Pacific Northwest National Laboratory witnessed the birth of atmospheric ice clouds in the laboratory

Posted on December 21, 2016December 21, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Scientists have witnessed the birth of atmospheric ice clouds, creating ice cloud crystals in the laboratory and then taking images of the process through a microscope, essentially documenting the very first steps of cloud formation. The team witnessed a process known as ice nucleation in unprecedented detail, taking time-lapse movies of the first few seconds when a particle attracts water vapor, forming ice crystals that become the core of icy cirrus clouds — the high, wispy clouds that act ...

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine create avatars in a virtual clinic to help diagnostic procedures

Posted on December 21, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Medical students and researchers at Nova Southeastern University are stepping into the virtual world to better serve patients. Using Second Life®, students at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine create avatars that fly into a virtual clinic where students can practice communication skills and diagnostic procedures on virtual world patients. The program allows students to practice in a relaxed environment where they are not afraid to make mistakes. Researchers at NSU...

Max Planck Germany Research on, ‘What would happen if an electric current no longer flowed, but trickled instead?

Posted on December 21, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

What would happen if an electric current no longer flowed, but trickled instead? This was the question investigated by researchers working with Christian Ast at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research. Their investigation involved cooling their scanning tunnelling microscope down to a fifteen thousandth of a degree above absolute zero. At these extremely low temperatures, the electrons reveal their quantum nature. The electric current is therefore a granular medium, consisting of...

‘Collabody’ a new type of medicine that is able to identify specific antigens in the body and only apply to it.

Posted on December 21, 2016December 21, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Collabody™ is a unique fusion protein design platform which utilizes a short triplex-forming collagen-like peptide (about 40 amino acids in length) as a scaffold protein binder for fusing with antibody fragments, hormones, cytokines, lymphokines, growth factors, lectins, enzymes, soluble receptor fragments and chemo agents. The autoimmune system in our body is vital for the protection against invading viruses and bacteria germs. Anti-CD3 Collabody™ The malfunctioning of thi...

Harvard Scientists Train Computer to Distinguish Scents

Posted on October 20, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

A team of Harvard scientists led by Venkatesh Murthy, professor of molecular and cellular biology, tackled a seemingly complex phenomenon in their investigation: how mice can distinguish scents from one another. Using a machine-learning algorithm, Murthy and his colleagues “trained” a computer to recognize the neural patterns linked to various scents, and to identify specific odors in a mixture of smells. The study, published in the journal Neuron, focused on creating an algorithm for a compu...

Reprogramming Cancer Cells to Undergo Cellular Death

Posted on October 20, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer. New treatments tend to be in high demand because current treatment options offer limited efficacy and can be ineffective in up to 70% of patients, in part due to genetic variation, rendering personalized medicine to be increasingly important. Argonaut Therapeutics plans to reboot the cancer cell so that it undergoes the body’s natural cell death process, known as apoptosis. Essentially, their therapies will target a “switch” that p...

Unprecedented Ultraviolet View of Mars Obtained

Posted on October 19, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

A new development in the MAVEN mission has shown an incredibly detailed ultraviolet glow from the Martian atmosphere. The pictures display dynamic behavior which was previously invisible, and shed light on how winds circulate at high altitudes. Dayside UV images display shifts in ozone amounts over various seasons and clouds which form over Martin volcanoes. According to Nick Schneider of the Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder who said in a NASA...

Smart Cube: A Novel Bluetooth Enabled Locking System

Posted on October 19, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Do you ever wish you had a smart lock that would protect your belongings in any cabinet, drawer, or closet? Smart Cube is just that—it turns your phone, or rather the Smart Armor App, into a key and can allow a user to keep everything from harmful products (such as kitchen chemicals and medication) to personal documents, secure. Smart Cube is targeted towards a wide audience, from parents with babies who wish to protect their children from potentially harmful products, to business owners to r...

NASA Aims to Sequence DNA in Space

Posted on September 28, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

NASA is conducting a lot of research in space, but interestingly enough, now they’re focusing on sequencing an integral biological molecule: DNA. Ever since the first strands of DNA were sequenced in the 1970s, researchers understood the profound significance of analyzing genetics for a wide range of medical and biological research. DNA sequencing at large can be used to identify forms of life, study organism evolution and relation, pinpoint genetic diseases in individuals and assist in crim...

Lucy: The Smart Mirror that Redirects Sunlight Into Your Home

Posted on September 28, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Lucy is the first device of its kind: It can illuminate your home with real sunlight, by finding and redirecting natural light for you. Most individuals spend over 90% of their lives inside, with limited exposure to natural light. Winters can lead to seasonal depression, and at large, last a long time, preventing us from receiving the Vitamin D and serotonin boosts associated with natural light. Further still, from an aesthetic standpoint, interior designers suggest decorating tricks to br...

The Purple Pillow: Innovating the way we rest

Posted on September 27, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Traditional pillows, no matter the type, can cause problems for users. They are lumpy, flat, hot, and most importantly, lack proper neck support. The Purple Pillow aims to change that. Pillows currently used can be saggy and weak, have a harsh angle, and other issues. Interestingly enough, there are a lot of aspects that one must take into consideration in designing a pillow. Shoulders need strain relief while the neck needs gentle, yet firm support. Breathability is also an important fac...

Water Vapor Plumes May be Present on Europa

Posted on September 27, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of what may be water vapor plumes erupting off the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. Europa’s ocean might be able to harbor life in the solar system, and the plumes, should they exist, could provide scientists a way to understand and sample Europa’s subsurface. The plumes themselves are estimated to rise about 125 miles (200 kilometers) before, presumably, raining material back down onto Europa's surface. Europa’s ocea...

ISOBAR: The Cooling System that Could Revolutionize Vaccine Delivery

Posted on September 15, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

ISOBAR is a portable, cooling device that aims to provide safe and effective vaccine transportation in developing countries. The UK winner of the 2016 James Dyson Award, the device has the ability to keep vaccines cold for up to six days and can be recharged easily on the go in a little over an hour. Limited access to electricity and healthcare centers proves to be a difficult obstacle when transporting vaccines in rural areas. Further still, current vaccine programs in developing countrie...

Ekster: The Smart Wallet that Provides Instant Card Access

Posted on September 14, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

acking. The slim, leather wallets offer several features, which in combination, help to push the boundaries of innovating in their industry. Easy card access is provided to a user by way of button which uses a spring-loaded mechanism. A friction mechanism is designed to prevent the cards from falling out. Cards are kept secure via a RFID/NFC blocking cardholder that protects your cards from wireless skimming and private data theft. At large, the wallet itself is part of a two-way tracking ...

The Alarm Clock that Innovates the Way We Wake Up

Posted on September 13, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Hitting the snooze button one time too many? The Pavlok Shock Clock, an innovative alarm clock, seeks to change this morning habit. For many individuals who set an alarm the night before an early morning, hitting the snooze button is a common occurrence. This tends to carry over throughout the day as a general feeling of fatigue and frustration. Usual alarm clocks operate by continuously sending out a noise signal until the user gets out of bed. Such a methodology perhaps contributes to a ...

HemaApp: The App that Measures Hemoglobin with a Smartphone

Posted on September 13, 2016September 13, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

University of Washington computer scientists and electrical engineers have come together to develop HemaApp: an application that uses a smartphone camera to estimate hemoglobin concentrations. Anemia, a blood condition exacerbated by malnutrition or parasitic disease, is a common health problem in the developing world that is often undiagnosed. Currently, in order to detect hemoglobin levels, most health care providers either use an invasive technique (i.e. a needle) or expensive machines tha...

How Silvon is Adding Innovation to the Textile Industry

Posted on September 12, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

A person bed’s can be covered with bacteria, allergens and fungus. Silvon is designed to change that, permanently preventing the growth of 99.9% of bacteria by literally using a silver lining (of a sort). Dermatologists recommend that people wash their pillowcases every two or three days. Given the hustle and bustle of everyday life however, it is difficult to follow through on that. The average adult washes their sheets every 2-3 weeks, with studies suggesting some men just change their shee...

SuperMeat: A Potential Solution to An Age Old Problem

Posted on September 12, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

SuperMeat is looking to innovate the meat industry by producing meat without harming animals. All around the world, animals are confined, fattened, genetically modified and are slaughtered for meat. Current practices of obtaining meat also contribute to global warming, damage the environment. Further still, the gap between human population and the resources that are needed to sustain the population, like food, is growing, prompting a need for finding alternative methods of obtaining sustenanc...

Bagel: Innovating the Way to Measure Size

Posted on September 12, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Ever wonder why we use so many different tools for measuring? The Bagel Labs team had similar thoughts, and decided to create the Bagel, a smart all-in-one tape measure, which can save measurements, record voice memos, and measure just about anything. Bagel was designed with three separate modes to tackle the wide range of circumstances in which a user needs to measure something. String Mode: This works the same as a traditional tape measure, but due to its flexibility, can be used to mea...

Battery that self destructs in Water in 30 Minutes

Posted on September 11, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

A breakthrough invention in developing transient batteries has been developed: a self-destructing battery that completely dissolves in water without leaving behind any trace. Researchers at Iowa State University have designed a one-millimeter-thick, five-millimeter-long and six millimeters wide battery that use typical lithium-ion technology. The transient battery is made up of eight layers, including an anode, a cathode and the electrolyte separator, all wrapped up in two layers of a polyvi...

Altered: The Innovative Faucet Solution that Uses 98% Less Water

Posted on September 11, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

The Altered Company has created a nozzle that uses 2% of your normal water usage. It’s flexible, designed to fit over any tap, customizable, with two modes depending on the needed amount of water, and an environmentally conscious solution to the everyday problem of water waste. Water stress is a global issue that affects one billion people at present, and will impact an estimated 3 billion people in 2020. Furthermore, when one uses a regular tap, much of the water simply bounces off the surfa...

New Discovery Reveals DNA Naturally Fluoresces

Posted on September 10, 2016September 10, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

A team of researchers at Northwestern University’s Engineering school came across an unprecedented phenomenon: “blinking” or fluorescing DNA. School textbooks emphasize that macromolecules like DNA and RNA do not naturally fluoresce, and therefore require special fluorescent dyes to be viewed and imaged. This new breakthrough may potentially enable researchers to forgo these often toxic dyes and harness the newly discovered natural fluorescent processes to image DNA. The toxicity of dy...

Micro Phone Lens Turns a Phone into a Microscope

Posted on March 10, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Turn your smartphone into a microscope. The Micro Phone Lens allows you to take images at a magnification of 150X using just a smartphone or tablet. The lens attaches to these devices using an adhesive backing and in combination with the slides and sufficient, quality lighting, it allows users to take pictures at a fraction of the cost of a regular microscope. Simply press down the lens on to the camera lens, focus the device, and capture a picture or video. Its features include: 1. O...

NU Scientists Advance Efforts in the Early Detection of Alzheimer’s

Posted on March 10, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

One minute. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that in just that small period of time, almost every minute, a person in the United States will develop one of the top-10 killers in America: Alzheimer’s. 2015 was the first year in which Alzheimer scientists were able to see some real, substantial success in clinical trials. Bill Klein, in neurobiology and neurology at Northwestern, and his team have turned their focus away from what was once considered the cause of Alzheimer’s, plaques an...

Activity Trackers Learn The Difference Between Fake and Real Activity

Posted on March 10, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Researchers from Northwestern Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) have made smartphone activity trackers smarter than ever; they have trained trackers to have the ability to detect the difference between fake and real activity. Insurance companies and health care providers base rewards to individuals who stay active and healthy on the results from wearable activity trackers, among them smartphones. They also rely on these devices to monitor a patient’s activity and determin...

Study Reveals Autism Could Be Reversible

Posted on March 10, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have shown that it may be possible to reverse autism. Autism is a genetically-linked condition and there is still much uncertainty as to what all the different genetic causes of the condition are. One genetic cause for example, affecting 1% of the those with autism, is the lack of a Shank3, which has responsibilities related to brain development. Those missing the gene experience autism symptoms such as avoiding social activities/interact...

Flo: The Non-Contact “Social Thermometer”

Posted on March 9, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Need to check your child’s temperature? Want to track it over time? Flo, a small Bluetooth enabled non-contact thermometer, gives users accurate readings, allows them to track health and family pictures over time, and share them on social media. Flo is relatively easy to use. Point the thermometer within 1 cm of a child’s forehead, push a button, and then you’ll be able to determine whether your child has a fever. The thermometer by itself doesn’t show the exact temper...

Boeing Creates a Self-Cleaning Airplane Lavatory

Posted on March 9, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Many passengers are reluctant to use airplane lavatories given that so many individuals use them on a single flight, leaving it a potential “germ-zone.” But what if the lavatory could clean itself after every use? To make airplane lavatories more hygienic, Boeing engineers and designers have created a self-cleaning prototype bathroom that uses ultraviolet (UV) light and non-touch technology to kill 99% of germs, all in less than three seconds. The prototype lavatory consists of touc...

The Product Which Turns Butter Into Spray

Posted on March 9, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

Whether you would like butter on your popcorn and toast or an alternative to nonstick cooking spray, the Biēm butter sprayer suits your needs. It turns butter into a spray-able form in a quick and easy way. Simply load Biēm with cool butter. The device will heat only the top layer of the butter and then it will come out in spray form. The spray itself is cool to the touch despite the fact that Biēm heats it up to 95 degrees. Biēm includes a patent-pending nozzle that is designed to pre...

Updated Earthquake Detection System Provides Data in Minutes

Posted on March 9, 2016 by smerchantny@gmail.com

NASA and Scripps Institute of Oceanography have developed an earthquake detection system that provides more accurate data about an earthquake within minutes. When an earthquake strikes, the most valuable information (that is needed immediately) includes its location, depth, and magnitude. The quality of the information and how fast it can be obtained affects the number of lives that can be potentially saved. Currently, seismic sensors on the ground are used to measure how much the eart...