Researchers from Australia have discovered that the widely acclaimed mineral perovskite can be used to transform the solar industry through cheaper and more efficient photovoltaics. The Independent reports: Perovskite, which is forged deep within the Earth’s mantle, has been hailed for its unprecedented potential to convert sunlight into electricity. Researchers have already improved its sunlight-to-energy efficiency from around 3 per cent…
Tag: University of Utah
Gamma-ray telescopes measure diameters of distant stars
By reviving a technique capable of combining specialized gamma-ray telescopes to one giant virtual instrument, scientists have measured the diameters of individual stars hundreds of light-years away. The team used the four VERITAS telescopes (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) in the US as one combined instrument to determine the size of Beta Canis Majoris—a blue giant star located 500…
Researchers Create Focus-Free Camera With New Flat Lens
Using a single lens that is about one-thousandth of an inch thick, researchers have created a camera that does not require focusing. Phys.Org reports: “Our flat lenses can drastically reduce the weight, complexity and cost of cameras and other imaging systems, while increasing their functionality,” said research team leader Rajesh Menon from the University of Utah. “Such optics could enable thinner…
Researchers Created Lenses a Thousand Times Thinner To Hopefully Eliminate Ugly Smartphone Camera Bumps
Camera bumps on smartphones may soon go away thanks to a team of researchers at the University of Utah who’ve developed a radically thin camera lens. Gizmodo reports: For comparison, the lens elements used in today’s smartphone cameras, which gather and focus light onto a tiny sensor, are a few millimeters thick. It might not sound like much, but the best…
Luke Skywalker-Inspired Prosthetic Arm Lets Amputee Feel Objects Again
CNN tells the story of a new medical breakthrough for Keven Walgamott, who 17 years ago lost one hand and part of his forearm in an electrical accident. Now, Walgamott can use his thoughts to tell the fingers of his bionic hand to pick up eggs and grapes. The prosthetic arm he tested also allowed Walgamott to feel the objects he…
US revamps volcano early warning system
There are 161 active volcanoes in the United States, more than 1/3 of which have been classified as posing a high threat to nearby communities. A new law aims to improve volcano monitoring. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/us-revamps-volcano-early-warning-system…
Sleep Trackers Can Make Your Insomnia Worse
Some sleep specialists are warning that the apps and devices that are used to track your sleep may provide inaccurate data and can exacerbate symptoms of insomnia. “Fiddling with your phone in bed, after all, is bad sleep hygiene,” reports The New York Times. “And for some, worrying about sleep goals can make bedtime anxiety even worse.” From the report: There’s…
Doctors Use Electrical Implant to Aid Brain-Damaged Woman
A pilot study offers “a very promising start” in the effort to help people recover from traumatic brain injuries. Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/13/health/implant-brain-injury.html?partner=rss&emc=rss…