Traffic jam mystery solved by mathematicians
Dec 19, 2007 |
3.9 / 5 (373) |
31
Mathematicians from the University of Exeter have solved the mystery of traffic jams by developing a model to show how major delays occur on our roads, with no apparent cause. Many traffic jams leave drivers ...
V-shaped solar cells could lead to better efficiency
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.6 / 5 (102) |
16
“In solar cells,” Peter Peumans tells PhysOrg.com, “the goal is always higher efficiencies. Higher efficiencies usually mean lower cost.”
Missing Link Between Whales and Four-Footed Ancestors Discovered
Biology /
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.2 / 5 (42) |
1
Scientists have discovered the missing link between whales and their four-footed ancestors. The result is reported in this week's issue of the journal Nature. The research is funded by the National Scienc ...
Evolution tied to Earth movement
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.3 / 5 (33) |
1
Scientists long have focused on how climate and vegetation allowed human ancestors to evolve in Africa. Now, University of Utah geologists are calling renewed attention to the idea that ground movements formed ...
'Hybrid' semiconductors show zero thermal expansion, could lead to hardier electronics and optoelectronics
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.5 / 5 (30) |
1
The fan in your computer is there to keep the microprocessor chip from heating to the point where its component materials start to expand, inducing cracks that interrupt the flow of electricity — and not incidentally, ...
Unsupervised children are more sociable and more active
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.3 / 5 (26) |
1
Youngsters who are allowed to leave the house without an adult are more active and enjoy a richer social life than those who are constantly supervised, according to a study conducted at UCL and reported in a special edition ...
Nylon reveals its antibiotic powers
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.6 / 5 (23) |
0
Nylon, we know, is incredibly versatile, strong and resilient. Now, it may be possible to add antibiotic powers to the list of qualities for the wonder synthetic material.
Flare found on ultra-fast rotating star puzzles astronomers
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.6 / 5 (22) |
0
Using observations from ESO’s VLT, astronomers were able for the first time to reconstruct the site of a flare on a solar-like star located 150 light years away. The study of this young star, nicknamed ‘Speedy ...
Why diving marine mammals resist brain damage from low oxygen
Biology /
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.6 / 5 (22) |
1
No human can survive longer than a few minutes underwater, and even a well-trained Olympic swimmer needs frequent gulps of air. Our brains need a constant supply of oxygen, particularly during exercise.
Microchip-based device can detect rare tumor cells in bloodstream
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.7 / 5 (19) |
0
A team of investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Biomicroelectromechanical Systems (BioMEMS) Resource Center and the MGH Cancer Center has developed a microchip-based device that can isolate, ...
Earliest stage of planet formation dated
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.2 / 5 (18) |
2
UC Davis researchers have dated the earliest step in the formation of the solar system -- when microscopic interstellar dust coalesced into mountain-sized chunks of rock -- to 4,568 million years ago, within a range of about ...
Why don't we get cancer all the time?
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.1 / 5 (17) |
1
The seemingly inefficient way our bodies replace worn-out cells is a defense against cancer, according to new research.
Parents show bias in sibling rivalry, says study
Biology /
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.5 / 5 (10) |
2
Most parents would hotly deny favouring one child over another but new research suggests they may have little choice in the matter.
Scientists Discover How Cells Build a 'Machine' for Cell Division
Biology /
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.4 / 5 (10) |
0
Using time-lapse photography and computer modeling, a team of researchers from Columbia, Yale and Lehigh Universities has explained a mystery surrounding the assembly of a cellular structure responsible for ...
Fragile X retardation syndrome corrected in mice
Dec 19, 2007 |
4.8 / 5 (9) |
2
Researchers working with mice have significantly alleviated a wide range of abnormalities due to fragile X syndrome by altering only a single gene, countering the effects of the fragile X mutation. They said their achievement ...
