See-through solar materials that can be applied to windows represent a massive source of untapped energy and could harvest as much power as bigger, bulkier rooftop solar units, scientists report today in Nature Energy. Led by engineering researchers at Michigan State University, the authors argue that widespread use of such highly transparent solar applications, together with […]
Scientist Pioneers Technology New To MSU, Maps Giant Virus
In a laboratory at Michigan State University, scientists took a DIY approach to build a retrofitted cryo-electron microscope that allowed them to map a giant Samba virus – one of the world’s largest viruses. “If the common cold virus is scaled to the size of a ladder, then the giant Samba virus is bigger than […]
Is A Stretchable Smart Tablet in Our Future?
Engineering researchers at Michigan State University have developed the first stretchable integrated circuit that is made entirely using an inkjet printer, raising the possibility of inexpensive mass production of smart fabric. Imagine: an ultrathin smart tablet that can be stretched easily from mini-size to extra large. Or a rubber band-like wrist monitor that measures one’s […]
Finger Swipe-Powered Phone? We’re 1 Step Closer
The day of charging cellphones with finger swipes and powering Bluetooth headsets simply by walking is now much closer. Michigan State University engineering researchers have created a new way to harvest energy from human motion, using a film-like device that actually can be folded to create more power. With the low-cost device, known as a […]
Supercomputers Capture The Crush In Biological Cells
Using the largest computer in Japan — one of the most powerful in the world — research led by an MSU scientist has achieved breakthroughs in understanding how proteins are affected by realistic biological environments. The work, published in the current issue of eLife, is a significant step forward in simulating biology in a computer. “Biological […]
Energy-Saving Devices Work, If You Use Them Correctly
A well-insulated home with a high-efficiency air conditioner and programmable thermostat are only as effective as the person using it. A new study led by Michigan State University and published in the current issue of Procedia Engineering shows that people living in green dwellings who don’t maximize their technology can lose half of the energy savings available […]
Does Learning Improve When Every Student Gets a Laptop?
Schools that provide each student with a laptop computer, as well as the appropriate support for both students and teachers, see significant improvement in academic achievement, a new paper indicates. Michigan State University’s Binbin Zheng and colleagues analyzed years of studies on “one-to-one” laptop programs, including Zheng’s own research, and found that such programs that […]
Fighting Against Counterfeit Medicine
Around the world, especially in developing nations, counterfeit medicines are a real problem. Until now, in many countries there hasn’t been a standard protocol to conduct investigations and pursue prosecution. New research, led by Michigan State University and featured in the current issue of the Journal of Forensic Science and Criminology, is providing the foundation […]
What Values Are Important To Scientists?
– While many people are marking today scrutinizing the virtues of their Valentines, Michigan State University revealed a first-of-its-kind study on the virtues and values of scientists. The study, presented at the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C., surveyed nearly 500 astronomers, biologists, chemists, physicists and earth scientists […]
Hidden Benefits of Electric Vehicles Revealed
Electric vehicles are cool, research shows. Literally. A study in this week’s Scientific Reports by researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) and in China add more fuel to the already hot debate about whether electric vehicles are more environmentally friendly than conventional vehicles by uncovering two hidden benefits. They show that the cool factor is […]