The Blessings Products Blog.: 04/29/19

Monday 29 April 2019

Astronauts might soon grow SPACE tomatoes

Tiny tomato plants developed at the University of California, Riverside, could one day feed astronauts on the International Space Station. The plants have minimal leaves and stems but still produce a normal amount of fruit, making them a potentially productive crop for cultivation anywhere with limited soil and natural resources.

* This article was originally published here

US one of only eight countries where child and adolescent health improved but maternal mortality worsened since 1990

The United States is one of only eight countries in the world where decreases in child and adolescent mortality over a 27-year period haven't also been matched by reductions in maternal mortality, according to a new scientific study.

* This article was originally published here

Patterns of compulsive smartphone use suggest how to kick the habit

Everywhere you look, people are looking at screens. In the decade since smartphones have become ubiquitous, we now have a feeling almost as common as the smartphones themselves: being sucked into that black hole of staring at those specific apps—you know which ones they are—and then a half an hour has gone by before you realize it.

* This article was originally published here

New device paves the way to 3-D-printed organs, food

More than 113,000 people are currently on the national transplant list. And with a shortage of donors, this means that about 20 people will die every day while waiting for an organ, according to the U.S. Department of Health.

* This article was originally published here

Beluga whale with Russian harness raises alarm in Norway

A beluga whale found with a tight harness that appeared to be Russian made has raised the alarm of Norwegian officials and prompted speculation that the animal may have come from a Russian military facility.

* This article was originally published here

Demand growing for CV specialists trained to treat heart disease in cancer patients

The number of cardiologists trained in cardio-oncology, or the treatment of cardiovascular disease in patients treated for cancer, does not currently meet the needs of this rapidly growing population. A review paper published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examines the efforts of the cardio-oncology community to provide the education and training needed to deliver high-quality cardiovascular care to cancer patients and survivors.

* This article was originally published here

Lawyer fighting palm oil among six to win environmental prize

When Alfred Brownell arrived in a remote Liberian village, the surrounding tropical rainforest had been leveled by bulldozers. Burial grounds were uprooted, religious shrines were desecrated and a stream people depended upon for water was polluted.

* This article was originally published here

New technique uses power anomalies to ID malware in embedded systems

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Texas at Austin have developed a technique for detecting types of malware that use a system's architecture to thwart traditional security measures. The new detection approach works by tracking power fluctuations in embedded systems.

* This article was originally published here

Study: Loan-replacement grants boost low-income students' graduation rates

Freshmen from low-income families who received Illinois Promise loan-replacement grants at the University of Illinois were significantly more likely to graduate within five years compared with peers of similar family incomes who did not qualify for the program, a new study found.

* This article was originally published here

Earlier detection of diabetic retinopathy with smartphone AI

A novel pairing of two technologies may offer a solution for better screening for diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if not caught early.

* This article was originally published here

Privacy settings can help ease suspicion of recommendation-making sites and apps

When people see that they can control their privacy settings on websites and apps that offer entertainment or product recommendations, they tend to be more trusting of those sites, according to researchers.

* This article was originally published here

A simple technique allows robots to recognize touch and proximity

Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire have recently proposed an easy and configurable technique that enhances a robot's ability to perceive and interact with people in its surroundings. Their technique, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, utilizes affordable Bluetooth low energy (BLE) devices. Among its many possible applications, it could enhance therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), allowing robots to act as mediators and monitor children in their surroundings.

* This article was originally published here

Squishy robots can drop from a helicopter and land safely

Sometimes the toughest among us come in shapes that are round and just a little bit squishy.

* This article was originally published here

Little shopping cart speedster in Aisle 7 inspires Ford braking solution

For a child's mom, supermarkets are where you fulfill your list of candles, berries, bologna and soap. For the child, supermarkets, like parks, are where you can run and, best of all, drive a grown-up trolley and command the wheels.

* This article was originally published here

Caffeine gives solar cells an energy boost

Scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Solargiga Energy in China have discovered that caffeine can help make a promising alternative to traditional solar cells more efficient at converting light to electricity. Their research, published April 25 in the journal Joule, may enable this cost-effective renewable energy technology to compete on the market with silicon solar cells.

* This article was originally published here

Tesla CEO plans to hand the car keys to robots next year

Tesla CEO Elon Musk expects to start converting the company's electric cars into fully self-driving vehicles next year as part of an audacious plan to create a network of robotic taxis to compete against Uber and other ride-hailing services.

* This article was originally published here

Footprint found in Chile is 'oldest' in Americas: scientists

Scientists in Chile say they have found a footprint dating from at least 15,600 years ago, making it the earliest such sign of man's presence in the Americas.

* This article was originally published here

Ready for refit: Navy-owned research vessel getting suped-up for service

Like a classic car being restored, the research vessel (R/V) Roger Revelle is undergoing a year-long makeover to extend its working life, enhance its operating systems, and strengthen its research capabilities for the Navy and scientific organizations.

* This article was originally published here

A new method to enable robust locomotion in a quadruped robot

One of the key challenges for robotics research is the development of effective and resilient control systems, which allow robots to navigate a variety of environments and deal with unexpected events. Researchers at the University of Oslo have recently developed an evolved embodied phase coordination technique for robust quadruped robot locomotion. Their work, published on arXiv, was partly sponsored by the Research Council of Norway.

* This article was originally published here