Cold atoms on a chip
UC Santa Barbara researchers are working to move cold atom quantum experiments and applications from the laboratory tabletop to chip-based systems, opening new possibilities for sensing, precision timekeeping, quantum computing…
Study shines headlights on consumer driverless vehicle safety deficiencies
For the first time,researchers at the University of California, Irvine have demonstrated that multicolored stickers applied to stop or speed limit signs on the roadside can confuse self-driving vehicles, causing…
Don’t let this stress you out
Having one traumatic experience is bad enough. If you’ve constantly experienced stress since before birth, you may be in for an especially tough time. Our emotions may be influenced by…
Melting Antarctic ice sheets will slow Earth’s strongest ocean current
Melting ice sheets are slowing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the world’s strongest ocean current, researchers have found. This melting has implications for global climate indicators, including sea level rise,…
Scientists solve mystery of how the drug retinoic acid works to treat neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is a solid tumor that occurs in children. When high-risk, the disease has a poor prognosis. Decades ago, adding the drug retinoic acid to neuroblastoma treatment increased survival by…
Researchers develop efficient lithium extraction method, setting stage for sustainable EV battery supply chains
In the race to meet the growing global demand for lithium — a critical component in batteries for electric vehicles — a team of researchers from Rice University’s Elimelech lab…
Obesity starts in the brain
The number of obese persons has grown significantly in recent decades, which presents significant difficulties for those who are impacted, healthcare systems, and those who provide treatment. The hormone insulin…
Powering the future — ultrathin films are revolutionizing electrical conductivity
What if your electronic devices could adapt on the fly to temperature, pressure, or impact? Thanks to a new breakthrough in downsizing quantum materials, that idea is becoming a reality.…
How do the universe’s highest-energy particles originate? Magnetic outflows stemming from star mergers, analysis concludes
Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays are the highest-energy particles in the universe, whose energies are more than a million times what can be achieved by humans. But while the existence of…
New device could allow you to taste a cake in virtual reality
Novel technology intends to redefine the virtual reality experience by expanding to incorporate a new sensory connection: taste. The interface, dubbed ‘e-Taste’, uses a combination of sensors and wireless chemical…