Something to sniff at: You can smell danger
Apparently your nose can do more than guide you toward a fresh pie cooling on a windowsill. It can also be trained to sense danger. Researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago report in Science that 12 volunteers had trouble discerning between two "grassy" scents—until, that is, they were subjected to a mild electric shock after sniffing at one of them. Once jolted, the subjects easily differentiated between the aromas, illustrating, the scientists say, our evolutionary ability to pick up cues important to survival from a flood of sensory information. They note that scans of the volunteers before and after the experiment showed clear alterations in their brains' olfactory centers. (BBC, Chicago Tribune)
Silicon circuits take a stretch
Don't get bent out of shape over new research that shows how to stretch, bend and fold integrated silicon circuits. Materials scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign report in Science that they sandwiched thin ribbons of silicon between taut pieces of rubber-like plastic that were then allowed to snap back to their original size, causing the silicon to crumple [see video below]. Because of the newfound slack in the silicon strips, the plastic circuits could stretch and twist while still carrying electricity, the group says. If researchers can stretch the technology to its logical limit, they might be able to stuff computers into everything from silk shirts to surgical gloves. (Science)
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2 Comments
Add CommentWHY is this geologic article the leading story on the Technology page?? Somebody a little hazy on the definitions? Doesn't anybody on your end care how it makes sci am look? Pity, that.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGood question quasi..but since this volcano is in my backyard, I enjoyed it. By the way, the snow covered mountain in the background is Mauna Loa, another active volcano.
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