Popular on TUN Inspired by the ancient Japanese paper art of kirigami, a team of researchers from the University at Buffalo (UB) has developed a method to create flexible electronic materials made of polymers and nanowires. This new technique could lead to improvements in smart clothing, bendable display screens, electronic paper, and other applications that require malleable circuitry. The full paper, which describes the method, is published in the journal Advanced Materials. Traditionally, electronic materials are hard, rigid and non-flexible. This has made it difficult for scientists to develop bendable electronics that don’t break. But this new technique accommodates large stretchability, which would Ancient Paper Art To Spur Development of Smart ClothingBy: Jackson SchroederTechnology Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:05:03 +0000Thu, 19 Apr 2018 14:05:03 +0000 A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas and Penn State University has developed a surface that can rapidly collect water molecules from fog and air vapor and direct them toward a reservoir along lubricated microgrooves. The researchers drew inspiration for the design of their “hydrophilic directional slippery surface,” or SRS, from the process by which living organisms such as desert beetles, pitcher plants and rice leaves naturally collect and direct water. “Existing processes for creating fresh water, such as desalination, rely on the transition from vapor to water,” Simon Dai, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in Beetles and Plants Inspire Efficient Water-Harvesting TechnologyBy: Sam BenezraSustainability Wed, 18 Apr 2018 16:04:27 +0000Wed, 18 Apr 2018 16:04:27 +0000 A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and Dartmouth College has developed a new device that uses infrared light to monitor how body language impacts social interactions. Because body language influences many aspects of people’s lives, including job interviews, doctor-patient conversations and group projects, many people have tried to study them through video sessions, audio recordings and paper questionnaires. However, these approaches can be biased, inaccurate and burdensome on users for most of them require obtrusive devices, such as invasive cameras. To address this, the researchers developed a device, called a Protractor, that uses infrared light to measure Device Decodes Body Language Using Infrared LightBy: Hyeyeun JeonTechnology Tue, 17 Apr 2018 15:12:10 +0000Tue, 17 Apr 2018 15:12:10 +0000 Music, from a very young age, has an enormous impact on human emotions, development, and social interactions. The more scientists learn about the way people process music, the better they can understand perception, multisensory integration, and social coordination throughout someone’s life. Two separate studies, which were recently presented at the 25th meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, portray the many behavioral impacts of music. The first study dissects how musical engagement influences infants’ social-emotional development, the second links the presence of performers and audience during a live concert to improved connection and greater enjoyment of music. The Lullaby Study A Lullabies and Rock Shows: How Music Makes Us SocialBy: Jackson SchroederTUN Spotlight Mon, 16 Apr 2018 15:21:56 +0000Mon, 16 Apr 2018 15:21:56 +0000 Mental training may be the key to overcoming embarrassment and helping people avoid humiliation or distress, a new study suggests. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have found that when people train their mind to be an observer, rather than an active participant, in an embarrassing situation, it is possible to overcome feelings of self-consciousness. The study is published in Springer’s journal Motivation and Emotion. The Study Led by Li Jiang, post-doctoral affiliate at CMU and lead author of the study, the research team conducted multiple studies involving embarrassing advertisements to test New Study Shows How To Overcome EmbarrassmentBy: Natalie ColarossiTUN Spotlight Fri, 13 Apr 2018 20:42:04 +0000Fri, 13 Apr 2018 20:42:04 +0000 It may sound counterintuitive, but researchers at MIT have used plastic, commonly known as a material for heat insulator, to develop the next-generation heat conductor. “Nowadays heat dissipation is an increasingly critical challenge for integrated devices that continue to miniaturize towards nanoscale,” said Yanfei Xu, postdoc in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and co-lead author of the study. The challenge was made apparent in the wake of mass recall of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 after reports of explosion due to overheating in 2016, and companies have invested in developing a smarter heat dissipation technique for rechargeable devices. According to Xu, MIT Engineers Figure Out How To Turn Plastic Into Heat ConductorBy: Hyeyeun JeonTechnology Fri, 13 Apr 2018 16:28:25 +0000Fri, 13 Apr 2018 16:28:25 +0000 Researchers from Dartmouth College and Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new model for airport flight scheduling that promises to manage air traffic congestion without systematically favoring certain airlines over others. At the busiest airports, the combination of low capacity and heavy air traffic is a major cause of delays in the U.S., costing over $30 billion annually, according to the study. As a result, there is currently a significant effort being undertaken to review scheduling guidelines and research more efficient models. Equity, the Driving Force The new scheduling model promises to reduce delays associated with air traffic without prioritizing Scientists Develop Model To Ease Air Traffic Congestion Without Sacrificing EquityBy: Sam BenezraTechnology Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:28:02 +0000Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:28:02 +0000 A team of researchers led by the University of Central Florida (UCF) has developed an infrared laser device capable of detecting any molecule in the air. With this device, people can look for traces of air pollution, global warming gases and chemical agents, conduct medical breath analyses, and even use the device to look for traces of life on interplanetary missions. “We can detect molecules in a very sensitive way,” said Konstantin Vodopyanov, UCF professor of optics and photonics and lead author of this research. “We can take the air from the room and we can see not only the New Laser Device Paves Way For Diagnosing Diseases Through Breath AnalysisBy: Jackson SchroederLife 4.0 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 16:12:30 +0000Wed, 11 Apr 2018 16:12:30 +0000 In addition to its expected impact on intellectual development, university education also affects non-cognitive skills such as conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness, a new study suggests. The study, conducted by researchers from Monash University and the University of Sydney, suggests that university education has a positive impact on students’ character skills, with the most dramatic change occurring among students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The paper is published in Oxford Economic Papers. Character Trait Population Trends University education most commonly falls within the period when students transition from adolescence to adulthood. During this maturation process, there is a natural movement towards increasing University Education Shapes Students’ Key Character SkillsBy: Natalie ColarossiTUN Spotlight Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:13:11 +0000Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:13:11 +0000 Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a method to print large amounts of metallic glass alloys using 3-D technology. This new technique could aid in the construction of more efficient electric motors, higher strength materials, lighter weight structures, better wear-resistant materials, and more. The full paper is published in the journal Applied Materials Today. Metallic glass, also known as amorphous metal, lacks the crystalline structure of most metals, so its creation requires rapid cooling to keep the crystalline structure from forming. These limitations previously meant that researchers could cast metallic glasses only a few millimeters thick. Although the New 3-D Printing Method of Metallic Glass Alloys Opens Door To More Efficient Electric MotorsBy: Jackson SchroederTechnology Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:44:57 +0000Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:44:57 +0000 Living abroad increases “self-concept clarity,” or the idea that individuals have a more clear and confidently defined idea of themselves, according to a recent study conducted by social scientists at Rice University, Columbia University and the University of North Carolina. The researchers found that this trait not only increased in people who lived abroad, but also stayed more consistent and stable over time. The study is published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. The Study The researchers conducted six studies involving 1,874 participants, including both people who have lived abroad and those who have not. The Living Abroad Develops Clearer Sense of SelfBy: Natalie ColarossiTUN Spotlight Fri, 06 Apr 2018 20:25:35 +0000Fri, 06 Apr 2018 20:25:35 +0000 Social media is impacting the way we give gifts, according to a new study by researchers from Cornell University, MIT and Facebook. The researchers found that the spread of online gift-giving in social networks is causing people to give more gifts both online and in person. “The exchange of gifts is an age-old human behavior and it has been co-evolving with technological trends,” said René Kizilcec, assistant professor of information science at Cornell University and lead author of the study. “Online gift-giving has social implications insofar as it appears to increase the overall amount of gifts exchanged, which can contribute to Positive Impact Of Social Media On Gift-GivingBy: Sam BenezraTUN Spotlight Fri, 06 Apr 2018 13:38:46 +0000Fri, 06 Apr 2018 13:38:46 +0000 A team of archaeologists’ recent discovery and analysis of 115,000-year-old bone tools suggests that prehistoric humans were more sophisticated than previously thought. Marks on the bones propose that humans living in China during the early Late Pleistocene knew how to use bone to construct tools out of carved stone. The findings also may suggest that these humans were not Homo sapiens — modern humans — or Neanderthals. The full study is published in the journal Plos One. Similar bone artifacts have been found in Africa, the rest of Eurasia, and the Levant, so the recent findings in China allow Significance Of 115,000-Year-Old Bone Tools Found In ChinaBy: Jackson SchroederTUN Spotlight Wed, 04 Apr 2018 20:54:15 +0000Wed, 04 Apr 2018 20:54:15 +0000 What if the inert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be converted into a usable raw material? Plants do this during photosynthesis, turning carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar when exposed to light. Inspired by this process, physico-chemists at the University of Bonn in Germany have developed a new way to generate a reactive variant of carbon dioxide that could potentially be used as a basic material in the chemical industry. The study is published in the journal Angewandte Chemie. The Problem Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the number one pollutant leading to climate change, accounting for over 80 Ultrashort Laser Pulses Produce Reactive Carbon DioxideBy: Sam BenezraSustainability Tue, 03 Apr 2018 20:08:21 +0000Tue, 03 Apr 2018 20:08:21 +0000 Researchers from Stanford University have developed a way to replicate a patient’s blood vessels in a 3-D-printed model, a cheaper, yet as effective, method as commercially available models for training medical students in interventional radiology vascular access. The study was presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting. Interventional Radiology Compared to open surgery, interventional radiology is a less-invasive method to diagnose and treat diseases in organ systems. Interventional radiologists insert a catheter through a major artery under ultrasound guidance to reach internal organs or blood vessels. Due to its lower risk, pain, recovery time and, in Cheaper 3-D-Printed Model Just As Effective At Student TrainingBy: Hyeyeun JeonLife 4.0 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 20:14:11 +0000Mon, 02 Apr 2018 20:14:11 +0000 50+ Student Discounts Every Student Needs to Know About
Inspired by the ancient Japanese paper art of kirigami, a team of researchers from the University at Buffalo (UB) has developed a method to create flexible electronic materials made of polymers and nanowires. This new technique could lead to improvements in smart clothing, bendable display screens, electronic paper, and other applications that require malleable circuitry. The full paper, which describes the method, is published in the journal Advanced Materials. Traditionally, electronic materials are hard, rigid and non-flexible. This has made it difficult for scientists to develop bendable electronics that don’t break. But this new technique accommodates large stretchability, which would 
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas and Penn State University has developed a surface that can rapidly collect water molecules from fog and air vapor and direct them toward a reservoir along lubricated microgrooves. The researchers drew inspiration for the design of their “hydrophilic directional slippery surface,” or SRS, from the process by which living organisms such as desert beetles, pitcher plants and rice leaves naturally collect and direct water. “Existing processes for creating fresh water, such as desalination, rely on the transition from vapor to water,” Simon Dai, assistant professor of mechanical engineering in 
A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and Dartmouth College has developed a new device that uses infrared light to monitor how body language impacts social interactions. Because body language influences many aspects of people’s lives, including job interviews, doctor-patient conversations and group projects, many people have tried to study them through video sessions, audio recordings and paper questionnaires. However, these approaches can be biased, inaccurate and burdensome on users for most of them require obtrusive devices, such as invasive cameras. To address this, the researchers developed a device, called a Protractor, that uses infrared light to measure 
Music, from a very young age, has an enormous impact on human emotions, development, and social interactions. The more scientists learn about the way people process music, the better they can understand perception, multisensory integration, and social coordination throughout someone’s life. Two separate studies, which were recently presented at the 25th meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, portray the many behavioral impacts of music. The first study dissects how musical engagement influences infants’ social-emotional development, the second links the presence of performers and audience during a live concert to improved connection and greater enjoyment of music. The Lullaby Study A 
Mental training may be the key to overcoming embarrassment and helping people avoid humiliation or distress, a new study suggests. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have found that when people train their mind to be an observer, rather than an active participant, in an embarrassing situation, it is possible to overcome feelings of self-consciousness. The study is published in Springer’s journal Motivation and Emotion. The Study Led by Li Jiang, post-doctoral affiliate at CMU and lead author of the study, the research team conducted multiple studies involving embarrassing advertisements to test 
It may sound counterintuitive, but researchers at MIT have used plastic, commonly known as a material for heat insulator, to develop the next-generation heat conductor. “Nowadays heat dissipation is an increasingly critical challenge for integrated devices that continue to miniaturize towards nanoscale,” said Yanfei Xu, postdoc in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and co-lead author of the study. The challenge was made apparent in the wake of mass recall of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 after reports of explosion due to overheating in 2016, and companies have invested in developing a smarter heat dissipation technique for rechargeable devices. According to Xu, 
Researchers from Dartmouth College and Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new model for airport flight scheduling that promises to manage air traffic congestion without systematically favoring certain airlines over others. At the busiest airports, the combination of low capacity and heavy air traffic is a major cause of delays in the U.S., costing over $30 billion annually, according to the study. As a result, there is currently a significant effort being undertaken to review scheduling guidelines and research more efficient models. Equity, the Driving Force The new scheduling model promises to reduce delays associated with air traffic without prioritizing 
A team of researchers led by the University of Central Florida (UCF) has developed an infrared laser device capable of detecting any molecule in the air. With this device, people can look for traces of air pollution, global warming gases and chemical agents, conduct medical breath analyses, and even use the device to look for traces of life on interplanetary missions. “We can detect molecules in a very sensitive way,” said Konstantin Vodopyanov, UCF professor of optics and photonics and lead author of this research. “We can take the air from the room and we can see not only the 
In addition to its expected impact on intellectual development, university education also affects non-cognitive skills such as conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness, a new study suggests. The study, conducted by researchers from Monash University and the University of Sydney, suggests that university education has a positive impact on students’ character skills, with the most dramatic change occurring among students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The paper is published in Oxford Economic Papers. Character Trait Population Trends University education most commonly falls within the period when students transition from adolescence to adulthood. During this maturation process, there is a natural movement towards increasing 
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a method to print large amounts of metallic glass alloys using 3-D technology. This new technique could aid in the construction of more efficient electric motors, higher strength materials, lighter weight structures, better wear-resistant materials, and more. The full paper is published in the journal Applied Materials Today. Metallic glass, also known as amorphous metal, lacks the crystalline structure of most metals, so its creation requires rapid cooling to keep the crystalline structure from forming. These limitations previously meant that researchers could cast metallic glasses only a few millimeters thick. Although the 
Living abroad increases “self-concept clarity,” or the idea that individuals have a more clear and confidently defined idea of themselves, according to a recent study conducted by social scientists at Rice University, Columbia University and the University of North Carolina. The researchers found that this trait not only increased in people who lived abroad, but also stayed more consistent and stable over time. The study is published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. The Study The researchers conducted six studies involving 1,874 participants, including both people who have lived abroad and those who have not. The 
Social media is impacting the way we give gifts, according to a new study by researchers from Cornell University, MIT and Facebook. The researchers found that the spread of online gift-giving in social networks is causing people to give more gifts both online and in person. “The exchange of gifts is an age-old human behavior and it has been co-evolving with technological trends,” said René Kizilcec, assistant professor of information science at Cornell University and lead author of the study. “Online gift-giving has social implications insofar as it appears to increase the overall amount of gifts exchanged, which can contribute to 
A team of archaeologists’ recent discovery and analysis of 115,000-year-old bone tools suggests that prehistoric humans were more sophisticated than previously thought. Marks on the bones propose that humans living in China during the early Late Pleistocene knew how to use bone to construct tools out of carved stone. The findings also may suggest that these humans were not Homo sapiens — modern humans — or Neanderthals. The full study is published in the journal Plos One. Similar bone artifacts have been found in Africa, the rest of Eurasia, and the Levant, so the recent findings in China allow 
What if the inert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be converted into a usable raw material? Plants do this during photosynthesis, turning carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar when exposed to light. Inspired by this process, physico-chemists at the University of Bonn in Germany have developed a new way to generate a reactive variant of carbon dioxide that could potentially be used as a basic material in the chemical industry. The study is published in the journal Angewandte Chemie. The Problem Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the number one pollutant leading to climate change, accounting for over 80 
Researchers from Stanford University have developed a way to replicate a patient’s blood vessels in a 3-D-printed model, a cheaper, yet as effective, method as commercially available models for training medical students in interventional radiology vascular access. The study was presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting. Interventional Radiology Compared to open surgery, interventional radiology is a less-invasive method to diagnose and treat diseases in organ systems. Interventional radiologists insert a catheter through a major artery under ultrasound guidance to reach internal organs or blood vessels. Due to its lower risk, pain, recovery time and, in 
