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Chen receives Humboldt Award

Long-Qing Chen, a renowned professor at Penn State, has been awarded the Humboldt Research Award for his significant contributions to materials science and engineering. He plans to establish international collaborations and learn about European cultures through a one-year research project in Germany.

Even geckos can lose their grip

Researchers at Linköping University have demonstrated that geckos and spiders lose grip due to the effect of heat on van der Waals forces. This phenomenon has significant industrial benefits, particularly in the production of graphene, where detachment from the substrate is crucial.

SourceLinköping University·JournalPhysical Review E·DateJul 9, 2014

Even brief interruptions spawn errors

Research at Michigan State University found that even brief interruptions can significantly impact accuracy on complex tasks. The study, which involved 300 participants and a sequence-based procedure, discovered that interruptions lasting just three seconds doubled the error rate. This finding has significant implications for professio...

New seismology research on Haiti, slow earthquakes and the southern San Andreas Fault

Researchers explore scaling relationships of slow slip events and compare them to similar laws for earthquakes, highlighting the need for further study to understand fault mechanics. A newly defined propeller-like geometry of southern San Andreas Fault may require re-thinking ground motion assessments.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateJan 26, 2012

'I'm a Mac' -- so what? Study finds way to measure brand personality appeal

Researchers from North Carolina State University developed a system to measure brand personality appeal (BPA), allowing companies to understand how favorably their brand is viewed by consumers. The BPA framework assesses three components: favorability, originality, and clarity, grading brands on their overall appeal.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of the Academy of Marketing Science·DateApr 18, 2011

Stretching the truth: JILA biophysicists help unravel DNA stretching mystery

Researchers at JILA disprove the popular theory that DNA's backbone needs a small gap or loose ends to extend by 70% when subjected to 65 picoNewtons of force. The new study uses a novel test structure to demonstrate that the mechanism behind overstretching is the same for both nicked and intact DNA molecules.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 20, 2011

First powder injection molding process for pure niobium

The Penn State team has successfully developed a method to calculate optimal proportions of niobium powder to binder and temperature for sintering, opening doors to injection-molded niobium parts. The approach can be applied to other materials with irregularly-shaped particles, expanding its potential applications.