Topic
National Science Foundation (NSF)
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Quantum fluctuations can jiggle objects on the human scale
Study shows LIGO’s 40-kilogram mirrors can move in response to tiny quantum effects, revealing the “spooky popcorn of the universe.”
July 1, 2020 -
How worms move: Dopamine helps nematodes coordinate motor behaviors
To spy on worms for days on end, Picower Institute scientists invent a new open-source microscopy platform.
June 30, 2020 -
Super-strong surgical tape detaches on demand
Removable adhesive could make it easier for surgeons to close up internal wounds.
June 22, 2020 -
Engineers design a device that operates like a brain synapse
Ion-based technology may enable energy-efficient simulations of the brain’s learning process, for neural network AI systems.
June 19, 2020 -
Tiny sand grains trigger massive glacial surges
New model answers longstanding question of how these sudden flows happen; may expand understanding of Antarctic ice sheets.
June 12, 2020 -
Newly observed phenomenon could lead to new quantum devices
Exotic states called Kohn anomalies could offer clues to why some materials have the electronic properties they do.
June 12, 2020 -
Engineers put tens of thousands of artificial brain synapses on a single chip
The design could advance the development of small, portable AI devices.
June 8, 2020 -
If transistors can’t get smaller, then coders have to get smarter
MIT CSAIL researchers say improving computing technology after Moore's Law will require more efficient software, new algorithms, and specialized hardware.
June 5, 2020 -
Peatland drainage in Southeast Asia adds to climate change
Study reveals drainage, deforestation of the region’s peatlands, which leads to fires, greenhouse emissions, land subsidence.
June 4, 2020 -
Study: Reflecting sunlight to cool the planet will cause other global changes
Solar geoengineering proposals will weaken extratropical storm tracks in both hemispheres, scientists find.
June 2, 2020 -
Coatings for shoe bottoms could improve traction on slick surfaces
Material inspired by Japanese paper-cutting art could help to prevent falls in icy or slippery conditions.
June 1, 2020 -
New technology enables fast protein synthesis
Automated tabletop machine could accelerate the development of novel drugs to treat cancer and other diseases.
May 28, 2020 -
Search-and-rescue algorithm identifies hidden “traps” in ocean waters
Method may help quickly identify regions where objects — and missing people — may have converged.
May 26, 2020 -
Study finds electrical fields can throw a curveball
Particle-scale phenomenon akin to the swerving of a curveball could allow selective separation of suspended nanomaterials.
May 26, 2020 -
Solar energy farms could offer second life for electric vehicle batteries
Modeling study shows battery reuse systems could be profitable for both electric vehicle companies and grid-scale solar operations.
May 22, 2020 -
Researchers map tiny twists in “magic-angle” graphene
Results could help designers engineer high-temperature superconductors and quantum computing devices.
May 7, 2020 -
Technique could enable cheaper fertilizer production
Chemical engineers take a step toward generating ammonia with small-scale, electrochemical reactors.
May 4, 2020 -
Engineers develop precision injection system for plants
Microneedles made of silk-based material can target plant tissues for delivery of micronutrients, hormones, or genes.
April 26, 2020 -
Researchers explore ocean microbes’ role in climate effects
When they encounter nutrient oases in the marine desert, marine bacteria release a gas involved in climate regulation.
April 23, 2020 -
First sighting of mysterious Majorana fermion on a common metal
Physicists’ discovery could lead to a new family of robust qubits for quantum computing.
April 10, 2020