Category: How does technology impact our daily lives?

Essential oil-coated fabrics repel bacteria and mosquitoes Findings show significant antimicrobial and potential mosquito repellent properties for fabrics treated with a microemulsion finish of lemon and litsea essential oils. It washes off, but researchers are working on a way to make it stick better.

Posted on September 22, 2021September 17, 2021 by Ryan Kirby 274 views

Current antimicrobial fabrics have dangerous downsides - researchers have found a safe approach using essential oils. @ryant_kirby

The nuance of mask effectiveness Statistical calculations using past laboratory data show that the effectiveness of masks likely depends on virus type, virus concentration in the environment, and the type of mask.

Posted on August 17, 2021August 18, 2021 by Arnab Kakati 474 views

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, enters our body through our nose and mouth, and therefore, covering your face minimizes the chances of getting infected with coronaviruses. The most commonly used masks are surgical masks and N95/FFP2 masks. But how effective are they? When an infected person sneezes or…

Editing genes before birth as a new therapy Editing the PCSK9 gene in mice resulted in reduced cholesterol levels, a heart disease risk factor. After modification of a gene Hpd involved in hereditary tyrosinemia mice developed with no signs of the disease.

Posted on August 16, 2021August 11, 2021 by Ignacy Gorecki 359 views

Although the term ‘gene editing’ may sound like science fiction, it isn’t! CRISPR-mediated gene editing is a technology first developed in the 1990s that enabled scientists to target and modify particular genes without damaging the whole genome. For example, they could modify crops to make them more resistant to…

Are constellations of mini satellites the future of communication? Satellite constellations are groups of satellites working together, rather than as single satellites, orbiting the Earth. Many countries and companies are getting into this game, but there are some engineering challenges.

Posted on February 23, 2021April 2, 2021 by Satyam Tiwari 321 views

A satellite constellation is a group of artificial satellites, working together. In the coming decades, companies like SpaceX, and Samsung are planning to launch a number of satellite constellations. These satellites will allow users to enjoy more reliable connectivity, independent of their location throughout the…

Using Reishi mushrooms to filter methane out of the atmosphere Both living and dead fungi were tested for their ability to capture methane from the atmosphere. Surprisingly, dead fungi performed the best and have high potential for reducing methane levels.

Posted on January 11, 2021July 27, 2021 by Mary Sabuda 741 views

Could dead or living #fungi be used as a biofilter to trap and remove #methane, the potent #greenhousegas, from the atmosphere? Researchers including @shroominn from @UMNews tested both living and dead fungal biomass to determine their ability to capture methane.

Manipulating the forces of nature with gene editing This 2005 study explains the discovery of CRISPR-cas9, the tool used in gene editing. It has been used in research on agriculture, cancer, infectious disease, genetic disorders, and more.

Posted on August 27, 2020April 7, 2021 by Jocelyn 262 views

When Dr. Ido from Jurassic Park said, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should,” he was referring to reviving the dinosaurs. On a grander scale, he was talking about the lines people were willing to cross for the sake of science. Manipulating the…

Spend a lot of time online? It may affect your sleep. In a study conducted by Taiwanese scientists with female college students, they showed that internet addiction has a negative impact on sleep quality.

Posted on August 18, 2020April 7, 2021 by Busra Elkatmis 1k views

In a study conducted by Taiwanese scientists with female college students, they showed that internet addiction has a negative impact on sleep quality.

Pollution from Traffic Can Cause DNA Damage in Children Researchers compared the length of telomeres over the course of a year to see if they shortened with exposure to pollution.

Posted on June 19, 2017April 2, 2021 by Mohit Nalavadi 71 views

Cars are everywhere. They are essential for our day to day lives, but these vehicles are a double-edged-sword. Cars emit exhaust gases, and those gases contain hydrocarbons. These molecules, as their name suggests, contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms. Hydrocarbons from cars result from gas that has not been…