Instant speciation, biodiversity, and the root of our existence
Washington DC (SPX) Oct 01, 2014 -
What do seedless watermelon, salmon, and strawberries all have in common? Unlike most eukaryotic multicellular organisms that have two sets of chromosomes and are diploid, these organisms are all polyploid, meaning they have three or more sets of chromosomes-seedless watermelon and salmon have 3 and 4 sets of chromosomes, respectively, and strawberries have 10! While this might seem surprising, ...
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Smart, eco-friendly new battery to solve problems
Uppsala, Sweden (SPX) Sep 30, 2014 -
Present-day lithium batteries are efficient but involve a range of resource and environmental problems. Using materials from alfalfa (lucerne seed) and pine resin and a clever recycling strategy, Uppsala researchers have now come up with a highly interesting alternative. Their study will be presented soon in the scientific journal ChemSusChem.
'We think our discovery can open several doors ...
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Blue LED breakthrough for efficient electronics
Ann Arbor MI (SPX) Sep 30, 2014 -
In a step that could lead to longer battery life in smartphones and lower power consumption for large-screen televisions, researchers at the University of Michigan have extended the lifetime of blue organic light emitting diodes by a factor of 10.
Blue OLEDs are one of a trio of colors used in OLED displays such as smartphone screens and high-end TVs. The improvement means that the efficie ...
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New Technology May Lead to Prolonged Power in Mobile Devices
Dallas TX (SPX) Sep 30, 2014 -
Researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas have created technology that could be the first step toward wearable computers with self-contained power sources or, more immediately, a smartphone that doesn't die after a few hours of heavy use.
This technology, published online in Nature Communications, taps into the power of a single electron to control energy consumption inside transi ...
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System designed to improve hand function lost to nerve damage
Corvallis OR (SPX) Oct 01, 2014 -
Engineers at Oregon State University have developed and successfully demonstrated the value of a simple pulley mechanism to improve hand function after surgery.
The device, tested in cadaver hands, is one of the first instruments ever created that could improve the transmission of mechanical forces and movement while implanted inside the body.
After continued research, technology suc ...
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How things coil
New York NY (SPX) Sep 30, 2014 -
When one sends an email from Boston to Beijing, it travels through submarine optical cables that someone had to install at some point. The positioning of these cables can generate intriguing coiling patterns that can also cause problems if, for instance, they are tangled or kinked.
The deployment of a rodlike structure onto a moving substrate is commonly found in a variety of engineering a ...
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Skin pigment renders sun's UV radiation harmless using projectiles
Lund, Sweden (SPX) Sep 30, 2014 -
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden and other institutions have worked out how the pigment of the skin manages to protect the body from the sun's dangerous UV rays. The skin pigment converts the UV radiation into heat through a rapid chemical reaction that shoots protons from the molecules of the pigment.
In a new study, the team from Lund University, working with colleagues in France ...
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