New Atlas

Medical Audio available

New 3D-printed electrodes may boost "jab-less" blood glucose monitoring

Ben Coxworth December 7, 2018

Daily finger-prick blood glucose tests are an unpleasant part of life for diabetics, which is why various groups have developed non-invasive glucose-monitoring sensors. Such devices may be becoming more effective and affordable, thanks to a project presently underway at Washington State University.

The research is being led by Asst. Prof. Arda Gozen (pictured) and Prof. Yuehe Lin

Science Audio available

Scientists trace the evolution of cocoa to breed better chocolate

Michael Irving October 24, 2018

A team of researchers has traced back the origins of the cocoa tree to a single domestication event thousands of years ago, and uncovered other clues hiding in its genome that could help make future chocolate even better.

Researchers have traced back the evolutionary history of the cocoa tree to a single domestication event ...

Biology

Fiery, high-flying Icarus moth finally confirmed as new species

James Holloway October 10, 2018

In Greek myth, Icarus was the high-flying son of Daedalus who, due to his own arrogance, flew too close to the sun. Now his name has been given to a newly-discovered moth, Admetovis icarus, thanks to its fiery markings and partiality to high altitudes.

Admetovis icarus belongs to the owlet moth family

Space

Did the Moon once have life?

David Szondy July 23, 2018

Today, the Moon is as dead as you can get, but scientists contend that this might not have been the case billions of years ago. There were two periods shortly after the Moon formed when it could have been possible for life to have existed on the lunar surface.

The Moon as seen by the Galileo deep-space probe in 1992

Science

Diagnostic device uses smartphone to check almost 100 samples at once

Ben Coxworth April 24, 2018

Smartphone-based diagnostic devices allow doctors in resource-poor regions to perform tests that would otherwise involve sending samples away. Most such devices, however, can only analyze individual samples. By contrast, a new one can check 96 samples for diseases, all at one time.

The researchers have filed a patent on the mReader

Biology

To detect frog fungus, just ask eDNA

Ben Coxworth March 13, 2018

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a deadly skin fungus that threatens populations of frogs and salamanders around the world. There may be new hope for catching it early enough to limit amphibian fatalities, however, thanks to the analysis of what's known as environmental DNA.

Materials

Carbon fiber waste used to improve water-draining concrete

Ben Coxworth March 1, 2018

Although the production of carbon fiber goods may be steadily increasing, recycling the material still remains challenging. It may soon be possible, however, to grind up carbon fiber waste and use it in new-and-improved pervious concrete.

A sample of the carbon fiber-augmented material produced by the researchers

Biology

Bacterial bloom in world's driest desert raises hopes for life on Mars

David Szondy February 26, 2018

Researchers have found that areas of the hyperarid Atacama Desert, once thought lacking even microbes, is showing blooms of specialized bacteria after rainfall, providing hope that similar dormant colonies may exist on the Mars.

The discovery of bacterial colonies in the Atacama Desert suggests similar life could have survived on ...

Space

NASA recreates alien ocean on Earth to test otherworldly sub designs

Michael Irving February 7, 2018

Saturn’s moon Titan is very Earth-like, with lakes and oceans, but instead of water, those seas are composed of liquid methane and ethane. Now, scientists at NASA and WSU have recreated that alien ocean in the lab, to test out designs for submarines that may one day dive into the Titanic depths.

An early concept for NASA's submarine, which would explore the liquid methane-ethane oceans of Titan

Energy

Metallic nanofoam wrings hydrogen out of water more efficiently

Michael Irving February 1, 2018

Zapping hydrogen out of water through electrolysis is the cleanest way to produce the fuel, but that requires rare-Earth metal catalysts. Researchers have now developed a quick and inexpensive alternative, making a “nanofoam” catalyst out of nickel and iron that performs better than usual.

Researchers at Washington State University have developed a "nanofoam" out of nickel and iron, creating a ...