A thick running shoe midsole is often favored for its shock absorbing protection, but it has been assumed that these heavily cushioned shoes increase leg stiffness and muscle fatigue. But results of a new study suggest that midsole thickness is unlikely to cause individuals to alter their leg stiffness. Plenty of research suggests just such…

Summertime is here, and that often means long, lazy days at the beach, water skiing and swimming. Life jackets and swimsuits are essential gear for these activities, but if not dried thoroughly, they can develop a gross, musty smell. Now, researchers have developed a one-step method to create a buoyant cotton fabric for these applications…

Many athletes, from football players to equestrians, rely on helmets to protect their heads from impacts or falls. However, a loose or improperly fitted helmet could leave them vulnerable to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), a leading cause of death or disability in the U.S. Now researchers have developed a highly sensitive pressure sensor cap that,…

One sweaty, huffing, exercising person emits as many chemicals from their body as up to five sedentary people, according to a new study. And notably, those human emissions, including amino acids from sweat or acetone from breath, chemically combine with bleach cleaners to form new airborne chemicals with unknown impacts to indoor air quality. «Humans…

Researchers analyzed almost 550 men’s and women’s mixed martial arts contests, using data collated for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and found the rate at which competitors fight is more likely to result in judges awarding victory than the skill with which they attack their opponents. The research was conducted by experts in animal behaviour from…

A new article expands on the coffee-cup-holding paradigm to examine how humans manipulate a complex object. The research has the potential to revolutionize design of smart prosthetics and will have an impact on manufacturing and animation. The coffee, a thermally agitated fluid contained in a cup, has internal degrees of freedom that interact with the…

Engineers have created a tiny portable lab that plugs into your phone, connecting it automatically to your doctor through a custom app. The lab the size of a credit card can diagnose infectious diseases such as coronavirus, malaria, HIV or Lyme disease or countless other health conditions such as depression and anxiety. The lab the…

A new microchip that enables continuous monitoring of pH and chlorine levels in swimming pools will vastly improve water safety as new research shows it can deliver consistent and accurate pool chemistry for reliable pool management. Developed by the University of South Australia using world-class fabrication capabilities, in partnership with electronics research and manufacturing company…

New research shows how fake news detectors can be manipulated through user comments to flag true news as false and false news as true. This attack approach could give adversaries the ability to influence the detector’s assessment of the story even if they are not the story’s original author. However, new research from a team…

Lactate, a compound present in sweat, is an important biomarker to quantify during exercise. However, available wearable sensors can cause skin irritation, which calls for the use of different materials. In a recent study, scientists have developed a soft and nonirritating microfluidic sensor for the real-time measurement of lactate concentration in sweat. This wearable device…