Tag Archives: Journal

Science

This Vibrating Capsule Could Assist In The Ways We Treat Obesity

The breakthrough weight problems management capsule was revealed in a research revealed within the Science Advances journal, the place a workforce of researchers led by Dr. Shriya Srinivasan, assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard University, evaluated its efficacy on 10 Yorkshire pigs throughout 108 meals. The researchers declare to have recorded the identical hormonal launch patterns related to satiety as soon as the animals ingested the VIBES capsule 20 minutes earlier than meals.

The research additionally notes that the pigs who swallowed the capsule exhibited a 40% discount in meals consumption, adopted by a slower weight acquire price than the management group. While the efficacy claims are promising, figuring out the process’s security on animal check topics was the research’s major aim forward of the upcoming human trials.

Sized roughly like a multivitamin capsule, a single dose of VIBES handed by the gastrointestinal tract of the pigs inside a mean of 4.3 days. The capsule is powered by a silver oxide battery activated solely when the gastric juices dissolve the non-conductive gelatinous membrane separating the electrodes — very like the detachable plastic tab present in a brand-new TV distant designed to forestall the batteries from going flat prematurely in storage.

Just like there isn’t any swap to energy the vibration motor on, the capsule additionally stops vibrating after about half-hour. The analysis workforce is presently engaged on optimizing the working scale, supply, and cost-effectiveness for human trials sooner or later.

Wearables

Why The CIA Doesn’t Allow Fitbits Or Apple Watches In Its Annual Pedometer Challenge

The CIA has specific security protocols for its annual Pedometer Challenge, as outlined by Greg (CIA rules only allow the use of first names), the coordinator of the challenge. The agency has a list of pre-approved devices that are not connected to the internet and have been cleared by security for step counting. This includes specialized pedometers for CIA personnel with disabilities.

The challenge involves teams of eight to ten people who aim to reach a specific number of combined steps in order to progress to the next round. Each level of the challenge requires increasingly higher step counts. This year, the theme of the challenge was “Battle of the Bands,” and the team names were clever puns such as “Red Hot Chili Steppers.” Surprisingly, despite working for the CIA, the competition relies on the honor system for submitting step counts.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the winning team this year was Team Buttsteak, who won for the third consecutive time with 7,550,224 steps. Team 2 Much Stepz 4 U came in second place with 6,516,821 steps, and Happy Feat secured third place with 5,779,997 steps. The name of Team Buttsteak is now engraved on a trophy displayed at the CIA’s gym in Langley Field House.

Cars

This Innovative Car Cover Can Protect Electric Vehicle (EV) Batteries From Extreme Weather

A team of researchers has developed a remarkable car cover that can regulate temperatures all year round, protecting EV batteries from shifting weather conditions. This groundbreaking technology, described in a research paper published in the journal Cell, is a passive structure that can achieve all-season temperature regulation effectively.

The team prioritized design simplicity and scalability, ensuring that the cloak can be easily manufactured on a large scale without any technical or material sourcing difficulties. Additionally, this innovative cover is fire retardant and can withstand various environments, including thermal, cryogenic, vibration, and corrosive environments.

Known as a phononomic metafabric, the car cover has exhibited excellent fire retardant and thermal stability. To test its capabilities, the team subjected the cloak to a butane torch with a temperature of approximately 1,400 degrees Celsius. While the surface of the cover reached approximately 800 degrees Celsius, it quickly cooled down to 10 degrees Celsius.

Even in extremely cold conditions, with temperatures as low as -196 degrees Celsius, the cloak maintained its stability, solar reflectivity, and emissivity. Given its exceptional resistance, this technology can also be applied to regulate temperatures in buildings, spacecraft, and even future extraterrestrial habitats (as mentioned in this article).

News, Technology

Women Accuse Contracting Firm of Intrusive Pre-Employment Questions at Bill Gates’ Ventures

According to a recent statement, a spokesperson from Gates Ventures denies any knowledge of inappropriate questions being asked during the screening process in their 15+ years of operation. They confirm that no job offers have been rescinded based on such information.

The security company named in the report is Concentric Advisors, accused of conducting these alleged applicant assessments. In response, Concentric Advisors states that while applicants may provide such information voluntarily, they never requested those details. The Wall Street Journal, however, claims to have reviewed documents, including one that describes a consent form for a “behavioral assessment” covering previous drug and alcohol use. The document states that the assessment would help determine the applicant’s “suitability for employment.”

The core concern revolves around the potential violation of employment laws if such questioning did occur. Concentric Advisors asserts compliance with pre-employment screening regulations and an internal email leaked to Gates Ventures employees reportedly indicates that the company was unaware of any such questions being asked.