ScienceDaily: Technology - December 18, 2023
Top technology research news
Scientists measure the distance to stars by their music
A team of astronomers has used asteroseismology, or the study of stellar oscillations, to accurately measure the distance of stars from the Earth. Their research examined thousands of stars and checked the measurements taken during the Gaia mission to study the near Universe.
New red galaxies turn out to be already known blue galaxies
Not all discoveries turn out to be actual new discoveries. This was the case for the extremely red objects (EROs) found in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data. Analysis shows that they are very similar to blue-excess dust obscured galaxies (BluDOGs) already reported in Subaru Telescope data.
Reaching for the (invisible) stars
Supernovae -- stellar explosions as bright as an entire galaxy -- have fascinated us since time immemorial. Yet, there are more hydrogen-poor supernovae than astrophysicists can explain. Now, scientists may have found the missing precursor star population.
Drones capture new clues about how water shapes mountain ranges over time
Drones flying along miles of rivers in the steep, mountainous terrain of central Taiwan and mapping the rock properties have revealed new clues about how water helps shape mountains over geological time.
Denis Belitsky/shutterstock.com
A promising pairing: Scientists demonstrate new combination of materials for quantum science
For the first time, scientists publish results on a new chip composed of diamond and lithium niobate. The results demonstrate the combination as a promising candidate for quantum devices.
AI study reveals individuality of tongue's surface
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 3D images of the human tongue have revealed that the surface of our tongues are unique to each of us, new findings suggest. The results offer an unprecedented insight into the biological make-up of our tongue's surface and how our sense of taste and touch differ from person to person.
Unexpected chemistry reveals cosmic star factories´ secrets
Two galaxies in the early universe, which contain extremely productive star factories, have been studied by a team of scientists. Using powerful telescopes to split the galaxies' light into individual colors, the scientists were amazed to discover light from many different molecules -- more than ever before at such distances. Studies like this could revolutionize our understanding of the lives of the most active galaxies when the universe was young, the researchers believe.
This next generation blue light could potentially promote or hinder sleep on command
Blue light from LED lamps and consumer electronics can mess with your sleep because it disrupts production of the natural sleep hormone melatonin. Tinted glasses or displays in night mode can mask, but don't remove, a portion of the disruptive wavelengths. But now, researchers report that they have designed more 'human-centric' LEDs that could potentially enhance drowsiness or alertness on command.
Upcycling leftover cardboard to make a new type of foam packaging
With the holiday season in full swing, gifts of all shapes and sizes are being shipped around the world. But all that packaging generates lots of waste, including cardboard boxes and plastic-based foam cushioning. Rather than discard those boxes, researchers have developed a cushioning foam from cardboard waste. Their upcycled material was stronger and more insulating than traditional, plastic foam-based cushioning.
Researchers find way to weld metal foam without melting its bubbles
Researchers have identified a welding technique that can be used to join composite metal foam (CMF) components together without impairing the properties that make CMF desirable. CMFs hold promise for a wide array of applications because the pockets of air they contain make them light, strong and effective at insulating against high temperatures.
Tiniest free-floating brown dwarf
Brown dwarfs are objects that straddle the dividing line between stars and planets. They form like stars, growing dense enough to collapse under their own gravity, but they never become dense and hot enough to begin fusing hydrogen and turn into a star. At the low end of the scale, some brown dwarfs are comparable with giant planets, weighing just a few times the mass of Jupiter.
Interactive screen use reduces sleep time in kids
While screen time is generally known to affect sleep, new research suggests that interactive engagement, such as texting friends or playing video games, delays and reduces the time spent asleep to a greater extent than passive screen time, like watching television -- especially for teens.
This adaptive roof tile can cut both heating and cooling costs
In a new study, researchers present an adaptive tile, which when deployed in arrays on roofs, can lower heating bills in winter and cooling bills in summer, without the need for electronics.
Cognitive strategies for augmenting the body with a wearable, robotic arm
Scientists show that breathing may be used to control a wearable extra robotic arm in healthy individuals, without hindering control of other parts of the body.
Deep neural networks show promise as models of human hearing
In the largest study yet of deep neural networks trained to perform auditory tasks, researchers found most of these models generate internal representations that share properties of representations seen in the human brain when people are listening to the same sounds.
Study presents new pathway for electrochemically controlling ion selectivity
A new study advances fundamental knowledge about the role of solvation in ion binding and presents a new pathway for electrochemically controlling ion selectivity.
Researchers create stable hybrid laser by 3D printing micro-optics onto fibers
For the first time, researchers have shown that 3D-printed polymer-based micro-optics can withstand the heat and power levels that occur inside a laser. The advance enables inexpensive compact and stable laser sources that would be useful in a variety of applications, including the lidar systems used for autonomous vehicles.
Protein-splitting enzymes play an important role in many physiological processes. Such proteases are generally present in an inactive state, only becoming activated under certain conditions. Some are linked to diseases like infections or cancer, making it important to have methods that can selectively detect active proteases. Scientists have introduced a new class of protease-activity sensors: gold nanoparticles equipped with peptide DNA.
Smartwatches can pick up abnormal heart rhythms in kids, study finds
Apple watches have some advantages over traditional ways of diagnosing cardiac arrythmias in children but need more validation, finds a new study.
Resource-efficient and climate-friendly with sodium-ion batteries
The transition to a society without fossil fuels means that the need for batteries is increasing at a rapid pace. At the same time, the increase will mean a shortage of the metals lithium and cobalt, which are key components in the most common battery types. One option is a sodium-ion battery, where table salt and biomass from the forest industry make up the main raw materials. Now, researchers show that these sodium-ion batteries have an equivalent climate impact as their lithium-ion counterparts -- without the risk of running out of raw materials.
Highly resolved precipitation maps based on AI
Strong precipitation may cause natural disasters, such as floodings or landslides. Global climate models are required to forecast the frequency of these extreme events, which is expected to change as a result of climate change. Researchers have now developed a first method based on artificial intelligence (AI), by means of which the precision of coarse precipitation fields generated by global climate models can be increased. The researchers succeeded in improving spatial resolution of precipitation fields from 32 to two kilometers and temporal resolution from one hour to ten minutes. This higher resolution is required to better forecast the more frequent occurrence of heavy local precipitation and the resulting natural disasters in future.
What would be the most effective use of a certain plot of land in terms of the climate crisis: planting a forest, which is a natural means of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or erecting fields of solar panels, which reduce the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? This dilemma has long been debated by decision-makers around the world. Now, for the first time -- based on findings from arid areas and on comprehensive measurements of the energy flow exchanged between the ground and the atmosphere -- we may have an answer to this question.
Extracting uranium from seawater as another source of nuclear fuel
Oceans cover most of Earth's surface and support a staggering number of lifeforms, but they're also home to a dilute population of uranium ions. And -- if we can get these particular ions out of the water -- they could be a sustainable fuel source to generate nuclear power. Researchers have now developed a material to use with electrochemical extraction that attracts hard-to-get uranium ions from seawater more efficiently than existing methods.
Towards next-generation nanocatalysts to revolutionize active electron transfer
Over the years, scientists have proposed many novel molecular systems for photoinduced electron transfer. Researchers have now developed a copolymer-conjugated nanocatalytic system that can drive efficient photoinduced electron transfer. They employed a temperature-responsive ternary random copolymer and coupled it to platinum nanoparticles. By enabling dynamic electron transfer and driving photoinduced hydrogen generation, this innovation can have far-reaching implications for artificial photosynthesis, electrochemical reactions, macromolecular recognition, and bio-inspired soft materials.
Saving endangered species: New AI method counts manatee clusters in real time
Accurately counting manatee aggregations within a region is crucial yet challenging. Harnessing the power of AI, researchers are using a deep learning-based crowd counting approach to automatically count the number of manatees in a designated region, using images captured from CCTV cameras, which are readily available, as input. The pioneering study not only addresses the technical challenges of counting in complex outdoor environments but also offers potential ways to aid endangered species.
Ultra-hard material to rival diamond discovered
Scientists have solved a decades-long puzzle and unveiled a near unbreakable substance that could rival diamond, as the hardest material on earth, a study says. Researchers found that when carbon and nitrogen precursors were subjected to extreme heat and pressure, the resulting materials -- known as carbon nitrides -- were tougher than cubic boron nitride, the second hardest material after diamond.
Discovery of magnetic liquid crystal
A team of researchers succeeded at directly observing spin quadrupoles. This work was made possible through remarkable achievements over the last decades in synchrotron facility development.
Some icy exoplanets may have habitable oceans and geysers
A new study expands the search for life beyond our solar system by indicating that 17 exoplanets (worlds outside our solar system) could have oceans of liquid water, an essential ingredient for life, beneath icy shells. Water from these oceans could occasionally erupt through the ice crust as geysers. The science team calculated the amount of geyser activity on these exoplanets, the first time these estimates have been made. They identified two exoplanets sufficiently close where signs of these eruptions could be observed with telescopes.
Much of the discussion around implementing artificial intelligence systems focuses on whether an AI application is 'trustworthy': Does it produce useful, reliable results, free of bias, while ensuring data privacy? But a new article poses a different question: What if an AI is just too good?
Free electric vehicle charging at work? It's possible with optimum solar
The global surge in electric vehicle sales has prompted an Australian university to explore how it could offer free or nominal EV charging facilities to staff and students by optimizing its solar PV system and minimizing workplace electricity costs.
NASA's Webb stuns with new high-definition look at exploded star
Like a shiny, round ornament ready to be placed in the perfect spot on a holiday tree, supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A) gleams in a new image.
Hallmark quantum behavior in bouncing droplets
In a study that could help fill some holes in quantum theory, the team recreated a 'quantum bomb tester' in a classical droplet test.
14-inch spacecraft delivers new details about 'hot Jupiters'
The Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment (CUTE) spacecraft is about the size of a cereal box. It has also recorded incredibly detailed measurements of the atmospheres of planets hundreds of light-years from Earth.
Spinning up control: Propeller shape helps direct nanoparticles
Self-propelled nanoparticles could potentially advance drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip systems -- but they are prone to go rogue with random, directionless movements. Now, an international team of researchers has developed an approach to rein in the synthetic particles.
Artificial intelligence systems excel at imitation, but not innovation
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are often depicted as sentient agents poised to overshadow the human mind. But AI lacks the crucial human ability of innovation, researchers have found.
Single-use e-cigarettes contain batteries that last hundreds of cycles despite being discarded
While the lithium-ion batteries in disposable electronic cigarettes are discarded after a single use, they can continue to perform at high capacity for hundreds of cycles, according to a new study. The analysis highlights a growing environmental threat from these increasingly popular vape pens, which are not designed to be recharged.
Ukraine has lost 18% of its scientists due to the war
18% of Ukraine's most talented scientists have fled due to the war and research capacity is down 20%, according to recent research. The researchers urge stakeholders to plan future policies to ensure the return of talent for rebuilding Ukraine.
'Energy droughts' in wind and solar can last nearly a week
Understanding the risk of compound energy droughts -- times when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow -- will help grid planners understand where energy storage is needed most.
Made-to-order diagnostic tests may be on the horizon
Researchers have made a breakthrough in diagnostic technology, inventing a 'lab on a chip' that can be 3D-printed in just 30 minutes. The chip has the potential to make on-the-spot testing widely accessible.
Scientists 3D print self-heating microfluidic devices
A fabrication process can produce self-heating microfluidic devices in one step using a multimaterial 3D printer. These devices, which can be made rapidly and cheaply in large numbers, could help clinicians in remote parts of the world detect diseases without expensive lab equipment.
Permselectivity reveals a cool side of nanopores
Researchers investigated the thermal energy changes across nanopores that allow the selective flow of ions. Switching off the flow of ions in one direction led to a cooling effect. The findings have applications in nanofluidic devices and provide insight into the factors governing ion channels in cells. The nanopore material could be tailored to tune the cooling and arrays could be produced to scale up the effect.
Rail industry urged to consider safety risks of space weather
Train accidents could be caused by solar storms switching signalling from red to green according to new research examining the impact of space weather. Solar storms can trigger powerful magnetic disturbances on Earth, creating geomagnetically induced currents which could potentially interfere with electricity transmission and distribution grids. A study of two rail lines showed that more serious 'wrong side' failures (red to green) could occur with a weaker solar storm than for 'right side' failures, posing a serious risk which the industry needs to take on board.
Eco-friendly technologies for plastic production and biodegradation?
A new article covering an overview and trends of plastic production and degradation technology using microorganisms has been published. Eco-friendly and sustainable plastic production and degradation technology using microorganisms as a core technology to achieve a plastic circular economy was presented.
Ryugu samples illuminate terrestrial weathering effects on primitive meteorites
Asteroids offer valuable windows into the early solar system, given that they are remnants of planetary embryos that failed to form into planets. A recent analysis of samples from Ryugu offered insights into the composition of water- and carbon-rich small bodies in the solar system.
New conductive, cotton-based fiber developed for smart textiles
A single strand of newly developed fiber has the flexibility of cotton and the electric conductivity of the polymer, polyaniline. The new material has shown good potential for wearable e-textiles. The researchers tested the fibers with a system that powered an LED light and another that sensed ammonia gas. While intrinsically conductive, polyaniline is brittle and by itself, cannot be made into a fiber for textiles. To solve this, the researchers dissolved cotton cellulose from recycled t-shirts into a solution and the conductive polymer into another separate solution.
Non-invasive technology for the high-throughput characterization of cancer cells
The electrical properties of cancer cells can provide information on their cancer type, state, and drug resistance. However, conventional platforms to measure these properties are complex and can only analyze a few cells. Researchers have successfully developed a high-throughput device that measures the electrical properties of cancer cells through continuous flow electrorotation. The new platform offers a high degree of automation and can simultaneously analyze several cells.
Nanoparticle-delivered RNA reduces neuroinflammation in lab tests
In mice and human cell cultures, researchers showed that novel nanoparticles can deliver a potential therapy for inflammation in the brain, a prominent symptom in Alzheimer's disease.
Chance twists ordered carbon nanotubes into 'tornado films'
Scientists have developed two new methods to create ordered carbon nanotube films with either a left- or right-handed chiral pattern.
Researchers combine biopolymers derived from the ocean to replace synthetic plastic films
Crustacean and seaweed materials combined in a unique way could provide a sustainable alternative to plastic films.
AI chatbot shows potential as diagnostic partner
Physician-investigators compared a chatbot's probabilistic reasoning to that of human clinicians. The findings suggest that artificial intelligence could serve as useful clinical decision support tools for physicians.
