|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
 Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyNASA's Chandra finds Milky Way's black hole grazing on asteroids The giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way may be vaporizing and devouring asteroids, which could explain the frequent flares observed, according to astronomers using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Contact: Megan Watzke
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Lab on a ChipNew NIST 'Cell assay on a chip': Solid results from simple means A NIST research engineer combined a glass slide, plastic sheets and double-sided tape to build a "diffusion-based gradient generator", a tool to rapidly assess how changing concentrations of specific chemicals affect living cells. Contact: Michael E. Newman
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Journal of the Americal Chemical SocietyNIST provides octagonal window of opportunity for carbon capture A collaborative research team from NIST and the University of Delaware has gathered new insight into the performance of a material called a zeolite that may filter carbon dioxide far more efficiently than current industrial "scrubbers" do. Contact: Chad Boutin
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Biomedical Optics ExpressFlipping a light switch in the cell: Quantum dots used for targeted neural activation By harnessing quantum dots researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new and vastly more targeted way to stimulate neurons in the brain. Being able to switch neurons on and off and monitor how they communicate with one another is crucial for understanding -- and, ultimately, treating -- a host of brain disorders. The research was published today in the Optical Society's open-access journal Biomedical Optics Express. Contact: Angela Stark
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Physical Review BUnusual 'collapsing' iron superconductor sets record for its class A team from NIST and the University of Maryland has found an iron-based superconductor that operates at the highest known temperature for a material in its class. The discovery inches iron-based superconductors closer to being useful in many practical applications. Contact: Chad Boutin
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Environmental Science & TechnologyArsenic criticality poses concern for modern technology Risks related to the critical nature of arsenic -- used to make high-speed computer chips that contain gallium arsenide -- outstrip those of other substances in a group of critical materials needed to sustain modern technology, a new study has found. Scientists evaluated the relative criticality of arsenic and five related metals in a report in the ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology. Contact: Michael Bernstein
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
ACS Nano'Shish kebab' structure provides improved form of 'buckypaper' Scientists are reporting development of a new form of buckypaper, which eliminates a major drawback of these sheets of carbon nanotubes -- 50,000 times thinner than a human hair, 10 times lighter than steel, but up to 250 times stronger -- with potential uses ranging from body armor to next-generation batteries. Their report appears in the journal ACS Nano. Contact: Michael Bernstein
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Jounral of the American Chemical SocietyWill bubble-powered microrockets zoom through the human stomach? Scientists have developed a new kind of tiny motor -- which they term a "microrocket" -- that can propel itself through acidic environments, such as the human stomach, without any external energy source, opening the way to a variety of medical and industrial applications. Their report in the Journal of the American Chemical Society describes the microrockets traveling at virtual warp speed for such devices. A human moving at the same speed would have to run at a clip of 400 miles per hour. Contact: Michael Bernstein
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Spotlight on a stellar nursery A European team of researchers, led by LMU astronomer Thomas Preibisch, has used the power of ESO's Very Large Telescope to obtain the most detailed – and dramatic - infrared image of the Carina Nebula stellar nursery taken so far. Many previously hidden featureshave emerged. Contact: Dr. Kathrin Bilgeri
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Screening Africa's renewable energies potential The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published today a study mapping the potential of renewable energy sources in Africa. The report analyses the current energy consumption in Africa and assesses potential of renewable energy sources -- solar, wind, biomass and hydropower -- and their cost efficiency and environmental sustainability. Its publication coincides with the official European Launch of UN's Year on "Sustainable Energy for All" being held today in Brussels. Contact: Berta Duane
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
Nano LettersHere comes the sun… New solar cells could increase the maximum efficiency of solar panels by over 25 percent, according to scientists from the University of Cambridge. 
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Contact: Genevieve Maul
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
NatureElectrical engineers build 'no-waste' laser A team of University of California, San Diego researchers has built the smallest room-temperature nanolaser to date, as well as an even more startling device: a highly efficient, "thresholdless" laser that funnels all its photons into lasing, without any waste.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Science Foundation, Cymer Corporation, US Army Research Office
Contact: Catherine Hockmuth
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
NatureScientists make iron transparent At the high-brilliance synchrotron light source PETRA III, a team of DESY scientists headed by Dr. Ralf Röhlsberger has succeeded in making atomic nuclei transparent with the help of X-ray light. At the same time they have also discovered a new way to realize an optically controlled light switch that can be used to manipulate light with light, an important ingredient for efficient future quantum computers. Contact: Dr. Thomas Zoufal
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
NatureCU-Boulder study shows global glaciers, ice caps, shedding billions of tons of mass annually Earth's glaciers and ice caps outside of the regions of Greenland and Antarctica are shedding roughly 150 billion tons of ice annually, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder.
NASA
Contact: John Wahr
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
VLT takes most detailed infrared image of the Carina Nebula ESO's Very Large Telescope has delivered the most detailed infrared image of the Carina Nebula stellar nursery taken so far. Many previously hidden features, scattered across a spectacular celestial landscape of gas, dust and young stars, have emerged. This is one of the most dramatic images ever created by the VLT. Contact: Richard Hook
Public Release: 8-Feb-2012
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2012 Annual MeetingArchive of failed joint replacements provides tips to building a better hip replacement A study by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers has provided the first comprehensive look at just how metal-on-metal total hip replacements are failing in patients around the country. Contact: Phyllis Fisher
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
Journal of Microelectromechanical SystemsInnovation promises expanded roles for microsensors Researchers have learned how to improve the performance of sensors that use tiny vibrating microcantilevers to detect chemical and biological agents for applications from national security to food processing.
National Science Foundation
Contact: Emil Venere
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
Angewandte ChemieA bronze matryoshka doll: The metal in the metal in the metal Just like in the Russian wooden toy, a hull of 12 copper atoms encases a single tin atom. This hull is, in turn, enveloped by 20 further tin atoms. Professor Faessler's work group at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen was the first to generate these spatial structures built up in three layers as isolated metal clusters in alloys. With their large surfaces these structures can serve as highly efficient catalysts. Contact: Dr. Andreas Battenberg
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
Photovoltaics InternationalMIT: New tool for analyzing solar-cell materials An online tool called "Impurities to Efficiency" (known as I2E) allows companies or researchers exploring alternative manufacturing strategies to plug in descriptions of their planned materials and processing steps. After about one minute of simulation, I2E gives an indication of exactly how efficient the resulting solar cell would be in converting sunlight to electricity. Contact: Caroline McCall
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
First industrial-scale foam forming research environment for forest sector Foam-forming technology gives exciting opportunities to develop new recyclable and lightweight wood fiber products. It also gives a possibility to decrease raw material and production costs remarkably compared to recent technology. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, together with industry, has started setting up a new pilot scale technology platform for foam-forming applications. Contact: Janne Poranen
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
Journal of NeurosurgeryPadded headgear, boxing gloves may offer some protection for fighters The use of padded headgear and gloves reduces the impact that fighters absorb from hits to the head, according to newly published research from Cleveland Clinic. Contact: Tracy Wheeler
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
Nature CommunicationsScientists 'record' magnetic breakthrough An international team of scientists led by the University of York has demonstrated a revolutionary new way of magnetic recording which will allow information to be processed hundreds of times faster than by current hard drive technology.
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, NanoSci-E+ Program, Foundation for Fundamental Research and the Technology Foundation. Russian Foundation for Basic Research, others
Contact: Caron Lett
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
Nature CommunicationsNanoshell whispering galleries improve thin solar panels Engineers at Stanford have created photovoltaic nanoshells that harness a peculiar physical phenomenon to better trap light in the solar materials. The results could dramatically improve the efficiency of thin-film solar cells while reducing their weight and cost.
Center for Nanostructuring for Efficient Energy Conversion, US Department of Energy
Contact: Andrew Myers
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
Nature CommunicationsParkinson's disease: Study of live human neurons reveals the disease's genetic origins Parkinson's disease researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered how mutations in the parkin gene cause the disease, which afflicts at least 500,000 Americans and for which there is no cure.
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, National Institutes of Health, SUNY REACH, NYSTEM
Contact: Ellen Goldbaum
Public Release: 7-Feb-2012
JAMAStudy evaluates antibiotic option for treating bladder infection in women Short-term use of the antibiotic cefpodoxime for the treatment of women with uncomplicated cystitis (bladder infection) did not meet criteria for noninferiority for achieving clinical cure compared with ciprofloxacin, a drug in the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics for which there have been concerns about overuse and a resulting increase in resistance rates, according to a study in the Feb. 8 issue of JAMA. Contact: Omar Montejo
|
|
|
||||
|
|
 |
|
