Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new algorithm called ReFIT that greatly improves the speed and accuracy of thought-controlled computer cursors. The system, which was tested on rhesus monkeys, can control the cursor with speeds approaching those of real arms, while previous systems saw decline in performance over time.
Stanford expert Elisabeth Paté-Cornell argues that 'black swan' events are rare, while 'perfect storms' can be assessed using systematic risk analysis. She recommends considering dependent events and external factors to make better management decisions.
The material combines a plastic polymer with nickel particles, allowing it to heal efficiently while maintaining conductivity. The researchers tested the material by cutting it multiple times, finding it could regain up to 75% of its strength within minutes.
Researchers created a device that tames the flow of photons using synthetic magnetism, breaking the time-reversal symmetry of light. This innovation enables precise control over photon trajectories, opening up novel ways to manipulate light for various applications.
Researchers found that UVB exposure changes the structure of skin cells, making them more prone to tearing under pressure and increasing the risk of cracking and chapping. Wearing sunscreen can help protect the skin's integrity.
Karl Deisseroth's CLARITY approach unites chemical engineering, molecular genetics, and optics to gather detailed information from intact brains, potentially elucidating psychiatric diseases like depression and schizophrenia. The $22.48M award enables his team to continue their research with the potential impact in biomedical science.
Christina Smolke, a Stanford bioengineer, has won a $2.5 million grant to explore using microbes to produce complex chemicals for advanced natural-product drugs. Her approach aims to transform the manufacturing scale and efficiency of microbial systems.
A new study suggests that wind power has plenty of potential to meet half the world's power demand by 2030, with a capacity to exceed demand by several times. Researchers used a sophisticated climate model to calculate the theoretical maximum wind power potential on Earth.
A team of engineers at Stanford University has demonstrated the feasibility of a super-small, implantable cardiac device that gets its power from radio waves transmitted from outside the body. The device is contained in a cube just eight-tenths of a millimeter in radius and can receive up to 50 microwatts of power.
Senesky and Pavone, Stanford assistant professors, receive $200,000/year grants for research on extreme environments and spacecraft motion planning. The awards support development of materials and electronics for future NASA space programs.
A study at Stanford University reveals the mechanical mechanisms in living cells, showing that cadherin-catenin-actin structure exerts force inside and between cells in living tissues. This understanding could have implications for biological processes such as tissue development, tumor growth, and complex organism formation.
A team of Stanford engineers has made breakthroughs in carbon nanotube circuits, providing a ten-times improvement in energy efficiency over silicon. They have overcome major barriers, including alignment and metallic contamination, using a unique imperfection-immune design paradigm.
Researchers propose a new theory that motor cortex neurons generate rhythmic signals to control arm movements, contradicting the long-held assumption of encoding external spatial information. This discovery has broad implications for neuroscience and may explain some of the perplexing aspects of brain activity in motor cortex.
Researchers at Stanford and Penn have developed an invisible photodetector that uses plasmonic cloaking to detect light. The device features silicon nanowires covered by a thin gold cap, which cancels out reflected light through destructive interference, rendering the device invisible.
Engineers at Stanford University have developed a novel method to decorate nanowires with nanoparticles, increasing surface area and altering surface chemistry. This technique may lead to improved lithium-ion batteries, more efficient thin-film solar cells and enhanced catalysts.
Researchers at Stanford University have directly observed plasmon resonances in individual metal particles measuring down to one nanometer in diameter. This discovery could lead to advancements in catalytic processes, cancer research and treatment, and quantum computing.
A team of Stanford engineers has developed a weather model to recommend the optimal placement of four interconnected offshore wind farms off the US East Coast. The grid would have a total maximum capacity of 2000 megawatts, with each farm delivering an individual maximum capacity of 500 megawatts.
Researchers at Stanford University have engineered piezoelectricity into a nanoscale material, known as graphene. By modifying the graphene lattice, they were able to achieve fine physical control and created piezoelectric levels comparable to traditional materials. This breakthrough brings new dimension to straintronics and has promis...
Stanford engineers developed a tiny, self-propelled medical device that can travel through the bloodstream using wireless power. The device has an antenna small enough to fit in the bloodstream and can propel itself at speeds of over half-a-centimeter per second.
Researchers at Stanford University have created tiny hollow spheres of photovoltaic nanocrystalline-silicon that harness physics to trap light, improving the performance of thin solar films. The nanoshells significantly increase light absorption over a broader spectrum of light.
Researchers at Stanford have created a novel nanowire welding technique using plasmonics that enables precise heating without damaging the wires. This breakthrough allows for the production of stronger, more efficient meshes for various electronic devices and solar applications.
A new study by Stanford researchers found that decreasing the time spent walking to fetch clean water can help reduce under-five mortality rates and prevent nutrition-depleting diarrhea. Cutting walking time by just 15 minutes can lead to an 11% reduction in child mortality and a 41% decrease in diarrhea prevalence.
Researchers at Stanford have developed a new technique to pack molecules closer together in organic semiconductors, more than doubling the speed of electrical charge movement. This breakthrough enables faster electronics for foldable devices and solar-powered energy harvesting.
Researchers at Stanford University have created a single-mode light-emitting diode (LED) that is thousands of times more energy efficient than laser-based systems. The device can transmit data at 10 billion bits per second and operates at room temperature, making it a major step forward for on-chip computer data transmission.
The Open Networking Summit brought together over 400 attendees from across the country to discuss Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and its potential to transform the industry. Key findings included the potential for SDN to reduce capital and operating expenses, increase revenues, and enable more innovation in networking.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a nanoscale nonlinear optical device that can be controlled electronically, offering potential applications in data communications and information processing. The device uses plasmonics to intensify light and produce a powerful electrical field.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Engineering used new measurement technologies and analytical mathematics to study the neurological explanations for movement planning. They found that neural activity varies depending on direction, distance, and speed of a pending movement, departing from previous theories.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new dual-action protein that effectively prevents the formation of blood vessels by targeting two key chemical receptors. This breakthrough could lead to more effective cancer treatments and potentially benefit diseases such as macular degeneration.
Computer interface design should prioritize physical interactions, taking into account the physical world's intuitions and fidelity of control. Prototyping is key to gathering user feedback for continuous improvement, ensuring interfaces augment rather than replace human experiences.