In the aftermath of a disaster such as an earthquake, it's of the utmost importance to quickly find live victims buried under the rubble. A new device, created by a team led by ETH Zurich's Prof. Sotiris E. Pratsinis, could make doing so cheaper and easier than ever.
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Paper is typically made from cellulose fibers derived from wood, and wood isn't plentiful in places where there aren't many trees. In the near future, however, that may not be a problem, as scientists have devised a method of making paper from cow and even elephant manure.
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There’s evidence that compounds in wine could help improve heart health and even reduce the cancer-causing effects of alcohol, and now a surprising new benefit may have been discovered. Wine may help fend off bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
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Discarded printer cardtridges can still contain up to 8 percent residual toner by weight. Not only is this wasteful, but the toner can also leach into landfill soil. Now, however, scientists have devised a method of recycling it into iron.
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For some time now, scientists have been looking for a way of incorporating bacteriophages (bacteria-killing viruses) into antibacterial food wrap, but it's proven difficult to keep them alive. Now, however, researchers may have found a way.
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Joseph Wang and colleagues at the University of California, San Diego have created a ring with a difference. It detects chemical and biological threats in the wearer's environment.
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Overpacking isn't exactly an option for trips into space, even for longer trips like an eventual manned mission to Mars. Now, researchers are recruiting microorganisms to solve the problem, by engineering them to make nutrients and 3D-printable plastics out of human waste.
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If your teeth are sensitive to hot and/or cold liquids and foods, it's likely because their protective outer layer of enamel is worn away. While there are treatments for the problem, they tend not be very long-lasting. There could be new hope, however, thanks partially to a green tea extract.
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In the future, contaminated water may be made drinkable not through the addition of harsh chemicals, but by pouring in a bucket of swimming robots instead. Spherical microbots have been developed that swim around under their own power to catch and kill deadly bacteria before being easily removed.
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Luminol is a chemical used by forensic investigators, which glows blue when exposed to blood. It's typically combined with hydrogen peroxide as a coreactant, although this can produce false positives. Scientists have recently had better luck by instead mixing it with an antimalarial compound.
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