Researchers from Duke University and Boston College created a metamaterial that enhances magnetic forces without harming biological tissues or damaging electrical equipment. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and safer applications of electromagnetism in devices such as magnetic levitation trains.
Researchers question the validity of studies linking specific genes to complex behaviors like voting due to methodological errors and inconsistencies across multiple studies. The findings contradict current understanding of genetics' role in shaping human traits.
A study by Duke University researchers predicts that sea level rise will change the economic landscape of Southern California beaches, with smaller beaches facing significant losses while larger ones may benefit. The study suggests that nourishment projects could help offset these losses, but at great cost.
The Duke team has created a nonlinear approach to energy harvesting that can capture more frequencies from ambient vibrations, making it ideal for practical uses in the real world. This could lead to the development of devices that power implants, sensors, and even larger electrical systems.
Researchers at Duke University found that correcting false knowledge requires providing students with feedback, which enables them to identify errors and learn correct information. Students who received feedback were more likely to correct their mistakes in the short-term, but also more likely to forget the correct answer if they didn'...
A Duke University-led study finds that 80% of high-endemicity areas in the Andes lack protection, with hundreds of rare species under threat from human activities. The research highlights the urgent need for conservation strategies to protect this unique region.
Physicists at Duke University used supercomputers to simulate an ultra-cold atom and split a virtual electron in half, creating two particles with half the negative charge. This discovery provides clues about the behavior of fundamental particles and challenges traditional notions of particle indivisibility.
Researchers found that oxytocin administration enhanced prosocial choices in rhesus macaques, making them pay attention to each other and choose to give juice to a neighbor. The hormone also increased gaze duration when choosing to reward another monkey, suggesting improved social skills.
A new study reveals that harp seal populations are experiencing sharply higher death rates among pup mortality, with entire year-classes disappearing from the population in low ice years. The study suggests that seasonal sea ice cover has declined by as much as 6% per decade since 1979, leaving the population on thin ice.
A new study by researchers at Duke University and Princeton University suggests that a person's brain can disengage from social interaction when encountering individuals considered 'disgusting', leading to 'dehumanized perception' and a lack of empathy. This failure can contribute to human atrocities, torture, and genocide.
The Duke researchers have calculated the thermoelectric properties of over 2,500 compounds and provided detailed recipes for creating the most efficient combinations. This new database will allow scientists to stop using trial-and-error methods and instead use a rational basis to design thermoelectric devices.
Scientists at Duke University discovered that shear strain can cause particles like coffee beans and coal chunks to jam sooner than expected. This finding challenges previous theories and has implications for designing new composite materials and countermeasures against weapons of mass destruction.
A Duke University study found increased salinity and trace elements in the Upper Mud River due to multiple surface coal mines. The research provides evidence of the cumulative effects of mountaintop mining on a river network.
Duke University engineers developed a way to produce thermal diodes that can transfer heat in both directions, overcoming existing limitations. The method uses self-propelled water droplets to transport heat, enabling applications in energy-efficient solar panels and compact electronics.
A new study by Duke University researchers has found that tropical birds are moving to higher elevations in response to climate change, but at a slower rate than predicted. The animals appear to be tracking changes in vegetation rather than migrating rapidly, suggesting a delay in their response to warming temperatures.
A new study by Duke University and Georgia Tech researchers found that energy efficiency and renewable energy can work together to meet projected growth in the South. The study debunks six common myths about clean energy, including those that claim it cannot meet demand or will increase electricity rates.
A Duke University study found that pre-teen girls are just as likely to react aggressively to a friend's betrayal as boys, but may struggle more with feelings of sadness. The research suggests that girls' friendships require a different approach than previously thought, focusing on teaching them how to cope when a friend lets them down.
Researchers at Duke University discovered that certain mid-ocean creatures can control their reflection by changing skin pigments in response to blue light. This allows them to avoid predators using searchlights, such as squid and octopuses that use this tactic to catch prey.
A novel sewage digestion system designed by Duke University's Marc Deshusses has the potential to revolutionize sanitation in developing countries. The system captures methane gas produced during waste breakdown, using it to kill pathogens and destroy harmful bacteria.
Duke University researchers developed YouProve, an Android add-on that monitors images and audio captured on mobile devices for authenticity and fidelity. It uses advanced algorithms to track changes and produce non-forgeable certificates, ensuring the integrity of crowd-sourced content.
A new Duke University-led study reveals that more than half of eastern US tree species are not adapting to climate change as quickly or consistently as predicted. The research found that nearly 59% of the species examined showed signs of range contraction, while only 21% appeared to be shifting northward.
A new study by Duke neuroscientists identifies the source of learning difficulties as an overactive immune response, triggered by early-life infections. The researchers found that specialized immune system cells in the brain called microglia release a signaling molecule called Interleukin-1, which can impair learning and memory.
Duke University engineers demonstrated that rigidly constraining dielectric materials can increase their energy density and decrease rates of failure. By preventing physical deformation, epoxy acts as a mechanical constraint to enhance the component's ability to carry greater voltage.
Researchers found that exposure to chimpanzees in human settings in ads makes people less concerned about the risks they face and less likely to donate to conservation charities. The study suggests reevaluating media practices and conservation priorities.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a technology that uses angle-resolved low coherence interferometry to detect pre-cancerous cells in the colon. The device shines short bursts of light into tissue samples and analyzes scattered light for signs of dysplasia, with an accuracy rate of 85%.
Researchers have developed a technique to create low-cost, high-performance copper nanowire films for displays and solar cells. The new copper nanowire films outperform current indium tin oxide (ITO) films, which are highly transparent but expensive and prone to cracking.
Researchers studied individual phase slips in aluminum nanowires, observing the nature and temperature at which they occur. The findings provide information to build ultra-thin superconducting wires without phase slips, which could play a role in ultra-miniaturized electronics.
The number of sea turtles accidentally caught and killed in US fishing gear has declined by 90% since 1990, according to a new study. This drop is attributed to measures reducing bycatch in many fisheries and overall declines in US fishing activity, which have led to fewer turtle deaths annually, from over 300,000 to around 460.
The system produces enough electricity to power 35 homes for a year and prevents the release of greenhouse gases equivalent to nearly 5,000 metric tons of CO2 per year. The pilot project demonstrates how hog farms can manage waste, reduce emissions, and generate on-farm renewable power.
The NSF has provided a six-year, $13.6 million grant to establish a multi-university center at Duke University and N.C. State University to investigate soft matter research. Researchers will focus on creating new materials with defined characteristics for various applications, including organic solar cells and tissue implants.
A study by Duke University scientists found that low oxygen levels in caterpillars trigger a molt to the next stage of development, as their respiratory system is fixed in size. This discovery reveals a new factor regulating body size during specific developmental stages.
Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated a theoretical ability to significantly increase the efficiency of ships by creating a 'fluid flow cloak' that tricks the surrounding water into staying still. The cloak uses porous materials and tiny pumps to push flowing water along, greatly reducing the energy needed to propel vessels.
Duke University engineer Nico Hotz proposes a hybrid system that uses sunlight to heat water and methanol, producing hydrogen more efficiently than current technology. The resulting hydrogen can be stored and used as fuel, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels.
Researchers have created a novel metamaterial structure that can 'steer' second-harmonic light, allowing for unprecedented control over light manipulation. This breakthrough has significant implications for all-optical communications and could transform telecommunications technologies.
A team of statisticians from Duke University received a $3 million grant to develop statistical methods for making US Census Bureau data available to researchers and the public. The Triangle Census Research Network will preserve anonymity while improving data quality and linking it to related sources.
A new theory by Adrian Bejan, known as the constructal law, predicts the prevalence of S-curves in various fields, including biology, chemistry, and economics. The S-curve pattern is a natural design for flow systems to facilitate access, reducing friction or resistance.
Researchers create 'excitable' cells by introducing specific ion channels, enabling electrical communication between cells. The modified cells can restore large electrical gaps in heart tissue and have potential applications in treating diseases of the nervous system or heart.
Researchers at Duke University found that tropical anoles can solve novel problems and remember solutions, demonstrating advanced cognitive abilities. The study's results challenge the notion that reptiles have limited cognitive capabilities and highlight the complexity of animal cognition.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that most of the world's undiscovered species reside in regions already identified as conservation priorities. This suggests recent conservation efforts have been effective and should reduce uncertainty over global conservation priorities.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a software called SleepWell that allows mobile devices to sleep while a neighboring device is downloading information, saving energy for both devices. This technology can potentially double the battery life of smartphones and laptops by reducing the energy toll of WiFi usage.
A new cell phone application called TagSense can accurately tag photographs with information about people, locations and activities. The system uses the multiple sensors on a mobile phone and those of other phones in the vicinity to provide more detailed tagging, making it easier to search and retrieve desired pictures.
The T2K experiment has detected six muon neutrinos transforming into electron neutrinos during their journey from a Japanese accelerator to a detector. This finding is significant as it may help explain why the universe has more matter than anti-matter.
A new study found that anxious searchers are more likely to miss multiple objects, particularly the second target, due to anticipatory anxiety. The research, led by Duke University psychologist Stephen Mitroff, has important implications for training and testing searchers in homeland security and healthcare.
Researchers at Duke University have identified a brain function that governs the decision to stay or go in search of food, a fundamental problem in evolutionary history. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex steadily increases its activity during foraging decisions until a threshold level is reached, prompting the individual to move on.
Electrical engineers at Duke University have created a unique metamaterial that theoretically enables efficient wireless power transmission to small and large devices. The material refocuses energy transmitted between devices, reducing power loss and enabling longer-distance energy transfer.
Researchers at Duke University found that strobe-like eyewear can improve visual abilities, particularly in detecting brief stimuli and small changes in motion. The study involved nearly 500 participants who trained with either strobe or control eyewear, showing some improvements in noticing brief stimuli after training.
Researchers at Duke University have traced rising salinity levels in the Yorktown aquifer to ancient fossil seawater, providing a long-term solution for desalinated tap water. The study found that reverse osmosis membranes can still effectively remove most dissolved salts, but may require additional treatment for boron and arsenic.
A study by Duke University researchers has found high levels of leaked methane in well water collected near shale-gas drilling and hydrofracking sites. The contamination was observed primarily in Bradford and Susquehanna counties in Pennsylvania.
Researchers tracked over 300 humpback whales and 2 million tons of krill in Wilhelmina Bay, revealing a critical late-season foraging ground for the endangered whales. Climate change is affecting the region, with rapid reduction of sea ice cover impacting krill survival.
A global survey by Duke University researchers has identified 2,149 barrier islands worldwide, significantly increasing the known total from 1,492 previously surveyed without satellite imagery. The new islands measure 20,783 kilometers in length and are found along all continents except Antarctica.