Add BrightSurf on Google Email

UC researchers looking for the Goldilocks of exosuits

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are searching for the ideal exosuit design to reduce muscle load and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The study found that commercially available exosuits have limitations, with the Auxivo LiftSuit being stiff and uncomfortable during prolonged wear.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalApplied Ergonomics·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 26, 2022

New Johns Hopkins study explores relationship between psychedelics and consciousness

A new Johns Hopkins study examines the link between psychedelics and consciousness, revealing a significant increase in attributing consciousness to various entities following a psychedelic experience. The study found that participants who reported belief-changing experiences showed substantial increases in attributing consciousness to...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateMar 31, 2022

University of South Florida awarded five-year, $1.35 million NIH institutional grant to train scientists in vascular inflammation and injury research

The University of South Florida has received a five-year, $1.35 million NIH institutional grant to train scientists in vascular inflammation and injury research. The grant will support the comprehensive training of pre- and postdoctoral scientists focused on this emerging area of research.

Alternative statistical method could improve clinical trials

Researchers have developed a new statistical toolkit using the fragility index to determine if clinical trial results are strong and reliable. The new method has been shown to be more flexible than previous versions, allowing researchers to test assumptions and consider implications of a wider range of outcomes.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 21, 2021

COVID-19 lockdowns deepened struggle for work-family balance

A new study by McGill University researchers found that COVID-19 lockdowns disproportionately affected graduate students' mental health, particularly among women. Women reported more stress related to remote teaching and caregiving responsibilities, leading to increased depressive symptoms.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPreventive Medicine Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 10, 2021

Dr. Sofia Sheikh awarded National Science Foundation Fellowship for Research & Education at the SETI Institute’s Allen Telescope Array

Dr. Sofia Sheikh has been awarded a Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to focus on fast radio bursts and develop improved technosignature detection methods. She will also mentor underrepresented students in physics and astronomy, leveraging the Allen Telescope Array's unique qualities.

Jet stream changes could amplify weather extremes by 2060s

Research suggests that climate-caused disruptions to the jet stream's position and intensity could lead to severe weather-related consequences. The study's findings imply that continued warming could cause significant deviations from the norm, rendering the jet stream drastically different within a matter of decades.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateSep 13, 2021

A robotic fish tail and an elegant math ratio could inform the design of next- generation underwater drones

University of Virginia researchers design a simple way to implement a tunable stiffness strategy in robots, enabling efficient swimming at varying speeds. The approach, inspired by the natural adaptability of fish, uses a programmable artificial tendon to adjust tail stiffness in real-time.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2021

Nanostructures enable record high-harmonic generation

Engineered nanostructures overcome problems in gas-based high-harmonic generation, enabling scientists to observe molecular dynamics with a single laser shot. The record-breaking conversion efficiency covers a wide range of photon energies, opening up new opportunities for studying matter at ultrahigh fields.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 21, 2021

A new spidey sense

Jumping spiders can recognize biological motion, a visual cue that refers to the movements of living organisms. The ability is critical for survival and has been found in vertebrates, but this study demonstrates its presence in an invertebrate, challenging our understanding of evolutionary history.

SourceHarvard University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 15, 2021

Still waiting at an intersection? Banning certain left turns helps traffic flow

A new method developed by Gayah and Aalto University researcher Murat Bayrak suggests eliminating left turns at busy intersections to reduce congestion. The hybrid approach uses heuristic algorithms to identify the most efficient configurations, banning left turns in city centers while allowing them on periphery roads.

SourcePenn State·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateJul 6, 2021

The role of computer voice in the future of speech-based human-computer interaction

A team of researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology and RIKEN, Japan, conducted a meta-synthesis to understand human perception and interaction with computer voices. They found that users prefer human-like voices, particularly those with high pitches and empathetic tones, and that the inclusion of vocal fillers improves interactions.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACM Computing Surveys·DateJun 1, 2021

Condensing by turning toward the crowd

A new mechanism of condensation has been discovered in self-propelled particles, where they turn and move toward dense regions to accumulate. This finding challenges the traditional understanding of condensation, which relies on attractive forces between molecules.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Physics·DateMay 20, 2021

Volcanoes on Mars could be active

Researchers at University of Arizona discovered evidence of recent volcanic activity on Mars, suggesting eruptions could have taken place in past 50,000 years. The discovery of a previously unknown volcanic deposit raises possibility of habitable conditions below Martian surface.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalIcarus·DateMay 10, 2021

Greater effectiveness in the treatment of arrhythmia with radio frequency energy and catheterization

Researchers have developed a new, high-power short-duration (HPSD) protocol for treating cardiac arrhythmias using radiofrequency energy and catheterization. The study shows this protocol is more effective than conventional ones in achieving shallower but extensive lesions, minimizing clinical complications.

SourceUniversitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona·JournalInternational Journal of Hyperthermia·DateMay 6, 2021

Heat-inactivation method successfully neutralizes coronavirus in less than a second

A team of researchers at Texas A&M University has successfully developed a heat-inactivation method that can neutralize the coronavirus in less than a second. This innovative approach uses high temperatures to break down the virus, providing a potential solution for mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The findings have significant impli...

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalBiotechnology and Bioengineering·DateApr 27, 2021