Science360 News Service: Video

The Coffee Maker: Pumping Water With Almost No Moving Parts

Fri, 25 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by Bill Hammack

Summary:

How the water gets from the bottom of a coffee maker to the top with almost no moving parts

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To engineer an object means to make choices. Bill illustrates how the choice of having a single heating element made an engineer find a creative way to pump water with no moving parts. The use of this pump reflects an engineer's choice to have only one heating element to lower the cost.

Floating Sensors

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by UC Berkeley

Summary:

UC Berkeley researchers have developed a method to learn about the quality, volume, speed, and direction of the flow of salt walter and freshwater through the Sacramento Delta. Electrical Engineering Graduate Student, Andrew Tinka, describes the project.

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A fleet of 100 floating robots took a trip down the Sacramento River in a field test organized by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley. The smartphone-equipped floating robots demonstrated the next generation of water monitoring technology, promising to transform the way government agencies monitor one of the state’s most precious resources.

Profiles Of Scientists And Engineers: Virtual Reality Scientist

Wed, 23 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit:

Provided by the National Science Foundation

Summary:

Jurgen Schulze shows us what it’s like to be a virtual reality scientist

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What’s it really like to be an engineer or a scientist? What do they really do all day? You’re about to find out! Meet the next generation of engineers and scientists in these profiles of young professionals, who may just inspire you to join them. Jurgen Schulze is creating whole new worlds – virtual worlds, that is! Find out what it’s like to be a virtual reality scientist.

Introducing Cloaking

Tue, 22 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by the Texas Advanced Computing Center

Summary:

There are currently several different techniques to cloak the visibility of an object, but this video explores one of the most unique and innovative methods to date.

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Invisibility cloaking no longer seems to be relegated to the realm of science fiction. It's happening right now in a basement laboratory at The University of Texas at Austin. There are currently several different techniques to cloak the visibility of an object, but this video explores one of the most unique and innovative methods to date.

Dr. Andrea Alù, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Cockrell School at The University of Texas at Austin, takes us into his lab and explains plasmonic cloaking, the method he and his group have used to successfully mask the visibility of an object to the microwave spectrum.

Mapping The Genomes Of Crocodiles And Alligators - It's Not For The Faint Of Heart!

Mon, 21 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by the National Science Foundation

Summary:

Adventurous field work expands knowledge of evolution and could help save endangered species

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David Ray never turns his back on his research, and with good reason! Ray and his team study alligators, crocodiles, and bats, among other creatures. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), this multidisciplinary team from several universities is mapping crocodile and alligator genomes. Reptiles resembling these have existed for around 80 million years and they are among the first reptiles to have their DNA sequenced. The research could expand our knowledge well beyond crocodilians to other reptiles, birds, and even dinosaurs. When they’re not fishing for ‘crocs’ and ‘gators,’ Ray’s team might be tracking down bats for their research on transposable elements or so-called ‘jumping genes.’ These genes can copy themselves and literally jump around in a DNA sequence. Better understanding of them could lead to improved genetic therapies.

The Science Of Scent

Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by the University of Florida

Summary:

The chemistry behind flower and food frangrances

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University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, environmental horticulture professor David Clark discusses chemicals that contribute to the fragrances of flowers and of foods.

Hockey Geometry

Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by the National Science Foundation & NBC Learn

Summary:

Players in every position of the game are constantly using geometry to make passes and take shots on goal

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From the passes NHL players make to their teammates, to the shots they take to score, players in every position are constantly using geometry when playing the game. The lines, angles and curves on the ice are also examined. "Science of NHL Hockey" is a 10-part video series produced in partnership with NBC Learn and the National Hockey League.

Science For A Sustainable Future

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by the National Science Foundation

Summary:

Researcher blurs the lines between chemistry, materials science, applied physics and applied mathematics to help predict the behavior and impact of tomorrow’s materials

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Princeton University physical chemist Emily Carter is using fundamental scientific principles to create computer simulation tools that will help predict the behavior of different materials (and renewable fuels). The research, which is supported by the National Science Foundation, has a broad range of applications including, improving thermal barrier coatings for jet engines, developing new materials for lightweight vehicles to improve fuel efficiency and creating novel materials for use in non-fossil fuel sustainable energy production.

When Girls Didn't "Do" Science: Mamie Moy

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by the American Chemical Society

Summary:

Mamie Wong Moy discusses a time during her education when girls didn't "do" science. She also tells of a science teacher who encouraged her to be curious about the sciences and, ultimately, inspired Mamie to pursue a career in chemistry.

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Mamie Moy is a professor in the Department of Chemistry athte University of Houston and is also the recipient of the 2011 ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences.

Revealing Nature's Mathematical Formula For Survival

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Credit: Provided by the National Science Foundation

Summary:

Mathematical physics team finds geometric patterns linking structure to function in leaves

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The vascular system of a leaf provides its structure and delivers its nutrients. When you light up that vascular structure with some fluorescent dye and view it using time lapse photography, details begin to emerge that reveal nature’s mathematical formula for survival. When it comes to optimizing form with function, it’s tough to beat Mother Nature. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Rockefeller University mathematical physicist Marcelo Magnasco and his colleague physicist Eleni Katifori analyze the architecture of leaves by finding geometric patterns that link biological structure to function. They study a specific vascular pattern of loops within loops that is found in many leaves going down to the microscopic level. Magnasco says this research is a jumping off point for understanding other systems that branch and rejoin, including everything from river systems, to neural networks and even malignant tumors.