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DIY tools TalkBox and SenseBox help people with disabilities to communicate

Researchers at University of Maryland Baltimore County developed DIY assistive technology platforms, including TalkBox and SenseBox, to facilitate communication for people with disabilities. These open-source platforms use low-cost sensors and a Raspberry Pi to enable users to communicate through images, sounds, or tactile objects.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County·JournalIEEE Pervasive Computing·DateFeb 11, 2020

Russian scientists propose a technology reducing the cost of high-efficiency solar cells

Researchers from ITMO University have proposed a technology for manufacturing high-efficiency solar cells based on A3B5 semiconductors integrated on a silicon substrate, which may increase the efficiency of existing photovoltaic converters by 1.5 times. The new technology could lead to more effective and affordable solar energy solutions.

SourceITMO University·JournalSolar Energy Materials and Solar Cells·DateFeb 7, 2020

Bending diamond at the nanoscale

A team of Australian scientists has discovered that diamond can be bent and deformed at the nanoscale, creating possibilities for the design and engineering of new nanoscale devices. The discovery opens up a range of possibilities for applications in sensing, defence and energy storage.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateFeb 5, 2020

New droplet-based electricity generator: A drop of water generates 140V power, lighting up 100 LED bulbs

A research team has developed a droplet-based electricity generator that can produce 140V power from a single drop of water. The device features a field-effect transistor-like structure and achieves high energy-conversion efficiency and instantaneous power density, making it an innovative solution for sustainable energy generation.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature·DateFeb 5, 2020

New method for removing oil from water

Researchers at the University of Bonn have developed an environmentally friendly technology to remove oil from water. Textiles with special surface properties passively skim off the oil and move it into a floating container without using chemicals.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (A )·DateFeb 3, 2020

Discovery of a new liquid-liquid interfacial deformation by partial miscibility

A team of international researchers has discovered a new phenomenon where partially miscible liquids deform the liquid-liquid interface. This finding is significant for oil recovery and CO2 injection processes, as it challenges traditional understanding of fluid dynamics in such systems. The study's results have implications for improv...

SourceTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·DateJan 27, 2020

In mice, alcohol dependence results in brain-wide remodeling of functional architecture

Researchers at University of California San Diego School found that alcohol dependence remodels the functional architecture of mouse brains, leading to increased coordinated activity and reduced modularity. This change is associated with cognitive impairment, emotional distress, and intense craving in mice.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 14, 2020

A better estimate of water-level rise in the Ganges delta

Scientists provided reliable regional estimates of land subsidence and water-level rise in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta, projecting 85-140cm rise by 2100. The delta's 200 million inhabitants face significant flooding risks due to climate change, intense monsoon rainfall, rising sea levels, and land subsidence.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 6, 2020

Understanding the mechanisms of seemingly chaotic synchronization in trees

A team of scientists at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have developed a method to model the synchronization behaviors of different tree species using control parameters. They found that two populations of Zelkova serrata trees 20 kilometers apart were completely synchronized in a '3-year cycle', demonstrating the Period...

SourceTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 19, 2019

High-tech method for uniquely targeted gene therapy developed

Neuroscientists at Lund University have developed a new technology to deliver gene therapy to specific cell types, accelerating evolution from millions of years to weeks. The method combines computer simulations and modeling with gene technology and sequencing to tailor virus shells for precise targeting.

SourceLund University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 13, 2019