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Science News Archive October 2018 - Page 15


Page 15 of 47

Memory-steel -- A new material for the strengthening of buildings

Researchers from Empa and re-fer AG have developed a new building material called memory-steel, which uses shape-memory alloys to permanently prestress concrete structures. The material eliminates the need for hydraulic prestressing, reducing space requirements and making it suitable for confined spaces.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·JournalConstruction and Building Materials·DateOct 23, 2018

Bad boss? You may be making things better -- or worse!

A recent study reveals that employee anxiety, self-esteem, and leadership behavior perception can impact a leader's influence on organizational functioning. Followers and leaders can buffer against undesirable effects of dark-side traits like dishonesty, disagreeableness, and carelessness.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateOct 23, 2018

Mussel-inspired defect engineering enhances the mechanical strength of graphene fibers

Researchers applied polydopamine as an infiltrate binder to achieve high mechanical and electrical properties in graphene-based liquid crystalline fibers. The bio-inspired defect engineering overcomes the limitations of conventional graphene fibers, making it suitable for flexible electronics, textiles, and wearable sensors.

Computers use social media data to predict crime

A study published in EPJ Data Science found that algorithms predicting crimes more accurately than existing models, with significant improvements in predictions for assaults and drug offences. The system used location and activity data from Foursquare users to make predictions.

SourceRMIT University·JournalEPJ Data Science·DateOct 23, 2018

New laser advances

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a 'transistor' laser that can be manipulated at the nanoscale using an external voltage. This technology could lead to more accurate medical procedures and re-routing of fiber optic communication lines.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2018

Losing control of gene activity in Alzheimer's disease

A study published in Nature Neuroscience has uncovered a link between gene activity and Alzheimer's disease, identifying genes involved in the pathology of the condition. The research found changes in histone acetylation across the genome, providing a framework for studying histone modification studies in other brain diseases.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 22, 2018

New tool gives deeper understanding of glioblastoma

Researchers have developed a new tool to study genetic switches in glioblastoma tumors, which drive cancer growth and survival. The new technique uses ChRO-seq data to classify tumors into subtypes based on active switches, with potential applications in predicting patient outcomes and developing new therapies.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Genetics·DateOct 22, 2018

Rising temperatures and human activity are increasing storm runoff and flash floods

A global analysis by Columbia Engineers reveals a significant increase in storm runoff extremes driven by both climate change and human-induced changes. The study suggests that projected responses of storm runoff extremes will dramatically increase, threatening ecosystem resilience and infrastructure systems.