http://www.physorg.com/ en-us Physorg.com internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. (PhysOrg.com) -- Cities are organized like brains, and the evolution of cities mirrors the evolution of human and animal brains, according to a new study by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. http://www.physorg.com/news171209335.html Medicine & Health Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:09:38 EST news171209335 (PhysOrg.com) -- Fingerprints do not help primates grip, as previously thought, scientists have discovered. They actually reduce the friction needed to hold onto flat surfaces. Now Dr Roland Ennos and his team at The University of Manchester are trying to find out: why do we have them? http://www.physorg.com/news162822562.html Biology Fri, 29 May 2009 13:33:32 EST news162822562 (PhysOrg.com) -- A new sponge-like material that is black, brittle and freeze-dried (just like the ice cream astronauts eat) can pull off some pretty impressive feats. Designed by Northwestern University chemists, it can remove mercury from polluted water, easily separate hydrogen from other gases and, perhaps most impressive of all, is a more effective catalyst than the one currently used to pull sulfur out of crude oil. http://www.physorg.com/news162572894.html Chemistry Tue, 26 May 2009 16:08:54 EST news162572894 (PhysOrg.com) -- Material scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a technique for a bimetallic fuel cell catalyst that is efficient, robust and two to five times more effective than commercial catalysts. The novel technique eventually will enable a cost effective fuel cell technology, which has been waiting in the wings for decades, and should give a boost for cleaner use of fuels worldwide. http://www.physorg.com/news161529265.html Nanotechnology Thu, 14 May 2009 14:14:53 EST news161529265 Even small devices need power, and much of that juice comes from fuel cells. As these devices become even smaller, the rush is on to find more efficient ways to power them. http://www.physorg.com/news156681586.html Nanotechnology Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:40:13 EST news156681586 (PhysOrg.com) -- The creation of long platinum nanowires at the University of Rochester could soon lead to the development of commercially viable fuel cells. http://www.physorg.com/news156003211.html Nanotechnology Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:14:29 EST news156003211 (PhysOrg.com) -- University of Michigan researchers have developed a nanoporous material with a surface area significantly higher than that of any other porous material reported to date. http://www.physorg.com/news155814659.html Nanotechnology Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:51:46 EST news155814659 (PhysOrg.com) -- The smallest nano-sized silica particles used in biomedicine and engineering likely won't cause unexpected biological responses due to their size, according to work presented today. The result should allay fears that cells and tissues will react unpredictably when exposed to the finest silica nanomaterials in industrial or commercial applications. http://www.physorg.com/news154021822.html Nanotechnology Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:51:37 EST news154021822 Men consistently outperform women on spatial tasks, including mental rotation, which is the ability to identify how a 3-D object would appear if rotated in space. Now, a University of Iowa study shows a connection between this sex-linked ability and the structure of the parietal lobe, the brain region that controls this type of skill. http://www.physorg.com/news148740976.html Medicine & Health Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:56:16 EST news148740976 There is considerable worldwide demand for new types of reactors for the rapid and well- controlled production of high value chemicals. Charl Stemmet has developed the porous foam reactor, which has an energy efficiency ten times higher than traditional reactors at comparable production rates. Industrial partners such as BASF, DSM and Shell will make use of the research results. The project was funded by Technology Foundation STW. http://www.physorg.com/news141643536.html Chemistry Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:25:36 EST news141643536 Using two abundant and relatively inexpensive elements, Boston College chemists have produced nanonets, a flexible webbing of nano-scale wires that multiplies surface area critical to improving the performance of the wires in electronics and energy applications. http://www.physorg.com/news139599754.html Nanotechnology Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:42:34 EST news139599754 (PhysOrg.com) -- Say the word `biofuels` and most people think of grain ethanol and biodiesel. But there`s another, older technology called gasification that`s getting a new look from researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy`s Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University. By combining gasification with high-tech nanoscale porous catalysts, they hope to create ethanol from a wide range of biomass, including distiller`s grain left over from ethanol production, corn stover from the field, grass, wood pulp, animal waste, and garbage. http://www.physorg.com/news137861166.html Nanotechnology Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:46:06 EST news137861166 (PhysOrg.com) -- Hundreds of insect species spend much of their time underwater, where food may be more plentiful. MIT mathematicians have now figured out exactly how those insects breathe underwater. http://www.physorg.com/news136645495.html Other Sciences Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:04:55 EST news136645495