The Discovery Files

"Go-Getters" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:05:43 EST

By using swarms of untethered grippers, each as small as a speck of dust, Johns Hopkins engineers say they have devised a new way to perform biopsies that could provide a more effective way to access narrow conduits in the body.

"Balance Of Power" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 8 May 2013 11:05:29 EST

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed new micro batteries that out-power even the best supercapacitors and could drive new applications in compact electronics.

"Early Risers" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:04:27 EST

Scientists at NCAR find that reductions in four pollutants that cycle comparatively quickly through the atmosphere could temporarily forestall the rate of sea level rise by roughly 25 to 50 percent.

"Share Tactics" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:04:22 EST

A research team at the University of Southern California has developed a way to encrypt a crucial portion of the photo to keep it secure, while leaving enough unencrypted that it can still be utilized by cloud filesharing services.

"Twister Fate" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:04:19 EST

Even in the face of a disaster, we remain optimistic about our chances of injury compared to others, according to a study by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.

"Trait-Off" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 02:04:13 EST

An international research team led by Oklahoma State University decoded the genetic information in Galdieria to understand how the one-celled alga acquired its flexibility and resilience.

"True Grid" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:03:49 EST

Scientists at Northwestern University have identified conditions and properties that power companies can consider using to keep power generators in a desired synchronized state and help make a self-healing power grid a reality.

"Sound Bytes" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 08:03:36 EST

Electrical engineers at Oregon State University have discovered a way to use high- frequency sound waves to enhance the magnetic storage of data.

"Reef-Furbish" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:02:26 EST

Using underwater video cameras to record fish feeding on South Pacific coral reefs, Georgia Tech scientists found that fish can be picky eaters--a trait that could spell trouble for endangered reef systems.

"Vision Realized" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:02:01 EST

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted market approval to an artificial retina technology, the first bionic eye to be approved for patients in the U.S.

"Getting Wasted" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:02:37 EST

Scientists from NCAR, UCSD, Scripps and Florida State concluded that the heat generated by everyday activities in metropolitan areas alters the character of the jet stream and other major atmospheric systems.

"Spike Strip" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 10:02:03 EST

Researchers at North Carolina State University have devised a technique to embed needle-like carbon nanofibers in an elastic membrane, creating a flexible "bed of nails" on the nanoscale that opens the door to development of new drug-delivery systems.

"Bamboozled" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:01:41 EST

Scientists from Michigan State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences forecast how a changing climate may affect the most common species of bamboo that carpets the forest floors of prime panda habitat in northwestern China.

"Staph Cutbacks" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:01:20 EST

Researchers at the University of Illinois and UC San Diego have discovered a new compound that restores the health of mice infected with MRSA, an otherwise dangerous bacterial infection.

"Harm's Way" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 9 Jan 2013 04:01:37 EST

People are able to detect, within a split second, if a hurtful action they are witnessing is intentional or accidental, new research on the brain at the University of Chicago shows.

"Cutting Edge" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 09:12:34 EST

Scientists at the University of Utah uncover how insects domesticate bacteria after a man, who was cutting down a tree, cut his hand and then sought medical help.

"Allergenie" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 01:12:57 EST

Researchers at UCLA have developed a lightweight device called the iTube, which attaches to a common cell phone to detect allergens in food samples.

"Goby Dessert" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:12:00 EST

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have found evidence that when corals are under attack by toxic seaweed they do what anyone might do when threatened--they call for help.

"Weather Beaten" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 4 Dec 2012 02:12:38 EST

Decades of extreme weather crippled, and ultimately decimated, first the political culture and later the human population of the ancient Maya, according to a study by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from UC Davis, Penn State and Switzerland.

"Catalytic Converted" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 02:11:13 EST

A chemistry professor at Princeton University has developed a process that allows ordinary iron to be used as a substitute catalyst in certain reactions that up till now have required precious metals.

"Ecovery" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:11:18 EST

Researchers at the Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati have discovered why plants and animals had a hard time recovering from the largest mass extinction in Earth's history 250 million years ago.

"Stand Down" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:11:53 EST

A study by Harvard University researchers finds that when it comes to the health of forests, native plants and wildlife, the best management decision may be to do nothing.

"Stick-Two-Ative" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 2 Nov 2012 10:11:57 EST

Scientists at the University of Akron discover that spiders' design mastery allows them to create webs that stick to the ground and to elevated surfaces differently.

"Insect Aside" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 01:10:54 EST

Research from Cornell University indicates that getting rid of insects could trigger some unwelcome ecological consequences, such as the rapid loss of desired traits in plants, including their good taste and high yields.

"Phone Feed" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 09:10:33 EST

Researchers from Rice University, Bell Labs, and Yale have created a multi-antenna technology that could help wireless providers keep pace with the voracious demands of data-hungry smartphones and tablets.

"Coral-Lation" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:10:20 EST

Researchers at Oregon State University for the first time have confirmed some of the mechanisms by which overfishing and nitrate pollution can contribute to the destruction of coral reefs.

"Disease Detective" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:09:56 EST

Johns Hopkins researchers have created a synthetic protein that, when activated by ultraviolet light, can guide doctors to places within the body where cancer, arthritis and other serious medical disorders can be detected.

"New Threads" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:09:58 EST

Scientists at UMass-Amherst report the discovery of an antibacterial coating for surgical sutures that is almost 1,000 times more effective than the most widely used commercial coating.

"Crustacean Invasion" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 02:09:16 EST

A Florida Institute of Technology biologist has new research that finds predatory crabs poised to return to warming Antarctic waters and disrupt the primeval marine communities that have lived there for millions of years.

"Heads Up" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 7 Sep 2012 11:09:48 EST

Princeton University researchers have found a mysterious region deep in the human brain could be where we sort through the onslaught of stimuli from the outside world and focus on the information most important to our behavior and survival.

"Mega-Size Me" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 09:08:35 EST

Researchers from Arizona State University and the National Center for Atmospheric Research conduct a study attempting to quantify the impact of rapidly expanding megapolitan areas on regional climate.

"Magmamanous" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:08:57 EST

Enormous volcanic super-eruptions with the potential to end civilizations have surprisingly short fuses, Vanderbilt University researchers have discovered.

"Fungal Fuel" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:08:20 EST

Study, which was conducted by a team of 71 researchers from 12 countries, reveals potentially large influences of fungi, one of the most biologically diverse classes of organisms, on our energy supplies.

"Acid Redux" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 1 Aug 2012 12:08:05 EST

Scientists at the Hubbard Brook Long Term Ecological Research Site discover that a combination of today's higher atmospheric carbon dioxide level and its atmospheric fallout is altering the hydrology and water quality of forested watersheds.

"Light Rain" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:07:23 EST

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have invented a "smart" headlight system that can improve visibility by constantly redirecting light to shine between particles of precipitation.

"Eat, Pray, Decompose" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:07:58 EST

A Yale And Hebrew Universities' study of grasshoppers' diets shows that animals are an important part of organic matter decomposition.

"Vac to the Future" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:07:57 EST

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are proposing a new spin on an old method: A switch from the use of silicon electronics back to vacuums as a medium for electron transport--exhibiting a significant paradigm shift in electronics.

"Sleep Study" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 9 Jul 2012 02:07:23 EST

Want to nail that tune that you've practiced and practiced? Maybe take a nap with the same melody playing during your sleep, provocative Northwestern University research suggests.

"Ice Curbs" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:06:43 EST

A team of researchers from Harvard University have invented a way to keep any metal surface free of ice and frost.

"Small Wonder" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 01:06:57 EST

A laboratory test used to detect disease and perform biological research could be made more than three million times more sensitive, according to Princeton University researchers who combined standard biological tools with a breakthrough in nanotechnology.

"Bee Bots" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 12:06:40 EST

Harvard University scientists and engineers seek to artificially mimic the collective behavior and "intelligence" of a bee colony with the goal of gaining a greater understanding of fields such as entomology, developmental biology, amorphous computing and electrical engineering.

"Text Effects" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 6 Jun 2012 10:06:06 EST

Text messaging is a surprisingly good way to get candid responses to sensitive questions, according to a research team at the University of Michigan and the New School for Social Research.

"Status Simian" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 29 May 2012 11:05:38 EST

A study by the University of Notre Dame and Princeton and Duke universities finds that high-ranking male baboons recover more quickly from injuries and are less likely to become ill than other males.

"Pod Cast" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:05:47 EST

Research conducted at The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center shows that birds and other animals change their behavior in response to manmade noise, but human clamor doesn't just affect animals. Because many animals also pollinate plants or disperse their seeds, human noise can have ripple effects on plants too.

"Taken To 'Task" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:05:42 EST

An Ohio State University study suggests that people aren't very good at media multitasking, but do it anyway because it makes them feel good.

"Hotwired" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 8 May 2012 01:05:36 EST

Researchers at Purdue University are developing a technique that uses nanotechnology to harvest energy from hot pipes or engine components to potentially recover energy wasted in factories, power plants and cars.

"Blue Light Special" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 2 May 2012 12:05:01 EST

Analysis of data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a massive detector deployed in deep ice at the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, provided insight into one of the most enduring mysteries in physics, the production of cosmic rays.

"Foot Find" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:04:02 EST

Researchers from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Case Western Reserve University found a fossil which indicates that between three and four million years ago, there were at least two pre-human species living on the Earth.

"Brain Matrix" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:04:47 EST

Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital reveal a remarkably simple but previously hidden organizational structure within the brain.

"Math Class-ification" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:04:31 EST

Do some high school teachers think math is harder for girls than boys? Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin say yes.

"Water Mark" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 3 Apr 2012 12:04:50 EST

According to research results from scientists at Rutgers University, future generations will likely witness sea levels rise between 40 and 70 feet higher than at present even if humankind manages to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

"Naked Truths" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:03:44 EST

A University of Illinois at Chicago biologist and his colleagues think the subterranean lifestyle of the naked mole-rat may hold clues to keeping brain cells alive and functioning when oxygen is scarce. The key may lie in how brain cells regulate their intake of calcium.

"Calculated Risk" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:03:14 EST

University of Utah mathematicians developed a set of calculus equations to make it easier for doctors to save acetaminophen overdose patients by quickly estimating how much painkiller they took, when they consumed it and whether they will require a liver transplant to survive.

"Motor Skills" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 02:03:09 EST

An Iowa State engineer is working to develop computer modeling technology that will show engineers how to chip away at the surfaces of electric motors to create new designs and shapes that can increase power generation.

"Head Bangers" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 04:03:35 EST

A two-year study of high school football players conducted by Purdue University suggests that concussions are likely caused by many hits over time and not from a single blow to the head, as commonly believed.

"Past Restored?" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:02:21 EST

Wetland restoration is a billion-dollar-a-year industry in the United States that aims to create ecosystems similar to those that disappeared over the past century. But a new analysis of restoration projects shows that restored wetlands seldom reach the quality of a natural wetland.

"Power Plants" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:02:51 EST

A biochemist from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a team of researchers have developed a system that taps into plants' photosynthetic processes to produce efficient and inexpensive energy.

"Bloodless Coup" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:02:26 EST

Engineers at Brown University have designed a biological device that can measure glucose concentrations in human saliva. The technique could eliminate the need for diabetics to draw blood to check their glucose levels.

"Animal Futures" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 10:02:07 EST

Predictions of the loss of animal and plant diversity around the world are common under models of future climate change. But a new study shows that because these climate models don't account for species competition and movement, they could grossly underestimate future extinctions.

"Mutation Revelation" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:02:57 EST

Researchers at Michigan State University show a fast-forward view of how certain viruses evolve new and sometimes destructive traits through mutation.

"Evacuation Evaluation" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:01:27 EST

A study sponsored by the National Science Foundation found that most respondents felt the evacuation of New Orleans residents to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina was a "failure" and this opinion has shaped their willingness to accept shelter if offered in an emergency evacuation.

"Bug Juice" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:01:00 EST

An insect's internal chemicals can be converted to electricity, potentially providing power for sensors, recording devices or to control the bug, a group of researchers at Case Western Reserve University report.

"Brain Train" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:01:30 EST

For the first time, scientists at USC have unlocked a mechanism behind the way short- and long-term motor memory work together and compete against one another. The research could potentially pave the way to more effective rehabilitation for stroke patients.

"Health-Poor" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 12:01:28 EST

Women who move from high-poverty to lower-poverty neighborhoods may decrease their risk for diabetes and extreme obesity, according to a study led by the University of Chicago.

"Flood Plan" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:12:13 EST

Experts at the University of California, Riverside and The University of Nottingham report that they have discovered how plants sense low oxygen levels to survive flooding--a finding that could lead eventually to the production of high-yielding, flood-tolerant crops.

"Mental Floss" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:12:02 EST

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new method to design antibodies aimed at combating disease. The process was used to make antibodies that neutralize the harmful protein particles that lead to Alzheimer's disease.

"Sound Mined" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:12:32 EST

Audio engineers have developed a novel artificial intelligence system for understanding and indexing sound, a unique tool for both finding and matching previously un-labeled audio files.

"Space Cadets" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 03:12:47 EST

A University of Chicago study has shown that children who learn to use a wide range of words related to spatial knowledge also show improved spatial skills.

"Raw Data" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:11:42 EST

In a first-of-its kind study, Harvard researchers have shown that cooked meat provides more energy than raw meat, a finding that challenges the current food labeling system and suggests humans are evolutionarily adapted to take advantage of the benefits of cooking.

"Juicy Details" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:11:16 EST

A study from researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute shows that the juice from cranberries is better at fighting bacterial infections than the cranberry extract found in pill form.

"Defect Detect" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:11:46 EST

Study links pollutants to a 450 percent increase in risk of birth defects.

"Mind Control" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:11:30 EST

Scientists at the University of Minnesota have designed a novel, noninvasive system that allows users to control a virtual helicopter using only their minds.

"New Breed" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 12:11:28 EST

Cassava, banana and plantain, staple foods for millions of the world's poorest people, are notoriously difficult to breed. But an international team of scientists aims to change that, using a revolutionary new approach to plant breeding developed at the University of California, Davis.

"Game Changer" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:10:21 EST

Gamers have solved the structure of a retrovirus enzyme whose configuration had stumped scientists for more than a decade. The gamers achieved their discovery by playing Foldit, an online game that allows players to collaborate and compete in predicting the structure of protein molecules.

"Power Nap" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:10:45 EST

A new "subconscious mode" for smartphones and other WiFi-enabled mobile devices could extend battery life by as much as 54 percent for users on the busiest networks.

"Wind Yield" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:09:28 EST

The power output of wind farms can be increased by an order of magnitude--at least tenfold--simply by optimizing the placement of turbines on a given plot of land, say researchers at the California Institute of Technology.

"Power Grab" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:09:38 EST

Researchers have discovered a way to capture and harness energy transmitted by such sources as radio and television transmitters, cell phone networks and satellite communications systems.

"Birth And Syntax" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:09:14 EST

Cognitive scientists at Johns Hopkins University have new evidence that confirms an older theory that human beings are born with some innate knowledge of certain rules of linguistics that make learning human languages easier.

"Brain Feed" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:09:14 EST

According to researchers at Caltech deciding what to eat forces your brain to figure out how it feels about a food's taste versus its health benefits versus its portion size or even its packaging, and it needs to determine the importance of these attributes relative to each other.

"Highway To Heal" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 11:09:30 EST

Scientists seeking to improve cancer treatments have created a tiny drug transporter that maximizes its ability to silence damaging genes by finding the equivalent of an expressway into a target cell.

"Baked Alaska" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 11:09:20 EST

After a 10,000-year absence, wildfires have returned to the Arctic tundra, and a University of Florida study shows that their impact could extend far beyond the areas blackened by flames.

"Stress Test" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:08:50 EST

In her research, University of Chicago associate professor in psychology Sian Beilock, has shown the brain can work to sabotage performance, often in pressure-filled situations that deplete brain power critical to many everyday activities.

"Wing Talkers" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 11:08:32 EST

When African Grey parrots talk, do they mimic sounds or consciously understand their speech? Irene Pepperberg, a comparative psychologist at both Brandeis and Harvard universities believes African Greys actually know what they're talking about.

"Getting The Dirt" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 03:07:55 EST

Japan's March 11, 2011 Tohoku Earthquake is among the strongest ever recorded, and because it struck one of the world's most heavily instrumented seismic zones, this natural disaster is providing scientists with a treasure trove of data on rare magnitude 9 earthquakes. Among the new information is what is believed to be the first study of how a shock this powerful affects the rock and soil beneath the surface.

"Super Tuber" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:07:28 EST

An international consortium of scientists has produced a new map of the potato genome that may lead to the development of an ultra-nutritious potato that could help feed the world's hungry.

"Fat Rats" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:06:28 EST

Obesity appears to impair normal muscle function in rats, an observation that could have significant implications for humans, according to Penn State researchers.

"Convincing Evidence" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:06:41 EST

Want to convince someone to do something? A University of Michigan study examines how various speech characteristics influence people's decisions to participate in telephone surveys. But its findings have implications for many other situations, from closing sales to swaying voters to getting spouses to see things your way.

"Golden Y-Ears" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:06:35 EST

A growing body of research finds musical training gives students learning advantages in the classroom. Now a Northwestern University study finds musical training can benefit the grandparents, too, by offsetting some of the deleterious effects of aging.

"Different Drum" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 03:06:00 EST

Engineers investigating "listener fatigue"--the discomfort and pain some people experience while using in-ear headphones, hearing aids, and other devices that seal the ear canal from external sound--have found not only what they believe is the cause, but also a potential solution.

"Gene Home" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 23 May 2011 11:05:13 EST

Using a new mapping strategy, a collaborative team led by researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and MIT has begun to assign meaning to the regions beyond our genes and has revealed how minute changes in these regions might be connected to common diseases.

"Light Show" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 11 May 2011 03:05:53 EST

Engineers at Ohio State University have invented a new kind of nano-particle that shines in different colors to tag molecules in biomedical tests.

"Flaw Dropper" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 9 May 2011 10:05:16 EST

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and in Switzerland have developed a polymer-based material that can heal itself with the help of a widely used type of lighting. Imagine repairing unsightly scratches on your car or dining room table quickly, easily and inexpensively.

"Slow V. Go" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 2 May 2011 12:05:33 EST

Michigan State University researchers show that more adaptable bacteria that are oriented toward long-term improvement prevailed over competitors that held short term advantages.

"Diverse Osmosis" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 01:04:31 EST

New evidence from the University of Michigan that biodiversity promotes water quality suggests that accelerating species losses may compromise future water quality.

"Catching Rays" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:04:28 EST

Using a common metal most famously found in self-cleaning ovens, Sossina Haile of CalTech University hopes to change our energy future. The metal is cerium oxide -- or ceria -- and it is the centerpiece of a promising new technology developed by Haile and her colleagues that concentrates solar energy and uses it to efficiently convert carbon dioxide and water into fuels.

"Talking Numbers" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:03:57 EST

The amount of time parents spend talking about numbers has a much bigger impact on how young children learn mathematics than was previously known, researchers at the University of Chicago have found.

"Earth Wake" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:03:34 EST

The potential for a huge Pacific Ocean tsunami on the West Coast of America may be greater than previously thought, according to a new study of geological evidence along the Gulf of Alaska coast.

"Warmed Fuzzies" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:03:08 EST

The balance of biodiversity within North American small-mammal communities is off balance from the last episode of global warming about 12,000 years ago that future climate change could push them past a tipping point, with repercussions up and down the food chain, say Stanford University biologists.

"Sensored Material" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 11:03:58 EST

Monitoring everything from explosives to tainted milk, materials for use in creating sensors for detection devices have been developed by a University of Houston chemist and his team.

"Mem-Sleep" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:02:50 EST

Scientists have found that sleep helps consolidate memories, fixing them in the brain so we can retrieve them later. Now, new research from the University of Notre Dame and Boston College shows that sleep also seems to reorganize memories, picking out the emotional details and reconfiguring the memories to help you produce new and creative ideas.

"Holo Victory" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:02:07 EST

A team at the University of Arizona has developed a new type of holographic "telepresence" that allows the projection of a three-dimensional, moving image without the need for special eyewear such as 3-D glasses or other auxiliary devices.

"Robo-Babies" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:02:51 EST

In a first-of-its-kind experiment, a roboticist from the University of Vermont created both simulated and actual robots that change their body forms while learning how to walk. And, over generations, the roboticist's simulated robots also evolved, spending less time in "infant" forms and more time in "adult" four-legged forms.

"Spatial Circumstance" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 2 Feb 2011 10:02:44 EST

Some people always know how find their way around a building while others have difficulty doing so. Differences among people that include spatial skills, experience, and preferred strategies for way finding are part of what determines whether people get lost inside buildings--and psychological scientists could help architects understand where and why people might get lost in their buildings, according to the authors of an article published in Current Directions in Psychological Science.

"Shuttle Bug" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:01:12 EST

The flu virus uses a shuttle mechanism to relay protons through a channel in a process necessary for the virus to infect a host cell, according to a research project led by Mei Hong of Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory.

"Fear Factory" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:01:49 EST

Researchers at the University of Iowa have pinpointed the part of the brain that causes people to experience fear -- a discovery that could improve treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety conditions.

"Gene-Age-Ology" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 5 Jan 2011 02:01:13 EST

Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered that "new" genes which have evolved in species as little as one million years ago can be just as essential for life as ancient genes.

"Spin Ductors" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 02:01:40 EST

Researchers at Ohio State University have demonstrated the first plastic computer memory device that utilizes the spin of electrons to read and write data.

"Bear Chance" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 02:01:26 EST

Scientists from several institutions, including the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Washington, have found that if humans reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly in the next decade or two, enough Arctic ice is likely to remain intact during late summer and early autumn for polar bears to survive.

"Gene Pull" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 01:12:25 EST

Tinkering with a single gene may give perennial grasses more robust roots and speed up the timeline for creating biofuels, according to researchers at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy.

"Light Snacking" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 12:12:26 EST

Researchers at The Ohio State University found that mice that were persistently exposed to light at night exhibited 50% more weight gain, even when holding their physical activity and eating habits constant, than counterparts who were not exposed to light at night.

"Fry Octane" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 8 Dec 2010 12:12:41 EST

Two chemists at Brown University have streamlined the conversion of waste vegetable oil into biodiesel, eliminating the need to use corrosive chemicals to perform the reactions.

"Blindsided" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:11:57 EST

People who have been blind from birth make use of the visual parts of their brain to refine their sensation of sound and touch, according to an international team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center.

"Tell and Show" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 12:11:01 EST

Cognitive psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania and University of California have shown that an image displayed too quickly to be seen by an observer can be detected if the participant first hears the name of the object.

"Cheek Check" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:10:03 EST

Engineers and physicians from NorthShore University Health System have developed a method to detect lung cancer by merely shining diffuse light on cells swabbed from patients' cheeks. In their study, the analysis technique was able to differentiate individuals with lung cancer from those without.

"Uncommon Sense" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:10:13 EST

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a potential new tool for medical diagnostics, testing food and water for contamination, and crime-scene forensics.

"Multi-T(Ouch)" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:10:49 EST

The evolution of computer systems has freed us from keyboards and now is focusing on multi-touch systems, but little is known about the long-term stresses on our bodies through the use of these systems.

"Brain Food" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:10:10 EST

A team of researchers has found that early hominids living in what is now northern Kenya ate a wider variety of foods than previously thought. Rich in protein and nutrients, these foods may have played a key role in the development of a larger, more human-like brain in our early forebears.

"Emotional Recall" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 5 Oct 2010 01:10:46 EST

Cornell University researchers find that emotions can alter a child's memory and that these distortions could directly impact court cases by affecting decisions made about the reliability of a child witness.

"Spit Take" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 5 Oct 2010 01:10:14 EST

Researchers have discovered why strands of some fluids containing polymers form beads when stretched, findings that could be used to improve industrial processes and for administering drugs.

"Got Your Bac" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:09:16 EST

While the ways in which the cells of drug resistant bacteria become resistant are understood at the cellular level, until now, the bacteria's survival strategies at the population level remained unclear. A new study at Boston University and Harvard University reveals that a surprisingly small percentage of bacteria actually become highly resistant "supermutants." In fact, most of the bacteria in their study survived without being resistant to the effective dose of antibiotics in the environment.

"Waste Treatment Plant" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:09:14 EST

Isolating a gene that allows a type of fern to tolerate high levels of arsenic, Purdue University researchers hope to use the finding to create plants that can clean up soils and waters contaminated by the toxic metal.

"Just Chillin'" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 9 Sep 2010 01:09:07 EST

New findings from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center may help explain the mechanics behind the widely documented phenomenon of living creatures being totally frozen and then successfully brought back to life.

"Slice of Life" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:08:15 EST

Princeton University scientists may have discovered the oldest fossils of animal bodies. These findings push back the clock on the scientific world's thinking regarding when animal life appeared on Earth.

"Wheel Deal" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:08:43 EST

While the evolution from the Neolithic stone wheel to the sleek wheels of today's racing bikes can be seen as the result of human ingenuity, it also represents how animals, including humans, have come to move more efficiently over millions of years on Earth, according to a Duke University engineer.

"Microphiber" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:08:43 EST

For the past decade, researchers in a MIT lab have been working to develop fibers with ever more sophisticated properties, creating fabrics that can interact with the environment. Their latest advancement are fabrics that can detect and create sound.

"Go Fish" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 12:08:54 EST

A new study from the University of Chicago reports that a mass extinction of fish 360 million years ago hit the reset button on life on Earth, setting the stage for modern vertebrate biodiversity.

"Blow Flies" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 04:08:14 EST

A Caltech biologist and his research team have identified how the antennae of fruit flies process the feeling of wind and then how the flies respond by standing completely still.

"Laptop Learning" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 02:08:58 EST

Despite the distraction potential of laptops in college classrooms, research from the University of Michigan shows that they can actually increase students' engagement and learning.

"Cell Check" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 03:07:07 EST

In findings that could lead to new therapies, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute have described some striking differences between the biochemistry of stem cells versus mature cells.

"Sponge Bath" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:06:32 EST

When loaded with an anticancer drug, a delivery system based on a novel material called nanosponge is three to five times more effective at reducing tumor growth than direct injection.

"Adopt-A-Squirrel" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:06:23 EST

Those neighbourhood squirrels you often see fighting over food may not seem altruistic, but new University of Guelph research has found that the critters will actually take in orphaned relatives.

"Buy Buy Blues" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:06:25 EST

According to a Cornell University professor of psychology, consumers found that satisfaction with "experiential purchases" -- from massages to family vacations -- starts high and increases over time. In contrast, spending money on material things feels good at first, but actually makes people less happy in the end.

"Next Wave" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 01:06:45 EST

A team of scientists at MIT have discovered a previously unknown phenomenon that can cause powerful waves of energy to shoot through minuscule wires known as carbon nanotubes. The discovery could lead to a new way of producing electricity, the researchers say.

"Growth Light" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 17 May 2010 01:05:40 EST

Researchers have developed a way to enhance how brain tumors appear in MRI scans and during surgery, making the tumors easier for surgeons to identify and remove.

"Self Corn-Trol" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 6 May 2010 03:05:35 EST

A University of Illinois agricultural engineer believes it may be possible to "teach" corn to provide its own nitrogen, thus eliminating the need for farmers to add expensive nitrogen fertilizers to the soil.

"Glacial Globe" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 4 May 2010 12:05:33 EST

Geologists at Harvard University found evidence that sea ice extended to the equator up to 716.5 million years ago, bringing new precision to a "snowball Earth" event long suspected to have taken place around that time.

"Letter Carrier" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:04:04 EST

Mayo Clinic neuroscientists have demonstrated how brain waves can be used to type alphanumerical characters on a computer screen. By merely focusing on the 'q' in a matrix of letters, for example, that 'q' appears on the monitor.

"Hooked On Photonics" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 11:04:57 EST

Purdue University researchers have developed a miniature device capable of converting ultrafast laser pulses into bursts of radio-frequency signals, a step toward making wires obsolete for communications in homes and offices of the future.

"On The Fly" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:03:12 EST

Using high-speed cameras and computer models, Cornell researchers have shown exactly how fruit flies maneuver through the air, and how they keep stable even when a whoosh of wind knocks them off course.

"Current Event" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 01:03:57 EST

Waters from warmer latitudes, or subtropical waters, are reaching Greenland's glaciers, driving melting and likely triggering an acceleration of ice loss, reports a team of researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

"Viral Vrooom" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:02:04 EST

Researchers at MIT have shown that they can genetically engineer viruses to build both the positively and negatively charged ends of a lithium-ion battery.

"No Brainer" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:02:20 EST

Neuroscientists at MIT have developed a powerful new class of tools to reversibly shut down brain activity using different colors of light. When targeted to specific neurons, these tools could potentially lead to new treatments for the abnormal brain activity.

"Mess O' Predators" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:01:25 EST

A new study led by Oregan State University shows that declining populations of "apex" predators such as wolves, lions or sharks has led to a huge increase in smaller "mesopredators" that are causing major economic and ecological disruptions.

"Amoeba Cheaters" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:01:08 EST

New research out of Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine says that cheaters may prosper in the short term, but over time they seem doomed to fail, at least in the microscopic world of amoebas where natural selection favors the noble.

"Unreasonable Facsimile" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:12:02 EST

Princeton University researchers have come up with a new twist on the mysterious visual phenomenon experienced by humans known as the "uncanny valley." That twist is that monkeys experience the same exact feeling. The uncanny valley describes that disquieting feeling that occurs when viewers look at representations designed to be as human-like as possible.

"Reservoir Bots" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:12:09 EST

Michigan State University researchers have designed robots that, in the future, could be ocean-going and cooperatively track moving targets underwater. Schools of swimming robots would be able to work together to do things that one could not do alone, such as tracking large herds of animals or mapping expanses of pollution that can grow and change shape.

"Sprint Condition" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:12:58 EST

Longer toes and a unique ankle structure provide some sprinters with the burst of acceleration that separates them from other runners, according to biomechanists at Penn State University.

"Risky Business" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:11:08 EST

A new analysis of climate risk, published by researchers at MIT and elsewhere, shows that even moderate carbon-reduction policies now can substantially lower the risk of future climate change. It also shows that quick, global emissions reductions would be required in order to provide a good chance of avoiding a temperature increase of more than 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level.

"Family Roots" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:10:01 EST

Plants may not have eyes and ears, but they can recognize their siblings, and researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered how. Plants recognize family members by detecting chemical cues secreted by their roots. The finding not only sheds light on the intriguing chemical sensing system in plants, but also may have implications for agriculture and even home gardening.

"Virtual Vacation" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:10:19 EST

A new computer algorithm developed at the University of Washington uses hundreds of thousands of tourist photos to automatically reconstruct entire cities in about a day. The tool harnesses the increasingly large digital photo collections available on photo-sharing Web sites such as Flickr.

"Toddler Vision" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:10:58 EST

A new study done by researchers at the University of Massachusetts found that when a TV is on in a room both the quantity and the quality of the interactions between parents and their children drops. The researchers studied about 50 1-, 2-, and 3-year-olds, each of whom was placed with one of their parents in two half-hour sessions.

"Ardi-Facts" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:10:48 EST

An international team of scientists has for the first time thoroughly described Ardipithecus ramidus, a hominid species that lived 4.4 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia. The female skeleton, nicknamed Ardi, is 4.4 million years old, 1.2 million years older than the skeleton of Lucy.

"Bacterial Bouncers" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:10:54 EST

A team of researchers in Denmark, at the University of California, Davis, and at UC Berkeley have identified a group of plant proteins that "shut the door" on bacteria that would otherwise infect the plant's leaves. The findings provide a better understanding of plants' immune systems and will likely find application in better protecting crops and horticultural plants against diseases.

"Mind Scans" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:09:52 EST

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say you're more likely to scan a room, jumping from object to object as you search for something. In addition, the timing of these jumps appears to be determined by waves of activity in the brain that act as a clock.

"Rock the House" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:09:24 EST

Stanford engineers and others have created a structural design that lets buildings rock during earthquakes, then correct themselves when the shaking stops, confining damage to replaceable steel "fuses."

"Cloak Works" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:09:47 EST

University of Utah mathematicians have developed a brand new cloaking method that functions through wave cancellation and could someday shield submarines from sonar, planes from radar, buildings from earthquakes, and coastal structures from tsunamis. Most previous research used interior cloaking, where the cloaking device envelops the cloaked object. Researchers say this new method "is the first active, exterior cloaking" technique.

"Trained Ear" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:09:53 EST

A Northwestern University study is the first of its kind and demostrates that having musical training can help a listener distinguish between background noise and sound that the listener is meant to hear.

"Computer Personal" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:09:09 EST

Oregon State University researchers are pioneering the concept of "rich interaction" -- computers that do, in fact, want to communicate with, learn from, and get to know you better as a person.

"Bake 'n Flake" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:09:22 EST

An international team of researchers deduced that early modern humans living on the coast of the southern tip of Africa used fire to increase the quality and the effectiveness of their stone tools.

"Pilot Program" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 03:09:21 EST

University of Illinois researchers report that they have assembled a new cancer drug delivery system that, in a cell culture, is able kill tumor cells and spare healthy cells.

"Fish Futures" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:08:03 EST

A team of international scientists led a two year study into trends of overfishing and population management tools. They found that highly managed fisheries caused 10 large troubled fish stocks to grow over the course of the study.

"Random Access Memories" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:08:48 EST

Based on a study of 84 students divided into four separate experiments, University of Oregon researchers found that students with high memory storage capacities are better able to ignore distractions and stay focused on their assigned tasks.

"Making Faces" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:08:32 EST

A hyper-realistic Einstein robot at the University of California, San Diego has learned to smile and make facial expressions through a process of self-guided learning.

"Fluid Motion" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:08:29 EST

Reseachers at the University of Michigan are using sound waves to push sample fluids through tiny detectors that are only millimeters or centimeters in size.

"Diamond Delivery" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 03:08:45 EST

Using nanodiamonds, researchers at Northwestern University have deomonstrated a method for delivering and releasing curative medicines to a specific location in the body.

"Vanishing Act" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 03:08:04 EST

A team of computer scientists at the University of Washington developed a prototype system called Vanish that can place a time limit on information uploaded to the internet that causes all the information to become useless when the time is up.

"Game On" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 03:08:30 EST

Chemists at Stanford University have created new algorithms that use the computer technology behind today's video game systems to rapidly calculate and depict the structure of molecules.

"Mind Readers" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:07:56 EST

A University of Utah study shows that brain signals controlling arm movements can be detected accurately using new microelectrodes that sit on the brain but don't penetrate it.

"Finger Index" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:07:12 EST

A University of Southern California research team found that whether or not a person moves their finger from side to side quickly or slowly, they are able to maintain almost the same amount of downward force on an object. This finding calls into question theories that are over 70 years old regarding how human muscles function.

"Past Leaves" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 01:07:01 EST

Researchers from Dublin's University College have unearthed striking evidence for a sudden ancient collapse in plant biodiversity. A trove of 200 million year-old fossilized leaves point to rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

"Upping the Anti" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:06:44 EST

Two physicists at Washington State University have developed a concept for a 100% efficient, portable fuel cell that uses positrons from antimatter as its energy source.

"Wet and Wild" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 03:06:00 EST

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, are studying the physical property of repelling water known as super-hydrophobia. Through computer aided tests, researches pinpointed what allows the surface of some plants and animals to always repel water.

"Vicarious Thrill" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 03:06:49 EST

A new study out of Harvard and the University of Virginia finds that you are more likely to know what will make you happy if you ask a total stranger. Another person's experiences are often more informative than your own best guess.

"Changing Change" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:04:31 EST

The threat of climate change can still be greatly diminished if nations cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent during this century. Global temperatures would still rise, but events like sea-level rise might be partially avoided.

"Flextronics" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 02:04:48 EST

Researchers at Cornell University and the University of Melbourne, Australia, are fabricating organic semiconducting materials from a gentle solvent called Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.

"High Life" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:03:17 EST

A University of Colorado at Boulder research team has determined that gases rising from deep within the Earth, fuel the world's highest known microbial ecosystems, which were detected near the rim of the Socompa volcano in the Andes.

"Global Worming" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:03:44 EST

Two researchers at Brigham Young University are studying the impacts of global warming on Antartica's ecosystem by looking at the relationship between rising temperatures and a specialized worm that makes its own antifreeze.

"Quantum Leap" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:02:45 EST

Scientists at the Universities of Maryland and Michigan along with those at the Joint Quantum Institute have, for the first time ever, sucessfully teleported information between two atoms at a distance of one meter.

"Food Plight" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 02:02:36 EST

New research conducted by the Univeristy of Washington and Stanford University shows that a rapidly warming climate is likely to seriously damage crop production within the tropics and subtropics by the end of this century.

"Bac-Tery Powered" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 08:02:00 EST

Researchers at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities are studying a remarkable species of becteria that produces electric current when attached to a graphite electrode or other conductive surface.

"Plasticity" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 08:02:59 EST

A research team at the University of Wisconsin at Madison has uncovered what makes plastics so malleable. Molecules that make up plastics can rearrange themselves up to 1,000 times faster while under stress, giving them the ability to "flow" or bend.

"Swat Team" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 08:02:09 EST

Researchers at the University of Central Florida are teaming up with the Virtual Reality Medical Center to immerse stroke survivors in a virtual game-world that is full of flying insects with the goal of expanding the survivors' range of movement.

"Multi-Faceted" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 08:02:23 EST

A Northwestern University research team has developed a promising nanomaterial-based biomedical device that could be used to deliver chemotheraphy drugs locally to sites where cancerous tumors have been surgically removed.

"Shrinky Dinghies" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:01:23 EST

A research team at Penn State University has used chemicals to create nano-motors that "drive" nanoparticles from one location to another.

"Gear Head" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:01:43 EST

Researchers at Purdue University and The Catholic University of America have proposed a new mechanism for how the "motor" inside of a virus works in order to propel the virus from one location to another.

"Gender Render" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:01:14 EST

A professor at Brown University has determined that men's faces tend to have a more reddish skin tone, while a greenish facial skin tone is more common for women.

"Tool Time" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:12:36 EST

Georgetown University researcher studies subset of bottlenose dolphin that uses marine sponges as a tool to hunt for food.

"Ruly Bully" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 02:12:34 EST

Brain scans of young, aggressive bullies suggest they may actually enjoy seeing others in pain, according to a new University of Chicago study.

"Green Mile" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:11:02 EST

Nalini Nadkarni of Evergreen State College currently advises a team of researchers, who also happen to be inmates at Cedar Creek Corrections Center, on how best to cultivate slow-growing mosses that are reguarly stripped from Pacific Northwest forests by horticulturalists.

"Foam Corps" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:11:43 EST

An ultra-high-strength composite metal foam developed by engineers at North Carolina State University helps absorb the energy from impacts better than any known metal foam, offering applications in many safety devices.

"Ground Control" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:10:10 EST

Iowa State researchers are working on creating high tech networks of underground sensors that could be buried throughout a farmer's field to supply the farmer with constant feedback on soil moisture and other ground conditions.

"Collateral Damage" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:10:02 EST

Pine bark beetles appear to be doing more than killing large swaths of forests in the Rocky Mountains. Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, suspect that their hunger for trees is also altering local weather patterns and air quality.

"Fear Factor" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:10:48 EST

Researchers at Emory University have located a protein that might play a key role in the formation and retention of "fear" memory. The researchers removed this protein from cells and, when this was done, their test subjects were less frightened by the same things that once gave them great fear.

"Sugar Rush" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:09:05 EST

Research teams from Virent Energy Systems and the University of Wisconsin at Madison have successfully converted sugar--potentially derived from agricultural waste and non-food plants--into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and a range of other valuable chemicals.

Night Moves

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:09:28 EST

A team of biologists from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, UC San Diego and Oregon State University has identified the genes that enable plants to undergo bursts of rhythmic growth at night and allow them to compete when their leaves are shaded by other plants.

"Going, Going, Guam" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:09:58 EST

New research conducted by University of Washington biologists suggests that the invasive brown tree snake has had an indirect impact on Guam's forests due to the snake's hunting of the island's bird population to near extinction.

"Buggles" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 03:09:13 EST

MIT mathematicians have now figured out exactly how hundreds of types of insect species are able to spend much of their time under water. When these insects submerge, their rough, water repellent coats trap air next to their bodies and form a small airpocket from which to breathe.

"Tongue Drive" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:08:52 EST

Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new assistive technology, the Tongue Drive system, which could help individuals with severe disabilities lead more independent lives by allowing them to operate powered wheelchairs and computers using only their tongues.

"In Your Face" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:08:42 EST

Princeton psychology researchers have developed a computer program that allows scientists to understand better then ever before what it is about certain human faces that makes them appear either trustworthy or fearsome.

"Cran It" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:08:22 EST

A 'Crantastic Voyage' into the urinary tract to see just how cranberry juice works on infection. Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute reveal that the juice changes the properties of bacteria that cause urinary tract infection and creates an energy barrier that prevents them from adhering to cells.

"Break Water" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:08:54 EST

In a major leap that could transform solar power from a marginal energy source into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn't shine. Until now, solar power has been a daytime-only energy source, because storing extra solar energy for later use is prohibitively expensive and grossly inefficient. MIT researchers have hit upon a simple, inexpensive, highly efficient process for storing solar energy.

"Deep Voices" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:07:34 EST

New research shows that vocal communication evolved from ancient fish species.

"Combined Forces" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:07:28 EST

Cancer cells use tricks to hide from our body's immune system. One trick is to mask their presence in the body. Now, a bioengineer from Yale University has created cell-sized plastic spheres that both prep the immune system to recognize specific diseases and also increase the immune system's fighting force.

"Car Watch" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:07:28 EST

The annoying blare of an ignored car alarm may become a sound of the past if a cooperative, muteable and silent network of monitors proposed by Penn State University researchers is deployed in automobiles and in parking lots.

"Primal Urges" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:07:07 EST

A mass grave of skeletons in southwestern Germany suggests that neighboring tribes from prehistoric times were prepared to kill their male rivals to secure their women.

"Degrees of Survival" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:07:48 EST

University of Washington scientists have found that species living in the tropical centers of the world are likely to face greater peril from global warming than those species located in cooler climates, because their tolerance for temperature increases is much narrower.

"Happy Trails" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:06:59 EST

Americans grow happier as they grow older, according to social science researchers at the University of Chicago, whose 33-year study is one of the most thorough examinations of happiness ever done in America.

"Frogantuan" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:06:40 EST

A team of researchers, led by a Stony Brook University paleontologist, discovered the remains of what may be the largest frog ever to exist. The fossilized remains of this 16-inch, 10-pound ancient frog were found in Madagascar and link a group of frogs that lived 65-70 million years ago with frogs living today in South America.

"Links in E-mail Chain Letters Not Well Connected" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:06:20 EST

It was once thought that e-mail chain letters traveled to internet users in much the same way that disease spreads during an epidemic -- people receive a message and then pass it on to those they come in contact with. However, new research from Cornell University and Carleton College suggests that e-mail chain letters travel in a less direct, more diffuse pattern than previously assumed.

"Fragrant Violation" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:06:01 EST

Air pollution from power plants and automobiles is diminishing the fragrance of flowers and thereby inhibiting the ability of pollinating insects to follow scent trails to their source, a new University of Virginia study indicates.

"True Lies" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 10:06:25 EST

Two researchers at Cornell University argue that children are more likely to tell the truth while under oath in court because their minds depend heavily on remembering what actually occurred, as opposed to adults, whose minds depend heavily on the meaning or interpretation of what occurred.

"Maglev Mouse" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 10:06:16 EST

Thanks to a touch-based interface developed at Carnegie Mellon University, computers that have long been used as tools in designing and manipulating three-dimensional objects may soon provide people with a way to sense or feel the texture of those same objects.

"On A Roll" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 20 May 2008 02:05:15 EST

MIT and University of Rochester researchers report important advances toward a therapeutic device that has the potential to capture cells as they flow through the blood stream and to treat them. Among other applications, such a device could zap cancer cells spreading to other tissues.

"Blues Light Special" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 20 May 2008 02:05:44 EST

A team of behavioral scientists from four major U.S. universities found that people who feel sad and self-focused are willing to pay more money for goods than those in neutral states of feeling.

"Caf? Latte Batte" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:05:41 EST

At a time when bat populations are declining worldwide, a new University of Michigan study shows the bat's impact on ecological systems. The study reveals that bats exceed birds in their ability to devour coffee-eating insects on organic coffee farms.

"Tiny Tunes" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:05:26 EST

Researchers at the University of Rochester have made it possible to digitally reproduce music in a file nearly 1,000 times smaller than a regular MP3 file by recreating in a computer both the real world physics of a clarinet and the physics of a clarinet player.

"Gasoline Plant" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:04:51 EST

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst have made a breakthrough in the development of "green gasoline," a liquid identical to standard gasoline yet created from sustainable biomass sources like switchgrass and poplar trees.

"Tropical Hunch" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:04:19 EST

Using global databases and sophisticated computer models to analyze patterns of emerging diseases, scientists from four well-known institutions are able for the first time to plot, map and predict where future pandemics might originate.

"Companion Pieces" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 02:04:00 EST

New research at the University of Chicago finds evidence for a clever way that people manage to alleviate the pain of loneliness: They create people in their surroundings to keep them company.

"Flight Path" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:03:02 EST

A new study from the University of Montana Flight Laboratory regarding the evolution of flight suggests birds evolved by learning to use their wings to run up steep surfaces in order to avoid predators and, eventually, became strong enough for true flight.

"Vote of Confidence?" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:03:13 EST

Electronic voting technology easily passes the tests of voter confidence and satisfaction, but users still make too many mistakes, says a major new study led by the University of Maryland and conducted with the University of Rochester and the University of Michigan.

"Systematic Search" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:02:57 EST

A team of international astronomers reported the discovery of a solar system nearly 5,000 light years away containing scaled-down versions of Jupiter and Saturn, suggesting that our galaxy could conceivably contain many star systems similar to our own.

"Eye Screen" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:02:03 EST

University of Washington engineers have for the first time, combined a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights.

"Frame of Mind" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 1 Feb 2008 02:02:01 EST

A team of Carnegie Mellon University computer scientists and cognitive neuroscientists have found a way to identify where people's thoughts and perceptions of familiar objects originate in the brain by identifying the patterns of brain activity associated with the objects.

"Loving Environment" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:01:32 EST

A study at Michigan State University shows that rising divorce rates have a negative impact on the environment due to increased levels of energy and utility consumption.

"Distant Whaletive" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:01:16 EST

A research team from Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy have discovered the missing link between whales and their four-footed ancestors.

"Evolution Revolution" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:01:40 EST

Countering a common theory that evolution in modern humans has slowed to a crawl or even stopped, a new study from the University of Wisonsin-Madison examines data from an international genomics project that describes the past 40,000 years as a time of supercharged evolutionary change.

"Got Mica?" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:01:34 EST

According to a new "soup and sandwich" hypothesis, Earth's first life may have formed inside a primordial soup that was sandwiched between the many layers of the mineral mica.

"Disruptive Studies" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:12:10 EST

Two studies conducted by researchers working through the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, suggest that children entering school with behavior problems, as a rule, can keep pace with classroom learning, but persistent behavior problems can be a strong indicator of how well students adapt to the work world.

"Blood Zapper" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 5 Dec 2007 10:12:11 EST

A father-son research team working from separate laboratory benches at Arizona State University and Johns Hopkins University discover a new use for lasers -- zapping viruses out of blood.

"Reducing the Heard" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:11:52 EST

Harnessing the electrical and mechanical properties of the carbon nanotube, a team of researchers at the University of California at Berkeley has created a fully functional radio from a single fiber of that material.

"Dino Double Jeopardy" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:11:20 EST

Paleontologists at Princeton University have found new evidence suggesting that a series of monumental volcanic eruptions in India may have killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, not an asteroid impact in the Gulf of Mexico.

"Second Nature" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:11:55 EST

Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have refined the process of "printing" tissue structures with the aim of eventually building human organs.

"Choice Voice" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:11:38 EST

Single female seeking single male, must have deep voice... Yes it's true, women are often attracted to deeper male voices. But, there may be more to it than just that initial appeal of the way it sounds. A team of anthropologists from Harvard, McMaster and Florida State universities is examining the correlation between voice pitch and child-bearing success. According to the team, deeper voice pitch predicts reproductive success in male hunter-gatherers. The results point to a role for voice pitch in Darwinian fitness in humans. Who would have thought 'survival of the fittest' would have anything to do with a person's voice?

"Background Check" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:11:07 EST

An international research team led out of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a computer algorithm that can trace genetic ancestry for thousands of individuals in minutes. Unlike previous computer programs, this requires no prior knowledge of an individual's genetic background -- a simple DNA sample is all that's needed! This algorithm could also prove extremely beneficial in the medical frontier. Understanding our unique genetic makeup is a crucial step in unraveling the genetic basis for complex diseases, according to the researchers.

Word of Mouse -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:11:31 EST

The Internet offers wide appeal to people with disabilities, but many of those same people find it frustrating or impossible to use a handheld mouse. Software developed at the University of Washington provides an alternative using one of the oldest and most versatile modes of communication: the human voice.

Bait and Switch -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:11:04 EST

University of Utah biologists genetically manipulated nematode worms so the animals were attracted to other nematodes of the same-sex. This is part of a study that shows that sexual attraction is wired in the creatures' brain.

"Happy M-eel" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 02:10:35 EST

It might seem like something out of a science fiction thriller, but this bizarre finding is real. Using a high-speed digital camera and imaging equipment, researchers at UC Davis are capturing the unique feeding habits of moray eels and how they use their 'alien' jaws. After these eels grasp food with their powerful outer jaws, a second set of jaws -- large, curved teeth located in the eel's throat -- reaches forward into the mouth, seizes the food and carries it back to the esophagus for swallowing. Guess there's no chance of "the fish that got away" if it's on the menu for this eel.

"Dark Secrets" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:09:47 EST

Terrorists and extremists have infiltrated the Internet, using it to recruit and train new members, spread propaganda and plan attacks across the world. The speed, ubiquity and potential anonymity of the Internet make it an ideal communication channel for militant groups and terrorist organizations. But, scientists at the University of Arizona are shining a light on these dark corners of the Web. Their project, known as 'Dark Web,' uses cutting-edge technology and novel approaches to catalogue and analyze extremist activities online and is proving to be an invaluable tool in the global war on terror.

"Light Snack" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:09:58 EST

As consumers, we want to see the food we are buying. But, this amenity might just be at the expense of the food. Scientists at Virginia Tech have provided significant evidence that light can alter the taste, color and odor of food items, so the see-through packaging common in grocery store aisles could put our food in harm's way. But there is hope... the food scientists have started looking at alternative packaging methods and are hoping collaboration with materials scientists will reveal safer containment for our food.

"Tots with 'Tude" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 7 Sep 2007 04:09:20 EST

Defiant behavior from toddlers toward their mothers may not be a bad thing, according to researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan. They studied the mother-child interaction of 14- to 27-month-old children and found this behavior may in fact reflect an emerging autonomy and healthy confidence. The study also indicated a correlation to the mother's behavior. Children with mothers exhibiting symptoms of depression were more likely to ignore requests and less likely to exhibit defiance -- possibly at risk of becoming overly passive.

"Paper Power" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 06:08:15 EST

It might look like a simple sheet of black paper, but it's really an incredibly novel source of power. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a unique nanocomposite paper that can provide steady power output comparable to a conventional battery as well as a quick burst of high energy like a supercapacitor. This power device can withstand extreme temperatures and can be rolled, twisted, folded -- and even cut into pieces -- with no loss of mechanical integrity or efficiency. Plus, it's even environmentally safe. Talk about superpower!!

"Cell Gels" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:08:39 EST

University of Delaware scientists have developed a novel biomaterial that offers great promise for helping to repair and regenerate human tissue. Their hydrogel invention -- which has surprising antibacterial properties -- could be injected into a wound, where it rigidifies nearly on contact. This opens the door to possibly delivering a targeted payload of cells and antibiotics to repair damaged tissue -- offering a myriad of uses including regenerating healthy tissue in a cancer-ridden liver or healing a biopsy site.

"Tomato Wars" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:08:37 EST

A team of scientists from Cornell University is studying the evolutionary struggle in which plants and diseases are in a continual war to outdo each other. Plants build up a resistance to a disease, but then the pathogens quickly evolve to overcome the plants' defenses. The Cornell team is studying a battle involving a bacterium that infects tomatoes by injecting a special protein into the plant's cell to undermine the plant's defense system. More evidence of that ongoing arms race in the plant world!

"Cast System" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:07:50 EST

Turns out the builders of a nearly 5000-year old set of structures have a great deal of wisdom to offer to the current day construction industry. The mysteries surrounding the building of the Great Pyramids of Giza have perplexed scientists for centuries, but a research team out of Drexel University offers some answers. Evidence indicates that parts of the Pyramids were built using an early form of concrete. Blocks were cast--not carved--using a limestone concrete. Replicating the recipe for this ancient technique could provide a cost-effective, easily accessible, long-lasting, and much more environmentally friendly alternative to current cement building materials.

"Eye Catching" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 01:07:02 EST

Keeping an eye on the ball, or observing others passing by, isn't quite as simple as we might think. Research from the University of Pennsylvania shows that the targeting system of human vision is quite incredible. Seeing motion actually involves two distinct processes that require the brain and the eye to team up. The researchers also found that people exhibit a range of capabilities in sensing and following motion, so the visual experience for a particular event is not the same for all observers.

"Pilots of the Caribbean" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 06:07:38 EST

Until recently, there's been little understanding of the evolutionary history of tropical frogs, but a discovery out of Penn State offers some light to this "black hole." The research team found that nearly all of the 162 Caribbean frog species originated from a single species that rafted on a sea voyage from South America 30 to 50 million years ago. Surprising news... never before had a single origin been identified and it's rare that close relatives dominate such a major geographic region. These researchers are really shaking some limbs in the strife to understand the "tree of life."

"Tropical Punch" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:07:07 EST

A study from an international team of scientists sheds some light on one of the biggest mysteries in climate science. What happens to the 8 billion tons of carbon emissions resulting from motor vehicles, factories, etc. each year? Earlier estimates indicated that forests in the northern regions were responsible for a good portion of the carbon uptake. New information from aircraft samples reveals those numbers to be much lower, but it appears that forests in the tropical regions are doing significantly more than expected to offset the industrial emissions. Not exactly a K.O. (or should we say CO) of global warming, but certainly one round for the tropics in this fight.

"Fly-ing Bricks" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:06:33 EST

Seems everything's going green these days -- even bricks! National Science Foundation grantee Henry Liu is developing bricks made from fly ash (a residue from coal-fired power plants). The new brick on the block holds promise for great ecological benefits over its clay counterpart. Liu says manufacturing of these "green" bricks conserves energy, costs less, and doesn't contribute to air pollution or global warming... plus, it puts to use some of that waste heap (piling up to nearly 70 million tons each year!). Additional safety testing of the material and preparing it for the market is underway. Perhaps soon... "green" house could have a whole new meaning.

"Hot Sounds" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:06:40 EST

Research is unlocking secrets of the Sun's interior, which has been a mystery for decades. Scientists have long wondered why the Sun's chromosphere (a.k.a., 'ring of fire') is much hotter than the surface of the star. A recent discovery reveals that sound waves -- vibrations from the Sun's interior -- are escaping through magnetic cracks to create fountains of hot gas that shape and power the 'ring.' Another piece in solving the puzzle of the 'ring' which is connected to our climate and the ozone layer.

"Reef Savers" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 7 Jun 2007 06:06:09 EST

The establishment of marine reserves is successful in protecting fish and other marine life from overfishing, but now research from the University of Exeter shows the benefit is even greater than that. The reserves could also help coral reefs to survive... because algae and seaweed, which are usually detrimental to coral, are controlled by grazing parrotfish. Kind of a reversal of roles in the marine world -- coral reefs, which have supported thousands of fish and other marine species for millions of years, are now getting a helping "hand" from fish.

"Sun Spots" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 1 Jun 2007 05:06:07 EST

Scientists at Rice University have revealed a breakthrough method for producing molecular specks of semiconductors called quantum dots. This discovery could clear the way for better, cheaper solar energy panels. Although scientists have studied the great power of these tiny dots for over a decade, they struggled with successfully producing the most efficient type -- tetrapods. But the new "recipe" from Rice scientists is really cooking up great success rates in producing this four-legged variety.

"Bug Zappers" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 25 May 2007 06:05:53 EST

Fighting infection is an on-going battle that keeps picking up speed. Bacteria can adapt to new drugs very quickly, so the key is try and stay several steps ahead of the bugs -- exactly what researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are aiming to do. They have discovered a clever method to test large numbers of molecules quickly and efficiently, offering hope for the discovery of new classes of antibiotics. This is one step forward on the long road to drug development.

"Mini-Meds" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 18 May 2007 03:05:52 EST

Tiny, biodegradable particles could hold answers for improved medicine delivery and offer help for some of our biggest health problems. A Princeton University-led research team has invented an innovative technique to mix drugs and the materials that encapsulate them into nanoparticles that can deliver medicine deep into the lungs or infiltrate cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone. Size is the key for these tiny messengers.

"Shake Absorbers" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 7 May 2007 09:05:05 EST

Everything is going wireless these days -- even the battle to lessen earthquake damage. An engineer from Washington University has demonstrated a wireless technology that could be used for structural health monitoring and protection during seismic movement. Wireless sensors would be attached to a building so they could transmit data to a computer which would in turn enable "shock absorbers" to restrain the building from swaying during a quake.

"Colonoscop-ease" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 3 May 2007 12:05:33 EST

Everyone cringes at the dreaded colonoscopy... so much so, that only a very small percentage of people who should get this procedure, actually do. Researchers at Northwestern University are working on a novel alternative that uses optical technology to screen the base of the colon for precancerous changes. The thought is that one day, this much less invasive procedure could be done by primary care physicians and could replace the traditional colonscopy for many people.

"Get the Picture" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 06:04:28 EST

Engineers out of UC San Diego are developing a system that could change the "look" of Internet search engines. Their approach involves training the system to analyze and recognize the content within an image. The system uses a clever image indexing technique that offers a significant increase in accuracy and efficiency over typical image searches that rely on the text associated with an image. Before too long, it could be... "Mission Possible" in easily finding that exact image you want.

"See-Through Circuit" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:04:43 EST

We've all seen automobile GPS displays. But can you imagine having one literally right before your eyes... in the windshield? Thanks to a breakthrough in the rapidly evolving field of transparent electronics, we might just realize possibilities like this someday soon. Researchers out of Oregon State University have developed the world's first completely transparent integrated circuit, and the many uses are plain to see. Or maybe they're not.

"Turbulent Times" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 05:04:06 EST

Turbulence is important in virtually all phenomena involving fluid flow, but completely describing it remains one of physics' major unsolved problems. MIT researchers have provided some clarity to this messy complexity. The researchers report that they have visualized for the first time a convoluted tangle underlying turbulence. Their work may ultimately help engineers design better planes, cars, submarines, and engines.

"Micro Power" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:04:58 EST

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology developed a technique for powering nano-scale devices without the need for bulky sources such as batteries. The devices contain tiny wires that convert simple motion (e.g., vibration, bending) into electricity. This discovery could one day be perfect for implantable medical devices or powering portable devices by the movement of their users and a variety of other applications.

"Ear-volution" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:04:29 EST

A recent discovery in China offers rare insight into mammals' evolutionary process, offering clues that paleontologists and evolutionary biologists have sought for more than a century. An international team of paleontolgists discovered a beautifully preserved fossil of a new species of mammal that lived 125 million years ago. The tiny (only about 5 inches long!) animal offers rare insight into the evolution of one of the most important features for all modern mammals -- the middle ear.

"Bond, Bacterial Bond" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 03:03:43 EST

A recent discovery out of the University of California, Davis might one day help to minimize the devastation of major earthquakes. Researchers have developed a process to convert loose, sandy soil into rock by using injections of cultures from a natural bacterium. So far, their process has only been tested in the lab, but they are working on scaling it up to a practical size. Then, it could be used to solidify the ground beneath buildings and steady them in the face of quakes.

"Matrix: Decoded" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:03:34 EST

It's so complex it takes a numerical matrix of more than 400,000 rows and columns to describe it. After four years, 77 hours of supercomputer time and calculation of 200 billion numbers, 18 mathematicians have been able to map E8--a 57-dimensional object that might eventually help explain the structure of the universe.

"X-treme X-rays" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 01:03:00 EST

A team of researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder has developed a new technique to generate laser-like X-ray beams, removing a major obstacle in the decades-long quest to build a tabletop X-ray laser. Their discovery might make it possible to improve X-ray imaging resolution by a thousand times, requiring much smaller equipment, with impacts in medicine, biology and nanotechnology.

"Tiny Rumbles" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 04:03:56 EST

Stanford and Tokyo scientists have discovered that tiny, "silent" earthquakes might hold the key to forecasting larger, catastrophic quakes. Their work offers new insight into using different types of seismic activity to monitor regions prone to giant quakes.

"Corn-tank-erous" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 06:03:16 EST

Researchers developed a record-breaking methane storage system using corncob waste to create carbon "sponges" capable of storing natural gas at an unprecedented density. This breakthrough from Kansas City, Mo., is a significant step forward in the nationwide effort to enable automobiles to run on methane -- a cleaner-burning and domestically-produced alternative to gasoline.

"Risk Factory" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 7 Mar 2007 01:03:06 EST

UCLA psychologists present the first neuroscience research comparing how our brains evaluate the possibility of gaining versus losing when making risky decisions. In their study, the researchers were able to predict people's tolerance to risk by analyzing their brain patterns. They found for the first time that the neural response to potential losses is larger than the neural response to potential gains.

"Gland Larceny" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 04:02:36 EST

Most snakes are born with poisonous bites they use to ward off predators. But what's a non-poisonous snake to do? Researchers from Old Dominion University have identified some clever snakes that are relying on their diets for protection. They are "recycling" poison obtained from their diet of toxic frogs.

"Hydrogen-eration" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 2 Feb 2007 05:02:58 EST

When Princeton University engineers want to increase the power output of their new fuel cell, they just give it a little more gas -- hydrogen gas, to be exact. They have developed a new mechanism to efficiently control hydrogen fuel cell power -- a breakthrough that could be practical for such small machines as lawnmowers and chainsaws.

"Tumor Tracker" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 1 Feb 2007 02:02:40 EST

Engineers at Purdue University created a tiny wireless device that can be implanted in a tumor to allow doctors to pinpoint its exact position to more effectively administer radiation treatments. Their device will be like a capsule placed into a tumor with a needle. It requires no batteries--it will be activated with electrical coils placed next to the body. A radiation dosimeter and tracking device will be contained in the same capsule.

"Robo Cup" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:01:14 EST

Putting her research into practice, the head of Carnegie Mellon's CORAL (Cooperate, Observe, Reason, Act, and Learn) lab founded a robot soccer dynasty. Manuella Veloso's research on artificial intelligence focused on duplicating the success with which humans plan, learn, and execute tasks. Driven by its multi-robot aspect, she and her students developed a team for RoboCup -- an international robot soccer project to foster advances in artificial intelligence and intelligent robotics research.

"Self Help Group" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:01:05 EST

Social psychologists from the University of California, Santa Barbara, are studying cultural differences that affect how people seek support from their social networks. Contrary to popular thought, people from collectivistic cultures do not often seek help from one another. Current research suggests that cultures such as Asian Americans are more concerned with the negative implications of asking for help. They fear any effort to bring attention to personal problems may undermine the harmony of the group.

"About Face" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:01:57 EST

Researchers in Southern California identified specific regions of the brain that are associated with the recognition of identity, gender and ethnicity in faces. They found evidence of neurons that are tuned to these cues in an area of the brain not previously thought to be responsible for face processing. Their findings help in the understanding of how face categorization develops and have some interesting implications for conditions like autism spectrum disorders.

"Nut Case" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:01:49 EST

A study out of the University of Michigan is tracking the battle between blue spruce trees and red squirrels -- a struggle that has become a survival of the wittiest. Earlier research documented the "swamp and starve" strategy of trees, in which they produce an overabundance of cones (more than the squirrels can harvest) every few years and then produce very few cones in the between years. But, in a remarkable counter strike, it seems the squirrels have figured out a clever way around the trees' maneuver -- a population boom that coincides with the seed boom!

"Think Small" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:01:42 EST

Working with platinum nanowires 100 times thinner than a human hair, a team of U.S. and Japanese researchers demonstrated a technique that may one day allow doctors to monitor individual brain cells and perhaps provide new treatments for neurological diseases such as Parkinson's. The researchers used blood vessels as conduits to guide the wires, and explained that these nanowires could be threaded through the circulatory system to any point in the body without blocking the normal flow of blood.

"The Smell of Money" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:01:35 EST

Most of us are familiar with the smell from a handful of coins, or perhaps a sweaty dumbbell or metal pipe. Turns out that so-called "metallic" odor is actually not from the metal object itself. Researchers from Virginia Tech found that the smell is really a body odor produced as a reaction of metal touching the skin.

"Power Play" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 4 Jan 2007 06:01:11 EST

Inspired by an uncharged cell phone in the middle of the night, an MIT researcher thought "wouldn't it be great if this thing charged itself?" So, he looked to known physics principles to uncover new ways to transmit energy. He and his colleagues did find support in the laws of physics and are looking into the future of wireless recharging, using non-radiative energy tranfer.

"Storm Warming" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 03:12:48 EST

New study finds that human activities are boosting ocean temperatures and likely increasing hurricane intensity. Rising ocean temperatures in key hurricane breeding grounds of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are due primarily to human-caused increases in greenhouse gas concentrations. The rising temperatures are not the sole determinant of hurricane intensity, but they are likely to be one of the most significant influences.

"Summer Retreat" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:12:03 EST

New research from the National Center for Atmospheric Research indicates that the recent retreat of Arctic sea ice is likely to accelerate so rapidly that the Arctic Ocean could become nearly devoid of ice during the summer over the next few decades. Researchers also concluded that different rates of greenhouse gas emissions affect the probability of abrupt ice loss, noting that society can still take steps to minimize the impacts on Arctic ice.

Fat Burning on the 'fly

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 03:12:55 EST

Insects may be useful models to understand more about metabolic dysfunction in humans. Penn State researchers found that parasite-infected dragonflies suffer the same metabolic disorders that lead to obesity and diabetes in humans. Their discovery links metabolic disease to a supposedly harmless parasite living inside the dragonfly and suggests the study of microbes found in human intestines may hold clues to the root causes of human metabolic dysfunction.

"Special Delivery DNA" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 7 Dec 2006 04:12:22 EST

Cornell researchers used synthetic DNA to develop inexpensive hydrogels that offer great control for drug delivery and hold promise for tissue engineering and repair. These biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogels can be easily formed into any desired shape for biomedical applications.

"Dino Dining" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 5 Dec 2006 04:12:46 EST

Findings of palentologists from the American Museum of Natural History are forcing a revision of popular beliefs on dinosaur behavior. After re-examining fossils, they overturned a 1950s claim that theropod dinosaurs were cannibals that ate juveniles of their own kind. They found that the evidence of juvenile remains once thought to be inside the adult was really just an illusion.

"Gas-tronomical" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 5 Dec 2006 04:12:37 EST

Could gas conservation be another reason to diet? Maybe so, according to recent findings from researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Virginia Commonwealth University. As Americans' waistlines have expanded over the past few decades, so has their gas consumption and costs -- a direct result of extra weight in vehicles causing an extra drain on fuel economy.

"Dried Lice" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:11:06 EST

University of Utah biologists invented a hairdryer-like device -- the "LouseBuster" -- to rid children of head lice infestations. Their "weapon" effectively eradicates infestations with a single 30-minute treatment that requires no chemicals but instead uses dry, hot air to exterminate the eggs and kills enough lice to prevent them from reproducing.

"Dimmer Switch" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:11:54 EST

Researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, sent a fleet of unmanned aerial drones through the pollution-filled skies over the Indian Ocean and achieved an important milestone in tracking pollutants responsible for dimming Earth's atmosphere. Based on the project's success, more drones will be used to document how humans contribute to "global dimming" and to help provide an early warning system for potential environmental disasters.

"Forecast: Extreme" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 03:11:57 EST

Much of the world could face longer heat waves, more intense precipitation, and other weather extremes by the end of the century, say NCAR scientists and colleagues, based on a new study using the world's most advanced climate models. The good news is... we may be able to recast this dismal weather outlook by lowering the output of greenhouse gases.

"Traffic Tracker" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 04:11:49 EST

New technology uses cell phone positioning to identify traffic speed and congestion. Engineers from IntelliOne Technologies have developed a system that converts ordinary cell-phone signaling data to live roadway information for emergency responders and other vehicles to avoid traffic jams.

"Moon Ice on the Rocks" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 6 Nov 2006 05:11:18 EST

No ice at the poles... could it be true? Yes, if you're talking about the moon. Despite earlier thoughts of plentiful ice at the lunar poles, astronomers from Cornell and the Smithsonian Institution, using high-resolution radar-mapping techniques, found no evidence of ice deposits on the moon.

"Gray Matters" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 2 Nov 2006 07:11:21 EST

Multi-tasking... we all do it, but is it a good idea? Researchers at UCLA say not if you're trying to learn something new that you hope to remember. Psychologists report that multi-tasking affects the brain's learning systems, so we don't learn as well when distracted.

"Rethinking Extinction" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 04:10:25 EST

The famed Chicxulub meteor alone could not have caused the mass extinction of dinosaurs and their contemporaries, according to a Princeton University paleontologist and her collaborators. They found evidence that multiple meteor impacts, gigantic volcanic eruptions, and climate changes culminated in the end of the Cretaceous Period.

"Vapor Lock" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 05:10:52 EST

In the next few years, you might be able to plan those outdoor events with certainty of good weather. Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research are testing an observing strategy that has the potential to completely transform the accuracy of short-term weather forecasts, offering more precise forecasts of rainfall.

"Uranium Subterranean" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 04:10:59 EST

Can you imagine living on a diet of radiated water? Researchers have found a community of bacteria, nearly two miles below Earth's surface, doing just that. This discovery fuels optimism that life exists in other deep subsurface environments... perhaps beneath the permafrost on Mars!

"Unique Beak" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:10:59 EST

Researchers at University of California, San Diego have found the secret to the toucan beak's lightweight strength and hope it could inspire the design of ultra-light aircraft and vehicle components.

"Metal Health" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 5 Oct 2006 07:10:41 EST

Researchers studying supplies of copper, zinc and other metals have determined that these finite resources, even if recycled, may not meet the future demands of the global population.

"Face Time" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 3 Oct 2006 10:10:31 EST

We may be taught not to judge a book by its cover, but when we see a new face, our brains decide whether a person is attractive and trustworthy within a tenth of a second, according to recent Princeton University research.

"Garbage to Gas" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 02:09:55 EST

Could you fire up the family car on a gallon of sawdust? Or make a high-tech kayak out of leftover pine scrap? The answer may soon be yes, according to University of Maine scientists working to convert waste from the paper industry into ethanol for fuel and polymers for plastics.

"Tilt-O-World" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 02:09:39 EST

Imagine a shift in the Earth so profound that it could force our entire planet to spin on its side after a few million years, tilting it so far that Alaska would sit at the equator. Princeton scientists have now provided the first compelling evidence that this kind of major shift may have happened in our world's distant past.

"Paddle Bots" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 01:09:07 EST

More isn't always better. Just ask Madeleine, a joystick-controlled underwater robot built to study the way aquatic animals swim. Like them, she has four flippers. But scientists were surprised to learn that she moved faster and more efficiently when using only two.

"A Little Counter Intelligence" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 01:09:58 EST

Duke University researchers have found evidence that babies have an abstract numerical sense even before they learn to talk. The study could shed light on how infants first grasp the concept of number.

"HIAPER-Active" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 12:09:20 EST

HIAPER, the nation's most advanced research aircraft has taken flight on its first science mission, flying over treacherous whirlwinds, known as rotors, as they form above the California Sierra Nevada range. Rotors form on the lee side of high, steep mountains and have contributed to a number of aircraft accidents, but scientists know little about their structure and evolution. Now, the high-altitude, long-range capabilities of HIAPER make possible the study of the origin and evolution of rotors, potentially leading to safer flying.

"Thermal Outerwear" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:09:09 EST

The sun bathes the planet in energy free of charge, yet few systems can take advantage of that source for both heating and cooling. But engineers at Rensselaer Polytech are developing a green, thin film technology that adheres both solar cells and heat pumps onto surfaces, ultimately turning walls, windows--and maybe even soda bottles into climate control systems. Don't drink soda? Then, how about a mug that keeps tea or coffee hot?

"Bat Signal" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 07:09:57 EST

A new University of Maryland study finds that echolocating bats use a strategy to track and catch erratically moving insects that is much like the system used by some guided missles to intercept evasive targets and is different from the way humans and some animals track moving objects. The researchers speculate that evolutionary pressure to catch flying insects as quickly as possible may have pushed the bat to adopt its fast food technique.

"Pronounced Profits" -- The Discovery Files

Fri, 8 Sep 2006 06:09:36 EST

According to a study by Princeton University psychologists, the ease of pronouncing the name of a company and its stock ticker symbol has a bearing on how well that stock performs in the days just after its initial public offering. The study of initial public offerings on two major American stock exchanges shows that people are more likely to purchase newly offered stocks that have easily pronounced names and ticker symbols than those that do not.

"Tacky Bacteria" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 5 Sep 2006 12:09:12 EST

It may be the strongest natural adhesive known to science. In fact, just a bit of it could suspend an elephant. It's the glue of one species of aquatic bacteria, and scientists and engineers are looking for a way to mass produce it.

"Sounds of Silence" -- The Discovery Files

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:08:49 EST

If you want to hear rare Chinese frogs croak, speaking the language won't necessarily help. These frogs can make high-pitched sounds out of human hearing range. Biologists at the University of Illinois have found a particular frog species that has the same ultrasonic communication ability as bats, whales and dolphins. And there may be good reason why Nature has given these critters their own "Frogs 'N Family" plan.

"Captive Evidence" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:08:44 EST

Information gleaned from teeth excavated from a Mexican graveyard suggests Europeans brought African slaves to the New World much earlier than history books tell us. By measuring the amount of strontium in the teeth and comparing it with strontium values around the world, researchers have been able to determine the teeth's age and origin. It's the earliest physical evidence of slave trade in the New World.

"Alternate Internet" -- The Discovery Files

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 06:08:18 EST

Hackers beware! There's a new cyber universe out there--a small scale version of the Internet. It acts like the real thing, but it's not a playground for hackers. It's a test bed for software makers and security providers to find solutions that will thwart any real cyber attackers.

"The Nose Knows" -- The Discovery Files

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 07:08:32 EST

Bloodhounds, take notice! Thanks to researchers at Purdue University, law enforcement officers and forensic pathologists may soon have a new working tool to sniff out trouble--a device they can take to the scene for instant identification. Today's mass spectrometers are much too large to take into the field, and analysis takes several hours. The portable mass spectrometer being developed fits in a backpack and analyzes unknown substances immediately. A big sniffer in a little package!

"True Blue Lizards" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 7 Aug 2006 07:08:38 EST

In nature, putting the other guy first seems contradictory to an animal's goals of survival and passing on its genes, so researchers have been trying to understand why the blue side-blotched lizard will step forward to battle an intruding aggressor, even though it could mean sacrificing its own chances to successfully mate. Now scientists have reported the first direct evidence that cooperative behavior in side-blotched male lizards arises from their genes. The findings, published in the May 9 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by University of California--Santa Cruz's Barry Sinervo and colleagues, represent some 20 years of research into the altruistic or "self-sacrificing" behavior.

"Virtual Virus" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 7 Aug 2006 07:08:03 EST

Researchers at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois have put their high-powered supercomputers to work to complete the first simulation of a life form all the way down to its individual atoms, leading the way to a better understanding of all viral structures.

"Fossil Find" -- The Discovery Files

Mon, 7 Aug 2006 07:08:35 EST

Far above the Arctic Circle, paleontologists have discovered a new fossil species that bridges the evolutionary gap between land and sea animals--an animal that is both fish and tetrapod. The skeleton indicates that the animal could support its body under the force of gravity, whether in very shallow water or on land.