Electric

Share on PinterestNew research suggesting that electricity can kill bacteria may have long-term implications for combating ‘superbugs.’Scientists have known since the 1960s that electricity can kill or suppress the growth of bacteria. The increasing threat posed by antibiotic resistant superbugs in recent years, however, has given added urgency to the search for new ways to…

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre What is the best way to train your dog?Peter Steffensen/Kennel Club/Shutterstock If you want to train a badly behaved dog, a tasty treat is more likely to succeed than an electric shock, animal behaviour researchers have found. “We advocate the use of reward-based training in modifying dog behaviour, as our work indicates it…

By Leah Crane The Martian surface might be crackling with static electricity NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Sparks may be flying on Mars. The grains of dust there can rub together and become electrically charged, which could cause chemical reactions that would make it difficult to spot signs of life on the surface. When grains of dust or sand…

By Clare Wilson A shock to the wrist can stimulate brainwaves that keep us stillFarah Jamal / EyeEm / Getty Images An unusual new treatment for Tourette’s syndrome involves applying an electrical current to the wrist, which travels up nerves to the brain and changes brainwaves. The approach, which moderately reduced the number of tics…