When the antibodies on the surface of the nanotubes come in contact with a target protein, the proteins bind to the tubes and spread them apart a tiny bit.
People in many U.S. communities cannot walk even if they wanted to because workplaces are too far apart to permit walking, and too spread out to make public transportation--which often requires walking at least to and from bus or train stops--practical.
"They actually figured out a good intervention there, which was to break apart this central group of girls that were essentially promoting the spread of this norm of a heightened sexuality at a very young age, " Fowler said.