is a chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium [...]
Size of lunch dictates force of crunch
Many animals prefer food — snails, nuts, etc. — that must be cracked and crushed. Scientists have measured the maximum force of their impressive bites before, but a new study introduces a significant subtlety: bite [...]
Studying Salmonella in space aboard the ISS
Performing sensitive biological experiments is always a delicate affair. Few researchers, however, contend with the challenges faced by Cheryl Nickerson, whose working laboratory aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is located hundreds of miles above [...]
Simulation of a double impact reveals the heart of an asteroid
Models boost the significance of image and measurement data from space missions and help to understand our solar system. A simulation of a double impact that occurred on the proto-planet Vesta one billion years ago [...]
The quest for a better bionic hand
For an amputee, replacing a missing limb with a functional prosthetic can alleviate physical or emotional distress and mean a return of vocational ability or cosmetics. Studies show, however, that up to 50 percent of [...]
Dopants dramatically alter electronic structure of superconductor
Over the last quarter century, scientists have discovered a handful of materials that can be converted from magnetic insulators or metals into “superconductors” able to carry electrical current with no energy loss-an enormously promising idea [...]
Circadian ‘snooze button’ improves cell adaptability
The circadian clocks that control and influence dozens of basic biological processes have an unexpected “snooze button” that helps cells adapt to changes in their environment. A study by Vanderbilt University researchers published online Feb. [...]
Ancient teeth bacteria record disease evolution
DNA preserved in calcified bacteria on the teeth of ancient human skeletons has shed light on the health consequences of the evolving diet and behaviour from the Stone Age to the modern day. The ancient [...]
Behavior Therapy for Autism Kids Can Impact Brain Function
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for before-and-after analysis, a team of researchers including a UC Santa Barbara graduate student discovered positive changes in brain activity in children with autism who received a particular type [...]
Excessive TV in childhood linked to long-term antisocial behaviour
Children and adolescents who watch a lot of television are more likely to manifest antisocial and criminal behaviour when they become adults, according to a new University of Otago, New Zealand, study published online in [...]
Wiring the oceans for live feeds of animals
For most people, the sea is a deep, dark mystery. That is changing, though, as scientists find innovative ways to track the movements of ocean-going creatures. Stanford marine sciences professor and Stanford Woods Institute Senior [...]
Love is in the air: Why Sperm love the smell of flowers and how this could be used as a fertility aid
Flowers have long been prized for their natural beauty and almost guarantee a positive reception when given as a romantic gift. However, it appears that the chemical responsible for floral smells (‘bourgeonal’) is also linked [...]
This page was originally published on February 17, 2013 .