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Tag Archives: Stanford University

Black hole mysteries

By Stephen Ornes / May 29, 2013

Nothing, not even light, can escape a black hole. Though black holes are invisible, they can create brilliant light shows. This illustration shows a black hole devouring a star. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

Scientists are just getting to know the black holes that help anchor our cosmos

Posted in Physics, Space | Tagged astronomy, astrophysics, Big Bang, black holes, Cambridge, Chandra, clusters, cosmology, cosmos, event horizon, feature, galaxies, galaxy, gravity, Harvard University, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, HST, Hubble Space Telescope, Jonelle Walsh, Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo, mass, NGC 1277, radiation, Ryan Chornock, Sagittarius A*, space telescope, spaghettification, Stanford University, stars, supernova, topstories, universe, University of Texas, X-rays

A mind for math

By Stephen Ornes / May 19, 2013

A child’s talent for learning math may relate to the size and wiring of different parts of the brain. Credit: iStockphoto

A part of the brain associated with making memories may also predict success in learning math

Posted in Brain & Behavior | Tagged brain, brain scans, Carnegie Mellon University, cognitive science, Columbia, David Geary, getinvolved, hippocampus, IQ, Kaustubh Supekar, learning, math, mathematics, MRI, neuroscience, Palo Alto, Pittsburgh, Robert Siegler, Stanford University, topstories, University of Missouri

Inspired medical research

By Kellyn Betts / May 7, 2013

Teens make real advances in biomedical science

Posted in Body & Health, Young Scientists | Tagged Academy for Medical Science Technology, Akshay Padmanabha, albumin, biomedical research, biopsy, Brittany Michelle Wenger, Brittany Wenger, cancer, College Preparatory School, Computational Neurodynamics Laboratory, Emory University, feature, finalist, fine needle aspiration, Greenwich High School, Houston High School, Intel, Intel Science Talent Search, Jack Ryan Takahashi, Jack Takahashi, Jennifer Chan, Kelly Xinyi Zhang, Kelly Zhang, Lynbrook High School, medicine, microbial fuel cell, Milton High School, nanobot, neural network, Out-of-Door Academy, polymer, pulmonary hypertension, Raja Selvakumar, seizure, Society for Science & the Public, Stanford University, Stephen Adam Le Breton, Stephen Le Breton, STS, tamoxifen, teeth, tic, tooth enamel, topstories, University of Memphis, University of the Pacific

A switch for a living computer

By Stephen Ornes / April 19, 2013

Scientists used DNA to build biological switches called transcriptors, which act like transistors found on computer chips. Credit: iStockphoto

Scientists build a transistor from DNA

Posted in Computers & Electronics | Tagged bacteria, bio chip, biochip, biocomputer, biocomputing, bioengineer, bioinvention, biological computing, biological switch, bioswitch, Cambridge, computer, DNA, DNA switch, flash memory, germ, getinvolved, Jerome Bonnet, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Palo Alto, Stanford University, Timothy Lu, topstories, transcriptor, transistor

Bad for breathing

By Stephen Ornes / March 8, 2013

Researchers have connected exposure to high levels of pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, to a greater likelihood of having asthma and allergies. Caption: Photo courtesy of the EPA

New study connects pollution to several common diseases that affect the lungs and airways

Posted in Body & Health, Environment & Pollution | Tagged air pollution, allergy, asthma, biochemistry, cells, combustion, getinvolved, immune system, immunity, inflammation, Kari Nadeau, lungs, medicine, Ohio University, PAHs, Pollution, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Stanford University, swelling, T-regs, T-regulatory cells, Todd Rambasek, topstories

Where cosmic rays are born

By Sid Perkins / February 16, 2013

Here we go! Shock waves in the clouds of gas surrounding an exploding star (as in this artist’s depiction) accelerate charged particles called protons to very high speed, creating cosmic rays.
Credit: Greg Stewart, SLAC Nat'l Accelerator Lab.

New evidence links origin of these very energetic particles to massive explosions of distant stars

Posted in Earth & Sky, Space | Tagged astrophysicist, atoms, cosmic rays, galactic magnetic field, gamma rays, getinvolved, Harvard University, light year, light-speed, Milky Way, Patrick Slane, protons, Stanford University, Stefan Funk, subatomic particle, supernova, supernova remnant, topstories

Science for all

By Nancy McGuire / January 9, 2013

John Holdren shares his insights into science with President Barack Obama as his science advisor. Credit: Pete Souza

STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — makes careers blossom

Posted in STEM Careers, Young Scientists | Tagged Academy Awards, Adam Duran, Big Bang Theory, Braille, camouflage paint, Chemical Pioneer Award, chemistry, computer modeling, computer models, computer science, education, engineer, feature, fluids, Harry Potter, high performance computing, John Holdren, materials science, molecules, movies, Office of Science & Technology Policy, Oscar, OSTP, Pat Teller, physics, Pirates of the Caribbean, polymers, President Obama, Robert Lochhead, Ron Fedkiw, science advisor, science technology engineering and mathematics, silicones, simulation, Stanford University, Star Wars, STEM, stereotypes, tablet, topstories, University of Michigan, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Texas at El Paso, White House

DNA takes notes

By Stephen Ornes / June 4, 2012

DNA, a tightly coiled molecule found in almost every living cell, may be used as a memory device. Credit: National Human Genome Research Institute

Engineers develop a computer memory system based on living cells

Posted in Body & Health | Tagged DNA, enzyme, getinvolved, Jerome Bonnet, memory, Stanford University

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