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More Efficient Helicopter Blades Based on Whale Tubercles

Weitzman et al. | Dec 22, 2013

More Efficient Helicopter Blades Based on Whale Tubercles

Biomimicry is the practice of applying models and systems found in nature to improve the efficiency and usefulness of human technologies. In this study, the authors designed helicopter blades with tubercle structures similar to those found on the tails of humpback whales. The authors found that certain arrangements of these tubercle structures improved the windspeed and efficiency of a model helicopter.

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Effect of Collagen Gel Structure on Fibroblast Phenotype

Grace et al. | Nov 28, 2012

Effect of Collagen Gel Structure on Fibroblast Phenotype

Environment affects the progression of life, especially at the cellular level. This study investigates multiple 3-dimensional growth environments, also known as scaffolds or hydrogels, and their effect on the growth of a type of cells called fibroblasts. These results suggest that a scaffold made of collagen and polyethylene glycol are favorable for cell growth. This research is useful for developing implantable devices to aid wound healing.

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Investigating the effects of glucose reintroduction on acutely starved HeLa cells

Puduru et al. | Jul 05, 2026

Investigating the effects of glucose reintroduction on acutely starved HeLa cells

Cancer cells rely heavily on glycolysis, but how they respond when glucose is reintroduced after acute starvation is not well understood. Using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, students tracked metabolic changes in HeLa cells and found a rapid shift toward glycolysis within 20 minutes of glucose reintroduction, followed by heterogeneous recovery toward oxidative phosphorylation. These results highlight metabolic flexibility and variability in cancer cells, offering insights relevant to treatment resistance and therapeutic design.

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Evaluating need for adversarial training data given algorithmic defense methods against adversarial attacks

Yian et al. | Jul 05, 2026

Evaluating need for adversarial training data given algorithmic defense methods against adversarial attacks

The purpose of this study was to determine the necessity of previous non-algorithmic attacks (Adversarial Training) in light of algorithmic defense methods (Gradient Masking and Defensive Distillation) against FGSM attacks. We found a significant increase in image classification accuracy from defense methods with the non-algorithmic defense method compared to ones without. By analyzing the significance with a McNemar test, we determined that the inclusion of non-algorithmic defense methods is still necessary in light of new algorithmic defense methods.

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Measuring effects of caffeine and melatonin on learning trends of Zebrafish juveniles

Wei et al. | Jun 28, 2026

Measuring effects of caffeine and melatonin on learning trends of Zebrafish juveniles

This study investigates how caffeine and melatonin affect learning in adolescent zebrafish, serving as a model for human teens. Using an automated system to track behavior, we found that melatonin slowed learning while caffeine caused erratic, inconsistent responses, suggesting both substances can negatively impact adolescent learning patterns. These findings highlight the need for further research into their physiological effects and potential implications for human adolescents.

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Eye color, visual acuity and photophobia: How eye color affects light sensitivity

Spencer et al. | May 20, 2026

Eye color, visual acuity and photophobia: How eye color affects light sensitivity

This study examined whether eye color affects photophobia and vision in elementary school students and staff, finding no significant relationship between eye color, light sensitivity, or visual acuity. However, photophobia was common across age groups, highlighting the need for greater awareness of light sensitivity in learning environments.

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An evaluation of the trends in U.S. maternal deaths based on abortion policies from 2018 to 2021

Haq et al. | Feb 18, 2026

An evaluation of the trends in U.S. maternal deaths based on abortion policies from 2018 to 2021

Here the authors evaluate the relationship between state-level abortion policies and maternal mortality across the United States from 2018 to 2021. Their findings reveal that states with restrictive abortion laws consistently experienced higher maternal mortality ratios than those with protective policies, culminating in a 72% increase in deaths within restrictive states by the end of the study period.

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