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Too much texting can disconnect couples

A recent study by Brigham Young University researchers found that excessive texting can lead to lower relationship quality in committed relationships. For both men and women, using text messages to resolve conflicts or make decisions is associated with reduced relationship satisfaction.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalJournal of Couple & Relationship Therapy·DateOct 30, 2013

Low-priced plastic photovoltaics

Researchers have developed a new method for exerting control over the arrangement of polymer molecules in plastic solar cells, enabling them to produce more electrical current. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more efficient solar panels, making renewable energy more accessible.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateOct 22, 2013

BrainGate wins $1M B.R.A.I.N. prize in Israel

The BrainGate team has developed a revolutionary brain-computer interface that allows people with severe paralysis to control robotic arms and interact with the world around them. The $1M B.R.A.I.N. Prize award recognizes their groundbreaking work in advancing technology for the betterment of humanity.

Chemist wins prize for water-purifying tech

A young Bangladeshi chemist has developed a reactor that removes nitrates from drinking water using electrodes, a process that also preserves healthy minerals. The tech aims to improve access to clean drinking water in Bangladesh and other developing countries.

SourceTWAS·DateOct 1, 2013

Creating electricity with caged atoms

A team of researchers at the Vienna University of Technology has created a new class of thermoelectric materials with exceptional properties. The material's unique crystal structure and trapped magnetic atoms create a high voltage when hot and cold objects are connected, making it more efficient than previous materials.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateSep 22, 2013

Researchers hit virtual heads to make safer games

A study by Washington State University researchers found that two softballs with different properties can result in significantly different injury risks when hit at high speeds. The team developed a virtual head model using Thums, a computerized skeletal system, to simulate collisions and quantify the effects of ball-impact.

SourceWashington State University·JournalProcedia Engineering·DateSep 12, 2013

Mobile PCB cleanup system developed

A new technology from the University of Calgary destroys hazardous chemical compounds in soil using UV light, promising a safer and cheaper way to clean up PCBs. The mobile cleanup unit is ready for field-testing on PCB-contaminated soil and estimates to cost $350 to $500 per tonne.

eButton health monitor gets a facelift

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new computational tool for the eButton health monitor, which can now extract food from images and estimate portion sizes with an average error of only 3.69%. The device uses a geometric-shape library to remove background images and measure volume by projecting and fitting sel...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalMeasurement Science and Technology·DateSep 9, 2013

Drug patch treatment sees new breakthrough

Researchers have developed a new flexible microneedle patch that can deliver drugs directly through the skin, quickening delivery time and minimizing side effects. The breakthrough technology uses particle replication to create patches with precise control over shape and composition, reducing waste and increasing production efficiency.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateSep 6, 2013

Wayne State receives grant to reduce emissions of toxins by power plants into Great Lakes

A Wayne State University team is working on a technology that can quickly and significantly reduce the emission of mercury and other toxic substances by power plants into the Great Lakes basin. The Locational Emissions Estimation Methodology (LEEM) technology, which was previously supported by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, will be r...

NTU-led research shows Burmese long-tailed macaques' ability using stone tools threatened by human activity in Thailand

A study led by Singapore's Nanyang Technological University found that Burmese long-tailed macaques' ability to use stone tools is under threat due to human farming and domestic dog introduction. The researchers advise Thailand's authorities to protect the animals' tool-using traditions in marine national parks.