News by Subject Technology & Engineering

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are hormone-like substances that can have undesirable effects on health. For example, chemicals can increase the risk of breast cancer if they act in a manner similar to the female sex hormone oestrogen. Animal experiments are still required to detect the hormonal effects of chemical substances. A test has now been developed at the German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) that tests the effects of hormones on cultured human cells.

USC researchers find sea stars' shape plays an important role in their ability to withstand dynamic water forces and remain attached to surfaces. Understanding such shape shifting could help design underwater robots that can similarly adapt to extreme hydrodynamic environments.

A new study by computer scientists found that when individuals in an experiment about autonomous vehicles were informed that their peers were more likely to sacrifice their own safety to program their to vehicle hit a wall rather than hit pedestrians who were at risk, the percentage of individuals willing to sacrifice their own safety increased by approximately two-thirds.

A computer network closely modelled on part of the human brain is enabling new insights into the way our brains process moving images - and explains some perplexing optical illusions.

A digital twin of our planet is to simulate the Earth system in future. It is intended to support policy-?makers in taking appropriate measures to better prepare for extreme events. A new strategy paper by European scientists and ETH Zurich computer scientists shows how this can be achieved.

Data mining technology developed by researchers at the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre could help hospitals plan for surges in COVID-19 cases, based on notes recorded electronically by doctors.