Virtual reality-enhanced exercise, or “exergames,” combining physical exercise with computer-simulated environments and interactive videogame features, can yield a greater cognitive benefit for older adults than traditional exercise alone, according to a new study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine…
A microlaser no bigger than a pinprick can accurately detect and count individual viruses, the particles that jumpstart cloud formation or those that contaminate the air we breathe. A tiny doughnut-shaped laser is the latest marvel of silicon microminiaturization, but instead of manipulating bits it detects very small particles…
Tackling deforestation, water pollution and poverty earned University of Houston (UH) students top honors in computer game designing at the U.S. finals of the 2011 Microsoft Imagine Cup competition…
When it comes to packaged fish or meat, it is nearly impossible to distinguish between fresh goods and their inedible counterparts. Researchers have now developed a sensor film that can be integrated into the package itself, where it takes over the role of quality control. And if the food has spoiled, it changes color to announce the fact…
UBC chemists have developed a new model to predict the optical properties of non-conducting ultra-fine particles. The finding could help inform the design of tailored nano-structures, and be of utility in a wide range of fields, including the remote sensing of atmospheric pollutants and the study of cosmic dust formation…
University at Buffalo researchers are creating a new and unusual “app” for the smart phone: tracking air pollution. Carole Rudra, PhD, UB assistant professor of social and preventive medicine, has received a grant to assess a person’s exposure over time to pollutants in an urban area - in this case, the City of Buffalo…
In an era when social networking sites and blogs are visited by three quarters of online users, it’s only natural that the medical profession would also tap into the power of social media tools. Caroline Richardson, M.D…
A new international population study, led by the University of Cincinnati, will be the first to examine the human developmental effects of environmental exposure to the complex metal mixture found in electronic waste (e-waste)…
The fast-growing use of cell phones in Africa - where many people lack the basic human necessities - has made headlines worldwide the past few years. The surprising boom has led to widespread speculation - and hope - that cell phones could potentially transform the impoverished continent. But new research by economists Isaac M. Mbiti and Jenny C…
Australian researchers describe a mathematical model in the International Journal of Operational Research that can find the ten optimal sites at which tsunami detection buoys and sea-level monitors should be installed…