A new Duke University-led study has revealed the presence of radioactive contaminants in coal ash from all three major US coal-producing basins – Illinois, Appalachian and Powder River basins. Authors found that levels of radioactivity in the ash were up to five times
When a missile or meteor strikes the earth, the havoc above ground is obvious, but the details of what happens below ground are harder to see.Duke University physicists have developed techniques that enable them to simulate high-speed impacts in artificial soil and sand
Duke University researchers have found hazardous levels of mercury hundreds of miles downstream from Peruvian gold mines. Researchers have determined that the health risks taken on by artisanal, small-scale gold miners extend far beyond the miners themselves. Based…
Using little more than a few perforated sheets of plastic and a staggering amount of number crunching, Duke engineers have demonstrated the world’s first three-dimensional acoustic cloak. The new device reroutes sound waves to create the impression that both the
Using inexpensive materials configured and tuned to capture microwave signals, researchers at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering have designed a power-harvesting device with efficiency similar to that of modern solar panels.
The device wirelessly
A record-breaking crowd of humpback whales has been seen in chilly waters near Antarctica, giving researchers a unique opportunity to study the colossal creatures. However, scientists warn the unprecedented whale numbers, drawn to the region for all-night feasting
