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Star Trek Classroom: The next generation of school desks

A three-year project at Durham University has found that collaborative learning increases both fluency and flexibility in mathematics, while using interactive smart desks can have benefits over traditional paper-based activities. The new 'Star Trek classroom' also encourages active student engagement and equal access.

SourceDurham University·JournalLearning and Instruction·DateNov 22, 2012

Music to the ears for a good night's sleep?

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center conducted a pilot study on a non-invasive approach using musical tones to balance brain activity and reduce insomnia. The study found that participants who received HIRREM therapy experienced a 10.3 point drop in Insomnia Severity Index scores, indicating improved insomnia symptoms.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalBrain and Behavior·DateNov 20, 2012

First noiseless single photon amplifier

Griffith University researchers have developed a device capable of amplifying the information in a single photon without adding noise, preserving quantum information. The breakthrough has far-reaching implications for quantum technologies, including improved quantum cryptography and long-distance communication.

SourceGriffith University·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 11, 2012

Traumatic consequences long after fall of the Berlin Wall

A recent study has found that former political prisoners in East Germany continue to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 15 years after their imprisonment. The study, which followed up with 78 men and 15 women who were initially interviewed in the mid-1990s, revealed that PTSD affects about a third of those studied.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalDer Nervenarzt·DateOct 25, 2012

Can diabetes devices be damaged by airport security scanners?

Research highlights the potential impact of airport security scanners on diabetes devices, including insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems. The Editorial calls for more research to understand and potentially repair this issue affecting hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who use insulin pump therapy.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalDiabetes Technology & Therapeutics·DateOct 24, 2012

Digital tabletop system with views on demand

A new digital tabletop system, PiVOT, allows users to view shared content while each individual receives a personalized view, with multiple views possible at the same location without interfering with others. The system supports various applications and has been implemented with a sample prototype evaluated for its effectiveness.

Get with the computer program

A pan-Quebec study found that students prefer engaging lectures over targeted tweets, while instructors were more comfortable with emails than social media. The research suggests that curriculum design and professional development should prioritize interactive activities over technology integration.

Wayne State's new flexible electronics technology may lead to new medical uses

A new flexible electronics technology developed by Wayne State University's Yong Xu has opened up possibilities for health care and medical applications of electronic devices. The technology is compatible with mainstream CMOS processes, allowing for the creation of high-performance and high-density CMOS circuits on flexible substrates.

The laser beam as a '3-D painter'

Scientists at Vienna University of Technology developed a method called 3D-photografting, which allows them to attach molecules at exact positions. This technique can be used to grow artificial biological tissue with specific inner structures and create tiny three-dimensional 'labs on a chip' for sensor technology.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateAug 27, 2012

Addressing the need for microscopic speed

Researchers have developed a digital microscope that creates high-resolution images at fast speeds, enabling scientists to study biological processes like cell activity in greater detail. The new device uses a programmable micromirror system to reject unwanted light and improve image quality.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 24, 2012

How to feed data-hungry mobile devices? Use more antennas

Researchers from Rice University unveiled a new multi-antenna technology dubbed Argos, which aims to dramatically increase network capacity by allowing cell towers to simultaneously beam signals to more than a dozen customers on the same frequency. The technology could result in a six-fold increase in network capacity and energy savings.