ScienceDaily: Technology - November 13, 2023
Top technology research news
quantum mechanics: Unlocking the secrets of spin with high-harmonic probes
Deep within every piece of magnetic material, electrons dance to the invisible tune of quantum mechanics. Their spins, akin to tiny atomic tops, dictate the magnetic behavior of the material they inhabit. This microscopic ballet is the cornerstone of magnetic phenomena, and it's these spins that a team of researchers has learned to control with remarkable precision, potentially redefining the future of electronics and data storage.
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Scientists found hundreds of toxic chemicals in recycled plastics
When scientists examined pellets from recycled plastic collected in 13 countries they found hundreds of toxic chemicals, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Because of this, the scientists judge recycled plastics unfit for most purposes and a hinder in the attempts to create a circular economy.
A revolution in crystal structure prediction of pharmaceutical drugs
Scientists have redefined the state-of-the-art in modeling and predicting the free energy of crystals. Their work shows that crystal form stability under real-world temperature and humidity conditions can be reliably and affordably predicted through computer simulation.
How to use AI for discovery -- without leading science astray
In the same way that chatbots sometimes 'hallucinate,' or make things up, machine learning models designed for scientific applications can sometimes present misleading or downright false results. Researchers now present a new statistical technique for safely using AI predictions to test scientific hypotheses.
Atomic dance gives rise to a magnet
Researchers turned a paramagnetic material into a magnet by manipulating electrons' spin via atomic motion.
Milky Way-like galaxy found in the early universe
Astronomers have discovered the most distant barred spiral galaxy, similar to the Milky Way, that has been observed to date.
Photonics team develops high-performance ultrafast lasers that fit on a fingertip
Scientists demonstrate a novel approach for creating high-performance ultrafast lasers on nanophotonic chips. The new advance will enable pocket-sized devices that can perform detailed GPS-free precision navigation, medical imaging, food safety inspection and more. Â
New AI noise-canceling headphone technology lets wearers pick which sounds they hear
Researchers have developed deep-learning algorithms that let users pick which sounds filter through their headphones in real time. Either through voice commands or a smartphone app, headphone wearers can select which sounds they want to include from 20 classes, such as sirens, baby cries, speech, vacuum cleaners and bird chirps.
Scientists caution against a reliance on mechanical devices to clear water bodies of plastic
An international group of scientists has called for the United Nations Treaty on Plastic Pollution to focus more on measures to reduce the production and consumption of plastics and the prevention of future plastic waste, rather than on the unselective removal of waste already in the water.
Chemists image basic blocks of synthetic polymers
Researchers have developed a new method to image polymerization catalysis reactions one monomer at a time.Â
'Indoor solar' to power the Internet of Things
From Wi-Fi-connected home security systems to smart toilets, the so-called Internet of Things brings personalization and convenience to devices that help run homes. But with that comes tangled electrical cords or batteries that need to be replaced. Now, researchers have brought solar panel technology indoors to power smart devices. They show which photovoltaic (PV) systems work best under cool white LEDs, a common type of indoor lighting.
New way to count microbes speeds research, cuts waste, could lead to new antibiotics
Researchers have developed a new way of counting microorganisms that works as much as 36 times faster than conventional methods, cuts plastic use more than 15-fold and substantially decreases the cost and carbon footprint of biomedical research. The technique could revolutionize the way microbiology experiments are conducted, allowing researchers to test potential new antibiotics in a fraction of the time.
Scientists use quantum biology, AI to sharpen genome editing tool
Scientists used their expertise in quantum biology, artificial intelligence and bioengineering to improve how CRISPR Cas9 genome editing tools work on organisms like microbes that can be modified to produce renewable fuels and chemicals.
Advances in lithium-metal batteries, paving the way for safer, more powerful devices
The boom in phones, laptops and other personal devices over the last few decades has been made possible by the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, but as climate change demands more powerful batteries for electric vehicles and grid-scale renewable storage, lithium-ion technology might not be enough. Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) have theoretical capacities an order of magnitude greater than lithium-ion, but a more literal boom has stymied research for decades.
Glow in the visible range detected for the first time in the Martian night
Scientists have observed, for the first time in the visible range, a glow on the night side of the planet Mars. These new observations provide a better understanding of the dynamics of the upper atmosphere of the Red Planet and its variations throughout the year.
Engineers are on a failure-finding mission
Engineers developed a technique to quickly identify a range of potential failures in a system before they are deployed in the real world.
AI algorithm developed to measure muscle development, provide growth chart for children
An analysis of MRI scans using artificial intelligence resulted in the production of a reference growth standard and a fast, reproducible way to measure indicators of lean muscle mass in developing children. Â
A breath of fresh air keeps drug-producing cells alive longer
Researchers have developed a novel device that produces oxygen inside of a 'living pharmacy' implant in order to keep cells alive inside the self-contained device. The device produses oxygen through a smart, energy-efficient version of water splitting. In new experiments, the novel device kept cells (70-80%) alive for close to a month in low oxygen conditions in vitro, or weeks in vivo.
Plastics treaty must tackle problem at source
The new Global Plastics Treaty must tackle the problem at source, researchers say. They say the treaty must prioritize 'upstream' issues: cutting total production and consumption of plastics, phasing out hazardous chemicals and tackling fossil fuel subsidies.
Understanding the dynamic behavior of rubber materials
Rubber-like materials can exhibit both spring-like and flow-like behaviors simultaneously, which contributes to their exceptional damping abilities. To understand the dynamic viscoelasticity of these materials, researchers have recently developed a novel system that can conduct dynamic mechanical analysis and dynamic micro X-ray computed tomography simultaneously. This technology can enhance our understanding of the microstructure of viscoelastic materials and pave the way for the development of better materials.
A multinational study of almost one million individuals confirms a strong and clear association between exposure to radiation from CT scans in young people and an increased risk of blood cancers.
Liquid metals shake up century-old chemical engineering processes
Liquid metals could be the long-awaited solution to 'greening' the chemical industry, according to researchers who tested a new technique they hope can replace energy-intensive chemical engineering processes harking back to the early 20th century.
New findings support long-proposed process of planet formation
Scientists just made a breakthrough discovery in revealing how planets are made. By observing water vapor in protoplanetary disks, they confirmed a physical process involving the drifting of ice-coated solids from the outer regions of the disk into the rocky-planet zone.
Device 'smells' seawater to discover, detect novel molecules
Under the ocean's surface, marine organisms are constantly releasing invisible molecules. Some of the chemical clues reveal which creatures are nearby, while others could be used someday as medications. Now, researchers report a proof-of-concept device that 'sniffs' seawater, trapping dissolved compounds for analyses. The team showed that the system could easily concentrate molecules that are present in underwater caves and holds promise for drug discovery in fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs.
The secret to longer lasting batteries might be in how soap works
Researchers show that one of the most promising substances for designing longer lasting lithium batteries form micelle-like structures like they do in soap.
Physicists trap electrons in a 3D crystal
Physicists have trapped electrons in a pure crystal, marking the first achievement of an electronic flat band in a three-dimensional material. The results provide a new way for scientists to explore rare electronic states in 3D materials.
Scaling up nano for sustainable manufacturing
A research team has developed a high-performance coating material that self-assembles from 2D nanosheets, and which could significantly extend the shelf life of electronics, energy storage devices, health & safety products, and more. The researchers are the first to successfully scale up nanomaterial synthesis into useful materials for manufacturing and commercial applications.
21st century Total Wars will enlist technologies in ways we don't yet understand
As new technologies like artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as drones and so-called 'cyberweapons' such as malware and Internet-based disinformation campaigns become integral to our daily lives, researchers are working to grasp the role they will play in warfare.
Deep decarbonization scenarios reveal importance of accelerating zero-emission vehicle adoption
The rapid adoption of zero-emission electric vehicles will move the nation close to an 80% or more drop in transportation greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 from the 2019 level according to researchers.
Machine learning gives users 'superhuman' ability to open and control tools in virtual reality
Researchers have developed a virtual reality application where a range of 3D modelling tools can be opened and controlled using just the movement of a user's hand.Â
'Hot' new form of microscopy examines materials using evanescent waves
A team of researchers has built a prototype microscope that does not rely on backscattered radiation, instead uses passive detection of thermally excited evanescent waves. They have examined dielectric materials with passive near-field spectroscopy to develop a detection model to further refine the technique, working to develop a new kind of microscopy for examining nanoscopic material surfaces.
Neuromorphic computing will be great... if hardware can handle the workload
Scientists believe they may have discovered a way to rework the hardware of AI. By mimicking the synapses of the human brain.
450-million-year-old organism finds new life in Softbotics
Researchers have used fossil evidence to engineer a soft robotic replica of pleurocystitids, a marine organism that existed nearly 450 million years ago and is believed to be one of the first echinoderms capable of movement using a muscular stem.
Artificial intelligence may help predict -- possibly prevent -- sudden cardiac death
Predicting sudden cardiac death may be possible using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze medical information in electronic health records, according to preliminary research. Researchers analyzed electronic health records from 25,000 people who had died suddenly and 70,000 people hospitalized for cardiac arrest who did not die in Paris, France and Seattle, Washington and used AI to build personalized health equations that identified each person's risk of dying from sudden cardiac arrest.
Studies of geologic faulting on icy moons aid exploration of extraterrestrial watery worlds
Earth and space scientists document and reveal the mechanisms behind strike-slip faulting on the largest moon of Saturn, Titan, and Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede.Â
Experiment shows biological interactions of microplastics in watery environment
Scientists have learned over the years that when aquatic organisms such as zooplankton become exposed to microplastics, they eat poorly. Research now shows that their plastic-induced eating difficulties also limit the ability of zooplankton to control algal proliferation. When algae bloom out of control, this presents a problem because some species produce toxins. Also, algal blooms can be associated with pea-soupy, unattractive bodies of water and contribute to hypoxia, a low-oxygen condition that may lead to fish kills.Â
Want the secret to less painful belly flops? These researchers have the answer
Researchers investigated belly flop mechanics and found surprising insights about air-to-water impacts that could be useful for marine engineering applications. They set up a belly flop-like water experiment using a blunt cylinder but added an important vibrating twist to it.
Video technology could transform how scientists monitor changes in species evolution and development
New research combines microscope and video technology to analyze how different species develop, and how changes in the timings of any developments can be tracked. A detailed analysis of the Energy Proxy Traits (EPTs) that result from these processes has provided researchers with the first evidence that traditionally measured timings of developmental events are associated with far broader changes to the full set of an embryo's observable characteristics.
Two fins are better than one: Fish synchronize tail fins to save energy
They say two heads are better than one. But in the world of fish, it appears two fins are better than one. Researchers have produced a theoretical model that demonstrates the underlying mechanisms behind how fish will synchronize their fin movements to ride each other's vortices, thereby saving energy.
Mystery resolved: Black hole feeding and feedback at the center of an active galaxy
Almost every large galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its center. An international research team has recently observed the Circinus galaxy, which is one of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way, with high enough resolution to gain further insights into the gas flows to and from the black hole at its galactic nucleus.
Brain implant may enable communication from thoughts alone
A speech prosthetic developed by a collaborative team of neuroscientists, neurosurgeons and engineers can translate a person's brain signals into what they're trying to say. The new technology might one day help people unable to talk due to neurological disorders regain the ability to communicate through a brain-computer interface.
Electric vehicles are driven less than gas cars
One of the largest studies to date finds the current generation of EV owners drive far fewer miles than owners of gas vehicles, translating to lower emissions savings from EVs.
Milestone moment toward development of nuclear clock
Physicists have started the countdown on developing a new generation of timepieces capable of shattering records by providing accuracy of up to one second in 300 billion years, or about 22 times the age of the universe.
Scientists map loss of groundwater storage around the world
Global water resources are stretched by climate change and human population growth, and farms and cities are increasingly turning to groundwater to fill their needs. Unfortunately, the pumping of groundwater can cause the ground surface above to sink, as the aquifers below are drained and the architecture of the ground collapses. A new study maps this loss of groundwater storage capacity around the world. Â
New approach to water electrolysis for green hydrogen
Scientists have pioneered a novel approach to water electrolysis catalysts for green hydrogen production.
Collective intelligence can help reduce medical misdiagnoses
Researchers have developed a collective intelligence approach to increase the accuracy of medical diagnoses.