Aalto University

Plasma rocket engine could revolutionize space travel Former astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz explains how his plasma rocket engine could revolutionize space travel and why we need nuclear power in space. Since the dawn of the Space Age in the mid-20th century, humans have visited the Moon, built orbital telescopes and space stations, and sent robots to

Ground-breaking lens opens new possibilities in virtual and augmented reality Metalenses — flat surfaces that use nanostructures to focus light — promise to revolutionize optics by replacing the bulky, curved lenses currently used in optical devices with a simple, flat surface.  But, these metalenses have remained limited in the spectrum of light they can focus

We can say that we know how to make start-ups fail less. Suddenly, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship are the most powerful ideas in not just the business world, but also on the New York Times best-seller list and in Congress, that infamous dungeon of inspiration, where good ideas go to die. These are distinct, if

Test also may identify neurodegeneration in other brain diseases, injuries A simple blood test reliably detects signs of brain damage in people on the path to developing Alzheimer’s disease – even before they show signs of confusion and memory loss, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and

KTH researchers reported a nanoengineering innovation that offers hope for treatment of cancer, infections and other health problems – conductive wires of DNA enhanced with gold which could be used to electrically measure hundreds of biological processes simultaneously. While DNA nanowires have been in development for some time, the method developed at KTH Royal Institute

A small study at Boston Children’s Hospital may lead to a breakthrough treatment for kids with life-threatening peanut allergies. Researchers there combined an FDA-approved allergy drug, Xolair, with increased exposure to peanuts. Xolair is made by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche AG’s Genentech unit. The pilot included just 13 children, and the results were dramatic: Just three allergic reactions requiring intervention

A new wearable ultrasound patch that non-invasively monitors blood pressure in arteries deep beneath the skin could help people detect cardiovascular problems earlier on and with greater precision. In tests, the patch performed as well as some clinical methods to measure blood pressure. Applications include real-time, continuous monitoring of blood pressure changes in patients with

Researchers at the Universities of York and Leiden have pioneered a technique which uses florescent imaging to track the actions of key enzymes in cancer, genetic disorders and kidney disease. Scientists hope this new development will aid drug design for new anti-cancer, inflammation and kidney disease treatments. It will also provide diagnostic tools for disease

Image via Wikipedia YOUNG RESEARCHERS WITH THE SKILLS AND DRIVE TO REACH OUT, COMMUNICATE THEIR SCIENCE, AND LEAD SOCIETYTOWARDS EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS. Several years ago, Donald Kennedy, the former president of Stanford University, saw that young scientists at his school were having a hard time distilling their work into a succinct, inviting narrative. So he customized the “elevator pitch”: You