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Saturday, October 11, 2014

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News


Flying robots to save lives in the Alps

Posted: 10 Oct 2014 05:40 AM PDT

Scientists at the University of Twente are working on robots that are expected to save lives in calamity situations in the Alps. The emphasis within this SHERPA project is on cooperation between human rescue workers, the ground robot ('ground rover') with a robotic arm and flying robots.

Electrically conductive plastics promising for batteries, transparent solar cells

Posted: 09 Oct 2014 06:04 PM PDT

An emerging class of electrically conductive plastics called 'radical polymers' may bring low-cost, transparent solar cells, flexible and lightweight batteries and ultra-thin antistatic coatings for consumer electronics and aircraft.

DNA nano-foundries cast custom-shaped metal nanoparticles

Posted: 09 Oct 2014 12:41 PM PDT

Researchers have unveiled a new method to form tiny 3-D metal nanoparticles in prescribed shapes and dimensions using DNA, nature's building block, as a construction mold. The ability to mold inorganic nanoparticles out of materials such as gold and silver in precisely designed 3D shapes is a significant breakthrough that has the potential to advance laser technology, microscopy, solar cells, electronics, environmental testing, disease detection and more.

New investigational cardiac pacemaker as small as a vitamin

Posted: 09 Oct 2014 12:38 PM PDT

Cardiologists have implanted an investigational cardiac pacemaker the size of a multivitamin. The first implantable pacemakers, developed in the late-1950s, were nearer the size of a transistor radio.

Thanks, fruit flies, for that pleasing beer scent

Posted: 09 Oct 2014 09:55 AM PDT

The familiar smell of beer is due in part to aroma compounds produced by common brewer's yeast. Now, researchers have discovered why the yeast (formally known as S. cerevisiae) make that smell: the scent attracts fruit flies, which repay the yeast by dispersing their cells in the environment.

All that glitters is... slimy? Gold nanoparticles measure stickiness of mucus in airways

Posted: 09 Oct 2014 08:27 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a way to use gold nanoparticles and light to measure the stickiness of mucus in the airways. Their research could help doctors better monitor and treat lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Fine-tuning of bitter taste receptors may be key to animal survival

Posted: 08 Oct 2014 09:19 AM PDT

Chicken taste receptors are 'broadly tuned' for bitter taste, whereas six frog taste receptors are mixed, consisting of broadly as well as narrowly tuned receptors. In general, individual substances activated different receptors in clearly separated concentration ranges, which may also provide a clue to the role of bitter taste diversity in enhancing the chance of survival.

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