Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

  1. Animals

    Quieter vibes for city spiders

    How much a web vibrates affects how well a spider senses when that web has captured prey. But webs attached to concrete, plastic and other artificial materials vibrate less than do those built on natural materials, such as twigs or leaves.

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  2. Space

    Waves from the birth of time

    Inflation is the idea that in the split-second after the Big Bang, the universe exploded into huge-ness. Although the hypothesis is 30 years old, evidence to confirm it had been lacking. Until now.

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  3. Physics

    Laser tweezers grab nano bits

    An optical fiber, a bit of gold and a laser make up a new type of tweezers. Scientists may soon use it to pick up and move around individual viruses or proteins.

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  4. Animals

    Explainer: Tagging through history

    What started as little metal bands have evolved into high-tech devices — some of which rely on satellites to share their findings.

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  5. Humans

    Mummies share their secrets

    Cutting-edge technology such as CT, or CAT, scans and endoscopes are allowing scientists to see not just what’s underneath the wrappings but also what’s inside a mummy’s body.

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  6. Space

    How the outer sun gets so hot

    Magnetic waves boost the corona to extreme temperatures.

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  7. Earth

    Tsunami’s trek traced in the sky

    Scientists photograph atmospheric ripples that followed the March tsunami across the Pacific.

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  8. Tech

    Lasers of a feather

    A nifty light trick in bird feathers inspires researchers to create a new kind of laser.

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  9. Kids’ ingenuity honored at Intel ISEF

    Young scientists receive awards in international competition.

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  10. Tech

    Cell phones on the brain

    When an active cell phone is pressed against the ear, the brain gets busier.

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  11. Environment

    Underwater racket

    The oceans are getting louder, and scientists want to know what that means for marine residents.

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  12. Physics

    Explainer: What is a laser?

    Lasers are the brightest source of light on Earth and produce the purest form of color possible.

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