Stanford University's Technology Ventures Co-op program accelerates the transfer of technology and science into the economy by teaching engineers entrepreneurship skills. The nine-month program places students in summer jobs with top Silicon Valley startups, providing on-the-job experience and exposure to high-tech products.
Researchers have developed a genetic test that can identify children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders associated with strep throat infections. The blood test detects the D8/17 genetic marker in 85% of children with strep-associated OCD and tics, and 89% of those with Sydenham's chorea.
The role of non-experts in science policymaking is crucial for informed decision making. Non-experts can learn enough to make intelligent decisions about funding and research, suggests expert Dr. Daniel Lee Kleinman. Democratizing science requires new policies to encourage cooperation between experts and non-experts.
Research suggests that children from less wealthy families have better survival rates among the Herero people, a group of pastoralists in Botswana. The study found that wealthiest families' children had lower body fat, but overall mortality is low due to the high prosperity of the community.
The Cornell University scientists are leading an effort to develop agricultural systems that explicitly improve human health. The new approach, known as a 'food systems' approach, aims to increase the availability of micronutrients like iron in staple crops, reducing illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.
A Vietnamese chemist, Vu-Thi-Yen, has developed a new method to improve the durability of rubber products by blending it with cardanol, an oil extracted from cashew shells. The blended rubber is stronger and longer-lasting than plain latex, showing potential applications in various industries.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a process to make polypropylene, a stiff plastic, that can flex like a rubber band. The elastic polymer has potential applications in various industries, including the production of disposable diapers and automotive dashboards.