Latest Duke University Stories

Michael Harper for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online The idea of an invisibility cloak is an attractive one to the human psyche. The ability to be present when we’re thought to be absent is a juicy prospect. Not only could we finally find out what people say about us behind our backs, but we’d also be able to watch people without being detected, as well as play some of the world’s greatest pranks. Now, in the latest attempt to turn science fiction into science fact, one Duke...

The flame-retardant mixture known as “Firemaster 550” is an endocrine disruptor that causes extreme weight gain, early onset of puberty and cardiovascular health effects in lab animals, according to a new study spearheaded by researchers from North Carolina State University and Duke University. Firemaster 550 is made up of four principal component chemicals and is used in polyurethane foam in a wide variety of products, ranging from mattresses to infant nursing pillows. The...

NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that Mike Krzyzewski, head coach of the Duke University and USA Men's Basketball teams, will debut the eighth season of his weekly SiriusXM show, Basketball and Beyond with Coach K, tonight, October 24 (7:00 pm ET), on Mad Dog Radio, channel 86. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101014/NY82093LOGO ) Following the debut show a new episode will premier each week through college...

For the first time, scientists have observed how droplets within solids deform and burst under high electric voltages. This is important, the Duke University engineers who made the observations said, because it explains a major reason why such materials as insulation for electrical power lines eventually fail and cause blackouts. This observation not only helps scientists develop better insulation materials, but could also lead to such positive developments as "tunable" lenses for eyes....

Researcher says the inspiration was literally written in the DNA sequences Pop music megastar Lady Gaga is being honored with the name of a new genus of ferns found in Central and South America, Mexico, Arizona and Texas. A genus is a group of closely related species; in this case, 19 species of ferns will carry the name Gaga. At one stage of its life, the new genus Gaga has somewhat fluid definitions of gender and bears a striking resemblance to one of Gaga's famous costumes. Members...

By measuring the unique properties of light on the scale of a single atom, researchers from Duke University and Imperial College, London, believe that they have characterized the limits of metal's ability in devices that enhance light. This field is known as plasmonics because scientists are trying to take advantage of plasmons, electrons that have been "excited" by light in a phenomenon that produces electromagnetic field enhancement. The enhancement achieved by metals at the nanoscale is...

A collaborative research effort by scientists at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Duke University, and University College of London in the UK, sheds new light on alcohol-related birth defects. The project, led by Kathleen K. Sulik, PhD, a professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at UNC, could help enhance how doctors diagnose birth defects caused by alcohol exposure in the womb. The findings also illustrate...

Universities commended for their strong commitment to environmental improvements. San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) August 17, 2012 For the sixth year in a row, SIERRA magazine is releasing its annual ranking of the nation’s “Coolest Schools,” a salute to U.S. colleges that are helping solve climate problems and making significant efforts to operate sustainably. While researching the schools that are making a difference for the planet, SIERRA found common among the top 10 major actions...

Duke researchers may have found a promising stem cell therapy for preventing osteoarthritis after a joint injury. Injuring a joint greatly raises the odds of getting a form of osteoarthritis called post-traumatic arthritis, or PTA. There are no therapies yet that modify or slow the progression of arthritis after injury. Researchers at Duke University Health System have found a very promising therapeutic approach to PTA using a type of stem cell, called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in...

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "The journey of 1000 miles begins with one step" couldn't be more fitting for children fighting rare cancers or for the runners and walkers raising funds to help them. On October 14, those first steps will begin with a 5K Run - 1 Mile Walk in Bethesda, sponsored by the Hayden's Journey of Inspiration (HJI) Foundation. The 5K Run/1 Mile walk is one of many efforts by HJI to raise money for housing assistance for families of Georgetown...