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Georgia Institute of Technology


Echoes of extinctions: Novel method unearths disruptions in mammal trait-environment relationships

A team of researchers used a novel methodology to investigate the impact of large mammal extinctions on their environments. They found that earlier biodiversity losses did not necessarily hinder mammal community functioning, but later losses were linked to changes in climate and vegetation patterns.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 7, 2023

Investors force Black families out of home ownership, new research shows

A new study by Georgia Institute of Technology reveals that investors have significantly impacted the availability of housing in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Investors are most likely to buy up homes in majority-minority neighborhoods, effectively cutting Black families out of home ownership, resulting in over $4 billion lost equity.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Planning Education and Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 8, 2023

Scurrying centipedes inspire many-legged robots that can traverse difficult landscapes

Researchers developed a new theory of multilegged locomotion, creating robotic models that can move across uneven surfaces without sensors. The robot's leg redundancy enables it to transport itself and loads on challenging terrain, making it suitable for applications like agriculture, space exploration, and search and rescue.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 4, 2023

Want better kimchi? Make it like the ancients did

Researchers found that traditional handmade clay jars, called onggi, ferment kimchi faster and produce more beneficial bacteria due to their unique porous structure. The study highlights the connection between the earthenware's material properties and the fermentation process, providing new insights into ancient technology.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 12, 2023

Rising temperatures alter ‘missing link’ of microbial processes, putting northern peatlands at risk

Climate change is expected to impact northern peatlands, a key carbon storage ecosystem. A recent study found that rising temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels can disrupt the delicate balance between nitrogen fixation and methane oxidation, leading to unpredictable outcomes.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 3, 2023

Nanotechnology could treat lymphedema

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have developed a new treatment for lymphedema using nanoparticles that can repair lymphatic vessel pumping. The approach delivers a drug to help lymphatic vessels pump, targeting the problem rather than regrowing new vessels.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 20, 2023

New ultrafast water disinfection method is more environmentally friendly

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new ultrafast water disinfection method that uses locally enhanced electric field treatment, killing bacteria with nanosecond pulses. This technology reduces energy consumption by eight times and shortens treatment time by 1 million times, making it an affordable sanitatio...

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Water·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2023

Researchers find that to achieve long-term sustainability, urban systems must tackle social justice and equity

Researchers emphasize the importance of inclusivity and understanding past policies affecting marginalized communities in urban planning, design, and public policy efforts. The study identified three core focus areas: social justice and equity, circularity, and digital twins, to address environmental issues and infrastructure challenges.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Industrial Ecology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 23, 2023

Cheerful chatbots don’t necessarily improve customer service

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that AI chatbots' positive emotional displays have no effect on customer service evaluations when the source is a bot, but improve when human agents exhibit emotions. The study suggests businesses should be cautious about equipping AI agents with emotion-expressing capabilities.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalInformation Systems Research·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2022

Active matter, curved spaces: Mini robots learn to ‘swim’ on stretchy surfaces

Researchers used small wheeled robots to study indirect mechanical interactions on deformable surfaces, finding that active matter can interact through non-contact forces. They created a model to control collective behavior by modifying robot design, mirroring celestial bodies' paths in Einstein's General Relativity.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2022

Skin: An additional tool for the versatile elephant trunk

Researchers found that an elephant's folded skin plays a crucial role in its flexible and strong trunk, enabling it to grasp fragile vegetation and rip apart tree trunks. The study suggests that wrapping soft robotics with a skin-like structure could give machines protection and strength while maintaining flexibility.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJul 18, 2022

Tiny limbs and long bodies: Coordinating lizard locomotion

A multidisciplinary approach reveals a continuum of locomotion dynamics in lizards, with short-limbed species exhibiting snakelike waves and long-bodied species bending like lizards. The findings deepen understanding of evolution's implications for locomotion and have applications for advanced robotics designs.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2022

Spiral wave teleportation theory offers new path to defibrillate hearts, terminate arrhythmias

Researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology develop a new method to terminate arrhythmias by disrupting spiral waves with a single designed stimulus, utilizing a concept called 'teleportation' to move the waves out of control. This approach may reduce energy and pain compared to traditional defibrillation.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 24, 2022

Georgia Tech researcher finds that military cannot rely on AI for strategy or judgment

A Georgia Tech researcher argues that AI cannot replace human strategy and judgment in warfare, citing the unpredictable nature of war and the need for human sense-making and moral decision-making. The research highlights the importance of human intervention in making tactical and strategic decisions.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalInternational Security·TypeObservational study·DateJun 14, 2022