July 10, 2018 |
Lego Nerve Gas Detector
- Chemists design a mobile, affordable nerve gas detector out of Lego bricks.
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March 27, 2017 |
Crowdsourcing Artificial Intelligence
- The U.S. Navy asks computer gamers to help brainstorm the challenge posed by super-intelligent machines.
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December 5, 2016 |
Artificial Dog Nose
- Researchers reverse engineer one of nature’s greatest sniffers.
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September 26, 2016 |
Violence Perceptions
- Why our perception of violence goes up, while actual violence goes down.
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April 11, 2016 |
Phantom Limb Pain
- After losing a limb to amputation, many people often feel severe pain emanating from the non-existent appendage anyway. A new treatment targeting nerves could turn off the pain signals.
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February 9, 2016 |
Sleep Deprivation & False Confessions
- Sleep deprivation may lead people to confess to things they haven’t done.
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November 19, 2015 |
Cultural Terror Campaign
- Satellite surveillance documents ISIS’s targeted destruction of sacred landmarks.
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September 8, 2015 |
Cleaning Up TNT
- Plants can help remove explosive toxins from land surrounding military sites and conflict zones.
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March 4, 2015 |
Climate Change & Conflict
- Earth’s changing climate may already be playing a role in today’s conflicts.
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February 24, 2015 |
Forecasting Terrorism
- A computer scientist finds predictable patterns in terrorist attacks.
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December 2, 2014 |
Femtorisks
- How can society keep small actions from growing into huge problems?
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October 3, 2014 |
Syrian Cultural Site Destruction
- War in Syria is reducing much of the country’s cultural heritage to rubble.
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January 21, 2014 |
Vicarious Trauma
- Observing a single traumatic event can alter the brain of a mouse.
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October 8, 2013 |
Ships to Reefs
- Sinking old warships creates new habitats for marine species.
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August 30, 2013 |
Podcast for 30 August 2013
- PRE-HISTORIC SCIENCE - Is there a connection between hot weather and violence? And, were our ancestors really as warlike as we make them out to be? Also, did ancient Egyptians jewelry have extraterrestrial origins? And, were spices part of ancient European cuisine?
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August 12, 2013 |
Human Hostility
- Prehistoric, tribal humans may have been less warlike than we thought.
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August 8, 2013 |
Climate & Conflict
- Climate change may precipitate violence, according to a historical analysis.
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June 28, 2013 |
Podcast for 28 June 2013
- BRAINS & BEHAVIOR - When apes take a gamble. The value of precision in negotiations. And a new approach to targeting drug addiction in the brain. Also: what above-ground nuclear tests in the mid-20th century can tell scientists about the brain.
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June 24, 2013 |
Bombs & Brain Cells
- Nuclear testing in the mid 20th century is helping scientists understand how the brain makes new neurons.
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May 13, 2013 |
Insect-Inspired Camera
- The compound eyes of insects have inspired the design of a new camera.
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May 4, 2012 |
Techno Animal Roundup
- Researchers are breeding specialized fish that glow when exposed to industrial pollutants.
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October 27, 2011 |
The E. Coli Code
- Scientists have created a secret fluorescent code by inserting jellyfish genes into E. coli bacteria.
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August 22, 2011 |
Safe Water Software
- New software can quickly flag tainted water supplies.
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August 19, 2011 |
Podcast for 19 August 2011
- WATER EVERYWHERE - Astronomers have discovered the largest cache of water ever, and researchers are developing new software for detecting contamination of municipal water supplies. Also: Round robots to help safeguard nuclear power plants.
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May 5, 2011 |
Anti-Explosive Spray
- An inky spray changes color when explosives are detected.
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March 11, 2011 |
Cancer Detection Roundup
- A new laser technique could diagnose skin cancer in minutes.
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January 17, 2011 |
Future Wheelchairs
- Engineers are designing electric-powered wheelchairs that can identify and respond to the type of terrain they're on.
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December 20, 2010 |
Satellites & Human Rights
- Satellite images document human rights abuses in Burma.
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August 27, 2010 |
Podcast
- Cold weather heart attacks, a new test for ovarian cancer, high-elevation adaptations, what the numbers on a bottle of motor oil mean, and a telephone translator.
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August 25, 2010 |
Translator Phones
- A specialized telephone may serve as a translator for troops in Afghanistan.
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June 15, 2010 |
Cell Phone Air Sensors
- Installing chemical sensors in cell phones could create a worldwide system for identifying dangerous airborne toxins.
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June 4, 2010 |
Podcast
- TECHNOLOGY UPDATE: Ecologically-friendly plastic, a cleaner way to produce hydrogen fuel, cell phone air sensors, the perils of spaceflight, the ethical implications of synthetic life, and more.
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December 24, 2009 |
Antarctic Treaty
- Scientists from all over the world recently gathered in Washington, DC to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty.
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November 24, 2009 |
Satellites for Human Rights
- Satellite imagery helps human rights teams assess destruction in war-torn regions of the world.
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November 13, 2009 |
Podcast
- Satellites for human rights, a sprinter's anatomical advantage, the face of aggression, and newborns with accents.
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September 29, 2009 |
Tortured Memories
- Using torture to extract information from suspects may have the opposite of the intended effect.
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September 25, 2009 |
Podcast
- Torture gets a failing grade from neuroscience, a new benthic rover explores the ocean floor, how surrealism makes you smarter, and putting full moon folklore to the test.
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July 14, 2009 |
Robo-Ferret
- Researchers are designing a small robot to scour cargo containers for contraband.
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August 27, 2008 |
Germ-Resistant Kevlar
- A new coating could make Kevlar fabrics resistant to biological agents.
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August 1, 2008 |
Podcast
- MEDICAL UPDATE: Why some wounds form scars, buying soldiers time on the battlefield, and the surprising upside of drug side effects.
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July 31, 2008 |
Smelly Lifesaver
- Hydrogen sulfide could buy wounded soldiers time.
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July 25, 2008 |
Podcast
- DANGEROUS MICROORGANISMS: Diseases of the Crusaders unearthed. New mosquito repellents on the horizon. And is your moldy basement a health hazard?
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July 23, 2008 |
Mosquito Repellents
- DEET has been repelling mosquitoes for over 50 years, but scientists are now developing more effective alternatives.
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May 23, 2008 |
Podcast
- MEDICINE & TECHNOLOGY: CSI in the hospital, remote medicine with cellular phones, a better gas mask, the influence of cancer cells, and an upsurge in gestational diabetes.
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May 22, 2008 |
Escape Hood
- A lightweight hood provides emergency protection against biological or chemical threats.
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May 1, 2008 |
Radiation Protection
- Scientists are taking lessons from tumor cells to fight the damaging effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
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January 31, 2008 |
Diamond Fingerprinting
- Scientists are using phosphorescence to authenticate blue diamonds.
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January 14, 2008 |
Detecting Land Mines
- Removing land mines is dangerous business, but new methods may eventually make detection more accurate.
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November 28, 2007 |
Bomb Detecting Spray
- A new spray makes would-be bombers' hands turn red.
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November 1, 2007 |
Ultrastrong Plastic
- Engineers have created a plastic that's as strong as steel, but lighter.
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