|  Snap to attention: Polymers that react and move to light  | Researchers are investigating polymers that "snap" when triggered by light, converting light energy into mechanical work. | Read More » Universals of conversation: Words like 'Huh?'  | A word like 'Huh?' -- used when one has not caught what someone just said -- appears to be universal: it is found to have very similar form and function in languages across the globe. Researchers found that words that signal problems with understanding are similar across languages. | Read More » New supernova: Hubble catches stellar explosions  | Supernovae are intensely bright objects. They are formed when a star reaches the end of its life with a dramatic explosion, expelling most of its material out into space. Another star has now exploded, forming supernova SN 2013ek. | Read More » Key processes of photosynthesis simulated on quantum level  | Physicists have simulated key processes of photosynthesis on a quantum level with high spatial and temporal resolution. In their experiment with Rydberg atoms scientists discovered new properties of energy transport. This work is an important step towards answering the question of how quantum physics can contribute to the efficiency of energy conversion in synthetic systems, for example in photovoltaics. | Read More » Next-generation semiconductors synthesis  | Conventional processes for producing AIN layers run at temperatures as high as 1150 degrees Celsius, and offer limited control over the thickness of the layers. Now a new technique offers a way to produce high-quality AlN layers with atomic-scale thickness and at half the temperature of other methods. | Read More » A new scorpion species from ancient Lycia  | Scientists have discovered and described a new species of scorpion, Euscorpius lycius, coming from the area of ancient Lycia, nowadays the regions of the Mugla and Antalya Provinces in Southwestern Turkey. With the new discovery, the scorpions from this genus found in the country go up to a total of five known species. | Read More » Kidney damage in first responders linked to 9/11  | For the first time, researchers have linked high levels of inhaled particulate matter by first responders at Ground Zero to kidney damage. | Read More » Gene puts African Americans at higher risk for kidney failure, study says  | Genetic factors in African Americans with chronic kidney disease (CKD) put them at a greater risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) compared to white Americans, according to a new study released. Researchers contributed data from two separate studies: the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK) and the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study (CRIC). | Read More » Genetic study on South Asians helps to understand human skin color variation  | In a recent study, researchers took skin color measurements from local residents in India to quantify the range and extent of variation in skin pigmentation phenotype and found that one of the important pigmentation genes, SLC24A5, plays a key role in skin pigmentation variation among South Asians. The comprehensive map of the genetic variant associated with light skin further revealed that it is quite wide spread in the subcontinent. | Read More » Lowering salt intake improves heart, kidney health of chronic kidney disease patients  | In patients with chronic kidney disease who lowered their salt intake for two weeks, excess extracellular fluid volume, blood pressure, and protein excretion in the urine all dropped considerably. If maintained long-term, the effects could reduce a patient's risk of progressing to kidney failure by 30%. | Read More » Women have greater shortness of breath than men when exercising  | The reason women find it harder to breathe than men during exercise is due to greater electrical activation of their breathing muscles, shows a new study. | Read More » | |
