Discovery could lead to new way of cleaning up oil spills

(Phys.org) —University of Alberta mechanical engineering researchers have shown that a simple glass surface can be made to repel oil underwater. This has huge implications for development of a chemical repellent technology ...

Sensor detects toxins in drinking water sources

University of Cincinnati researchers have developed a sensor that detects toxins from algal blooms that taint surface water such as rivers, lakes and streams. Early detection of these toxins can aid water treatment plants ...

Pitcher plant uses power of the rain to trap prey (w/ Video)

During heavy rain, the lid of Nepenthes gracilis pitchers acts like a springboard, catapulting insects that seek shelter on its underside directly into the fluid-filled pitcher, new research has found. The findings were published ...

Physicists discover mechanisms of wrinkle and crumple formation

Smooth wrinkles and sharply crumpled regions are familiar motifs in biological and synthetic sheets, such as plant leaves and crushed foils, say physicists Benny Davidovitch, Narayanan Menon and colleagues at the University ...

How to grow plants on the moon

What do you need to make your garden grow? As well as plenty of sunshine alternating with gentle showers of rain—and busy bees and butterflies to pollinate the plants—you need good, rich soil to provide essential minerals. ...

Does urbanization trigger plant evolution?

Urbanization and human activities have transformed a significant proportion of the land on Earth, resulting in the formation of urban environments. These urban environments are man-made habitats that often impose several ...

page 4 from 17