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Saturday, March 8, 2014

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News


Smartphones become 'eye-phones' with low-cost devices

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 08:10 AM PST

Researchers have developed two inexpensive adapters that enable a smartphone to capture high-quality images of the front and back of the eye. The adapters make it easy for anyone with minimal training to take a picture of the eye and share it securely with other health practitioners or store it in the patient's electronic record.

Nasal filter looks promising for allergy sufferers

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 07:02 AM PST

A newly developed type of filter can help people with nasal symptoms from seasonal hay fever, clinical research suggests. The filter, which is not yet in production, works by being inserted in both nostrils. Depending on the filter's density, it blocks specific particles in the air -- including pollen from grass, which is one of the most frequent causes of hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis).

Teen elephant mothers die younger but have bigger families

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 05:40 AM PST

Asian elephants that give birth as teenagers die younger than older mothers but raise bigger families during their lifetime, according to new research.

Public could virtually 'travel' to space for $90 through new project

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 05:38 AM PST

Researchers have launched a unique campaign that will enable the public to 'travel' to space for the cost of a pair of trainers. Virtual Ride to Space will use cutting-edge virtual technology and a specially designed spacecraft to deliver a three-dimensional, immersive experience, allowing everyone to see what astronauts experience on an ascent to space.

Squeezing light into metals: Engineers control conductivity with inkjet printer

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 05:37 AM PST

Using an inexpensive inkjet printer, electrical engineers produced microscopic structures that use light in metals to carry information. This new technique, which controls electrical conductivity within such microstructures, could be used to rapidly fabricate superfast components in electronic devices, make wireless technology faster or print magnetic materials.

Birds display lateralization bias when selecting flight paths

Posted: 06 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST

Flocks of birds manage to navigate through difficult environments by individuals having predispositions to favor the left- or right-hand side. Researchers flew the budgerigars down a tunnel where they were met by an obstacle, and a choice of two paths to fly through. Sometimes the paths were of equal size, and sometimes one would be bigger than the other. Some birds had no bias and would choose the wider gap every time, while others with a distinct bias preferred going to one side, even if it was significantly narrower than the alternative.

Doggy agility: are emotions thwarting performance?

Posted: 04 Mar 2014 08:32 AM PST

With Crufts fast approaching, and canine agility in the spotlight, researchers ask if right and left-sided brain function and stimuli affect canine performance. There is a long established and debated human right brain/left brain theory: does lateralization of brain function affect dogs too? Their study reveals fascinating insights into workings of the canine brain.

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