New evidence placebos work, even when people know they’re placebos

A new study is offering more evidence that placebo drugs can still work even when people are aware they are taking inactive pills. The research builds on a growing body of study suggesting “honest” placebos could have a role in modern clinical practice… Continue reading New evidence placebos work, even when people know they’re placebos

Hybrid robot hand combines strength with a soft touch

Generally speaking, robotic “hands” vary between rigid devices with a firm grasp, and softer, gentler gadgets that are a bit wimpier. Now, however, scientists have created an appendage that they claim combines the best features of both.Continue Reading… Continue reading Hybrid robot hand combines strength with a soft touch

Forest fire detector is powered by the movement of trees

When it comes to putting out forest fires, the sooner that they’re detected, the better. That’s where a new forest-deployed sensor could come in, as it’s powered by swaying tree branches.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Michigan State University,… Continue reading Forest fire detector is powered by the movement of trees

Stretchable supercapacitors pave the way for super-flexy power sources

We’ve seen flexible supercapacitor designs before, but how about one that’s stretchable? A new discovery by researchers at Duke University and Michigan State University could lead to an excellent stretchable power source for wearable electronics.Contin… Continue reading Stretchable supercapacitors pave the way for super-flexy power sources

Breakthrough forensic ID method can be applied to any strand of hair on the body

A team of scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) Forensic Science Center (FSC) and Michigan State University are developing a method to identify a person from a single hair taken from anywhere on the human body. Based… Continue reading Breakthrough forensic ID method can be applied to any strand of hair on the body

Vets use fish skins as grafts, putting burned Rottweiler on road to recovery

The collagen-rich properties of fish skin have seen it gain some serious utility as a tool for treating burns, with tilapia grafts in particular coming to the aid of animals badly injured in last year’s California wildfires. Veterinarians hav… Continue reading Vets use fish skins as grafts, putting burned Rottweiler on road to recovery

Impulsive personalities most likely to fall victim to cybercrime, research shows

New research from Michigan State University examining the behavior that leads someone to fall victim to cybercrime reveals that impulse online shopping, downloading music and compulsive email use are all signs of a certain personality trait that make y… Continue reading Impulsive personalities most likely to fall victim to cybercrime, research shows

Climate Models Overestimate How Much CO2 Plants Can Remove From the Atmosphere

Carbon dioxide levels might increase even more rapidly than expected based on new research on the molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis. Continue reading Climate Models Overestimate How Much CO2 Plants Can Remove From the Atmosphere