Researchers create iridescent film that can reflect UV or IR
Using nanocrystals of cellulose, the main component of pulp and paper, chemistry researchers at the University of British Columbia have created glass films that have applications for energy conservation in building design because of their ability to reflect specific wavelengths of light, such as ultra violet, visible or infrared.
ARMAR-III, the robot that learns via touch
Researchers in Europe have created a robot that uses its body to learn how to think. It is able to learn how to interact with objects by touching them without needing to rely on a massive database of instructions for every object it might encounter.
Earth as Art: Stunning New Images From Space
The U.S. Geological Survey has released a new selection of particularly interesting images from the Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 satellites. These space craft have been prolific sources of data for earth scientist, but the new shots were chosen solely based on aesthetics.
Light Technology to Combat Hospital Infections
A pioneering lighting system that can kill hospital superbugs -- including MRSA and C.diff -- has been developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
Trees Implanted with Gold Nanoparticles can Glow
Taiwanese researchers have come up with the elegant idea of replacing streetlights with trees, by implanting their leaves with gold nanoparticles. This causes the leaves to give off a red glow, lighting the road for passersby without the need for electric power. This ingenious triple threat of an idea could simultaneously reduce carbon emissions, c
Harvard engineers demonstrated ice-free nanostructured materials
Engineers from Harvard University have designed and demonstrated ice-free nanostructured materials that literally repel water droplets before they even have the chance to freeze.
A Devilish Grass “Medusahead” Invades the West
"It is a devilish species because it is absolutely not of any worth," says Seema Mangla, a plant ecologist at Oregon State University, Corvallis, who led the study. "Every animal avoids it."
‘BacillaFilla’, bacteria that can knit cracks in concrete
A bacteria that can knit together cracks in concrete structures by producing a special 'glue' has been developed by a team of students at Newcastle University.
Solid-state hydrogen storage materialoperates coolly
The hydrogen catch-and-release, a.k.a. dehydrogenation and hydrogenation, in this LiBH4 and MgH2 fuel cell system operates coolly and reversibly.
The Cove uncovers massive ecological crime in Taiji, Japan
The team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action.
Myth of a germ-free world: A closer look at antimicrobial products
Killing microorganisms has become a national obsession. A pair of antimicrobial compounds known as triclosan and triclocarban are lately the weapons of choice in our war of attrition against the microbial world. Both chemicals are found in an array of personal care products like antimicrobial soaps, and triclosan also is formulated into everyday it
Nanogenerators powers small conventional electronics
Compressing a nanogenerator between two fingers is enough to drive a liquid-crystal display.
Engineered Plants Make Potential Precursor for Plastics
In theory, plants could be the ultimate green factories, engineered to pump out the kinds of raw materials we now obtain from petroleum-based chemicals. But in reality, getting plants to accumulate high levels of desired products has been an elusive goal. Now, in a first step toward achieving industrial-scale green production, scientists from the U
Berkeley lab scientists generate low-cost, hybrid thermoelectrics
Although climate-controlled car seats don’t spring to mind when you think of energy efficiency, the latest technology underpinning this luxury automobile feature is based on thermoelectrics—materials that convert electricity directly into heating or cooling. Conversely, thermoelectrics can also funnel excess heat from energy inefficient systems
Engineered yeast could produce low-cost plastics
With the goal to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, scientists are looking for alternative methods to produce plastics that are based on renewable oils. In a new study, scientists have developed a method to produce a bioplastic by engineering a strain of the Candida tropicalis yeast. Their results demonstrate the possibility of producing low-co
Burning Pain and Itching Governed by Same Nerve Cells
We all know how hard it is not to scratch when we have an itch. But how can an itch be alleviated? In a new study published in the journal Neuron, researchers at Uppsala University present the surprising finding that the same nerve cells that are active when we experience heat pain are also associated with itching.
Collective intelligence: distributed brain of ants
Professor Stephen Pratt studies how small ant colonies pick a new nest when theirs is destroyed or is no longer viable, and has found that the "brain" of the colony is distributed throughout the group of workers.
Clouds: The Wild Card of Climate Change
Reader-friendly multimedia package covers the crucial but enigmatic role of clouds on climate change, and how scientists are defining that role
Chemical Coarsening: How the Big Get Bigger
The paper, "A Little Chemistry Helps the Big Get Bigger," describes a process called coarsening. That's when "a group of objects of different sizes transforms into fewer objects with larger average size, such that 'the big get bigger,'" says the paper. Examples of the process include the geologic formation of gemstones, the degradation of pharmaceu
New polymer bends when irradiated with UV and visible light
Japanese researchers at RIKEN have successfully developed a revolutionary new polymer film that changes shape upon irradiation with UV and visible light. Described in Science, the film is the largest-ever example of a material whose molecular elements are ordered in three dimensions on a macroscopic length scale, marking a breakthrough in technique
Fish species stay alive on land with special skin
A new study shows how an amphibious fish stays alive for up to two months on land. It's all in the skin.
Transparent conductive material for power-generating windows
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory have fabricated transparent thin films capable of absorbing light and generating electric charge over a relatively large area. The material, described in the journal Chemistry of Materials, could be used to develop transparent solar
Champion Mousebot Solves Huge Maze in Five Seconds
The micromouse competition is an international event wherein a teeny automated robotic mouse has to survey and then navigate a maze as quickly and adorably as possible. This video shows the fastest micromouse we've ever seen, blowing through the maze in mere seconds.
Dancing Diva-bot performs live on stage
A singing, dancing humanoid recently joined a live group of dancers to perform.
Humidity changes color of birds’ feathers, biologists discover
Tree swallows' iridescent feathers change from blue-green to muted yellow when exposed to humidity. The plumage reverses to previous color tones as humidity decreases.
A wiring diagram that shows how the brain pays attention
University of Utah (U of U) medical researchers have uncovered a wiring diagram that shows how the brain pays attention to visual, cognitive, sensory, and motor cues. The research provides a critical foundation for the study of abnormalities in attention that can be seen in many brain disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and attention deficit d
New Way of Removing Excess Nitrogen from the Environment
Excess nitrogen from agricultural and urban lands is contaminating groundwater, streams, lakes and estuaries, where it causes harmful algal blooms and contributes to fish kills. Cost-effective approaches to removing this nitrogen from croplands and urban stormwater runoff before it reaches sensitive water bodies have been elusive. But simple
Pollutants in some urban areas increase Parkinson’s disease risk
High levels of manganese and copper pollution in urban areas are linked to increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a large-scale analysis of urban pollution and Parkinson's incidence in the United States.
Jellyfish ‘may benefit from ecosystem instability’
A team of researchers have been trying to identify how jellyfish may benefit from marine ecosystems destabilised by climate change and overfishing.
Researchers could use plant’s light switch to control cells
Chandra Tucker shines a blue light on yeast and mammalian cells in her Duke University lab and the edges of them start to glow. The effect is the result of a light-activated switch from a plant that has been inserted into the cell.
Phosphorus identified as the missing link in evolution of animals
A University of Alberta geomicrobiologist and his PhD student are part of a research team that has identified phosphorus as the mystery ingredient that pushed oxygen levels in the oceans high enough to establish the first animals on Earth.
Newly discovered gene enables fish to ‘disappear’
Researchers led by Vanderbilt's Roger Cone, Ph.D., have discovered a new member of a gene family that has powerful influences on pigmentation and the regulation of body weight.
An engineered directional nanofilm mimics nature’s curious feats
In nature, textured surfaces provide some plants the ability to trap insects and pollen, certain insects the ability to walk on water, and the gecko the ability to climb walls. Being able to mimic these features at a larger scale would spur new advances in renewable energy and medicine. In a paper published in the October 10 issue of Nature Materia
A new study shows why leopards are spotted, striped or melanistic
A new study shows why leopards and other big cats are spotted, striped or melanistic -- all black. In short, big cats' patterning and pattern attributes evolved in relation to their ecology and behaviors.
A stunning movie inspired by numbers, geometry and nature
In this beautiful video, "Nature by Numbers," filmmaker Cristobal Vila presents a series of animations illustrating various mathematic principles, beginning with a breathtaking animation of the Fibonacci Sequence before moving on to the Golden Ratio, the Angle Ratio, the Delaunay Triangulation and Voronoi Tessellations. The words are scary-sounding
Universal robotic gripper based on the jamming of granular material
The human hand is an amazing machine that can pick up, move and place objects easily, but for a robot, this "gripping" mechanism is a vexing challenge. Opting for simple elegance, researchers from Cornell University, University of Chicago and iRobot have bypassed traditional designs based around the human hand and fingers, and created a versatile g
Catching the sun’s heat: Storing thermal energy in chemical form
This is the thermo-chemical approach, in which solar energy is captured in the configuration of certain molecules which can then release the energy on demand to produce usable heat. And unlike conventional solar-thermal systems, which require very effective insulation and even then gradually let the heat leak away, the heat-storing chemicals can re
Polymer shifts shapes with changing temperature
Research reveals that a material commonly used in fuel cells and other devices can remember three previous shapes. The work, described in the March 11 Nature, is the first discovery of such shape-shifting skills in a widely available polymer, and suggests the material could be exploited for use in gadgets or smart fabrics.
Bottled Wind Could Be as Constant as Coal
Compressed-air energy storage plants use compressors to store electricity generated when it’s not needed. The air, pumped into large underground formations, is like a spring that’s been squeezed and when it’s needed, it can deliver a large percentage of the energy that it received.
Company to sell ‘world’s first practical jetpack’ for $75,000
Taking a leap into the future, the New Zealand-based Martin Aircraft Company plans to start selling commercial jetpacks to anyone with an interest and $75,000.