New Atlas

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Wireless sensors may make for happier preemies

Ben Coxworth March 1, 2019

Prematurely-born babies usually have at least five or six hard-wired sensors attached to their bodies, tracking vital stats such as breathing, blood pressure, blood oxygen and heartbeat. Thanks to newly-developed technology, however, all those cumbersome wires may soon become a thing of the past.

While the sensors can be sterilized and reused, they can also simply be discarded, as they ...

Space

Simulated space journeys to help keep the peace on manned trips to Mars

David Szondy February 18, 2019

The first manned, round-trip to Mars could involve up to three years of travel time, so researchers from Northwestern University will be monitoring the crew of two simulated flights to the Red Planet to learn how to help astronauts work and live together in the equivalent to one small room.

The HERA module will be used to test both physiological and psychological effects

Materials Audio available

Graphene in Play-Doh-like form can be molded into any shape

Nick Lavars February 3, 2019

There has been a lot said and written about the possibilities of graphene sheets, but material scientists at Northwestern University are casting their minds toward a malleable form of the material that can be kneaded and molded like Play-Doh.

Scientists have developed a form of graphene that can be kneaded into different three-dimensional shapes, just ...

Materials Audio available

Self-healing coating protects metals from corrosion

Dario Borghino January 31, 2019

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a self-healing coating that can patch up its imperfections in a matter of seconds. It can do so even when underwater or in chemically-harsh environments.

The technology could be used to help keep structures such as bridges from corroding

Space Audio available

Astronomers witness strange space "Cow" give birth to a black hole

Michael Irving January 10, 2019

In June 2018, a bright light burst in Northern Hemisphere skies. At first it looked like any other supernova, but soon turned out to be far weirder. Known as AT2018cow (or “The Cow”), astronomers now believe they’ve captured an unprecedented look at the birth of a black hole or a neutron star.

At2018cow, or The Cow, as seen about 80 days after it first exploded

Space Audio available

Genomic study shows how space travel influences the evolution of bacteria

Michael Irving January 8, 2019

It almost goes without saying that space is a pretty harsh environment. Now researchers have examined what effects that environment might have on bacteria, and found that the bugs are mutating in response – but that probably isn’t cause for concern.

Researchers have examined how the harsh environment of space may influence genetic mutations in bacteria

Medical Audio available

Wirelessly-activated implant treats bladder problems using light

Ben Coxworth January 3, 2019

Currently, if people have urinary problems such as incontinence or an overactive bladder, medication and/or electronic nerve-stimulating implants are required. An experimental new implant may work better, however, treating the problem using integrated micro-LEDs.

This CT scan of a rat shows the device implanted around the bladder

Medical Audio available

Pediatric leukemia ‘super drug’ could be less than a decade away

Rich Haridy December 23, 2018

Building on several years of research into a protein responsible for leukemia, a newly published paper has revealed success in slowing the progression of the deadly cancer in mouse models.

Two new experimental pediatric leukemia treatments are to be turned into one single drug, with human ...

Medical

Cellular kill code discovery may help extinguish cancers

Rich Haridy October 30, 2018

Research has discovered that inside every cell in the human body is a kill code designed to trigger self-destruction if it senses a cell is turning cancerous. Across two studies the scientists homed in on the code underlying this mechanism and believe it may lead to a new kind of cancer treatment.

An ancient mechanism can hopefully be appropriated in the future to develop a new way of ...

Medical

Sugar pill placebos as effective as powerful pain relieving drugs – for some

Darren Quick September 12, 2018

Researchers at Northwestern University have shown that sugar pill placebos are as effective as any drug on the market for relieving chronic pain in people with a certain brain anatomy and psychological characteristics.

A new study has shown sugar pills can be effective pain relief – for those with ...