The five robots were chosen by an international jury for their significant impact on robotics and computer science education. AIBO is a popular research platform used in robotic soccer, while SCARA has been widely adopted in industrial assembly operations.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University discovered a way to create polymers that can conduct electricity by growing very pure, single RRP chains. The study shows that the nanostructure of these plastics enhances their ability to conduct electricity, and that increasing the width of RRP nanofibrils exponentially increases charge carri...
A survey of medical and non-medical experts predicts a high risk of avian flu pandemic, with only a 15% chance of the US having sufficient vaccines. The greatest hope for mitigation lies in heightened global surveillance, hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing.
A recent Carnegie Mellon University study has verified synaptic plasticity in a living animal's brain for the first time, pointing to future avenues for understanding the learning process. The research reveals that experience-dependent changes occur in AMPA receptors at specific synapses, altering their properties and subunit composition.
Researchers develop a new mathematical framework to understand sound processing and find that the brain's signal coding is highly optimized for natural sounds. This breakthrough could lead to improved signal processing for compressed digital audio files and more efficient cochlear implants.
Kumta's team is developing nanostructured catalyst compositions to improve the efficiency of direct methanol fuel cells. The goal is to create a fuel cell system small enough for portable electronic devices.
Researchers use MRI to visualize individual immune cells in live animals, enabling real-time tracking of organ rejection. The new approach offers personalized care and reduces biopsy procedures.
A new mass spectrometer design will enable scientists to analyze intact protein complexes in seconds, avoiding sample loss and improving research efficiency. This breakthrough technology could revolutionize fields like proteomics, virology, and nanotechnology.
A recent Carnegie Mellon University study found that most teens learn about sexually transmitted diseases when they are diagnosed with them. The survey of 300 adolescent girls revealed that those who reported having been diagnosed with a disease knew more about that specific disease but not the others.
Studies suggest a link between positive emotions and lower chronic illness rates, longevity, and improved self-rated health. However, the relationship is complex, and future research is needed to determine how emotions influence health.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new method to identify gene activation in DNA microarrays with greater sensitivity and specificity. This innovation holds promise for improving research on complex biological systems, including stress response, cancer, and embryo development.
The joint doctoral program aims to develop curriculum, laboratory courses, and advanced training in computational biology, bioimage informatics, and structural biology. The program will provide students with interdisciplinary research opportunities and training.
A team led by Carnegie Mellon University scientist C. Giovanni Galán has found evidence of a living memory trace in honeybees, which lasts several minutes after initial exposure to an odor. The discovery supports Hebb's theory of learning and could provide new insights into how short-term memory works.
A Carnegie Mellon study found that individuals displaying anger and disgust in response to stressors had lower biological responses to stress than those who displayed fear. This challenges the assumption that all negative emotions provoke the same psychological and biological reactions.
The Center for Engineering Sustainability aims to galvanize engineering programs into action, improving faculty teaching and providing peer-reviewed educational materials. The initiative also plans a nationwide survey to benchmark the status of sustainable engineering education.
Carnegie Mellon's Materials Research Science and Engineering Center will focus on creating super-efficient materials, including those with greatly increased strength or resistance to corrosion. The center aims to enable manufacturers to produce smaller, faster computer chips and safer power plants.
Researchers have developed a new PNA molecule that can be used to construct nanodevices, thanks to its ability to form stable metal-containing duplexes even with non-complementary strands. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of novel electronic devices and materials.
The South African Large Telescope (SALT) has achieved 'first light' with its full array of mirrors and imaging camera, SALTICAM. This milestone marks the beginning of its scientific observations, which will explore distant galaxies, asteroids, and comets.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have discovered a green catalyst, Fe-TAML, that can efficiently destroy nitrophenol pollutants. The catalyst works with hydrogen peroxide and has shown promise in killing biological warfare agents, reducing fuel pollutants, and detoxifying pesticides.
A Carnegie Mellon study found that people's emotional reactions to 9/11 persistently predict their perception of terrorism risk. Emotions like fear and anger affect optimism and pessimism about future attacks, while hindsight bias remains unchanged.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have discovered a novel mechanism called recursive splicing, which removes long introns by steadily paring them down in a predictable fashion and joining the remaining exons. This process has been conserved over tens of millions of years of insect evolution and is likely to occur in humans.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that nutritional interventions and educational programs can significantly improve the quality of life for cancer survivors. Women who received either intervention were less likely to be depressed and more optimistic about their health than those with no intervention.
The Carnegie Mellon rover Zoë will travel 180 kilometers in Chile's Atacama Desert, seeking micro-organisms and mapping their habitats. The results may enable future robots to search for life on Mars and advance our understanding of Earth's distribution of life.
The team developed statistical techniques to analyze WMAP data, helping confirm the Big Bang theory and offering insights into the universe's shape, composition, and fate. Their approach allows for separation of data information from model assumptions, providing a more accurate understanding of the cosmos.
A Carnegie Mellon psychologist will investigate how a person's social environment influences their health and well-being. The study aims to determine which biological factors are impacted by social well-being to affect health.
The NSF grant supports a research experience program for underrepresented students in molecular biosciences. Participants will conduct mentored research projects and attend faculty talks on scientific ethics.
A new software called Notung allows researchers to identify genes that arose recently and understand their role in modern organisms. The tool uses evolutionary scenarios and gene duplications to provide insights into gene evolution and function.
Researchers used block copolymers with oil-and-water repelling blocks to create self-assembling nanostructures, which were then controlled using zone casting. This technique produces highly organized polymer films that could serve as templates for creating ordered nanopatterns in various nanoelectronic devices.
Researchers found that popular chemistry textbooks focus on abstract concepts and tools without discussing their application in practice. To address this, they developed a testable framework describing chemists' routine activities, including explaining phenomena, analyzing matter, and synthesizing new substances.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh have created a new method to calculate the phase-resetting curve (PRC) of living neurons, which can help elucidate mechanisms for neural synchrony and study learning. The tool combines computational and experimental approaches to simplify complex dynamics of single neurons.
Researchers have identified potential brain structures responsible for face recognition in individuals with congenital prosopagnosia. Preliminary findings suggest a genetic basis for the condition, which can have socially debilitating consequences if left undetected.
Researchers Marcel Just and Tom Mitchell use computer models to interpret fMRI brain scans, developing a computational theory of brain activity during language processing. They also demonstrate how reading different words and sentences influences brain activity and identify specific brain regions involved in language comprehension.
Researchers created a platform technology that can be adapted for various tissue types and preclinical uses, enabling real-time monitoring of gene expression. This approach uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to non-invasively image cells at high resolution, providing insights into disease mechanisms.
A Carnegie Mellon study reveals that infant-directed speech aids infants in learning words more quickly than normal adult speech. This research also sheds light on why adults struggle to learn a second language, as they can use their native tongue effortlessly.
A Carnegie Mellon-developed robot has detected life in the Atacama desert through a fluorescence system that can identify sparse microorganisms and visualize biofilms. The findings provide insights into detecting life on Mars, with implications for astrobiology research.
A Carnegie Mellon study discovered that participants appearing near the end of juried competitions receive higher marks from judges. The serial position effect may apply to everyday evaluations such as job interviews and student exams.
Carnegie Mellon University is partnering with United Defense to develop a semi-autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (TUGV) for the US Marine Corps. The Gladiator TUGV will provide remote scouting, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities to increase human survival and reduce risk.
Simulations show that growing black holes release a blast of energy, powering strong winds that prevent material from falling in, inhibiting further growth. This process links black hole mass to the total mass of stars in galaxies, explaining observed phenomena and promising deeper insights into galaxy formation.
Researchers at NETL and Carnegie Mellon created a predictive model for hydrogen flux through copper palladium alloys, allowing for the screening of other complex alloys. This breakthrough could significantly improve industrial hydrogen purification, taking us closer to a hydrogen-based economy.
A new tool developed by Carnegie Mellon University enables location proteomics by classifying and relating proteins inside cells. The tool outperforms existing methods using standardized features and automates clustering of proteins, allowing for fast and objective analysis.
A team of researchers led by Carnegie Mellon University's Danith Ly has developed a way to deliver promising genetic tools into living cells. The tools, called GPNAs, use modified PNAs with improved cell uptake properties and can target specific disease-causing proteins.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University challenge the somatic marker hypothesis, a widely-held theory on decision-making. The study suggests that bodily states may not be as influential in guiding decisions as previously thought.
The Science of Learning Center will address the need for rigorous education research by creating a novel research facility called LearnLab. This center will enable learning scientists to conduct research that is as rigorous as traditional laboratory studies and test their results in real classroom settings.
Scientists use Zoe, an autonomous solar-powered rover, to explore the Atacama Desert and test robotic capabilities. They aim to detect signatures of microbial life remotely, which will aid in future human missions to Mars.
A new computational method developed by Widom and colleagues allows scientists to virtually predict the formation of amorphous metals and identify potential mixtures for metallic glass production. This approach has shown promising results in generating metallic glasses with remarkable corrosion resistance, strength, and elasticity.
Researchers have discovered key aspects of PCB fate in sediment and developed methods to monitor and contain these synthetic compounds. They found that bacteria populations decompose PCBs differently in sediments taken from separate, contaminated rivers.
A Carnegie Mellon researcher has developed a reactive core mat technology that can clean up pollutants in the Anacostia River. The innovative solution could provide a more affordable alternative to expensive dredging methods, which have costs running into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Researchers studied sediments from two contaminated rivers and found that bacteria in Hudson River sediment were faster at digesting PCBs compared to those in Grasse River sediment. The team aims to identify nutrients or factors that can accelerate PCB breakdown in sediments without dredging.
The Explorer robot, developed by Carnegie Mellon University, successfully inspected hundreds of feet of live gas mains in Yonkers, NY. The robot's wireless capabilities and advanced cameras enable near-real-time images of the pipe's interior, reducing costs per foot of pipe inspected.
Researchers found abnormalities in brain activity among people with normal IQs who have autism, indicating a deficiency in coordination among brain areas. The study proposes the underconnectivity theory, which suggests that autism is a distributed system-wide disorder limiting integration among brain areas.