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Friday, June 21, 2013

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News


Hong Kong skyscrapers appear to fall in real-world illusion

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 01:28 PM PDT

No matter how we jump, roll, sit, or lie down, our brain manages to maintain a visual representation of the world that stays upright relative to the pull of gravity. But a new study of rider experiences on the Hong Kong Peak Tram, a popular tourist attraction, shows that specific features of the environment can dominate our perception of verticality, making skyscrapers appear to fall.

Light and nanoprobes detect early signs of infection

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 01:28 PM PDT

Biomedical engineers and genome researchers have developed a proof-of-principle approach using light to detect infections before patients show symptoms.

How did a third radiation belt appear in the Earth's upper atmosphere?

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 01:28 PM PDT

How did a third radiation belt appear in the Earth's upper atmosphere, and then almost completely disappear?

Solar splashdown provide new insights into how young stars grow by sucking up nearby gas

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 01:28 PM PDT

On June 7, 2011, our sun erupted, blasting tons of hot plasma into space. Some of that plasma splashed back down onto the sun's surface, sparking bright flashes of ultraviolet light. This dramatic event may provide new insights into how young stars grow by sucking up nearby gas.

Uncovering quantum secret in photosynthesis

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 11:29 AM PDT

Scientists have observed the quantum character of light transport through the molecular machines at work in natural photosynthesis. By studying a single machine at a time, they found that this quantum transport is very persistent and robust regardless of environmental changes. These results could pave the way for the construction of solar energy devices with an efficiency surpassing anything we have seen to date.

Does your salad know what time it is? Managing vegetables' 'internal clocks' postharvest could have health benefits

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 10:23 AM PDT

Biologists have found there may be potential health benefits to storing fresh produce under day-night cycles of light. In a new study researchers used lighting to alter the circadian rhythms of cabbage, lettuce, spinach, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes and blueberries. The scientists showed how manipulation of circadian rhythms caused cabbage to produce more phytochemicals, including antioxidants.

Pearly perfection: Odd explanation for why pearls are spherical in nature

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 10:24 AM PDT

The mystery of how pearls form into the most perfectly spherical large objects in nature may have an unlikely explanation, scientists are proposing in a new study.

Detour ahead: Cities, farms reroute animals seeking cooler climes

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 07:15 AM PDT

Half a dozen regions could provide some of the Western Hemisphere's more heavily used thoroughfares for mammals, birds and amphibians on their way to cooler environments in a warming world. This is the first broad-scale study to consider how animals might travel when confronted with cities, large agricultural areas and other human related barriers.

DNA constructs antenna for solar energy

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 07:14 AM PDT

Researchers have found an effective solution for collecting sunlight for artificial photosynthesis. By combining self-assembling DNA molecules with simple dye molecules, the researchers have created a system that resembles nature's own antenna system.

New solar car has sleek, asymmetrical design

Posted: 19 Jun 2013 06:13 AM PDT

The lopsided solar car named Generation, unveiled today, might be the oddest-looking vehicle the University of Michigan team has ever built. But the bold shape is a calculated effort to design the most efficient car possible, given major changes in World Solar Challenge race rules.

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