Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: General
Published

'Gluing' soft materials without glue      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

If you're a fan of arts and crafts, you're likely familiar with the messy, sticky, frustration-inducing nature of liquid glues. But researchers now have a brand-new way to weld squishy stuff together without the need for glue at all. They've demonstrated a universal, 'electroadhesion' technique that can adhere soft materials to each other just by running electricity through them.

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: General Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR)
Published

Joyful music could be a game changer for virtual reality headaches      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Listening to music could reduce the dizziness, nausea and headaches virtual reality users might experience after using digital devices, research suggests. Cybersickness -- a type of motion sickness from virtual reality experiences such as computer games -- significantly reduces when joyful music is part of the immersive experience, the study found. The intensity of the nausea-related symptoms of cybersickness was also found to substantially decrease with both joyful and calming music.

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.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Prolonged power outages, often caused by weather events, hit some parts of the U.S. harder than others      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research found that Americans already bearing the brunt of climate change and health inequities are most at risk of impact by a lengthy power outage.

Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR)
Published

Realistic simulated driving environment based on 'crash-prone' Michigan intersection      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The first statistically realistic roadway simulation has now been developed. While it currently represents a particularly perilous roundabout, future work will expand it to include other driving situations for testing autonomous vehicle software.

Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Mathematics: Puzzles
Published

Researchers explore why some people get motion sick playing VR games while others don't      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The way our senses adjust while playing high-intensity virtual reality games plays a critical role in understanding why some people experience severe cybersickness and others don't.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Previously unknown intercellular electricity may power biology      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that the electrical fields and activity that exist through a cell's membrane also exist within and around another type of cellular structure called biological condensates. Like oil droplets floating in water, these structures exist because of differences in density. Their foundational discovery could change the way researchers think about biological chemistry. It could also provide a clue as to how the first life on Earth harnessed the energy needed to arise.

Energy: Technology Offbeat: General
Published

Ingestible 'electroceutical' capsule stimulates hunger-regulating hormone      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers have shown that by using an ingestible capsule that delivers an electrical current to the cells they can stimulate the release of the hormone ghrelin. This approach could prove useful for treating diseases that involve nausea or loss of appetite, such as anorexia or cachexia.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology
Published

Transforming highways for high-speed travel and energy transport      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers developed a proof of concept for a superconducting highway that could transport vehicles and electricity, cooling the necessary superconductors with a pipeline of liquid hydrogen. Most magnetic levitation designs feature the superconductor inside the vehicle, which is suspended above a magnetic track. The authors decided to flip that arrangement upside down, putting the superconductor on the ground and giving each vehicle a magnet. The result is a system with multiple uses, placing it within the realm of affordability.

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.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR)
Published

Surface steers signals for next-gen networks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

5G signals known as millimeter-wave carry enormous amounts of information but are very easy to block. A new device helps these signals get around obstacles posed by walls, furniture and people.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Energy: Technology Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

A team creates 'quantum composites' for various electrical and optical innovations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team has shown in the laboratory the unique and practical function of newly created materials, which they called quantum composites, that may advance electrical, optical, and computer technologies.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Next decade decisive for PV growth on the path to 2050      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Global experts on solar power strongly urge a commitment to the continued growth of photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing and deployment to power the planet, arguing that lowballing projections for PV growth while waiting for a consensus on other energy pathways or the emergence of technological last-minute miracles 'is no longer an option.'

Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Technology
Published

How electricity can heal wounds three times as fast      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chronic wounds are a major health problem for diabetic patients and the elderly -- in extreme cases they can even lead to amputation. Using electric stimulation, researchers have developed a method that speeds up the healing process, making wounds heal three times faster.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

A solar hydrogen system that co-generates heat and oxygen      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have built a pilot-scale solar reactor that produces usable heat and oxygen, in addition to generating hydrogen with unprecedented efficiency for its size.