Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Walking on ice takes more than brains

A cluster of neurons in the spinal cord, known as RORα neurons, integrates sensory information from light touch sensors to control muscle movements. This 'mini-brain' helps regulate balance and prevents falls by making subtle adjustments to foot position.

Sizing up giants under the sea

A research team analyzed body size data for 25 marine species, including whales, sharks, and squids, to correct inaccuracies and understand the challenges of measurement. The study found that some species exhibit significant size variation within a single species.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Hazy road to Mecca

During the annual hajj pilgrimage, scientists detected high levels of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide and benzene, in Mecca. The exposure to these chemicals increases the risk of heart failure, headaches, and other serious health issues, highlighting the need for improved regulations and reduced emissions.

Students design workstations that accommodate groups and individual

A team of Penn State engineering students designed workstations that allow users to share space while maintaining their own work areas. The researchers used simulations to determine optimal table shapes and sizes for accommodating groups of different sizes, ultimately publishing their findings in Applied Ergonomics.

NASA sees Tropical Storm Hagupit as Micronesia posts warnings

Tropical Storm Hagupit has become a Category One typhoon with maximum sustained winds near 70 knots, posing threats to islands in Micronesia. The storm is expected to continue moving west-northwest through the region and intensify before weakening on December 6.

Research reveals promising technology to expand hard cider industry

Researchers at Washington State University have discovered a promising technology to expand the hard cider industry by mechanical harvesting of cider apples. The study found that machine harvesting can provide up to four times less labor than hand harvesting, resulting in significant cost savings and improved efficiency for orchards.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Unsteady on your feet? Little touches could make all the difference

A new study has shown that even the lightest fingertip touch can significantly reduce sway in people with balance issues. The research, led by the University of Birmingham, found that this phenomenon is due to a sensory weighting mechanism that combines individual sensory feedback and motion cues from a partner.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Massive debris pile reveals risk of huge tsunamis in Hawaii

A recent study has found evidence of a massive tsunami that struck the Hawaiian islands around 500 years ago, with waves reaching up to nine meters high. The discovery has prompted officials to revise their tsunami evacuation maps to account for the possibility of an extreme tsunami hitting the county.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

A step in the right direction to avoid falls

Researchers at Ohio State University have gained insight into how the body moves when walking by watching people walk naturally on a treadmill. They discovered that tiny variations in pelvis movement and foot placement can predict future steps with high accuracy.

NASA's TRMM satellite tallies Hurricane Odile's heavy rainfall

Hurricane Odile brought extreme rainfall to Mexico's Baja California peninsula and southwestern United States, with estimated totals reaching almost three feet. The TRMM satellite analyzed real-time data to track the storm's impact, revealing highest rainfall totals of over 160 mm in northwestern Texas.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Run, cheetah, run

Researchers at MIT have created a robotic cheetah that can run at high speeds using an algorithm inspired by the biomechanics of real cheetahs. The robot's legs are programmed to exert a certain amount of force in the split second during which it hits the ground, allowing it to maintain speed and stability.

Seismic gap may be filled by an earthquake near Istanbul

Researchers from MIT and Turkey analyzed 20 years of GPS data to predict a major earthquake near Istanbul. The analysis suggests that the next large earthquake will occur along a seismic gap beneath the Sea of Marmara, west of Istanbul.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Genevieve downgraded to a tropical storm

Genevieve has been downgraded to a tropical storm, tracking northwestward at 8 knots per hour. Maximum sustained winds of 70 knots and gusts up to 85 knots are expected, making it far southeast of the Aleutian islands within 2-3 days.

NASA sees Typhoon Halong approaching Japan

Typhoon Halong is expected to make landfall in southern Japan on August 9 with maximum sustained winds near 85 knots, generating dangerous swells. The storm has already passed over the Minamidaito and Kitadaito Islands with hurricane-force winds.

Newly discovered juvenile whale shark aggregation in Red Sea

Researchers found hundreds of juvenile whale sharks gathering on coral reefs near Saudi Arabia, providing a rare insight into their daily lives and movements. The study tracked the sharks' movements over years, revealing frequent deep dives and a sex ratio of 1:1 at the site.

Walking on all fours is not backward evolution, study shows

A new study by Liza Shapiro at the University of Texas at Austin contradicts earlier claims that quadrupedal humans are a product of backward evolution. The research, published in PLOS One, shows that people with Uner Tan Syndrome (UTS) walk on all fours but use lateral sequences, not diagonal patterns characteristic of nonhuman primates.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

New spawning reefs to boost native fish in St. Clair River

Two new fish-spawning reefs will be built in the St. Clair River to boost native species such as lake sturgeon, walleye, and lake whitefish. The $3.5 million project aims to restore habitat by providing river-bottom rock structures suitable for spawning.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

New study involving CU-Boulder tells the tale of a kangaroo's tail

A new study involving CU-Boulder reveals that red kangaroos use their tails as a powerful fifth leg to support and propel motion while grazing on all fours. The study, published in Biology Letters, shows that the kangaroo tail performs as much mechanical work as one of its legs.

NASA's TRMM satellite analyzes Mexico's soaking tropical rains

The TRMM-based Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis system monitored near-real time rainfall totals for May 29 to June 6, 2014, during Tropical Storm Boris and System 90L's impact on Mexico. The satellite recorded the highest rainfall totals of over 535 mm in southern Mexico.

West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse is under way

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is collapsing, with the Thwaites Glacier expected to disappear in centuries and raise sea levels by nearly 2 feet. The study provides a quantitative estimate of the collapse's rates, suggesting scenarios ranging from 200 to 500 years.

Tapah downgrades to a depression

Tapah downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression due to strong vertical windshear and decreased sea surface temperature. The storm is currently tracking northwest at 10 knots per hour and expected to recurve to the northeast.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Physicist demonstrates dictionary definition was dodgy

A QUT physicist demonstrated that a siphon operates through gravity, not atmospheric pressure. The experiment involved a hypobaric chamber and showed that water flow remained constant despite changes in atmospheric pressure.

Lack of breeding threatens blue-footed boobies' survival

A study published in Avian Conservation and Ecology reveals that the iconic Blue-footed Booby population has declined by over 50% in less than two decades. The drastic drop is attributed to a lack of sardines in their diet, leading adult birds to elect not to breed, which in turn causes the population to shrink.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

The amazing anatomy of James Webb Space Telescope mirrors

The James Webb Space Telescope features a primary mirror composed of 18 smaller lightweight mirror segments, each with precise actuators to align and shape the mirror. The segments are designed to work together as one giant mirror, capturing light from distant galaxies and stars in space.

NASA sees an extra-tropical Lusi north of New Zealand

NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on Tropical Cyclone Lusi, revealing it had become a cold-core system with strongest winds spreading out. The storm is expected to bring gale-force winds and heavy rain to Northern New Zealand, particularly around North Cape.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Tissue repair drug helps heal diabetic foot ulcers

A new tissue repair drug has been shown to improve healing rates for diabetic foot ulcers, reducing the risk of amputation. Patients treated with the drug were twice as likely to have their ulcers heal within eight weeks compared to those receiving a placebo.

NASA sees Tropical Cyclone 15S form in the Mozambique Channel

Tropical Cyclone 15S has formed in the Mozambique Channel, with cloud top temperatures indicating powerful thunderstorms and potential for heavy rainfall. The cyclone is expected to strengthen into a hurricane-force storm over the next few days, generating 10-foot high waves.

Is height important in matters of the heart? New study says yes

A new study from Rice University and the University of North Texas suggests that physical similarity is not the dominant rule in human mating when it comes to height preferences. Women prefer taller partners mostly for protection and femininity, while men prefer shorter women but not extremely short ones for intimacy purposes.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Fossil of largest known platypus discovered in Australia

A new, giant species of extinct platypus, Obdurodon tharalkooschild, has been discovered in Australia. The estimated length of the species is nearly a meter, twice that of the modern platypus. The fossil record suggests that platypuses became smaller and reduced their teeth through time.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

'Anklebot' helps determine ankle stiffness

Researchers used the Anklebot robot to characterize the normal mechanics of the joint in healthy volunteers, finding that the ankle is strongest when moving up and down and weakest when turning inward. The findings may help clinicians better understand physical limitations caused by strokes and other motor disorders.

Does putting your feet up equal power?

Researchers found that expansive postures, like standing up and spreading arms, make people feel powerful across cultures. However, some postures that violate cultural norms, such as putting feet on desk, have little effect on individuals from East Asia.

'Mobility shoes' take a load off for knee osteoarthritis sufferers

A new study by Rush University Medical Center found that mobility shoes significantly reduced knee loading in osteoarthritis patients, even after the shoes were no longer worn. The study suggests that footwear choice may be an important consideration in managing knee osteoarthritis.

Arctic sea ice minimum in 2013 is sixth lowest on record

The Arctic sea ice minimum extent for 2013 reached 1.97 million square miles, the sixth lowest on record, due to a late start of the melt season and cooler temperatures. The remaining sea ice cover is much thinner than it was in previous decades, with an average thickness of only 6.2 feet.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

TRMM satellite sees system 98W organizing near Guam, Marianas

The TRMM satellite has observed heavy rainfall and banding of thunderstorms around System 98W in the northwestern Pacific, indicating potential consolidation into a tropical depression. The system is expected to become a tropical depression within 24 hours as it moves northwards.

NASA HS3 mission reveals Tropical Storm Humberto's hybrid core

The NASA HS3 mission has revealed that Tropical Storm Humberto had a hybrid core structure, characterized by both warm and cold cores at different levels. This discovery provides new insights into the processes underlying hurricane formation and intensity change in the Atlantic Ocean basin.

Higher lead levels may lie just below soil surface

A recent study of hundreds of soil samples from Rhode Island found that surface lead concentrations do not always accurately reflect contamination at depths below the soil surface. The research highlights the need for more comprehensive sampling methods to ensure public safety, particularly in areas with legacy lead-painted water towers.

Detecting heartbeats in rubble

A new FINDER technology uses microwave radar to detect human breathing patterns and heartbeats in rubble. The system is sensitive enough to locate victims buried under 30 feet of debris, revolutionizing search and rescue operations.