Articles by Andrea Alfano
3D Form Of Graphene Called Hyper-Honeycomb Could Be More Stable Than Diamond
Graphene has already earned its reputation as the 2D-wonder material. Now, scientists are working to figure out what it might be capable of when translated into three dimensions.
Kickstarter To Save Neil Armstrong’s Spacesuit Launched On 46th Anniversary Of Moon Landing
It's been 46 years since the astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission made history by setting foot on the moon. Now, the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum has launched a Kickstarter to ensure that the spacesuit in which Neil Armstrong took those historic first steps lasts another 46 years and beyond.
A Robotic Car Controlled By A Bacterial Brain
By taking advantage of bacterial behavior, researchers were able to create a biological 'brain' for this robot. The bacteria actually make decisions for the robot, telling it where, when, and how quickly to move.
Incredible Pluto Flyover Animation Shows Unexpected Terrain Of Icy Plains
A new animation from NASA helps us earthlings see a bit of what New Horizons saw during its historic flight past Pluto this week. Among the surprising sights are unexpected formations on the plains of Pluto’s icy “heart.”
Marijuana May Help Heal Broken Bones
The chemical found in cannabis that gets you high was not the culprit in a new study that shows cannabis could be an effective treatment for fractures. A non-psychoactive component of the popular drug caused bone to grow back even stronger.
This Week In Space: A Whole Lot Of Little Pluto And A Step Toward Asteroid Mining
Tiny Pluto dominated space news this week as the New Horizons spacecraft successfully flew past the dwarf planet. However, space research beyond Pluto carried on with exciting discoveries, including a Jupiter 'twin' orbiting a sun-like planet in the distant universe.
Tiny Device Delivers Drugs Directly To The Brain With The Push Of A Button
A device that’s just the width of a human hair makes it possible to deliver drugs directly to the brain simply by pressing a button on a remote control. So far, the device has only been tested in mice, but it could one day be used to treat pain, epilepsy and other brain-related disorders.
Scientists Grow Tiny Brain 'Organoids' In A Dish To Study Autism
Autism is a complex disorder with many associated features, and one trait observed in many cases of severe autism is an enlarged brain. To study how and why the brain develops differently in these cases, researchers used cells from autism patients to grow 'brain organoids' in a dish, mimicking the brains in embryos about 10 to 16 weeks old.
Science Images Of The Week: White Graphene, Velociraptor's Cousin, And More
This week's science images look back 125 million years into the past with a new feathered dinosaur fossil and years into the future with the development of complex 3D structures made of white graphene that could one day imrpove heat regulation in electronics. Plus, a new particle called the pentaquark and the first glimpses of Pluto.
Newly Discovered Cousin Of Velociraptor Reveals That Famed Dinosaur Was Feathered
A fossil found in China shows an exquisitely preserved specimen of a new feathered dinosaur that’s a close relative of Velociraptor. The discovery offers a glimpse of what Velociraptor looked like in real life, as fossils preserving Velociraptor’s feathers are scarce.
New Horizons Lets NASA Know It Is Safe After Pluto Flyby
A nerve-racking 21-hour waiting period came to an end around 9 p.m. EDT on July 14 when the New Horizons spacecraft contacted NASA to confirm that it had successfully completed its flyby of Pluto. During the period New Horizons was out of touch, it was busy collecting so much data that it will take 16 months to transmit it all back to Earth.
Platinum Alternative For Fuel Cells Could Facilitate Hydrogen-Powered Cars
Hydrogen power is a much greener alternative fuel, but the need for expensive platinum has limited the technology. Researchers have developed a new fuel cell design with cheaper materials, which could help pave the way to hydrogen-powered cars.
Today In Science History: The War Between Butter and Margarine Began 146 Years Ago
The invention of margarine in France 146 years ago led to upheaval in the American dairy industry and multiple Supreme Court cases. Butter producers were terrified that consumers wouldn't be able to tell the difference and would opt for the cheaper butter substitute.
CERN’s Large Hadron Collider Discovers New Particle Called The Pentaquark
There's a new subatomic particle on the block. Made up of five quarks instead of the usual three, this particle presents new opportunities for studying the building blocks of the universe.
Nano-engineered Film Neutralizes Strong Food Odors
Foods like onions, garlic, and the supremely smelly durian fruit can pose problems due to their pungency, especially for transportation. A new food wrap made with nanoscale fibers of cellulose from wood effectively keeps these odors at bay.
Ride Along With New Horizons For Pluto Flyby With NASA Eyes App
The final countdown for the New Horizons Pluto flyby has begun with less than 24 hours to go before the historic event. New Horizons is a few billion miles away, but NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System app takes you right to the spacecraft with a real-time simulation.
Volunteers Contribute To Neuroscience By Virtually Dreaming Together In Brain Data Crowdsourcing Project
Hundreds of volunteers strapped on brain-monitoring headsets and virtually “dreamt” together by shaping the art on the dome above them. What came out of the project was not only amazing art, but also a published neuroscience paper.
Fossils Show That Ancient Jellies Had Beautiful Geometric Skeletons
Unlike their modern counterparts, ancient comb jellies actually had skeletons. Demonstrating this has been difficult because fossilized jellies are hard to come by. Now, researchers have discovered skeletal evidence while examining a batch of new fossils from China.
NASA’s Mars Trek Web App Lets You Rove The Red Planet
A new Web app from NASA allows users to satisfy their Mars madness by taking a virtual tour of the red planet. It even features STL file downloads so that you can 3D-print your own models of the landscape.
Happy Birthday, Nikola Tesla: How This Eccentric Scientist's Inventions Still Affect Your Life
Tesla was born 159 years ago today, on July 10, 1856. Here's how his incredible inventions still influence lives today, and how some truly far-out inventions made him a model 'mad scientist.'
This Week In Space: Signs Of Life And Love In Our Solar System
From our solar system’s center to its furthest reaches and beyond, exciting news abounded this week in space. And not all of it was completely true.
Engineers Create Better Invisibility Cloaks Using Teflon And Ceramic
Scientists were able to create an invisibility cloak that is extremely thin and more effective than those developed previously. It is made from a single sheet of thin teflon with embedded ceramic particles.
Softness Is What Makes This Jumping 3D-Printed Robot Tough
This new robot’s soft body allows it to blast itself into the air and land without breaking. Researchers took inspiration from the way animals’ bodies combine soft and rigid materials while designing it.
Algorithm Inspired By Process In Kids’ Brains Could Improve Wireless Networks
A phenomenon key to the development of young brains could be applied to some engineered networks to make them more robust and efficient. Researchers suggest that the neuroscience-based algorithm could be particularly useful for optimizing wireless networks.
Peppermint And Cinnamon Extracts Deployed In Nanoparticle Capsules To Fight Harmful Bacteria
Encapsulating molecules extracted from peppermint and cinnamon in silica nanoparticles allowed researchers to take advantage of the microbial properties of these materials. The tiny capsules could be deployed to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA.
Science Images Of The Week: Captured Lightning, A New Dinosaur, And More
This week, science brought us beauty in the form of ultramodern 3D-printed art and ancient dinosaurs. Plus, Pluto!
Tiny Stars Power Biggest Explosions In Universe With Their Super Strong Magnetic Fields
Gamma-ray bursts, such as those shown in this artist's rendering, are associated with some of the biggest explosions in the universe. They were thought to be caused by massive stars, but new observations suggest that they are actually powered by the magnetic fields of tiny stars.
Interview With Mike Slee, Director Of National Geographic Documentary 'ROBOTS 3D'
National Geographic's new documentary 'ROBOTS 3D' introduces viewers to some of the most incredible humanoid robots around today, including iCub. Tech Times spoke interviewed director Mike Slee about his insights into humanoid robot development.
Graphene Used To Create Extremely Efficient Ultrasonic Speakers And Microphones
The one atom-thick wonder material known as graphene could be incorporated into speakers and microphones to enable them to process sounds far below and above the limits of human hearing. Researchers found that graphene-based audio devices are also incredibly efficient.
Podmasters: Interview With Nate DiMeo Of The Memory Palace Podcast
In each episode of the history podcast The Memory Palace, host Nate DiMeo surrounds listeners with a striking scene from America's past. Tech Times spoke to him about how he finds stories, why he keeps episodes so short and sweet, and more in this exclusive interview.
