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Scientists Find Way to Reverse Wrinkled Skin and Hair Loss
Wrinkled skin and hair loss: two symptoms of old age that we all fear. We fear them so much, in fact, that the global anti-aging market is expected to jump from $250 billion in 2016 to $331.41 billion by 2021. But fear not! A new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham… Read More
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Study Reveals Demographics of Facebook Users
Are you on Facebook? In a recent study, Eric P.S. Baumer, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at Lehigh University, set out to explore the demographic and socioeconomic factors that impact Facebook use and non-use. There are approximately 214 million active Facebook users in the U.S. For perspective, around 68 percent of the… Read More
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Why Overtraining Might Do More Harm Than Good
When it comes to endurance training, “push it to the limit” may not be the best advice. A recent study from researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada suggests that overload training — the practice of training past your normal limits to raise your future performance level — may not actually work. “The theory… Read More
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Understanding and Overcoming ‘Speed Limits’ In Light-Based Technologies
In a recent study, physicists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have identified why light-based technologies are subject to “speed limits” that make it impossible for optical switches to transmit information beyond a certain speed. In the drive to make technologies ever more efficient, engineers have been exploring ways to use light, rather than… Read More
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First Fern Genome Sequenced, Solving Old Mysteries and Opening New Doors
At first glance, the ancient water fern Azolla filiculoides is unassuming. It is miniscule by any measure, with gnat-sized leaves that can sit comfortably on the tip of your smallest finger. But there is more to this miniature plant than meets the eye. Some researchers believe its nitrogen fixation abilities and insect resistant properties could… Read More
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Why Driving Makes Us So Sleepy
Researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia have an explanation as to why drivers become so sleepy. They have recently found that driver fatigue is often enhanced by the natural vibrations caused by the car’s engines. These vibrations can cause people to experience symptoms of drowsiness, affecting concentration and alertness, within 15 minutes of hitting… Read More
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How World Cup Athletes Gain a Leg Up in Extra-Time
Entering the final match of the 2018 World Cup, five of the 14 knockout stage games that have been played have gone into extra-time. Croatia’s semi-final win over England was only their most recent to require 30 draining added minutes. The second smallest nation to ever reach the tournament’s final round played extra-time in each… Read More
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Three Serious Games to Prepare Students for the Working World
Generally, when we think of video games, our minds tend to gravitate toward games like Mario, Call of Duty, Fortnite, or Nintendo — games designed with fun and entertainment in mind. But video games have also long served as an effective way to teach and to learn. So-called “serious games” are designed with more than… Read More
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Can ‘Exam Roulette’ Reduce Test Anxiety?
For many students, an impending exam can induce powerful feelings of anxiety. While a small degree of anxiety can compel a person to perform better on a given task, high levels of anxiety can cause people to “freeze up” in exam situations and hinder performance. Between 16 and 20 percent of students experience this kind… Read More
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Researchers Mimic Photosynthesis to Reduce CO2
A team of researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Paris Diderot University, and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) have discovered a way to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO) using only commonly occuring elements and sunlight. Their method mimics photosynthesis — the natural process by which plants derive sustenance… Read More
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Ultrathin Stealth Material Hides Objects From Infrared Detection
A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has developed an ultrathin stealth sheet — a real-life cloak of invisibility, unlike Harry Potter’s — that disguises objects from detection by infrared cameras. All warm objects — from human bodies to car engines — emit a certain amount of infrared light. The hotter the object,… Read More
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Artificial Intelligence Can See People Through Walls
In a groundbreaking new project, MIT researchers have developed a computerized system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to see people through walls. “RF-Pose,” as they have dubbed the technology, functions as real-life X-ray vision. The technology uses a neural network to analyze radio frequencies that reverberate off people’s bodies. This allows the system to detect… Read More
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Sibling Relationships Can Predict Educational Success
A new study from researchers at Penn State University suggests that childhood relationships between siblings may impact their relative educational success later in life. The paper is published in the journal Child Development. The study For about 15 years, the Penn State researchers followed the first- and second-born children of 152 families. These families were… Read More
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Surveillance Cameras ‘Talk’ to the Public via Smartphones
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new technology that enables public surveillance cameras to communicate with people. The system, which they have named PHADE, can send real-time, personalized messages to smartphones based on users’ behavior, all without compromising the privacy of the individual. This private human addressing process can be used for various purposes… Read More
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Can Mistakes Help Students Get Better Grades?
A recent study gives new credence to the old wisdom that the best way to learn is by learning from your mistakes. The researchers found that in some instances, when learning new material, making mistakes can help a student internalize the material and perform better afterwards. Students learned better when their mistakes were “near misses,”… Read More
