2015
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Robo-whiskers mimic animals exploring their surroundings
Scientists, inspired by seals and rats, have developed a robotic 'whisker' tactile sensor array designed to produce tomographic images by measuring fluid flow.
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UK bottom of European avoidable food waste league
The UK produces the highest amount of avoidable food waste in Europe—equivalent to a tin of beans per person per day. Those are the findings from a team of researchers based at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. The study, published today (12 August 2015) in the journal Environmental Research Letters, looked […]
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Could controlling fire emissions in industrial plantations be key to improving air quality in Equatorial Asia?
Researchers have combined satellite observations with atmospheric modelling to calculate how fires associated with industrial concessions in the Sumatra and Kalimantan regions of Indonesia affect air quality across Equatorial Asia. The findings, published today (12 August 2015) in the journal Environmental Research Letters, show that these industrial plantation-related fires make up almost half of the […]
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A brain-computer interface for controlling an exoskeleton
Scientists working at Korea University, Korea, and TU Berlin, Germany have developed a brain-computer control interface for a lower limb exoskeleton by decoding specific signals from within the user’s brain. Using an electroencephalogram (EEG) cap, the system allows users to move forwards, turn left and right, sit and stand simply by staring at one of […]
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Study finds geoengineering technique would not stop sea level rise
By Matt Carroll, Penn State University UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Albedo modification, an emerging technology with the potential to offset some aspects of climate change, shouldn’t be counted on as a short-term solution to stop rising global sea levels, according to a new study from Penn State geoscientists. “In the short term, the first few […]
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Chocolate physics: how modelling could improve ‘mouthfeel’
Lecithin is an ingredient that you’ve probably never heard of, but one that plays a vital role in the production of chocolate and many other foods. It’s never been clear how this ingredient works on a molecular level, and confectioners have relied on observational methods – essentially trial and error – to perfect their recipes. […]
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In September’s Physics World: The secret life of scientific ideas…
Many of the most memorable stories in the history of science revolve around the conscious realization of an idea – the “Eureka!” moment. But what triggers these moments? Is there always some serendipitous event preceding a sudden epiphany, such as when Isaac Newton famously figured out gravity when he saw a falling apple? Writing in […]
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Waste coffee used as fuel storage
Researchers have developed a simple process to treat waste coffee grounds to allow them to store methane.
