Smart Glass Goes from Clear to Cloudy in a Jolt
Researchers say their prototype is cheaper and easier to make than other smart glass, and since it's flexible and foldable, could be used for camouflage. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Stories by Christopher Intagliata
How to Count Bats without Looking at Them
Scientists found that counting bat sounds could be an accurate way to count them.
Bring a Musician to Untangle Cocktail Party Din
Musicians are better at separating out one meaningful audio stream from a combination, a skill that could help decipher a single conversation in a crowd. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Eavesdrop on Echolocation to Count Bats
Researchers created a model that can accurately predict a cave's bat populations using audio alone. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Raw Stone Age Meals Got Tenderizing Treatment
Pounding and slicing meat and vegetables would have saved our ancestors millions of tough chews a year—potentially explaining the evolution of smaller jaws and teeth. Christopher Intagliata reports...
This Dragonfly Outmigrates Monarchs
The dragonfly Pantala flavescens can travel 9,000 to 11,000 miles, and may interbreed across the globe. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Gators Guard Birds That Nest Nearby
Wading birds in the Everglades prefer to nest near resident gators for protection. And the arrangement appears to be mutually beneficial. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Space "Treasure Map" Guides E.T. Search
A pair of astrophysicists advise searchers of intelligent life to look in the narrow band of galactic sky from which any alien observers would see Earth transit the sun—a method we use to detect exoplanets...
Bats Beat Ebola with Hypervigilant Immunity
The immune systems in bats are in a continuous state of activation, which may explain why they can carry viruses like Ebola without harm. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Cutting Carbon Pollution Could Save Health Care $
Some 300,000 premature deaths could be avoided by 2030 if the U.S. abides by the ambitious Paris Climate Agreement, according to a new analysis. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Mantis Shrimp Shells May Inspire Next-Generation Computer Chips
Mantis shrimp shells contain ultrathin polarizing materials, which could find use in optical computer chips. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Gut Microbes Lessen Mice Malarial Malaise
Mice with the right mix of microbes were spared the worst of a malaria infection, possibly via some sort of "booster effect" on the immune system. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Greenland's Meltwater May Fertilize Fjords with Phosphorus
Greenland's glacial rivers may flush some 400,000 tons of phosphorus into ocean waters—on par with the Mississippi or the Amazon. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Seed-Scattering Birds May Help Trees Cope with Climate Change
A new review paper emphasizes the crucial role birds play in helping trees colonize new habitats—especially in the face of a changing climate. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Plastic Pollution Perturbs Oyster Offspring
Laboratory tests suggest that when the shellfish suck in tiny plastic particles, their reproductive success suffers. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Allergies May Have Been Bequeathed by Neandertals
Many non-African humans today have genes—which apparently made it into us via Neandertals—that ramp up resistance to pathogens, but bring on allergies, too. Christopher Intagliata reports...
Asphalt Roads Could De-Ice Themselves
Researchers engineered bitumen—the sticky black stuff in asphalt—to release its own salt, to battle the formation of ice. Christopher Intagliata reports
Southwest's Conifers Face Trial by Climate Change
Using climate models and tree physiological data, researchers forecast a near-complete annihilation of evergreens in the southwest by the year 2100. Christopher Intagliata reports
Superfast Computer Chip Transmits Data with Light
Researchers designed a chip that transfers data not with electrons but with photons—resulting in a potential 10-fold boost in speed. Christopher Intagliata reports
Drugged Gut Microbiome Cuts Heart Risk in Mice
A compound found in extra virgin olive oil and red wine reduced mice’s risk of clogged arteries. Christopher Intagliata reports
