Science & Technology - Aug 7, 2012 13:18 - 0 Comments

Eye test detects sexual orientation

CORNELL (US) — Pupil dilation reveals where a person’s sexual response falls on the spectrum from gay to straight. (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 7, 2012 11:02 - 0 Comments

Low oxygen gets corn sex cells turned on

STANFORD (US) — Despite agriculture’s dependence on plant reproduction, scientists have just solved a basic mystery: where do plant sex cells come from? (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 6, 2012 15:46 - 0 Comments

Scientists hear ‘scream’ as black hole kills star

U. MICHIGAN (US) — For the first time, astrophysicists have detected the oscillating signal that heralds the last gasps of a star falling victim to a previously dormant supermassive black hole. (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 6, 2012 14:31 - 0 Comments

Beetles eavesdrop on ant pheromone chatter

U. MICHIGAN (US) — Predatory beetles can detect the unique alarm signal released by ants being attacked by parasitic flies, and use what they overhear to pick safe egg-laying sites on coffee bushes. (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 3, 2012 15:36 - 0 Comments

Tiny machines: Team ‘sees’ forces in living cells

STANFORD (US) — Researchers were able to measure—and to literally see—the mechanical forces at play between and within living cells. (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 2, 2012 10:57 - 1 Comment

Slower fruit fly sperm may win the race

SYRACUSE U. (US) — It’s assumed that faster sperm have an edge in the race to fertilize the egg—but slower swimmers may have an advantage over their faster rivals. (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 2, 2012 8:39 - 1 Comment

‘Breathing’ battery saves energy for rainy day

USC (US) — A new low-cost, “air-breathing” battery has the capacity to store between eight and 24 hours’ worth of energy. (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 1, 2012 17:18 - 0 Comments

‘Fossil’ virus lurks in fruit fly genes

U. BUFFALO (US) — The discovery of virus-like genes in fruit fly DNA could help scientists determine whether animals hijack viral genes as an anti-viral defense. (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 1, 2012 10:13 - 0 Comments

Burst of light toggles cell metabolism

YALE (US) — With super-quick flashes of blue light, scientists toggled cell functions back and forth, which changed the cells’ mobility and shape. (more…)

Science & Technology - Aug 1, 2012 9:16 - 6 Comments

5 years after I-35 collapse, big leap in bridge sensors

U. MARYLAND (US) — Five years after the deadly I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, advances in sensors are making warning systems more affordable and practical. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jul 31, 2012 14:28 - 9 Comments

Countdown to Curiosity’s 7 minutes of terror

CALTECH (US) — NASA’s rover Curiosity is expected to touch down on Mars at 10:31 p.m. (PDT) on Sunday, August 5. Here are some facts about the landing and mission. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jul 31, 2012 14:27 - 0 Comments

Scientists ‘read’ the minds of monkeys

WASHINGTON U. – ST. LOUIS (US) — By looking at neuron activity, scientists have been able to effectively read monkeys’ minds as they plan to solve a problem. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jul 31, 2012 10:05 - 0 Comments

To beat ‘wiretapping’ parasite, silence RNA

UC DAVIS (US) — By attacking the spot where a parasitic vine taps into its host, plant biologists have shown how they can make plants, particularly food crops, resistant. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jul 31, 2012 8:26 - 0 Comments

Low-cost carbon capture gets X-rayed

U. LEEDS (UK) — Researchers are using powerful X-rays to improve a promising, low-cost technique for capturing carbon dioxide. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jul 30, 2012 13:56 - 18 Comments

Solar cell breaks world record for efficiency

U. TORONTO (CAN) — Engineers have used inexpensive materials to create a solar cell certified at a world-record 7.0 percent efficiency. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jul 30, 2012 13:08 - 0 Comments

For fast electronics, a vacuum tube comeback

U. PITTSBURGH (US) — For ever-faster electronics, researchers are reconsidering an old school option: the vacuum as a medium for electronic transport. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jul 30, 2012 12:01 - 1 Comment

Mega avalanches on Saturn moon puzzle scientists

WASHINGTON U. – ST. LOUIS (US) — Giant icy avalanches on Saturn’s moon Iapetus fall from great heights. The ice reaches high speeds—and then something odd happens. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jul 30, 2012 11:25 - 2 Comments

Can one memory change the way we think?

NYU (US) — The simple act of recognizing a face as you walk down the street could change the way you process new information, a new study finds. (more…)

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