Science & Technology
Meet the new insect killing Utah’s fir trees
The balsam woolly adelgid, a tiny nonnative flightless insect, is spreading across the American West killing subalpine fir in northern Utah’s recreation-heavy mountain ranges and canyons. Rsearchers document a close association between the pest’s sprea…
Counterfeit coins can be detected more easily thanks to a novel approach
Researchers present a novel framework that uses image-mining techniques and machine learning algorithms to identify flaws in counterfeit coins. The researchers’ framework uses fuzzy association rules mining to find patterns that are similar but ‘fuzzy,…
Scientists develop an affordable sensor for lead contamination
A new system could enable simple, low-cost detectors for monitoring water for lead contamination, and potentially other heavy metals as well.
Far from toxic, lactate rivals glucose as body’s major fuel after a carbohydrate meal
Scientists have documented the benefits of lactate burning in exercising humans, but few studies have looked at the role of lactate during rest or after a meal. Exercise physiologists challenged fasting men and women with a carbohydrate meal and then m…
Study links sleep apnea severity during REM stage to verbal memory decline
A research team has revealed the link between the frequency of sleep apnea events during the rapid-eye-movement stage and the severity of verbal memory impairment in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Verbal memory refers to the cognitive ab…
Simulating diffusion using ‘kinosons’ and machine learning
Researchers have recast diffusion in multicomponent alloys as a sum of individual contributions, called ‘kinosons.’ Using machine learning to compute the statistical distribution of the individual contributions, they were able to model the alloy and ca…
Petroleum, chlorine mix could yield harmful byproducts
A new study shows that chlorine mixed with petroleum in water can potentially produce inadvertent byproducts harmful to human health.
Researchers uncover what makes some chickens more water efficient than others
Research indicates a specially bred line of chickens could save growers thousands of gallons of water and thousands of pounds of food each month without sacrificing poultry health.
Study explores role of epigenetics, environment in differing Alzheimer’s risk between Black and white communities
Environmentally caused alterations to specific areas of the genome — known as imprint control regions — during early development may contribute to the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and Black people may be more affected than white people.
Virtual reality becomes more engaging when designers use cinematic tools
Cinematography techniques can significantly increase user engagement with virtual environments and, in particular, the aesthetic appeal of what users see in virtual reality.
90% of Floridians believe climate change is happening
The latest ‘Florida Climate Resilience Survey’ found that 90% of Floridians believe that climate change is happening. Belief in human-caused climate change has surged among Florida Independents while slipping among Republicans in the state since last f…
Metalens expands Its reach from light to sound
Engineers achieve a wide field-of-hearing acoustic metalens free from aberrations.
Transforming waste carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals with a cost reduction of about 30%
A team of scientists has developed a novel technique to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) from treated flue gas directly into high-value chemicals and fuels. This innovation sidesteps the conventional approach of using high-purity CO2 for electrochemical re…