Cats never forgive. Scientists have observed conciliatory behavior in many different animal species; the bulk of the research has been on primates like bonobos, mountain gorillas, and chimps, who often follow confrontations with friendly behavior like embracing or kissing. Scientists have observed similar behaviors in non-primates like goats and hyenas; the only species that has so far failed to show outward signs of reconciliation are domestic … Read More → "Research indicates cats never forgive"

There may be more stories about the origin of “OK” than there are uses for it: it comes from the Haitian port “Aux Cayes,” from Louisiana French au quai, from a Puerto Rican rum labeled “Aux Quais,” from German alles korrekt or Ober-Kommando, from Chocktaw okeh, from Scots och aye, from Wolof waw kay, from Greek olla kalla</ … Read More → "What’s the real origin of “OK”?"

It’s been 75 days since Costa Rica’s power grid last had a sip of petroleum. Thanks to heavy rainfall at the start of the year, the Central American nation has been able to provide 100 percent of its energy needs via renewable resources. This certainly represents a major milestone in green energy production but there’s no guarantee that other nations will be able to replicate this feat or that Costa Rica’s renewable energy scheme is even sustainable.

< … Read More → "Costa Rica hasn’t used any fossil fuel in over two months"

Usually when we hear about the properties of geckos being applied to human technology, it’s the reptiles’ sticky feet that are in question. Now, however, scientists in Australia are looking at the manner in which a particular type of gecko is able to stay clean. Their findings could pave the way for things like water-repelling electronics, or clothes that never need washing.

The study involves researchers from Australia’s James … Read More → "Gecko’s secret to cleanliness could find applications in human tech"

Ever feel your eyes glazing over when you see yet another security warning pop up on your monitor? In a first, scientists have used magnetic resonance imaging to measure a human brain’s dramatic drop in attention that results when a computer user is subjected to just two security warnings in a short time.

In a paper scheduled to be … Read More → "MRIs show our brains shutting down when we see security prompts"

There are many treatments that help stroke patients recover lost abilities. But the problem, says Nizan Friedman, founder of Flint Rehabilitation Devices, is that too few patients keep up with their therapy after leaving the hospital. “They’re left at home, with just a list of exercises that the therapist gives them to do,” he says. “It’s just not motivating, people don’t continue the therapy.& … Read More → "Musical glove helps stroke patients use their hands again"

An ingenious engineer from New Zealand set out to make the world’s smallest cordless drill, and the result is pretty remarkable. The tiny tool measures just 17mm tall, 13mm long and 7.5mm wide, with a 0.5mm twist drill that can pierce soft objects. Creator Lance Abernethy designed the outer shell in Onshape with a regular drill for reference, before printing it with his trusty Ultimaker 2 3D printer. It’s powered by … Read More → "The ‘world’s smallest’ 3D-printed drill is powered by a hearing aid"

Graham Fink is an artist with an incredible ability to concentrate. He must be: he manages to draw images like these by subtly shifting his gaze around a screen, recording those movements using eye-tracking software.

It’s quite amazing, then, that the results are perhaps better than … Read More → "These portraits are drawn only with eye-tracking software"

Professor Marcy Zenobi-Wong’s team of researchers, led by Matti Kesti, at ETH Zurich’s Cartilage Engineering and Regeneration laboratory, has found a way to bioprint a joint or nose cartilage that is designed to grow with the body over time. Current cartilage transplant procedures rely on two-dimensional cell generation that doesn’t evolve as the patient’s joint regains function in the future. 3D bioprinted cartilages, on the other hand, are expected to … Read More → "Researchers can now 3D-print nose cartilage in 16 minutes"

When you cut on your finger or scrape your knee, cells rush to the wound and repair or replace the damaged tissue. But how exactly this works – in particular how certain cells become “leaders” in the process – has long been a mystery. Now researchers at the University of Arizona (UA) have identified the mechanisms that cause and regulate this collective cell migration. Armed with this knowledge, biomedical engineers will be able to design new … Read More → "Researchers identify how cells get their orders to heal wounds"