• Robust nanosponges soak up oil again and again

    Researchers show that nanotube blocks hold promise for environmental cleanup following oil spills or other disasters; the robust sponge can be used repeatedly and stands up to abuse; a sample nanosponge remained elastic after about 10,000 compressions in the lab; the sponge can also store the oil for later retrieval

  • Insider: H5N1 studies publication vote biased, unbalanced

    In late March, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) reversed its earlier recommendation, made in December 2011, against full publication of two studies describing lab-modified H5N1 viruses with increased transmissibility in mammals; the recommendation was based on fears that the findings would help terrorist design effective bioweapons; a NSABB board member says that the March reversal of the December recommendation was the result of a bias toward finding a solution that was more about getting the government out of the current dilemma than about a careful risk-benefit analysis

  • Ion stream to clean up Earth orbit, deflect asteroids

    One of the legacies of the space age is an ever-more-crowded near-Earth orbit, where all manner of long-abandoned human-made objects loiter, posing danger to newer space platforms; scientists want to develop a magnetized-beam plasma propulsion device which would be deployed in Earth orbit and which would  use a focused ion stream to push dead satellites and other debris toward Earth’s atmosphere, where they would mostly burn up on re-entry; the device could also be used to deflect menacing Earth-bound asteroids hurtling toward Earth

  • Diet change required to curb most potent greenhouse gas

    N2O is the third highest contributor to climate change behind carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), but it poses a greater challenge to mitigate as nitrogen is an essential element for food production; it is also the most potent of these three greenhouse gases as it is a much better absorber of infrared radiation

  • Rhinoceros beetles foretell future of flapping-wing design

    Researchers launch a quantitative investigation of aerodynamics and wing kinematics in rhinoceros beetle flight in order to shed new light on the evolution of flapping flight in nature; experimental study of the aerodynamic performance of beetles in forward/hovering flight will provide insight into designs for efficient and stable flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles

  • In environmental disasters, families experience conflict, denial, silence

    Environmental disasters affect individuals and communities; they also affect how family members communicate with each other, sometimes in surprising ways; the researchers say that the findings were, in some ways, counterintuitive

  • £5 million investment in U.K. rail technology, business innovation

    The U.K. government is leading on an investment of £5 million to accelerate business innovation and growth in the U.K. rail industry, using the funds to support the development of technologies to address technological and business challenges

  • Simulations helps overcome design challenges

    Simulation software can pull volumes of complex data beyond simple measurements (think comparative load or stress tolerances) and layer that information into images; simulation can show how a bridge will perform based on how it is used, the conditions around it, its design, materials, and even variables such as the position of a joint — before a single component is manufactured or ground is broken

  • Southern sea levels rise dramatically

    Sea levels have risen about twenty centimeters in the South West Pacific since the late nineteenth century, a new scientific study shows

  • Most states in U.S. unprepared for growing water threats to economy, health

    Only nine states in the United States have taken comprehensive steps to address their vulnerabilities to the water-related consequences of changes in climate — rainfall events which increase flooding risks to property and health change, and drought conditions which threaten supply for municipalities, agriculture, and industries — while twenty-nine states are unprepared for growing water threats to their economies and public health

  • Formation of hate groups associated with presence of big-box stores

    In a new research, economists say that the presence of big-box retailers, such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Target, may alter a community’s social and economic fabric enough to promote the creation of hate groups; the researchers say that the number of Wal-Mart stores in a county is more significant statistically than factors commonly regarded as important to hate group participation, such as the unemployment rate, high crime rates, and low education

  • DARPA offers $2 million in prizes for Robotic Challenge winners

    DARPA is seeking hardware, software, modeling, and gaming developers to link with emergency response and science communities to design robots capable of supervised autonomous response to simulated disaster

  • Miniature sensors to advance climate studies, battlefield detection

    Self-sealing valves are not only better for collecting reliable climate information – they also increase data reliability for airborne industrial and battlefield gas detection and point-of-contact medicine

  • Growing Asia Pacific research strengths leaving U.S.-based research behind

    The publications output of Chinese scientists is set to surpass that of U.S.-based scientists by 2013; in the meantime, major investments in discovery and innovation are building capacity in Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan

  • Raytheon highlights Mathematics Awareness Month activities

    The importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to U.S. economic well-being and national security cannot be overemphasized; Raytheon is famous for its commitment to STEM education, and this month — Mathematics Awareness Month — the company highlights the many STEM-related activities it sponsors