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New invention at the Weizmann Institute

A new device developed at the Weizmann Institute uses sniffing technology to enable communication and wheelchair steering for severely disabled individuals. The device was tested on healthy volunteers and quadriplegics, showing promising results in mastering the skill, which can also be used as a 'third hand' for surgeons and pilots.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 26, 2010

Virginia Tech mathematician wins international award

John A. Burns has been awarded the W. T. and Idelia Reid Prize in Mathematics for his fundamental contributions to computational methods and applications in control, design, and optimization of infinite dimensional dynamical systems. He is currently working on reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through modeling, s...

For most outfielders, luck has nothing to do with catching flies

A study published in the Journal of Vision found that outfielders catch fly balls by tracking optical acceleration, rather than predicting the ball's trajectory. The research used a virtual environment to test three major theories of fly catching, and confirmed that baseball players continuously track the ball and run forward or backwa...

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Vision·DateJan 22, 2010

When seeing IS believing

A study by Adam Galinsky and Jennifer Whitson found that individuals seek to regain control by perceiving connections between unrelated events, leading to superstitions and conspiratorial thinking. Restoring a sense of control can normalize perceptions and behavior.

SourceManning Selvage & Lee·JournalScience·DateOct 2, 2008