Sunlight Solution To Water Shortages
Water shortages could drop now that new technology combined with sunlight can make ocean water safe to drink in minutes.
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Our Diverse Scientific Superstars
From Computer Science to Engineering, women continue making waves with their accomplishments. meet more diverse scientific superstars.
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Are Hydropower Dams the Future of Energy?
By Emily Folk @EmilySFolk Growing concerns about fossil fuels—especially their potential contributions to pollution and global warming—have individuals and governments around the globe looking for alternative sources of power. Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of electricity, already responsible for generating around 52 percent of the United States’ renewable electricity generation according to the National Hydropower Association. Hydroelectric dams are seen as some of the best options available. However, there are challenges that hydropower will need to overcome—otherwise, they may prevent the energy source’s widespread adoption. Current state of…
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The Simple Machines in Your Life
Simple machines allow us to do more work with less effort. In this episode, Sophie explains what simple machines are and how we use them to make our lives easier every day. Get to know your friendly neighborhood inclined plane, lever, wedge, and a head of lettuce and join Sophie in a fun science experiment. Fun with simple machines With a few items from around the house, you can join Sophie in a fun science experiment. Here at Science Connected, we love inexpensive kitchen science experiments! To do Sophie’s experiment…
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Bioelectronic “Nose” Sniffs Out Rotten Food
Does that food smell rotten? Researchers have developed a way to detect rotten food odors that are too faint for the human nose. By Emily Rhode One whiff of spoiled meat is usually enough to let us know that we should definitely not eat it. But what about those leftovers that have been in the refrigerator for a few days and still smell ok? We could throw them away out of an abundance of caution, but that becomes an expensive and wasteful practice. Or we could cross our fingers and…
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Geometry of Consciousness: Multi-dimensional Math Trip
A group of scientists think they can build such a “consciousness meter” using complex mathematics: the geometry of consciousness.
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New Futuristic Fabrics to Keep Cool
By Katherine Lindemann Inspired by lithium batteries and kitchen plastic wrap, engineers at Stanford University have developed a plastic material that helps the body radiate heat, lowering skin temperature and cooling the wearer. To be suitable for clothing, the material is flexible and—importantly—opaque. The teams are now working on a woven version of the textile. Po-Chun Hsu contributed to the research as a member of the Yi Cui research group. We asked him to tell us more. ResearchGate: Where did the idea for this material come from? Po-Chun Hsu: The…
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Moth Eyes Inspire Graphene-Based Smart Tech
Look into the eyes of moths and see the future. The future of smart gadgets, that is. Moths’ eyes are the latest inspiration for thin solar material. Researchers from the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute say that new, ultra-thin, patterned graphene sheets will be essential in designing “smart wallpaper” and other future technologies. Graphene is traditionally an excellent electronic material, as the graphene-based microphone demonstrates, but it is inefficient for optical applications. It usually absorbs only 2 or 3 percent of the light that lands on it. That’s not…
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Conductive Concrete May End Flight Delays
By Emily Rhode @riseandsci Every year, thousands of flights are delayed and thousands of car accidents happen due to snowstorms and icy road conditions. Millions of dollars are spent each year plowing and de-icing runways, tarmacs, roadways, and bridges. Salt and plowing cause damage to roadways and waterways, and shoveling heavy snow causes injuries and deaths. Flight Delays (and Snow Days) Could be Things of the Past, Thanks to Science The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is very interested in a special type of conductive concrete made by researchers at the…
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Why Spiderman Can’t Exist, but a Gecko Can
Want to climb walls like Spiderman or a gecko? Not today, but maybe some day. There is a size limit on who or what can stick to walls.
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