Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are building a wearable cognitive assistance system called Gabriel that provides instructions for tasks like repairing equipment or assembling furniture. The system uses a wearable vision system and taps into cloud computing via 'cloudlets' to enable real-time guidance.
Researchers found that brain activation patterns of individuals with autism spectrum disorder adapt differently during implicit learning, with slower recognition of familiar patterns. The severity of symptoms correlates with the degree of brain adaptation, suggesting a link between neural characteristics and core ASD symptoms.
A robotic prosthetic control strategy based on human reflexes has shown promise in simulation and laboratory testing, producing stable walking gaits over uneven terrain and improved balance recovery from trips. The technology will be further developed and tested using volunteers with above-the-knee amputations over the next three years.
A study from Carnegie Mellon University found that self-rated health accurately predicts susceptibility to the common cold in healthy adults. Those with better self-rated health were more resistant to developing a cold, despite accounting for socioemotional factors and health practices.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a technique to produce 3D-printed hair-like strands, fibers, and bristles using a common low-cost printer. The process involves applying molten plastic and then moving the print head sideways to create tapered strands.
Baruch Fischhoff reviews four types of analysis to guide policymakers' decisions: estimating risks, deciding on worst-case scenarios, achieving maximum benefits with minimal risk, and weighing risks and benefits. He proposes making the analysis process more transparent and relevant to increase trust.
Carnegie Mellon researchers find that practicing route-learning leads to structural brain changes in the hippocampus and improves functional connectivity between brain areas. This study establishes a critical link between spatial learning and brain alterations, providing new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive maps.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a 3D bioprinting technique that can create intricate tissue models of the heart, brain, and other organs using biological materials. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for damaged organs, potentially eliminating the need for transplants.
A new technique called cyclic healing uses repetitive stretching to eliminate pre-existing defects in metal crystals, significantly increasing their strength. The technique was developed by an international team of researchers and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The site recreates the British early modern social network to trace personal relationships among figures like Bacon, Shakespeare, and Newton. It identifies over 13,000 individuals and 200,000 relationships, providing new ways for scholars to consider communities, factions, influences, and sources.
Computational models suggest a new design for nanoparticles used in targeted drug delivery. The researchers proposed making more stable liposomes by incorporating a nanoparticle core and polymer tethers, which acts as a hub-and-spoke-like scaffold that helps the liposome to weather stresses and strains.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that individuals with dyslexia struggle to learn complex auditory categories through procedural learning, which may be an effect of the condition. This suggests that difficulty processing speech may be an outcome of dyslexia rather than its underlying cause.
A new study published in Nature Neuroscience found that individuals with autism spectrum disorder struggle to transfer learned knowledge to new contexts when trained through repetition. In contrast, breaks in repetition allow autistic individuals to learn efficiently and generalize, promoting broader concept understanding.
Carnegie Mellon University has established an analytics lab with Boeing to develop AI-powered solutions for aerospace data. The lab aims to capitalize on the vast amounts of data generated in aircraft design, construction, and operation, enabling safer, more reliable, and efficient aircraft operations.
Researchers have created a three-fingered soft robotic hand with embedded optical sensors, allowing it to detect forces of less than a tenth of a newton and determine where its fingertips are in contact. The new stretchable optical sensing material could be used in a soft robotic skin for even more feedback.
A de-centralized decision-making model shows how positive feedback during exploration proves useful for making good and quick decisions. The model explains how trends take off, such as the popularity of Beats headphones, and the success of word-of-mouth marketing tactics.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University's Simon Initiative shows that MOOCs are ineffective and that interactive approaches improve learning outcomes. Students who completed combined courses with OLI learned 66% on a final exam, compared to 57% for those in MOOC-only courses.
A new study confirms that insufficient sleep is connected to a greater likelihood of catching a cold. Adults who slept less than six hours a night were four times more likely to catch the cold compared to those who got more than seven hours of sleep.
A team led by Carnegie Mellon University physicists has discovered the structure of PTEN, a key tumor-suppressing protein. The findings reveal how PTEN regulates cell growth and suppresses tumor formation through dimerization, providing new insights into cancer development and potential therapeutics.
Researchers used non-invasive brain-imaging tool to detect pathways connecting basal ganglia regions, improving understanding of circuitry. The breakthrough could lead to technologies to track disease progression for Parkinson's and other neurological disorders.
Carnegie Mellon psychologists discover that more familiar chunks facilitate learning and reduce working memory consumption. This finding has implications for teaching methods and understanding children's working memory capabilities.
The researchers will investigate how variability in neuronal responses contributes to learning and performance in motor tasks. By understanding this connection, they aim to uncover the fundamental mechanisms underlying neural variability and its role in brain function.
A new imaging technology developed by CMU and U of T researchers enables depth-sensing cameras to work efficiently in bright light, including sunlight. This allows for applications such as medical imaging, gaming, and space exploration, where traditional cameras are unable to capture accurate 3D information.
Ethicists warn that patient-funded trials threaten scientific rigor, relevance, efficiency, and fairness. The model lacks mechanisms to ensure research is grounded in good science, potentially delaying innovation and harming patients.
A new simulation by Carnegie Mellon University researchers suggests that large disk galaxies, like the Milky Way, might have formed in the early universe. The BlueTides simulation, which is 100 times larger than previous simulations, shows a number of disk galaxies existing at 500 million years post-Big Bang, challenging long-held theo...
Researchers developed an algorithm inspired by brain pruning, which eliminates unneeded connections in early childhood. The neuroscience-based approach created more efficient and robust networks than traditional engineering methods.
Carnegie Mellon University is turning its campus into a living laboratory for a Google-funded project to create robust Internet-connected sensors and gadgets. The goal is to enhance human-to-human and human-to-computer interaction while ensuring privacy and security.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that significantly fewer women than men were shown online ads promising them help getting jobs paying more than $200,000. Researchers used simulated user profiles to probe the online ad ecosystem and discovered gender-based discrimination in Google ads.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed two novel methods to characterize 3-dimensional macroporous hydrogels, a promising material for creating responsive catalysts and tissue engineering scaffolds. The team successfully visualized the reversible porous structure within these materials using noninvasive X-ray microscopy.
Researchers from top institutions emphasize the need for high-quality science by addressing issues such as replication problems, researcher misconduct, and sensationalism. They propose solutions like rewarding quality work, mentoring peer-reviewers, and voluntary withdrawal of flawed papers.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that conflicting histories can lead to mistrust and conflict in negotiations. The study used two experiments with 392 participants, finding that those with asymmetric histories were more likely to reach an impasse during negotiations.
Researchers have developed TAML activators that effectively break down harmful chemicals in water, reducing the risk of fish feminization and other adverse effects. The catalysts were tested on water samples from municipal wastewater plants and found to be at least as effective as ozone treatment systems.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain represents familiar concepts, such as houses and bananas. By teaching people new concepts and monitoring neural activity, they found that these representations occur in the same brain areas for everyone, using a shared 'filing system'.
A new tool reveals that people with a high bias blind spot are less accurate at evaluating their abilities relative to others and tend to ignore expert advice, ultimately affecting decision-making quality.
Intravenous nutrition source Intralipid reduces chemotherapy side effects by increasing drug bioavailability and targeting cancer treatment, allowing more drugs to reach tumor sites and reducing toxicity.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University successfully separated and weighed a mixture of intact virus particles using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization MS. This technique, called heavy ion mass spectrometry, allows for the analysis of viruses that are too large to be detected by standard instruments.
A new mobile app called Seventeen Days aims to educate teenagers about the risks of risky sexual behavior. The app is based on an interactive movie of the same name and has been developed with researchers at several universities, including Carnegie Mellon University.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found higher suicide rates among black children compared to white and Hispanic children. The research highlights an emerging racial disparity in childhood suicide, with possible contributing factors including increased exposure to violence, early puberty, and lower help-seeking behavior.
A new study from City University London, Carnegie Mellon University, and Bocconi University found that self-promotion or humblebragging often elicits a negative response. Self-pro promoters tend to overestimate others' positivity and underestimate their negativity, leading to excessive bragging with the opposite effect.
Carnegie Mellon researchers found that having more sex did not increase happiness in couples, but rather led to a decrease in desire and enjoyment. The study suggests that couples may need to focus on creating an environment that sparks their desire for sex, rather than simply increasing frequency.
Carnegie Mellon University's Krzysztof Matyjaszewski has won the 2015 Dreyfus Prize in Chemical Sciences for his pioneering work in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), a process that enables precise control over polymer size and architecture. This breakthrough has led to the creation of thousands of new materials, valued at ov...
Researchers have pinpointed a new mechanism responsible for the progression of malaria, which could lead to new therapies. The study found that nanoscale knobs on infected red blood cells cause cell stiffening and reduced blood flow.
The Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded Carnegie Mellon University a $1 million grant to develop strategies for technology-enhanced learning (TEL) resources. The grant will allow the university to better understand and implement TEL techniques, which have proven faster and more effective than traditional curricula.
Researchers have developed an inexpensive alternative to touchscreens, called Acoustruments, which can be added to any device. These mechanisms use pluggable plastic tubes and structures to connect the smartphone's speaker with its microphone, allowing users to control devices using acoustically altered sounds.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals that pain signaling pathways influence the sensitivity of opioid receptors on neuron surfaces. The findings may help develop non-addictive pain management drugs.
Researchers have created tiny gold nanoparticles that exhibit nature's most intricate patterns, marking the first time a nanoparticle of this size has been crystallized and its structure mapped out atom by atom. These patterns are responsible for the high stability of the particles.
Leading cognitive scientists at Carnegie Mellon University question the lack of female contributors in a special issue of the journal Cognition. Despite having 11 women on its faculty roster, only one female author was listed among 19 authors for 12 articles.
Researchers developed a microfluidic chip that uses sound waves to separate circulating tumor cells from white blood cells, achieving a throughput rate up to 20 times faster than prior attempts. The device preserves the integrity of separated CTCs and offers a label-free approach without chemically altering the cells.
Researchers created a publicly available website, neuroelectro.org, to collect and standardize data on neuronal function. The site enables the comparison of physiological information across different types of neurons, promoting new methods of analysis.
The $20,000 Touch of Genius prize recognizes the innovative device that helps visually impaired students learn Braille using a slate and stylus. The automated tutor provides audio feedback to address challenges associated with learning this skill, improving literacy for millions worldwide.