Johns Hopkins researchers create ultra-strong copper that retains its ductility by manipulating the metal's microstructure through a process involving liquid nitrogen, rolling, and controlled heating. The resulting material exhibits enhanced strength without sacrificing flexibility.
Astronomers have identified a vivid scar in the Centaurus A Galaxy, composed of clusters of young blue stars formed after the galaxy absorbed a smaller satellite galaxy 200 million to 400 million years ago. The discovery suggests absorption of smaller galaxies may contribute to galactic halo formation.
A free computer program developed by Johns Hopkins researcher Benjamin W. Schafer allows designers to test stability and safety of thin-walled structures before construction. The CUFSM software provides critical predictions on buckling conditions, enabling the development of sturdiest and most cost-effective designs.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have successfully created cartilage-like tissue using adult stem cells in a minimally invasive procedure. The technique involves injecting a fluid filled with stem cells and nutrients into damaged tissue, where it hardens into a stable gel that can be replaced by new bone or cartilage.
Researchers found that genetic variations in HIV-A and HIV-C proteases make it harder for antiviral drugs to work. The study's findings have negative implications for long-term efficacy of therapies in patients infected with African subtypes.
The CONTOUR spacecraft, launched from Cape Canaveral, will provide the closest look yet at a comet's nucleus. It will orbit Earth until August 15 before firing its main engine and entering a comet-chasing orbit around the sun.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) successfully conducted the first ground test of a full-scale, fully integrated hypersonic cruise missile engine using conventional liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The Dual Combustion Ramjet (DCR) engine concept demonstrated robust engine operation at speeds up to Mach 6.5.
The CONTOUR mission will examine the 'heart' of comets, exploring their composition and dynamics through high-resolution images and gas analysis. The four-year mission will visit two comets, Encke and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, and potentially a new comet in the outer solar system.
A team of Johns Hopkins University students designed and built a muscle enhancement device that enables a disabled man to grasp and lift small objects. The device uses two motors, voice recognition software, and an exo-skeleton inspired by science fiction to provide mechanical help in moving the man's fingers and bending his elbow.
The NASA spacecraft TIMED observes the global reaction of the upper atmosphere to solar activity, helping scientists understand why some solar events have significant geospace impact. Preliminary data from TIMED will be featured at the Spring 2002 American Geophysical Union meeting, May 31, in Washington, D.C.
Two Johns Hopkins engineering students designed and fabricated a new whitewater recreation helmet with three layers of EVA foam for better protection. The prototype helmet was tested and found to absorb enough energy to prevent serious head injuries, with costs reduced by using rapid prototyping technology.
Researchers may use a super-fast laser pulse to observe and control nuclear reactions, potentially slowing or accelerating fission. The lasetron concept could also briefly produce massive magnetic fields, opening new experiments in astrophysics.
The CONTOUR spacecraft is set to launch on July 1, capturing the sharpest pictures yet of a comet's nucleus, mapping rock and ice surfaces, and analyzing surrounding gas and dust. The mission aims to provide detailed data on ancient comets, assessing their diversity and clarifying how comets evolve.
Research reveals that female starlings choose mates with the strongest immune systems, as these males tend to have better singing abilities. The finding supports a decade-old theory that suggests evolution has found a way to prevent male birds from cheating on their reproductive quality.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are launching a three-year study to investigate prescription drug pollution in drinking water, sewage treatment plants, and coastal waters. Two new scientific tools have been developed to aid in the investigation, including a survey of environmental concentrations and a highly sensitive lab test ...
The Johns Hopkins University team won second prize in the Microsoft .Net Best Awards for XML WebServices with their prototype virtual observatory program, SkyQuery. The service allows users to run queries across multiple databases simultaneously, including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and 2 Micron All-Sky Survey.
The MESSENGER project has passed a critical design review and is ready to move forward with building its spacecraft. The spacecraft will study Mercury's composition, geologic history, and magnetosphere over a one-year orbit, providing valuable insights into the inner solar system.
A team led by Hope Jahren found evidence that Axel Heilberg's forests received equatorial water and warmth from a prehistoric weather pattern. The discovery helps demystify the forest's existence near the North Pole, where sunlight and darkness last for four months each year.
Researchers previously thought mature nerve cells couldn't regenerate after damage. However, a new study reveals that altering naturally occurring compounds can restore regenerative ability in mature cells. The study's findings offer hope for developing new treatments for optic and spinal cord disorders.
The UN has launched a new handbook to track nonprofits globally, providing a permanent framework for the sector's economic impact. The handbook aims to accurately define the size and scope of nonprofit institutions, crucial for understanding their role in democracy and society.
A Johns Hopkins University senior has conducted original research that sheds new light on the identity of a 400-million-year-old organism. By comparing the fossil to modern relatives, the student found that the ancient specimen's chemistry more closely resembles that of lichens than previously thought.
The Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) has returned to full-time science operations after a guidance system fix. Scientists and engineers used electromagnets to push and pull on the Earth's magnetic field, achieving sub-arcsecond pointing stability and unlocking nearly half the sky for observations.
Christy Comeaux, a Johns Hopkins University undergraduate, is studying the genetics of fruit flies to understand human organ development. She has made key discoveries about how genes work in humans and how cells position themselves within organs.
Pamela Douglas, a Johns Hopkins University senior, is analyzing DNA from children suffering from Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata, a devastating disease that causes stunted limbs and mental retardation. Her work may yield clues to the development of a treatment for this rare but fatal disorder.
The new ACS instrument will provide two times the observational area, resolution, and sensitivity as existing instruments, allowing astronomers to capture more objects in detail at a faster rate. This will enable research to probe deeper into the universe, potentially revealing direct images of planets in nearby solar systems.
The TIMED spacecraft is beginning its two-year science mission to study the influences of the sun and humans on the least explored portion of Earth's atmosphere. The mission will provide a global picture of this critical region, enabling future 'space weather' predictions.
Economist Robert Moffitt has received a $1.3 million MERIT award to investigate the relationship between welfare reform and out-of-wedlock childbearing, exploring potential factors beyond just welfare benefits.
Researchers used data from thousands of galaxies to assess theories of star formation and stellar population dynamics. The cosmic spectrum shows a predominantly greenish hue due to the large numbers of old red stars and young blue stars in the universe.
A new theory suggests that an ancient supernova explosion may have devastated the Earth's ocean ecosystem, causing widespread extinction of plankton and marine organisms. The discovery was made by linking data from paleontology, geology, and astronomy fields.
Astronomers have produced a new spectral atlas of massive, hot O-type stars in the Magellanic Clouds. The atlas provides detailed information on the stars' temperatures and life cycles, helping researchers analyze these critical engines driving galaxy evolution.
The CONTOUR spacecraft, launched on July 1, 2002, will capture high-resolution photos of a comet's nucleus and analyze its composition. With a unique dust shield designed to protect it from comet particles, the spacecraft aims to provide insights into comets' origins and evolution.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are testing BufferGel, a vaginal gel that reinforces natural vaginal acidity to kill sperm and germs. The trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of BufferGel in reducing pregnancy risk when combined with a diaphragm.
Engineers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a cost-effective method to speed up microchip communication by using light beams instead of metal wires. The new technology, known as silicon on sapphire, takes advantage of the unique properties of this material to reduce power consumption and increase data transfer speeds.
Researchers at the new Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments will develop tools to gauge risks associated with hazardous waste sites and clean up pollutants. The center's initiatives focus on urban livability and brownfield redevelopment, aiming to create jobs and improve tax bases while addressing environmental concerns.
Droplets in salt crystals from various times in Earth's history reveal changing levels of major chemical components dissolved in ocean water. Lawrence Hardie's theory suggests that these changes may have fueled a nanoplankton population boom, leading to massive chalk deposits.
The online learning modules, developed by Johns Hopkins Professor Wilson Rugh, have won the 2001 Premier Award for Excellence in Engineering Education Courseware. The modules cover a wide range of concepts in signals, systems and control, providing interactive exercises and quizzes to assess learning.
The TIMED mission aims to study the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere (MLTI), a gateway between Earth's environment and space. The 2-year mission will gather comprehensive global measurements of temperature, pressure, wind, chemical composition, and energy inputs and outputs in this region.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has been selected by NASA to develop the first mission to explore Pluto and the Kuiper Belt region. The New Horizons: Shedding Light on Frontier Worlds mission will use a team of scientists and engineers from various institutions to design, build, and operate the spacecraft.
The TIMED mission will study the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere region, crucial for understanding space weather's effects on communications and satellite tracking. Ground-based instruments will be used to conduct a global study of this area.
A GSA panel will explore critical questions about water usage, including who owns a given resource and how to prioritize uses. The dialogue aims to integrate scientific and religious perspectives on global sustainability.
The National Virtual Observatory will unite diverse astronomical databases, making it easier for researchers to access and analyze data. The project aims to streamline data analysis techniques and promote collaboration among institutions.
The E-Screening Pilot Program uses electronic screening to check a moving vehicle's weight, height, safety history and tax/registration status. Cleared vehicles bypass weigh stations while those flagged 'at risk' are directed in for closer inspection.
A Johns Hopkins University team is developing a speech recognition system to help historians sift through Holocaust survivor interviews in languages other than English. The system aims to improve access to the archive's vast collection of video interviews.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new antimalarial drug that has passed the first stage of preclinical testing in mice and rats. The carboxyphenyl trioxane compound shows good therapeutic index, safety, and efficacy in treating malaria.
A new movie from NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission showcases the final moments of the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft's yearlong orbit at asteroid 433 Eros. The minute-long video, produced by imaging team member Mark Robinson, offers a close-up view of the asteroid's varied terrain and features.
Johns Hopkins undergraduates designed an aluminum lifting device to make playgrounds more accessible to children with limited mobility. The device features a 3-foot-square passenger compartment that can support 500 pounds and is powered by compressed air, providing a safe and efficient solution.
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission will attempt a controlled descent to the surface of asteroid 433 Eros on February 12, gathering close-up pictures of its boulder-strewn surface. The primary goal is to study the asteroid's composition and behavior, with a secondary aim of practicing maneuvers for future landing missions.
The Cassini spacecraft's Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) has captured the first images of Jupiter's magnetosphere and surrounding particles. These images reveal the presence of a huge nebula enveloping Jupiter, extending out to 13 million miles from the planet.
Engineers at Johns Hopkins University invented a globe-shaped motor that can rotate in any direction, giving robotic arms greater flexibility and precision. The device could also be used to create a computer mouse that interacts with the user, or as a three-dimensional wheel with omnidimensional characteristics.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has developed a low-cost method to fabricate scale models for aerodynamic wind tunnel tests. The alternative approach uses non-metallic materials like engineering polymers and thermoset resins, enabling program managers to obtain high-quality data at a fraction of the cost of trad...