A team of biochemical engineers from the University of California, Irvine, has developed a finite state machine (FSM) using microfluidic valves and a pneumatic circuit to create a lab-on-a-chip. The goal of automating many chemical processes currently done by hand has been sought after by mechanical and biochemical engineers for several years. By automating these
The James Webb Space Telescope has made a remarkable discovery in a galaxy situated in the early Universe less than 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang. Astronomers have been able to detect complex molecules in the galaxy known as SPT0418-47, from light that traveled for over 12 billion years. The molecules, known as polycyclic
A recent study conducted by researchers at the Australian Catholic University, Columbia University and the University of Massachusetts has found that collective property rights in Indigenous territories in the Brazilian Amazon lead to higher rates of reforestation. The study compared secondary forest growth on land inside Indigenous territories to growth on land outside, and found
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that airlines will fly a near-record 4.35 billion passengers this year, and the industry is expected to post net profits of $9.8 billion in 2023, which is double the previous estimates. However, despite this positive outlook, the industry’s post-pandemic recovery remains fragile. The IATA also revised its estimated
Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has been gaining recognition as a safe and effective treatment for intractable depression. A new randomized trial conducted in the United States has shown that ketamine injections are as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) when treating non-psychotic forms of major depression. This development is significant as ECT has remained the standard
Biochar, a black powder produced by heating cocoa bean shells to 600 degrees Celsius in an oxygen-free environment, has the potential to address climate change by locking in greenhouse gases. The biochar industry is still in its infancy, but it provides a unique solution to remove carbon from the Earth’s atmosphere. The process captures CO2
“Blue balls” is a term familiar to most people, including healthcare providers. It refers to the discomfort or pain experienced in the scrotum due to prolonged sexual arousal without orgasm. While the exact cause of the pain is unknown, it is believed that the slowed drainage of blood from the testicles in the absence of
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine in the United States have repurposed human stomach cells into tissues that release insulin in response to rising blood sugar levels. This discovery has the potential to provide an effective way to manage conditions such as type 1 diabetes. The experiment involved transplanting gastric insulin-secreting (GINS)
Postnatal depression is commonly associated with women, but research shows that it affects men almost as much, with some studies estimating that up to 10% of fathers experience it. Despite this, there is a lack of information available about postnatal depression in men, which can make it difficult to recognize and seek help. This article
A recent study led by the University of Virginia has challenged the long-held understanding of how materials known as associative polymers function at the molecular level. The study, which has been published in the journal Physical Review Letters, has important implications for the many ways associative polymers are used in everyday life, ranging from engineering
A new study from Colorado State University indicates that the understanding of how and why mountains are formed may not be as thorough as previously thought. The study, led by Sean Gallen, a geosciences assistant professor at the university, utilized new data sets and techniques to reconstruct the long-term history of mountain building in southern
The field of electronics has seen significant advancements in recent years, leading to the creation of smaller and more sophisticated devices such as wearable technologies, biosensors, medical implants, and soft robots. The majority of these technologies rely on stretchy materials with electronic properties. However, many of the flexible materials used in these devices are fragile
A new population of filaments has been discovered in the space surrounding the heart of the Milky Way. These magnetized strands are aligned along the galactic plane and point towards the galactic center. According to astrophysicist Farhad Yusef-Zadeh of Northwestern University, these filaments are likely the remnants of an outflow from the supermassive black hole
Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking proposed a theory that black holes gradually lose mass over time through a strange form of radiation, as the event horizon disrupts surrounding quantum fields. This radiation, known as Hawking radiation, is thought to occur due to the complex mix of fluctuations within the quantum fields being interfered with by the event
A new study conducted by researchers from The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan in the US has found that the crash of conflicting beliefs jousting inside your head could leave you with more than just an aching brain. It could cause physical pain in your neck and back. Volunteers were asked to
