Today in Science Blog Posts
Studying Salt Damage to the World’s Crumbling Buildings
We sometimes hear of tourists getting into trouble for carving their initials into the walls of the Coliseum in Rome and other famous structures. However, the more serious damage to this architecture is caused by something else entirely — salt. Transported by wind and water droplets, and even found in some building materials, salt is a powerful mineral that can cause a building’s façade to crumble and break. Researchers studied this effect to better predict salt’s behavior and prevent damage.
Happy Birthday, Erwin Schrödinger
We discuss the life and work of the legendary physicist behind Schrödinger’s cat, the Schrödinger equation, and more: Erwin Schrödinger.
Using an Origami Battery to Power a Biosensor
Researchers from the University of Binghamton developed a paper-based battery using an origami folding technique to transform 2D sheets of paper into a 3D battery structure.
Happy Birthday, Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot
Known as the “father of thermodynamics”, Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot developed a theoretical thermodynamic cycle and laid the groundwork for the second law of thermodynamics.
Exploring the Natural Strength of Limpet Teeth
Fun fact: Spider silk used to be considered the strongest natural material in the world. That is, until researchers from the University of Portsmouth identified a new winner: limpet teeth.
Happy Birthday, Gustav Kirchhoff
Gustav Kirchhoff is known for his contributions to the study of spectroscopy, electrical circuits, and thermochemistry. Learn more about the German physicist here.
In the Spotlight: Conserving and Restoring Art with Light
Did you know that 2015 is known as the Year of Light? Further, light can be used to conserve and restore historic paintings and artwork. Learn more in this blog post.
Lab-on-Paper Technology Enhances Medical Diagnostics
Researchers at the University of Rhode Island built upon lateral flow test technology to facilitate the diagnosis of more complex conditions. Get the full story…