For an animal missing both a heart and a brain, jellyfish are beautifully mystifying to watch as they glide through the water. As very simple creatures and extremely slow swimmers, jellyfish have been overlooked by many researchers when in fact the way in which they pulsate their bell to move is quite complex and efficient. […]
Monitoring the heart for long periods of time has become easier than ever because of the development of wristwatches, smartphones, and wearable devices in the age of today’s biosensing revolution. The most notable of these devices is perhaps the Apple Watch, which comes embedded with a built-in electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart rate monitor and now
Good vibrations (and how to sense the really bad ones) Read More »
Despite constant navigation on its waters, many aspects of the ocean remain mysterious. Ships have been facing the ocean’s hidden surfaces and unpredictable storms for most of history. By releasing sound waves, and measuring the time it takes for them to return, Sound Navigation and Ranging (sonar) aids with travel, navigation, and detection. In the
Fessenden’s oscillator is all the range: An early foundation of sonar Read More »
Algorithms. They’re everywhere. Whether it’s curating your Discover page on Instagram or simply showing you the results of your Google search, we interact with algorithms on a daily basis. Algorithms analyze our every move — every double tap, click, and online purchase determines future ad placements, autocorrect suggestions, or page layouts. Though we voluntarily provide
Developing and releasing a new drug is one of the most challenging tasks that pharmaceutical companies have. The main effect of this challenge is that about 97 percent of new drug projects fail and never reach the market, resulting in a lack of clinical efficacy. Molecular modeling, however, has proven to be a valuable asset
Revolutionizing drug discovery with molecular modeling Read More »
If COVID-19 has improved one skill of the masses other than bread baking, it’s recognizing people without their face. From six feet away with masks covering most of their faces, people have now become recognizable by their mannerisms, clothing choices and occasionally (if you can hear them through their masks) their voices. Not being able
Contact tracing and privacy Read More »
The Earth is constantly awash with energy. During the day, photons literally fall from the sky, pumped out by fusion reactions in the Sun, and power countless processes on Earth. Humans have not evolved photosynthesis (yet), but a technological workaround has been developed. Solar panels now cover the roofs of homes and acres of solar
Sunlight and Semiconductors Read More »
Bubbles are the subject of fascination for young children and legendary physicists alike; though pretty to observe, they also offer intriguing lessons in fluid dynamics. Looking closely at the surface of a soap bubble, a shimmering, iridescent surface swirling with activity can be observed. These mesmerizing patterns are due to the Marangoni effect. This phenomenon
The Science of Soap Bubbles Read More »
Turning off lights when you leave a room; unplugging chargers when they are not in use; taking shorter showers; carpooling and using public transportation. All of these actions, while important to adapt to the age of global warming, leave very little impact in the long run. In order to keep rising temperatures below 2 degrees