ScienceDaily: Technology - October 07, 2024
Top technology research news
Precise control for advanced materials design
Researchers have found that exposing a certain class of particles -- micron-sized beads endowed with a special magnetic sensitivity -- to a rapidly alternating, rotating magnetic field causes them to organize into structures that are direction-dependent or anisotropic. The finding is significant because anisotropy can be manipulated to create new, tunable material structures and properties.
Liquefied natural gas carbon footprint is worse than coal
Liquefied natural gas leaves a greenhouse gas footprint that is 33% worse than coal, when processing and shipping are taken into account, according to a new study.
Image: J.M. Image Factory/Shutterestock.com
Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products
Researchers have developed a way to make one type of plastic material more durable and less likely to shed dangerous microplastics.
In odd galaxy, NASA's Webb finds potential missing link to first stars
Looking deep into the early universe with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have found something unprecedented: a galaxy with an odd light signature, which they attribute to its gas outshining its stars. Found approximately one billion years after the big bang, galaxy GS-NDG-9422 (9422) may be a missing-link phase of galactic evolution between the universe's first stars and familiar, well-established galaxies.
A new era of solar observation
For the first time, scientists have taken near-daily measurements of the Sun's global coronal magnetic field, a region of the Sun that has only been observed irregularly in the past. The resulting observations are providing valuable insights into the processes that drive the intense solar storms that impact fundamental technologies, and thus lives and livelihoods, here on Earth.
Quantum researchers come up with a recipe that could accelerate drug development
Mathematicians have developed a recipe for upgrading quantum computers to simulate complex quantum systems, such as molecules. Their discovery brings us closer to being able to predict how new drugs will behave within our bodies and has the potential to revolutionize pharmaceutical development.
Logic with light: Introducing diffraction casting, optical-based parallel computing
Increasingly complex applications such as artificial intelligence require ever more powerful and power-hungry computers to run. Optical computing is a proposed solution to increase speed and power efficiency but has yet to be realized due to constraints and drawbacks. A new design architecture, called diffraction casting, seeks to address these shortcomings. It introduces some concepts to the field of optical computing that might make it more appealing for implementation in next-generation computing devices.
Widespread ice deposits on the moon
Deposits of ice in lunar dust and rock (regolith) are more extensive than previously thought, according to a new analysis of data from NASA's LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) mission. Ice would be a valuable resource for future lunar expeditions. Water could be used for radiation protection and supporting human explorers, or broken into its hydrogen and oxygen components to make rocket fuel, energy, and breathable air.
Strong coupling between Andreev qubits mediated by a microwave resonator
Physicists have succeeded in coupling two Andreev qubits coherently over a macroscopic distance for the first time. They achieved this with the help of microwave photons generated in a narrow superconducting resonator. The results lay the foundation for the use of coupled Andreev qubits in quantum communication and quantum computing.
Engineers create a chip-based tractor beam for biological particles
A chip-based 'tractor beam' can trap and manipulate biological particles using a tightly focused beam of light emitted from a silicon-photonics chip. The device could help biologists and clinicians study DNA, classify cells, and investigate the mechanisms of disease.
New imaging technique accurately detects aggressive kidney cancer
A new study has demonstrated a new, non-invasive imaging technique can accurately detect clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer.
New theory demystifies crystallization process
A new theory 'demystifies' the crystallization process and shows that the material that crystallizes is the dominant component within a solution -- which is the solvent, not the solute. The theory could have implications for everything from drug development to understanding climate change.
deepSPACE design tool takes a concept to a multitude of configurations
deepSPACE isn't a futuristic film, a new videogame or the next season of a classic TV series. In fact, the new design software developed by an aerospace engineer isn't about outer space at all. This new tool takes your concept and requirements and rapidly generates design configurations from conventional to out-of-this-world, including a 3D CAD model and performance evaluations.
New design overcomes key barrier to safer, more efficient EV batteries
Spinning out a new biomaterials startup is harder than you think
Spider silk, long prized for its strength and elasticity, has created something of a furor in the biomanufacturing world as businesses look for ways to cheaply scale up production for silks, which can be used in everything from tactical gear to sutures and textiles. However, a comprehensive study shows that there are many challenges facing the spider silk industry.
Higher-order interactions can remodel the landscape of complex systems
Scientists report on how higher-order interactions can reshape a system at large -- even global -- scales.
New method of generating multiple, tunable nanopores could revolutionize membrane technology
Engineers found a novel path around tedious process of tunneling individual sub-nanometer pores for nanoporous membranes one by one. The team created a new method of pore generation that builds materials with intentional weak spots, then applies a remote electric field to generate multiple nano-scale pores all at once.
Mystery of Uruguay's amethyst geodes: New model to explain amethyst formation
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz which has been used as a gemstone for many centuries and is a key economic resource in northern Uruguay. Geodes are hollow rock formations often with quartz crystals, such as amethyst, inside. Amethyst geodes in Uruguay have been found in cooled lava flows, which date from the original breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana around 134 million years ago. However, their formation has remained a mystery.
NASA's TESS spots record-breaking stellar triplets
Professional and amateur astronomers teamed up with artificial intelligence to find an unmatched stellar trio called TIC 290061484, thanks to cosmic 'strobe lights' captured by NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite).
AI simulation gives people a glimpse of their potential future self
'Future You' is a generative AI tool that enables users to have a simulated conversation with a potential version of their future selves. The chatbot is meant to reduce users' anxiety, improve positive emotions, and guide them toward making better everyday choices.
Discovery of promising electrolyte for all-solid-state batteries
Researchers have developed a solid electrolyte that could be a suitable material for all-solid-state batteries. Solid electrolyte composed of nanoparticles embedded in an amorphous matrix shows high conductivity, formability, and electrochemical stability.
A leap in behavioral modelling: Scientists replicate animal movements with unprecedented accuracy
Scientists have developed a new method to simulate the complex movements of animals with exceptional accuracy. The research team set out to solve a long-standing challenge in biology -- how to accurately model the intricate and seemingly unpredictable movements of living organisms. They focused on the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism widely used in biological research. The findings help predict and understand animal behavior, with potential applications ranging from robotics to medical research.
Nanopillars create tiny openings in the nucleus without damaging cells
Researchers have created an array of nanopillars that can breach the nucleus of a cell -- the compartment that houses our DNA -- without damaging the cell's outer membrane. This new 'gateway into the nucleus' could open new possibilities in gene therapy, where genetic material needs to be delivered directly into the nucleus, as well as drug delivery and other forms of precision medicine.
A new injectable to prevent and treat hypoglycemia
People with diabetes take insulin to lower high blood sugar. However, if glucose levels plunge too low -- from taking too much insulin or not eating enough sugar -- people can experience hypoglycemia, which can lead to dizziness, cognitive impairment, seizures or comas. To prevent and treat this condition, researchers report encapsulating the hormone glucagon. In mouse trials, the nanocapsules activated when blood sugar levels dropped dangerously low and quickly restored glucose levels.
Turning plants into workout supplement bio-factories
It's important to eat your veggies, but some essential vitamins and nutrients can only be found in animals, including certain amino acids and peptides. But, in a proof-of-concept study, researchers developed a method to produce creatine, carnosine and taurine -- all animal-based nutrients and common workout supplements -- right inside a plant. The system allows for different synthetic modules to be easily stacked together to boost production.
Researchers integrate fast OCT system into neurosurgical microscope
Clinical study of microscope-integrated system lays groundwork for using OCT to define tumor margins and reveal subsurface brain anatomy.
Research provides new insights into role of mechanical forces in gene expression
The genome inside each of our cells is modelled by tension and torsion -- due in part to the activity of proteins that compact, loop, wrap and untwist DNA -- but scientists know little about how those forces affect the transcription of genes. Transcription of a gene begins when RNAP binds to a 'promoter' DNA sequence and ends at a 'terminator' sequence where the mRNA copy is released. The canonical view of termination holds that after releasing the mRNA, RNAP dissociates from the DNA. A team of researchers has demonstrated how force plays a role in an alternative to canonical termination.
Physicists explore possibility of life beyond Earth
Are there planets beyond Earth where humans can live? The answer is maybe, according to physicists examining F-type star systems.
Seeing double: Designing drugs that target 'twin' cancer proteins
Some proteins in the human body are easy to block with a drug; they have an obvious spot in their structure where a drug can fit, like a key in a lock. But other proteins are more difficult to target, with no clear drug-binding sites. To design a drug that blocks a cancer-related protein, scientists took a hint from the protein's paralog, or 'twin.' Using innovative chemical biology methods, the scientists pinpointed a druggable site on the paralog, and then used that knowledge to characterize drugs that bound to a similar -- but more difficult to detect -- spot on its twin. Ultimately, they found drugs that only bound to the protein of interest and not its highly similar sibling.
New security protocol shields data from attackers during cloud-based computation
Researchers developed a technique guaranteeing that data remain secure during multiparty, cloud-based computation. This method, which leverages the quantum properties of light, could enable organizations like hospitals or financial companies to use deep learning to securely analyze confidential patient or customer data.
It all adds up: Study finds forever chemicals are more toxic as mixtures
A new study has measured the toxicity of several types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), better known as 'forever chemicals,' when mixed together in the environment and in the human body.
Using antimatter to detect nuclear radiation
Discerning whether a nuclear reactor is being used to also create material for nuclear weapons is difficult, but capturing and analyzing antimatter particles has shown promise for monitoring what specific nuclear reactor operations are occurring, even from hundreds of miles away. Researchers have developed a detector that exploits Cherenkov radiation, sensing antineutrinos and characterizing their energy profiles from miles away as a way of monitoring activity at nuclear reactors. They proposed to assemble their device in northeast England and detect antineutrinos from reactors from all over the U.K. as well as in northern France.
Sustainably produced covalent organic frameworks for efficient carbon dioxide capture
Researchers have synthesized a new compound, which forms a so-called covalent organic framework. The compound, which is based on condensed phosphonic acids, is stable and can for example be used to capture carbon dioxide.
ChatGPT shows human-level assessment of brain tumor MRI reports
Osaka Metropolitan University researchers compared the diagnostic performance of ChatGPT and radiologists in assessing 150 brain tumor MRI reports. Their findings might surprise you.
Researchers observe hidden deformations in complex light fields
Everyday experience tells us that light reflected from a perfectly flat mirror will give us the correct image without any deformation. Interestingly, this is not the case when the light field itself is structured in a complex way. Tiny deformations appear. These have now been observed in the laboratory. The results confirm the prediction of this fundamental optical effect made more than a decade ago. They also show how it can be used, for example, as a method for determining material properties.
Cool roofs could have saved lives during London's hottest summer, say researchers
As many as 249 lives could have been saved in London during the 2018 record-setting hot summer had the city widely adopted cool roofs, estimates a new study.
Research heralds new era for genetics
Research is heralding in a new era for genetic sequencing and testing.
Siloxane nanoparticles unlock precise organ targeting for mRNA therapy
Engineers have discovered a simple and inexpensive means of directing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the revolutionary molecules that delivered the COVID-19 vaccines, to target specific tissues, presaging a new era in personalized medicine and gene therapy. The key is making small changes to the chemical structure of LNPs, including the incorporation of siloxane, a chemical group that includes silicon, whose wider atomic radius increases membrane flexibility and improves mRNA uptake by target cells.
NMR-guided optimization of lipid nanoparticles for enhanced siRNA delivery
siRNA therapies show promise for treating diseases like cancer and genetic disorders, but their effectiveness depends on proper delivery. A recent study found that the method of mixing siRNA with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) is key to success.
High costs slow widespread use of heat pumps, study shows
The high cost of installing heat pumps for home heating could slow down people widely adopting the technology and leave government targets missed, research suggests.
Stronger together: miniature robots in convoy for endoscopic surgery
Miniature robots on the millimeter scale often lack the strength to transport instruments for endoscopic microsurgery through the body. Scientists are now combining several millimeter-sized TrainBots into one unit and equipping them with improved 'feet'. For the first time, the team was able to perform an electric surgical procedure on a bile duct obstruction experimentally with a robotic convoy.
Scientists discover planet orbiting closest single star to our Sun
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet orbiting Barnard's star, the closest single star to our Sun. On this newly discovered exoplanet, which has at least half the mass of Venus, a year lasts just over three Earth days. The team's observations also hint at the existence of three more exoplanet candidates, in various orbits around the star.
Feet first: AI reveals how infants connect with their world
Researchers explored how infants act purposefully by attaching a colorful mobile to their foot and tracking movements with a Vicon 3D motion capture system. The study tested AI's ability to detect changes in infant movement patterns. Findings showed that AI techniques, especially the deep learning model 2D-CapsNet, effectively classified different stages of behavior. Notably, foot movements varied significantly. Looking at how AI classification accuracy changes for each baby gives researchers a new way to understand when and how they start to engage with the world.
Squid-inspired fabric for temperature-controlled clothing
Inspired by the dynamic color-changing properties of squid skin, researchers have developed a method to manufacture a heat-adjusting material that is breathable and washable and can be integrated into flexible fabric. The composite material operates in the infrared spectrum and consists of a polymer covered with copper islands. Stretching the material separates the islands and changes how it transmits and reflects infrared light; this innovation creates the possibility of controlling the temperature of a garment.
Modeling the minutia of motor manipulation with AI
Scientists have developed an AI-driven approach that significantly advances our understanding of the hand's complex motor functions. The team used a creative machine learning strategy that combined curriculum-based reinforcement learning with detailed biomechanical simulations. The research presents a detailed, dynamic, and anatomically accurate model of hand movement that takes direct inspiration from the way humans learn intricate motor skills.
Carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Pluto's moon Charon
Astronomers have detected carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the frozen surface of Pluto's largest moon, Charon, using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope. These discoveries add to Charon's known chemical inventory, previously identified by ground- and space-based observations, that includes water ice, ammonia-bearing species and the organic materials responsible for Charon's gray and red coloration.
Study coordinates satellite swarm for 3D imaging inside clouds
A new program has simulated multiple satellites, collecting images of a cloud from many angles at the same time, which could help us to better understand what's happening inside the cloud.
Getting to zero emissions: A call for unified energy planning
To help speed decarbonization, state regulators should reconceive of gas and electric utilities as serving the same purpose, according to a new report. Without coordinated action, the energy transition could become slower, more expensive, and more inequitable, the authors warn.
Scientists uncover light absorbing properties of achiral materials
Researchers have made a discovery that changes what we know about light and materials. They found that engineered achiral (symmetric) materials, called achiral plasmonic metasurfaces, can absorb light differently depending on the handedness of the wavefront of light. This was surprising because, for years, such materials were found to be indifferent to any optical probes and does not show such selective absorption.
Watch water form out of thin air
Palladium, a rare metallic element, can rapidly generate water from hydrogen and oxygen. Researchers witnessed this process at the nanoscale for the first time with an electron microscope. By viewing the process with extreme precision, researchers discovered how to optimize it to generate water at a faster rate. Process could be used to generate water on-demand in arid environments, including on other planets.
Helping robots zero in on the objects that matter
Engineers developed a system that helps robots quickly map a scene and identify items they need to complete a set of tasks.
First data from XRISM space mission provides new perspective on supermassive black holes
Data from an international space mission is confirming decades worth of speculation about the galactic neighborhoods of supermassive black holes.
New imaging technique brings us closer to simplified, low-cost agricultural quality assessment
Hyperspectral imaging is a useful technique for analyzing the chemical composition of food and agricultural products. However, it is a costly and complicated procedure, which limits its practical application. A team of researchers has developed a method to reconstruct hyperspectral images from standard RGB images using deep machine learning.
'Squeezing' increased accuracy of quantum measurements
Scientists have explored how quantum squeezing can improve measurement precision in complex quantum systems, with potential applications in quantum sensing, imaging, and radar technologies. These findings may lead to advancements in areas like GPS accuracy and early disease detection through more sensitive biosensors.
Medical imaging breakthrough could transform cancer and arthritis diagnosis
A new hand-held scanner can generate highly detailed 3D photoacoustic images in just seconds, paving the way for their use in a clinical setting for the first time and offering the potential for earlier disease diagnosis.
Better MRI videos thanks to new machine learning method
Medical imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is very time-consuming since an image has to be compiled from data from many individual measurements. Thanks to the use of machine learning, imaging is also possible with less MRI measurement data, which saves time and costs. However, the prerequisite for this is perfect images that can be used to train the AI models. Such perfect training images do not exist for certain applications, such as real-time (moving image) MRI, as such images are always somewhat blurred. An international research team has now succeeded in generating precise live MRI images of the beating heart even without such training images and with very little MRI data with the help of smartly trained neural networks. Thanks to these improvements, real-time MRI could be used more frequently in practice in the future.
Fluorescent molecules to illuminate life: simplified synthesis with formaldehyde
A team develops an efficient method for synthesizing organic fluorophores using formaldehyde.
Vast 'stranded assets' if world continues investing in polluting industries
Continued investment in carbon-intensive industries will drastically increase the amount of 'stranded assets' as the world moves to net-zero emissions, researchers warn.
New synthesis strategy could speed up PFAS decontamination
Engineers have developed an innovative way to make covalent organic frameworks, special materials that can be used to trap gases, filter water and speed up chemical reactions.
A new and unique fusion reactor
As part of the global effort to harness power from fusing plasma, scientists worked on the computer codes, engineering and physics for a new and unique fusion reactor: the SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak.