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Delft University of Technology shines light on atomic transistor

Researchers from TU Delft and FOM Foundation have successfully measured transport through a single atom in a transistor. This research offers new insights into the behavior of so-called dopant atoms in silicon. The researchers are able to measure and manipulate a single dopant atom in a realistic semi-conducting environment. The individual behavior of dopant atoms is a stumbling block to the further miniaturisation of electronics. The work is published in Physical Review Letters.

76 percent of workers older than 60 years of age are overweight or obese

Seventy-six percent of workers older than 60 years of age are overweight or obese. However, less than one third of those 40 years of age and younger suffer these health issues. This is one of the conclusions shown in the research of Alberto Cordero of the School of Medicine, and the University Hospital.

‘Nymph of the sea’ reveals remarkable brood

Geologists from the UK and US, led by the University of Leicester, have made an unusual discovery from over 425 million years ago … hard boiled eggs!

Immunity :: Autoimmune disease triggered if T cells miss a single protein early on

Scientists have discovered that autoimmunity can be triggered in the thymus, where the immune system’s T cells develop, if T cells fail to recognize just one of the body’s thousands of proteins as “self.”

Ultra-intense laser blast creates true ‘black metal’

“Black gold” is not just an expression anymore. Scientists at the University of Rochester have created a way to change the properties of almost any metal to render it, literally, black. The process, using an incredibly intense burst of laser light, holds the promise of making everything from fuel cells to a space telescope’s detectors more efficient — not to mention turning your car into the blackest black around.

PTSD :: Post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosed more in women

Even though men are more likely to experience a traumatic event, women are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That’s one of the conclusions of a new study appearing in the November issue of the American Psychological Association’s Psychological Bulletin.

Employers who perform background checks hire more black workers

A new study in the current issue of the Journal of Law and Economics finds that employers who choose to perform criminal background checks end up hiring more black workers — especially black men. Employers who systematically check criminal background during the hiring process are 8.4 percentage points more likely to have hired a black applicant into their most recently filled position.

Gene therapy for hereditary lung disease advances

A clinical trial to evaluate the safety of using a so-called gene vector to deliver a corrective gene to 12 patients with a common hereditary disorder that causes lung and liver disease is completed at the University of Florida. The gene therapy has caused no harmful effects in patients and hints at being effective.

U OF MN study shows Twin Cities residents get exercise through personal lifestyle activities

Twin Cities residents are getting the majority of their physical activity through personal lifestyle activities such as yardwork, cleaning, and leisure-time physical activities — such as walking, running or biking, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Icelandic volcano caused historic famine in Egypt, says Rutgers-based team

An environmental drama played out on the world stage in the late 18th century when a volcano killed 9,000 Icelanders and brought a famine to Egypt that reduced the population of the Nile valley by a sixth. A study by three scientists demonstrates a connection between these two widely separated events, and is the first to conclusively establish the linkage between high-latitude eruptions and the water supply in North Africa.