SciTech Daily

April 30, 2012

“Random Lasers” Reduce Noise and Improve Medical Imaging

random lasers as a source of illumination in medical imaging equip

Physicists from Yale University have engineered a “random laser” which they believe will improve both processing time and the clarity of the images from devices that use laser illumination. The published study describes their findings in detail and explains how random lasers enable faster image generation while generating speckle-free images. Using “random lasers” as a [...]

April 30, 2012

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Examining the Genes of Stone Age Farmers

genetic variation of today’s Europeans was strongly affected by immigrant Stone Age farmers

New findings from a team of Swedish-Danish evolutionary biologists show that the genetic variation of today’s Europeans was strongly affected by immigrant Stone Age farmers. The study involved comparisons of thousands of genetic markers from four Stone Age skeletons to genetic data from living individuals. One of the most debated developments in human history is [...]

April 30, 2012

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Hubble Views Star in Preplanetary Nebula Stage

Searchlight Beams from a Preplanetary Nebula

A new image produced from exposures in visible and infrared light from Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 shows a star from the Egg Nebula running out of nuclear fuel and entering the protoplanetary nebula stage. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has been at the cutting edge of research into what happens to stars like our [...]

April 30, 2012

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Robonaut 2, A Robotic Space Station Crew Member

A joint effort between NASA and General Motors to improve robotic technology and capabilities for future space exploration platforms has led to Robonaut 2, NASA’s first dexterous humanoid robot. Robonaut 2 was built to work on space stations, assisting astronauts with dangerous or repetitive jobs. Robonaut 2, NASA’s first dexterous humanoid robot, has successfully hitched [...]

April 30, 2012

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Cost Effective Sensor Measures Fruits’ Ripeness

sensor can accurately measure fruits’ ripeness

In an effort to reduce food loss due to spoilage, MIT researchers developed a new sensor that detects tiny amounts of ethylene, a gas that promotes ripening in plants. The low cost sensors are made from sheets of rolled carbon nanotubes with added copper atoms and cost roughly 25 cents, while adding a RFID chip [...]

April 27, 2012

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RDT-Reader Attachment Works With Cell Phone

In an effort to increase global awareness and to better detect signs of infectious diseases around the world, engineers at UCLA have developed a compact and cost-effective RDT-reading device that works in tandem with standard cell phones. In the fight against emerging public health threats, early diagnosis of infectious diseases is crucial. And in poor [...]

April 27, 2012

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WISE Views Aging Star Erupting With Dust

WISE Catches Aging Star Erupting With Dust

Using images from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, scientists were able to locate an aging star releasing large amounts of dust as it begins the “red giant” phase of its life. Scientists know of only one other star currently in this stage, Sakurai’s Object, and state that this is a very rare observation. PASADENA, California [...]

April 27, 2012

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Cartilage Healing Genes Protect Against Arthritis

Genes promote cartilage healing and protect against arthritis

Joint pain is common among older adults and osteoarthritis is something many active people will face as they age. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine hope to put an ease to that pain and have discovered that the same genes that promote healing after cartilage damage also appear to protect against osteoarthritis in mice. [...]

April 27, 2012

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Nanowires Covered in Nanoparticles Boost Performance

Decoration with nanoparticles creates intricate surface patterns

By “decorating” nanowires with nanoparticles, engineers at Stanford University were able to greatly improve surface area, resulting in increased electrical and catalytic performance. The hope is that technology like this may lead to better lithium-ion batteries, more efficient solar cells and improved catalysts. Like a lead actress on the red carpet, nanowires—those superstars of nanotechnology—can [...]

April 27, 2012

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Changes in Ocean Salinity and the Water Cycle Could Affect Food Supplies

Surface salinity changes for 1950 to 2000

While scientists continue to monitor climate change and the cause and effect on the environment, a new study from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory looks at the global water cycle and describes changing patterns of salinity in the world’s oceans over a 50 year period. Their findings suggest changes are occurring faster than previous models [...]

April 27, 2012

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Saturn’s Moon Phoebe has Planet-Like Qualities

More than 60 moons orbit Saturn and by combining data from NASA’s Cassini mission with modeling techniques, scientists have so far been able to identify one with planet-like qualities. Saturn’s moon Phoebe was believed to be a so-called planetesimal, a remnant planetary building block actively evolving for a time before it stalling out. PASADENA, California [...]

April 27, 2012

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Stimulating Resolution Programs Limit Consequences of Infection

RvD5 stimulates white blood cells (red) to ingest E coli (green)

As concerns over antibiotic-resistant bacteria continue to grow, a newly published study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital details the identified pathways of naturally occurring molecules in our bodies that can enhance antibiotic performance. By using specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) along with antibiotics, the researchers were able to stimulate white blood cells and limit [...]