Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Computer Science: General Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Engineers tap into good vibrations to power the Internet of Things      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a world hungry for clean energy, engineers have created a new material that converts the simple mechanical vibrations all around us into electricity to power sensors in everything from pacemakers to spacecraft.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

A touch-responsive fabric armband -- for flexible keyboards, wearable sketchpads      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

It's time to roll up your sleeves for the next advance in wearable technology -- a fabric armband that's actually a touch pad. Researchers say they have devised a way to make playing video games, sketching cartoons and signing documents easier. Their proof-of-concept silk armband turns a person's forearm into a keyboard or sketchpad. The three-layer, touch-responsive material interprets what a user draws or types and converts it into images on a computer.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Self-folding origami machines powered by chemical reaction      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have harnessed chemical reactions to make microscale origami machines self-fold -- freeing them from the liquids in which they usually function, so they can operate in dry environments and at room temperature.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Fossil find in California shakes up the natural history of cycad plants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

According to researchers, a new analysis of an 80-million-year-old permineralized pollen cone found in the Campanian Holz Shale formation located in Silverado Canyon, California, offers a more accurate cycad natural history -- one where the plants diversified during the Cretaceous.

Biology: Biochemistry Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Toys demonstrate how biological machines move      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By connecting small self-propelling toys in a chain, researchers have found the key to studying the movement of microscopic organisms and molecular motors inside our cells.

Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Zoology Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Earth Science Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds Paleontology: General
Published

New research redefines mammalian tree of life      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists from around the globe are using the largest mammalian genomic dataset in history to determine the evolutionary history of the human genome in the context of mammalian evolutionary history. Their ultimate goal is to better identify the genetic basis for traits and diseases in people and other species.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Computer Science: General Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Engineers 'grow' atomically thin transistors on top of computer chips      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new method enables 2D-material semiconductor transistors to be directly integrated onto a fully fabricated 8-inch silicon wafer, which could enable a new generation of transistor technology, denser device integration, new circuit architectures, and more powerful chips.

Anthropology: General Biology: General Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Elephant ecosystems in decline      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Global space for Asian elephant habitats has been in rapid decline since the 1700s, a new report reveals. More than 3 million square kilometers of the Asian elephant's historic habitat range has been lost in just three centuries and may underlie present-day conflicts between elephants and people.

Biology: Botany Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Ant mounds are more important for biodiversity than previously thought      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The ant mounds on the heath, in the forest and in your garden are oases for life. The heat and nutrients from ant mounds make them the perfect home for unique plant and animal species, according to new research.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Researchers explore techniques to successfully reintroduce captive birds into the wild      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Studies show that some species may require breeding in captivity within the next 200 years to avoid extinction. This reality places heavy importance on the reintroduction practices used to successfully transfer species from captivity to the wild. A new study looks at some of the most popular conservation techniques and identifies which have the highest likelihood of success for the reintroduction of bird species back into the wild.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

How spheres become worms      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A previously unknown form of hydrogel formation has been elucidated: chemists found unusual interactions between polymers.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: General Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Nifty nanoparticles help 'peel back the curtain' into the world of super small things      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Physicists are using nanoparticles to develop new sources of light that will allow us to 'peel back the curtain' into the world of extremely small objects -- thousands of times smaller than a human hair -- with major gains for medical and other technologies.

Biology: General Ecology: Animals Ecology: Invasive Species Environmental: Biodiversity
Published

Abundance of urban honeybees adversely impacts wild bee populations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers argue that the rapid growth in urban honeybee-keeping over the past decade may be negatively impacting nearby wild bee populations. Small bees with limited foraging ranges may be especially at risk, they write.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

A simple paper test could offer early cancer diagnosis      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers designed a nanoparticle sensor that could enable early diagnosis of cancer with a simple urine test. The sensors, which can detect many cancerous proteins, could also be used to distinguish the type of a tumor or how it is responding to treatment.

Ecology: General Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water
Published

Mysterious underwater acoustic world of British ponds revealed in new study      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The previously hidden and diverse underwater acoustic world in British ponds has been uncovered by a team of researchers.

Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

'BeerBots' could speed up the brewing process      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Craft brewers are continuously upping the ante and coming up with innovative ways to make or flavor their newest beers. Now, researchers are adding a new twist of their own, speeding up the brewing process with beer-making mini-robots or 'BeerBots.' The team shows that these self-propelled, magnetic packages of yeast can make the fermentation phase go faster and cut out the need to filter the beverage.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Cryo-imaging lifts the lid on fuel cell catalyst layers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Thanks to a novel combination of cryogenic transmission electron tomography and deep learning, EPFL researchers have provided a first look at the nanostructure of platinum catalyst layers, revealing how they could be optimized for fuel cell efficiency.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Nanowire networks learn and remember like a human brain      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have demonstrated nanowire networks can exhibit both short- and long-term memory like the human brain.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Environmental: Biodiversity Paleontology: General
Published

Neuroptera: Greater insect diversity in the Cretaceous period      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An LMU team has studied the biodiversity of larvae from the insect order neuroptera over the past 100 million years.