Smarter bionic leg turns brain and muscle power into motion. Raleigh News and Observer, January 27, 2014. For many amputees, doing everyday activities like climbing stairs or getting in and out of a car takes concentration and conscious effort. Now, researchers are building a smarter bionic leg that ‘listens’ to the user’s body and figures out what they have in mind before they take their next step.
Category Archives: Charlotte Observer
Make the most of Carolinas’ planetarium shows
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Make the most of Carolinas’ planetarium shows. Raleigh News and Observer, January 14, 2013. It may be the coldest and darkest time of year, but you don’t have to brave the elements to enjoy the winter night sky. Thanks to planetarium shows now playing across the Carolinas, you can take a virtual tour of the heavens and more — no matter what the weather — all from the cushioned comfort of your seat.
Your big date with Venus
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Your big date with Venus. Raleigh News and Observer, May 28, 2012. It’s a sight you’ll never see again. On Tuesday June 5, those with equipment for safely looking at the sun will see a small black dot slowly inching across its face. That dot is the planet Venus, passing between Earth and the sun in a rare celestial event that won’t happen again until December 2117.
Genes from undersea creature may help crops prosper
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Genes from undersea creature may help crops prosper. Raleigh News and Observer, April 16, 2012. The bottles of amber liquid perched on the bench in Dr. Amy Grunden’s research lab at N.C. State University don’t look like much. But floating within are billions of sea-dwelling microbes – too small to see with the naked eye – that researchers hope will one day help plants survive in space, or produce hardier crops and better biofuels in stressful environments here on Earth.
Why caffeine? It’s human nature
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Why caffeine? It’s human nature. Raleigh News and Observer, January 2, 2012. Why do some people need 10 cups of coffee just to make it through the day, while others feel wired from just one cup? Part of the answer may be in your genes.
Tracking touch-the-ground running
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Tracking touch-the-ground running. Raleigh News and Observer, November 7, 2011. Some argue that running barefoot – or close to it – improves form and reduces injury. Could they be right?
Microbe-managing your life
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Microbe-managing your life. Raleigh News and Observer, September 19, 2011. Can gut parasites be good for you? It may sound far-fetched. But for those with off-kilter immune systems, scientists are finding hope in some unlikely allies.
The future of a fog oasis
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The future of a fog oasis. Scientific American Guest Blog, August 19, 2011. In a fast-disappearing desert oasis, scientists are trying to bring a forest back to life – and discovering the imprint of a lost civilization amidst the vanishing trees.
Scientists flag possible risks from soy formula
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Scientists flag possible risks from soy formula. Charlotte Observer, April 26, 2010. Soy formula has been used for decades as an alternative to milk formula for children who are lactose intolerant or whose families wish to maintain a vegan diet. In recent years, however, studies in laboratory animals have raised concerns about the safety of soy.