Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Paleontology: Climate
Published

Interdisciplinary environmental history: How narratives of the past can meet the challenges of the anthropocene      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new article discusses vital methodological issues for humanities-based historical inquiry and argues that the challenges of the Anthropocene demand interdisciplinary research informed by a variety of historical narratives.

Paleontology: Climate Paleontology: Fossils
Published

What ancient underwater food webs can tell us about the future of climate change      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Have humans wreaked too much havoc on marine life to halt damage? A new analysis challenges the idea that ocean ecosystems have barely changed over millions of years, pointing scientists down a new path on conservation efforts and policy.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Research unearths obscure heat transfer behaviors      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have found that boron arsenide, which has already been viewed as a highly promising material for heat management and advanced electronics, also has a unique property. After reaching an extremely high pressure that is hundreds of times greater than the pressure found at the bottom of the ocean, boron arsenide's thermal conductivity actually begins to decrease. The results suggest that there might be other materials experiencing the same phenomenon under extreme conditions.

Geoscience: Geology Paleontology: Climate Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds
Published

The evolution of Asia's mammals was dictated by ancient climate change and rising mountains      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study compiles data on more than 3,000 species to show how climate and geologic changes across Asia over the last 66 million years have shaped the evolution of the continent's mammals.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

A life-inspired system dynamically adjusts to its environment      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The system regulates its own temperature in response to environmental disturbances.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

A nanoscale view of bubble formation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A nanoscale view of bubble formation: Using computer simulation, a research team succeeded in modeling the behavior of molecules at the liquid -- gas interface at the nanometer scale, enabling them to describe the boiling process with extreme precision. The findings could be applied to future cooling systems for microprocessors, or to the production of carbon-neutral hydrogen, known as green hydrogen.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Great potential for aquifer thermal energy storage systems      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Aquifer thermal energy storage systems can largely contribute to climate-friendly heating and cooling of buildings: Heated water is stored in the underground and pumped up, if needed. Researchers have now found that low-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage is of great potential in Germany. This potential is expected to grow in future due to climate change.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

How '2D' materials expand      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers developed a technique to effectively measure the thermal expansion coefficient of two-dimensional materials. With this information, engineers could more effectively and efficiently use these atomically-thin materials to develop next-generation electronic devices that can perform better and run faster than those built with conventional materials.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Nuclear Space: Structures and Features
Published

How does radiation travel through dense plasma?      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers provide experimental data about how radiation travels through dense plasmas. Their data will improve plasma models, which allow scientists to better understand the evolution of stars and may aid in the realization of controlled nuclear fusion as an alternative energy source.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Space: Exploration
Published

Trial by wind: Testing the heat resistance of carbon fiber-reinforced ultra-high-temperature ceramic matrix composites      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Carbon fiber-reinforced ultra-high-temperature ceramic (UHTC) matrix composites are extensively used in space shuttles and high-speed vehicles. However, these composites suffer from a lack of oxidation resistance. Recently, researchers tested the heat resistance of these composites at very high temperatures, providing insight into the modifications needed to prevent UHTC degradation. Their findings could have huge implications for the manufacture of space shuttle orbiters.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Autonomous crawling soft 'ringbots' can navigate narrow gaps      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have created a ring-shaped soft robot capable of crawling across surfaces when exposed to elevated temperatures or infrared light. The researchers have demonstrated that these 'ringbots' are capable of pulling a small payload across the surface -- in ambient air or under water, as well as passing through a gap that is narrower than its ring size.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

With new heat treatment, 3D-printed metals can withstand extreme conditions      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new way to 3D-print metals makes the materials stronger and more resilient in extreme thermal environments. The technique could lead to 3D printed high-performance blades and vanes for gas turbines and jet engines, which would enable improved fuel consumption and energy efficiency.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Researchers develop superfast new method to manufacture high-performance thermoelectric devices      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Aerospace and mechanical engineers have developed a machine-learning assisted superfast new way to create high-performance, energy-saving thermoelectric devices.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Plant fibers for sustainable devices      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Plant-derived materials such as cellulose often exhibit thermally insulating properties. A new material made from nanoscale cellulose fibers shows the reverse, high thermal conductivity. This makes it useful in areas previously dominated by synthetic polymer materials. Materials based on cellulose have environmental benefits over polymers, so research on this could lead to greener technological applications where thermal conductivity is needed.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Clear window coating could cool buildings without using energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

As climate change intensifies summer heat, demand is growing for technologies to cool buildings. Now, researchers report that they have used advanced computing technology and artificial intelligence to design a transparent window coating that could lower the temperature inside buildings, without expending a single watt of energy.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Looking to sea urchins for stronger ceramic foams      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research has unlocked a mystery in the porous microstructures of sea urchin exoskeletons that could lead to the creation of lightweight synthetic ceramics.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Scientists discover material that can be made like a plastic but conducts like metal      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have discovered a way to create a material that can be made like a plastic, but conducts electricity more like a metal. The research shows how to make a kind of material in which the molecular fragments are jumbled and disordered, but can still conduct electricity extremely well. This goes against all of the rules we know about for conductivity.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Researchers create lunar regolith bricks that could be used to construct Artemis base camp      (via sciencedaily.com) 

As part of NASA's Artemis program to establish a long-term presence on the moon, it aims to build an Artemis base camp that includes a modern lunar cabin, rover and mobile home. This fixed habitat could potentially be constructed with bricks made of lunar regolith and saltwater, thanks to a recent discovery.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

The next wonder semiconductor      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a study that confirms its promise as the next-generation semiconductor material, researchers have directly visualized the photocarrier transport properties of cubic boron arsenide single crystals.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

High entropy alloys: Structural disorder and magnetic properties      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising materials for catalysis and energy storage, and at the same time they are extremely hard, heat resistant and demonstrate great variability in their magnetic behavior. Now, a team has gained new insights into the local environment of a so-called high-entropy Cantor alloy made of chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel, and has thus also been able to partially explain the magnetic properties of a nanocrystalline film of this alloy.