Self-healing materials for robotics made from ‘jelly’ and salt
Researchers have developed self-healing, biodegradable, 3D-printed materials that could be used in the development of realistic artificial hands and other soft robotics applications. The low-cost jelly-like materials, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, can sense strain, temperature and humidity. And unlike earlier self-healing robots, they can also partially repair themselves at room temperature. […]
COP26 deal sparks hope for positive tipping points
The Breakthrough Agenda agreed at COP26 could help trigger positive tipping points to tackle the climate crisis, researchers say. At the summit in Glasgow, leaders of countries covering 70% of world GDP pledged to “make clean technologies and sustainable solutions the most affordable, accessible and attractive option in each emitting sector globally before 2030.” This […]
Changing your diet could add up to a decade to life expectancy, study finds: A new model, available as an online calculator, estimates the impact of dietary changes on life expectancy
A young adult in the U.S. could add more than a decade to their life expectancy by changing their diet from a typical Western diet to an optimized diet that includes more legumes, whole grains and nuts, and less red and processed meat, according to a new study publishing Feb. 8 in PLOS Medicine by […]
‘Smart’ greenhouses could slash electricity costs
A new, internet-connected lighting system for greenhouses could sharply reduce a farmer’s electrical bill, according to a study by University of Georgia researchers. Recently published in Plants, the study showed that a predictive lighting control system could optimize lighting for plants by predicting sunlight and only running the lights when needed. The data showed that […]
Study explores how temperate rainforests can aid the fight against climate change
There is global recognition that woodland expansion could be one of the most effective solutions in the fight against climate change. However, new research has shown that the level of growth needed to produce the amount of trees required by UK targets is unlikely to be achieved through natural means alone. Environmental scientists and ecologists […]
Realistic portraits of squishy layer that’s key to battery performance
Lithium metal batteries could store much more charge in a given space than today’s lithium-ion batteries, and the race is on to develop them for next-gen electric vehicles, electronics and other uses. But one of the hurdles that stand in the way is a silent battle between two of the battery’s parts. The liquid between […]
The Best Mental Health Takes This Year (And The Absolute Worst)
On balance, you could argue we’ve made a lot of progress when it comes to mental health acceptance ― especially in the last few years. But if the events that unfolded in 2021 are any indication, there’s still a lot more ground we need to cover. There certainly were some high points in mental health […]
Imagining future guilt helps athletes turn away from doping
Appealing to athletes’ sense of ‘future guilt’ through psychological intervention could prove a powerful weapon in the fight against doping, according to a new study. Researchers discovered that making elite athletes picture how guilty they might feel about using banned performance enhancing drugs produced a more powerful initial reaction than initiatives educating sportspeople about the […]
How eating less in early life could help with reproduction later on
Switching from a restricted diet to eating as much as you like could be beneficial for reproduction in later life, according to new research from the University of East Anglia. Researchers studied the eating and mating habits of the small fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. They found that females that consumed less food for their entire […]
What Are the Symptoms of Enterovirus D68? Prevention Tips
The symptoms of Enterovirus D68 may vary in severity but could include sneezing, sore throat, diarrhea, Dyspnea, and wheezing. The symptoms of Enterovirus D68 may vary in severity, from mild to severe, with some infected individuals experiencing none at all. The symptoms are generally worse in children than in adults, although they may be more […]