It is a phenomenon that has eluded description for centuries. Today's supercomputers are not up to the task of simulating it in detail. And the great physicist Richard Feynman reportedly called it "the most important unsolved problem of classical physics." [More]



Physics - Richard Feynman - Quantum Mechanics - People - Education

A new system for the controlled delivery of pharmaceutical drugs has been developed by a team of chemical engineers using nanoparticles embedded in a liposome that can be triggered by non-invasive electromagnetic fields.

A team of roboticists and computer scientists has created a truly three-dimensional display scheme , with multiple layers of water serving as the display surfaces. [More]



Water - Display device - Business - Energy - Utilities

Two new species of fish from the Gulf of Mexico that walk on their fins and sit-and-wait for prey are described in a new research paper. This highlights the undescribed biodiversity of the area effected by the Gulf oil spill.

Happier youths are also healthier youths, according to new research. Adolescents' positive emotions and moods, as well as their satisfaction with life, could be more important than their anxiety or depression levels for predicting their physical health, they argue.

Living in an environment rich with social and physical challenges might curb cancer growth by itself, a new study shows. Researchers discovered that an enriched environment activates a nervous-system pathway used by the brain to tell fat cells to stop releasing a hormone called leptin into the bloodstream. This cancer-curbing effect occurred in models of melanoma and colon cancer. The findings suggest that some kinds of mild stress can benefit cancer survivors.

Scientists have discovered a compound that restores the capacity to form new memories in aging rats, likely by improving the survival of newborn neurons in the brain's memory hub. The research has turned up clues to a neuroprotective mechanism that could lead to a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The neuroprotective compound, called P7C3, holds promise because of its medication-friendly properties. It can be taken orally, has long-lasting effects, and is safely tolerated by mice.

A new type of surgery can improve patient outcomes in individuals with severe adult flat foot deformity, a problem that is increasingly being seen in hospitals across the country. Patients who undergo the new surgery have better long-term outcome and mobility than those who undergo traditional surgery.

For many, the warm glow of fireflies in the night air is a sure sign that summer has arrived. After dark, these bioluminescent beetles are generally visible only when they emit flashes of yellow, green or pale red from their lower abdomen as part of their mating ritual. Some species of firefly have found their own key to successful coupling-- synchronous flashing patterns, a phenomenon that has attracted the attention of a team of researchers studying what pattern recognition tells us about how the brain is wired. [More]



Firefly - Bioluminescence - Species - Shopping - Novelty

A short delay in school start time appears to be associated with significant improvements in adolescent alertness, mood and health, according to a new study.