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279,034 articles from PhysOrg

Camper uses biomechanics to make comfortable shoes

Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) have carried out a biomechanical study of the footwear made by Camper. A group of 54 volunteers took part in the project, trying on six models of men's shoes and six models of women's shoes. They were analysed using optical motion capture systems, force plates, pressure insoles and electromyography sensors. The purpose of the...

Dwarf galaxies give clues to origin of supermassive black holes

(Phys.org) —Poring through data from a large sky survey, astronomers have found more than 100 small, dwarf galaxies with characteristics indicating that they harbor massive black holes feeding on surrounding gas. The discovery confounds a common assumption that only much larger galaxies hold such monsters and may help resolve the question of how such black holes originated and grew in the early...

Economist on why emerging markets renege on loans

For emerging markets struggling to stay afloat, securing loans from foreign investors can be a lifesaver. But when neither creditors nor investors are sure of the economy's chance of success, the outcome can be unpredictable.

Geography has impact on grapevine moth's success in French vineyards

'Location, location, location' is an adage also true for the European grapevine moth, it seems. Research led by Fanny Vogelweith of the Université de Bourgogne and INRA Bordeaux-Aquitaine in France has shown that these pests are better adapted and more successful in certain French wine-growing regions than in others, because of the variety of grape on which they occur and the abundance of their...

Nanofibers align to the sound of Beethoven and Mozart

(Phys.org) —Humans create and perform music for a variety of purposes such as aesthetic pleasure, healing, religion, and ceremony. Accordingly, a scientific question arises: Can molecules or molecular assemblies interact physically with the sound vibrations of music? In the journal ChemPlusChem, Japanese researchers have now revealed their physical interaction. When classical music was playing,...

New book explores how technology changes what it means to be human

Technology is often touted as being able to change our lives, to make them easier, more efficient or to simply make life better. But what happens if technology has the ability to change what it means to be human? That question is at the heart of a University of Kansas professor's new book.

NIST analysis helps the US Chemical Safety Board pinpoint root cause of pressure vessel failure

In 2009, a violent rupture of a 50-foot pressure vessel used to produce synthetic crystals at the NDK Crystal facility in Belvidere, Illinois fatally injured a member of the public and caused significant property damage to the plant itself and the surrounding area. In response to the accident, scientists from NIST's Material Measurement Laboratory were approached by the U. S. Chemical and...

NIST researchers develop a novel approach for the measurement of a crucial DNA repair enzyme in human cells

(Phys.org) —NIST researchers recently reported a novel approach for identifying and quantifying an important DNA repair enzyme in mammals including humans. This enzyme, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), plays a critical role in base excision repair of DNA damage. APE1 plays a key role in repairing mutagenic base-free sites in DNA by first generating strand breaks which paves the way...

Research offers new insights into cross-species parasite transmission

(Phys.org) —Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a new mathematical model that helps to explain how some parasites predominantly associate with one particular host species-but are still capable of infecting other species. Their work, recently published in Theoretical Population Biology, could eventually help public health officials develop intervention strategies for diseases...

Smart bike pedals toward accident prevention

Every day, about two people in the U.S. succumb to fatal cycling accidents while more than 130 suffer harmful injuries. But in an era of increasing concern for the environment, cycling is an important mode of transportation, one that could begin to replace gas-guzzling cars, trains, and buses. Indeed, Americans could save the nation an estimated $7 billion in commuting costs if they biked instead...

Sony develops 4K ultra short throw projector

Sony today announced the development of a state-of-the-art 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector featuring a stylish, furniture-like design. Utilizing space itself, it can be placed near most walls and has the ability to cast a 4K Ultra High-Definition image up to 147-inches, turning unused space into a display and introducing a whole new viewing experience in the home.

Study shows 'readability' scores are largely inaccurate

(Phys.org) —Teachers, parents and textbook companies use technical "readability" formulas to determine how difficult reading materials are and to set reading levels by age group. But new research from North Carolina State University shows that the readability formulas are usually inaccurate and offer little insight into which age groups will be able to read and understand a text.

The ocean's hidden waves show their power

Their effect on the surface of the ocean is negligible, producing a rise of just inches that is virtually imperceptible on a turbulent sea. But internal waves, which are hidden entirely within the ocean, can tower hundreds of feet, with profound effects on the Earth's climate and on ocean ecosystems.

Women confront obstacles to practice science and technology

Women represent almost half of the students at any grade, but when graduation comes and they start to join the work force, the percentage decreases. Aiming to establish synergies to compel and evaluate public policy regarding the wellbeing of women and the country's population, the event "A look into Science, Technology and Innovation with Gender View: Towards a design of public policy" was...

Biologists establish new method for studying RNA's regulatory 'footprint'

(Phys.org) —Increasingly, biologists have come to realize that RNA is not merely a transitional state between DNA and proteins but plays a major role in determining whether and how genes are turned into a protein product. Gaining a deeper understanding of RNA regulation can help scientists shed light on diseases that arise when this function goes awry.