153 articles from TUESDAY 24.8.2021
Bird communities threatened by urbanization
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 23:44
Urbanization is one of the most drastic forms of land-use change. Its negative consequences on biodiversity have been studied extensively in countries like Germany. However, there has been less research in tropical regions from the Global South. Researchers investigated the effects on farmland bird communities in Bangalore and found that urbanization filters out species with certain traits, such...
Large genetic analysis identifies numerous gene variants linked with differences in food intake
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 23:44
A team of researchers have identified more than two dozen genetic regions that may affect individuals' food intake.
Research shows scale models effective for predicting storm damage to wood-frame buildings
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 23:44
A pair of scale model structures subjected to simulated storm conditions in an lab responded like real wood-frame homes during recent hurricanes, suggesting model buildings can yield important design information for low-lying areas vulnerable to storm surges and big waves.
Using your smartwatch to reduce stress
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 23:44
An engineering researcher has modified a smartwatch to reduce stress. The new technology monitors sweat to infer brain stress and, when detected, sends a message through the smartwatch to calm down.
Quantum computing: Exotic particle had an 'out-of-body experience'
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 23:44
Scientists have taken a clear picture of electronic particles that make up a mysterious magnetic state called quantum spin liquid (QSL). The achievement could facilitate the development of superfast quantum computers and energy-efficient superconductors. The scientists are the first to capture an image of how electrons in a QSL decompose into spin-like particles called spinons and charge-like...
This video of a tortoise hunting and killing a baby bird is blowing scientists away
When Justin Gerlach's colleague first told him she'd seen a giant tortoise hunting and killing a baby bird, he was skeptical to say the...
A “far out” take on transportation planning
As a boy, Eric Plosky ’99, MCP ’00, rode the New York subway with his grandmother to every city attraction on the map. “Whenever anyone asks me how I got into transportation, I always ask them, ‘How did you get out of it?’” he says. “Every little kid seems to love trains and subways and buses and cars and planes, and for some reason they ‘grow out of it.’ I never did.”
Now,...
A musical postcard to MIT graduates
On February 11, I got a call from MIT’s executive director of Institute events and protocol, Gayle Gallagher. President Reif had just announced that MIT would again be conducting commencement online—and to open the ceremony, we needed a compelling piece of music that would evoke renewal as we began to emerge from the pandemic.
After nearly a year of socially distanced teaching,...
A window into the clean room
Abbie (Carlstein) Gregg ’74 remembers giving up on wearing lab gloves during her undergraduate research at MIT. There weren’t any small enough to fit her, at a time when undergraduate men outnumbered women on campus 15 to 1. Even so, it was the first time she’d met other women interested in engineering and technology—and she quickly found a home in the Metallurgy Department (now Materials...
“Rocket Woman”: from space shuttle engineer to space historian
Linda (Getch) Dawson ’71 grew up during the height of the space race between the US and the USSR. She recalls driving with her family to an observatory to hear the beeping of the Soviet satellite Sputnik as it passed overhead. “It’s funny how your path takes different turns, but I always came back to that first love: aerospace,” she says. Dawson’s path took her from MIT to NASA, then...
Log on all ye of MIT
A record-breaking total of more than 5,000 alumni and friends attended this year’s MIT Tech Reunions, held online June 4–6. There were special events for reunion-year classes, and the entire MIT community was invited to watch the online Tech Night at Pops, learn from faculty during Technology Day, and take virtual campus tours. Symphony Hall…
Open air
Last spring, strings of bistro lights and outdoor seating in a courtyard behind the Student Center beckoned students to gather safely outside. The lights were a hit—and the plan is to make them permanent.
Pairing economics with empathy to study life in the developing world
Reshmaan Hussam ’09, PhD ’15, once dreamed of becoming a “psychohistorian” like the protagonist in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation novels who combines sociology, history, and statistics to save the world. Maybe, she thought, such a psychohistorian would be able to make sense of the stark and unnerving contrasts that marked her childhood living in suburban Virginia and visiting her parents’...
Technology Day: Pathways to the Future
Continuing an annual tradition, Technology Day offered alumni an inside view of MIT’s role in solving global challenges. The online symposium focused on online learning, cancer research, computing, and climate change. The first three topics were covered in updates from Curt Newton, director of MIT OpenCourseWare; Matthew Vander Heiden, director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer...
The practice of moving energy around
One of the things Rod Bayliss III ’20, MEng ’21, remembers most clearly from his childhood is his father’s 1964 Ford Mustang. “I was fascinated by that car,” says Bayliss. “Especially by the engine, this thing that converted oxygen and fuel into power.”
Bayliss grew up in Augusta, Georgia. Math and physics came easily to him, and in high school he developed a passion for Latin,...
Virtual Photo Booth
Patrice Langford ’95
Paul Chai ’99
Claude Gerstle ’68 with his wife, Ellen Gerstle
Claire DeRosa ’11, MEng ’12, and Kimberly Gonzalez ’11
John Paul Mattia ’86, SM ’91, Eng ’96, PhD ’96
Tara Chang Pettus ’08 with daughter Celeste and father Clifton Chang ’71...
NASA Invites Media to Launch of Lucy Mission to Study Trojan Asteroids
Portal origin URL: NASA Invites Media to Launch of Lucy Mission to Study Trojan AsteroidsPortal origin nid: 473478Published: Tuesday, August 24, 2021 - 16:22Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: Media accreditation is open for the upcoming launch of NASA’s Lucy mission, which will send the first spacecraft to study the Trojan asteroids.Portal...
State-of-the-art upgrades at Edmonton-area weather station expected to improve forecasting
The new weather radar at Carvel, 55 kilometres west of the city, should be up and running by December, providing meteorologists with better information for more accurate...
Research shows scale models effective for predicting storm damage to wood-frame buildings
A pair of scale model structures subjected to simulated storm conditions in an Oregon State University lab responded like real wood-frame homes during recent hurricanes, suggesting model buildings can yield important design information for low-lying areas vulnerable to storm surges and big waves.
Researcher helps collect key data to establish nine new protected areas in Peru
Florida International University (FIU) researcher Alessandro Catenazzi has helped gather the critical information needed to expedite the establishment of nine new protected areas in one of the most biologically diverse regions of Peru.
New technology lays groundwork for large-scale, high-resolution 3D displays
Researchers have developed a prototype display that uses projection to create large-scale 3D images with ultra-high definition. The new approach helps overcome the limitations of light-field projection, which can create natural-looking 3D images that don't require special 3D glasses for viewing.
Studying the mechanism of metal extraction with ionic liquids
The heaviest known elements are the so-called "superheavy" elements, those with atomic numbers greater than 103. These elements are found only in laboratories, where they are made by fusing together two lighter elements. This process is unlikely to occur, so scientists have only tiny amounts (a few atoms) for experiments, and chemists are interested in the chemical properties of these elements....
New quantum 'stopwatch' can improve imaging technologies
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have designed one of the most precise stopwatches yet—not for timing Olympic sprinters and swimmers, but for counting single photons, or the tiny packets of energy that make up light.
Climate change threatens seal hunting by Indigenous Alaskans
Climate change has severely reduced the length of the seal hunting season in a rural Alaska village, potentially threatening a key feature of the community's Indigenous way of life.
Physicists find room-temperature, 2D-to-1D topological transition
A Rice University team and its collaborators have discovered a room-temperature transition between 1D and 2D electrical conduction states in topological crystals of bismuth and iodine.
Low-cost sensors measure real-time volcanic smog exposure
When Kīlauea Volcano erupted in 2018, lava covered parts of the Island of Hawaii, but a volcanic smog, known as "vog," inundated it. The vog contained dangerous levels of fine particulate matter and sulfur dioxide gas, which threatened the health of the downwind population on the island.
Evolutionary 'arms race' may help keep cell division honest
Eggs and sperm are special cells for many reasons, but one of the characteristics that sets them apart is that unlike other human cells, which have two copies of 23 chromosomes, one from the mother and one from the father, these sex cells, or gametes, have only one.
Covid claims 100 lives a day on average across the UK, statistics show
Scientists are comparing the profiles of those who are dying with previous waves – here’s what they knowCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOfficial statistics show Covid is claiming 100 lives a day on average across the UK.But the figures tell only a fraction of the story. Continue...
Virgin Hyperloop unveils new pod concept video
The high-speed evacuated-tube transportation company reveals its plans for passenger pods
New quantum 'stopwatch' can improve imaging technologies
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 20:35
Engineers have developed the most efficient device to date for counting single photons, or the tiny packets of energy that make up light.
Like venom coursing through the body: Researchers identify mechanism driving COVID-19 mortality
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Researchers have identified what may be the key molecular mechanism responsible for COVID-19 mortality -- an enzyme related to neurotoxins found in rattlesnake venom.
Potentially safer approach to opioid drug development
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Opioids are powerful painkillers but their use is hindered because patients become tolerant to them, requiring higher and higher doses, and overdoses can cause respiratory depression and death. A recent study contradicts existing thinking about how opioid drugs cause tolerance and respiratory depression, and suggests a new, balanced approach to developing safer analgesics.
Early-warning system for sepsis shown to improve survival rates and cut hospital stays
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Emergency room patients who were flagged by an artificial-intelligence algorithm for possibly having sepsis received antibiotics sooner and had better outcomes, according to a study conducted by physician-researchers.
Healthy sugar origin in stingless bee honey revealed
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Stingless bees are found throughout tropical and subtropical parts of the world and produce significantly less honey than their European honey bee counterparts (Apis mellifera) which are the world's major honey production species. However, stingless bee honey is highly prized as a specialty food, noted in Indigenous cultures for its medicinal properties, and attracts a high price. Now new research...
A novel gene involved in male infertility: ZFP541
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
A new gene that controls the completion of meiosis in spermatogenesis has been discovered. Until now, details of the mechanism that inactivates the expression of genes involved in the meiotic program during spermatogenesis had not been clarified. The researchers believe that this may lead to an advancement in reproductive medicine, like identifying causes for infertility from azoospermia or...
Combination of mask wearing and keeping windows open is best for reducing COVID-19 risk in cars, new study finds
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
New research has confirmed that keeping car windows open to draw in fresh air is key to reducing the risk of contracting the virus in vehicle environments -- but there are trade-offs.
Record-breaking lithium-metal cell
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
A new type of lithium-metal battery reaches an extremely high energy density of 560 watt-hours per kilogram -- based on the total weight of the active materials -- with a remarkable stability. Researchers used a promising combination of cathode and electrolyte: The nickel-rich cathode enables storage of high energy per mass, the ionic liquid electrolyte ensures largely stable capacity over many...
Measuring how the Arctic responds to climate change
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
The Arctic has been warming more than twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Meanwhile CO2 measurements show substantial increases in the amount of carbon absorbed into and emitted by Arctic plants and soil. Scientists assumed this was playing a large role in changes to the Arctic carbon cycle. But they were not able to measure carbon uptake and release independently. This study provides...
Green hydrogen: Focus on the catalyst surface
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources with the help of electric power is deemed a key to the energy transition: It can be used to chemically store wind and solar energy in a CO2-neutral way. Researchers have studied water electrolysis processes on the surface of an iridium oxide catalyst.
There’s a bright side to being a ‘Debbie Downer’
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
New research shows that keeping busy with a variety of activities can elicit both positive and negative emotions, and some of the relationship could depend on your age. A new study finds that engaging in diverse daily activities is associated with a diverse set of emotions.
Teaching an old dog new tricks: An existing drug opens new possibilities for treating childhood leukemia
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
A new study has shown that the tumor-inhibiting gene TET2 is silenced in a large fraction of cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. The scientists show that the gene can be reactivated by treatment with an existing drug, 5-azacytidine. The results suggest that 5-azacytidine may function as targeted therapy for ALL in children.
These robots can move your couch
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Engineers have developed robots that can work independently and cooperatively to move unwieldy objects like a couch. In simulations, the robots were successful even when tasked to move an object in new, unfamiliar scenarios.
Lupin and Arsenic: Research on soil decontamination by an exceptional plant
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Researchers have discovered a new chemical mechanism used by roots of white lupin to clean up arsenic-contaminated soils, such as those from mining operations.
Scientists discover a fundamental feature of aggressive lymphomas
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
New research has revealed a new fundamental feature of aggressive B-cell lymphomas which could open the door to further research into early detection and treatment of the disease.
Psychological capital may be the antidote for working in a pandemic, study suggests
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Just like the COVID-19 vaccine protects against contracting the contagious virus, the collective elements of self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resiliency helps inoculate employees from the negative effects of working through a pandemic, according to a new study.
Physicists find room-temperature, 2D-to-1D topological transition
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Physicists have discovered a room-temperature transition between 1D and 2D electrical conduction states in the topological insulator bismuth iodide.
Climate change threatens seal hunting by Indigenous Alaskans
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Climate change has severely reduced the length of the seal hunting season in a rural Alaska village, potentially threatening a key feature of the community's Indigenous way of life. The study led by Indigenous hunters, the Native Village of Kotzebue and scientists shows that over the past 17 years, the seal hunting season shrank about one day per year. Sea ice decline is a major cause of the...
Stressed teens benefit from coping online, but a little goes a long way
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
An adolescent's day can be filled with a dizzying array of digital technologies. For many teenagers, being online is a way to pass the time and communicate with friends. Cell phones and social media can also help teens cope with stressful events -- as long as they strike the right balance between spending time online and pursuing other coping activities.
Evolutionary ‘arms race’ may help keep cell division honest
- ScienceDaily
- 21/8/24 19:53
Certain proteins may have evolved to tamp down 'cheating' during meiosis, the cell-division process that gives rise to eggs and sperm. While chromosomes can tip the scales in their favor of winding up in an egg, the team's new work identifies a mechanism that keeps the odds closer to 50-50, possibly reducing the likelihood that chromosomal abnormalities will arise during egg production.