University of Massachusetts

​Sci-fi aficionados will likely be familiar with the 2000 film Pitch Black, in which Vin Diesel plays a character with predator-like night vision. Well, such a scenario has come a step closer to reality, as scientists have enabled mice to temporarily see near-infrared (NIR) light.

​Is that raw spinach really safe to eat, or is it contaminated? In the near future, an inexpensive device that's linked to your smartphone could warn you of harmful bacteria in your food. The technology is currently being developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

A new study shows that the antibacterial chemical triclosan – and several other chemicals – can build up in the bristles and soft parts of toothbrushes, and that certain toothbrushes were found to grab more of the controversial compound than others.

​A recent study suggested that the number of unique species on Earth is 1 trillion. Granted, the vast majority of those are microbes, but still, Digital Life's goal to make 3D scans of every kind of living animal is very ambitious.

A new radio technology dubbed "Braidio" has the potential to dramatically extend the battery life of mobile devices by many hundreds of times by allowing them to automatically share battery power loads with other devices when wirelessly communicating.

Astronomers have observed a new set of galaxies for the very first time that are as much as 10 times as luminous as previous findings. The galaxies aren't quite all they seem, however, with their notable appearance a result, at least in part, of a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing.​

​When studying wild animals, having a 3D model of the creature would certainly help. That's why a University of Massachusetts Amherst team led by biologist Duncan J. Irschick created the portable, 3D-scanning Beastcam.

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have adapted a "collapse"-type origami technique, in which all folds are carried out more or less simultaneously, to create complex reversibly self-folded 3D structures. Applications include soft robotics and biomedical devices.

A long sought-after "nanograss" structure promises to significantly boost the efficiency of organic solar cells by capturing light more efficiently while also allowing the use of cheaper, lower-grade materials.

A couple of years ago, we first heard about a gecko-inspired reusable adhesive known as Geckskin. Now, its creators have announced a new version that works better on rough surfaces, such as drywall and wood.

Researchers have found that the cryptographic functions of a chip can be compromised without changing its physical layout. Based on altering the distribution of dopants in a few components on the chip during fabrication, this method represents a big challenge for cyber-security.

Scientists are developing breathable military uniforms that can also repel toxic substances, when needed.