Spread of DNA databases sparks ethical concerns
You can ditch your computer and leave your cellphone at home, but you can't escape your DNA. It belongs uniquely to you—and, increasingly, to the authorities.
View ArticleSnooping on neighbours gives animals the upper paw
(Phys.org) —Animals that have developed the ability to eavesdrop on their neighbours may have the edge when it comes to finding food and expanding their habitat, a new study by researchers at The...
View ArticleMiracle material graphene could deliver Internet one hundred times faster
(Phys.org) —The use of graphene in telecommunications could dramatically accelerate internet speeds by up to a hundred times, according to new research by scientists in our Department of Physics.
View ArticleControlling destructive locusts by manipulating their genetics
(Phys.org) —In 1921, a Russian entomologist named Boris Uvarov made a curious discovery. He noticed that a single species of grasshopper could transform its appearance and behavior, depending on its...
View ArticleImperfect graphene renders 'electrical highways'
(Phys.org) —Just an atom thick, 200 times stronger than steel and a near-perfect conductor, graphene's future in electronics is all but certain. But to make this carbon supermaterial useful, it needs...
View ArticleResearchers discover simple coating technique using tannic acid and iron
(Phys.org) —A team of chemical researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia has discovered a simple coating technique that uses nothing but tannic acid and iron ions. In their paper...
View ArticleGenome organization of organism reflects its 'hot' lifestyle
(Phys.org) —Microbial genomes have incredible functional and regulatory complexity, making them of great interest for potential environmental, energy, health, and industrial applications. In a study...
View ArticleResearchers discover flat worms retain memories even after decapitation
(Phys.org) —A pair of researchers from Tufts University has found that a type of flat worm is able to remember events that transpired prior to having its entire head removed. In their paper published...
View ArticleHow to build your gate: New approach solves large molecular puzzles
(Phys.org) —It's a parent's nightmare: opening a Lego set and being faced with 500 pieces, but no instructions on how to assemble them into the majestic castle shown on the box. Thanks to a new...
View ArticleTelescopic contact lens could improve eyesight for the visually impaired
(Phys.org) —A team of engineers has designed a telescopic contact lens that can switch between normal and magnified vision by using slightly modified off-the-shelf 3D television glasses. The...
View ArticleInterplanetary precision laser could reach to Mars and beyond
(Phys.org) —Currently, precision laser ranging is limited to the Earth-Moon distance. These systems are based on passive laser ranging, so that the signal deteriorates as 1/R4 over distance R. In a new...
View ArticleThird drive of Curiosity's long trek covers 135 feet
(Phys.org) —NASA's Mars rover Curiosity drove 135 feet (41 meters) on Tuesday, July 9, the third drive of a journey of many months from the "Glenelg" area to Mount Sharp.
View ArticleMultinational effort underway to build synthetic yeast using artificial...
(Phys.org) —A multinational effort to replicate the genome of brewer's yeast has been launched. Led by Professor Jef Boeke of John Hopkins University in Baltimore, and with teams in China, India, Great...
View ArticleUnique route to stem cells: Designer proteins developed to deliver stem cells
(Phys.org) —Researchers have developed a new method to produce stem cells using designed proteins. The new system is more precise and more natural than current techniques and the team believe it could...
View ArticleNew theory uncovers cancer's deep evolutionary roots
A new way to look at cancer—by tracing its deep evolutionary roots to the dawn of multicellularity more than a billion years ago—has been proposed by Paul Davies of Arizona State University's Beyond...
View ArticleLab-on-a-chip technology gets a flexible upgrade
Microfluidic devices move liquids through tiny, hair-sized pathways carved into glass slides and have distinct advantages over traditional laboratories when it comes to medical diagnostics. At these...
View ArticleLink between quantum physics and game theory found
(Phys.org) —A deep link between two seemingly unconnected areas of modern science has been discovered by researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Geneva.
View ArticleSupercomputers help microfluidics researchers make waves at the microscopic...
(Phys.org) —Have you ever noticed the way water flows around boulders in a fast-moving river, creating areas of stillness and intense motion? What if those forces of fluid flow could be controlled at...
View ArticleResearchers develop 3-D display with no ghosting for viewers without glasses
(Phys.org) —Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have developed a prototype for 3D+2D television that allows viewers with stereo glasses to see three-dimensional images, while...
View ArticleStem cell clues uncovered
Proper tissue function and regeneration is supported by stem cells, which reside in so-called niches. New work from Carnegie's Yixian Zheng and Haiyang Chen identifies an important component for...
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