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Categories: Energy: Nuclear, Paleontology: Dinosaurs
Published What killed dinosaurs and other life on Earth?
(via sciencedaily.com) Determining what killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period has long been the topic of debate, as scientists set out to determine what caused the five mass extinction events that reshaped life on planet Earth in a geological instant. Some scientists argue that comets or asteroids that crashed into Earth were the most likely agents of mass destruction, while others argue that large volcanic eruptions were the cause. A new study reports that volcanic activity appears to have been the key driver of mass extinctions.
Published Less risk, less costs: Portable spectroscopy devices could soon become real
(via sciencedaily.com) Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an analytical tool with a wide range of applications, including the magnetic resonance imaging that is used for diagnostic purposes in medicine. However, NMR often requires powerful magnetic fields to be generated, which limits the scope of its use. Researchers have now discovered potential new ways to reduce the size of the corresponding devices and also the possible associated risk by eliminating the need for strong magnetic fields. This is achieved by combining so-called zero- to ultralow-field NMR with a special hyperpolarization technique.
Published Particles pick pair partners differently in small nuclei
(via sciencedaily.com) The protons and neutrons that build the nucleus of the atom frequently pair up. Now, a new high-precision experiment has found that these particles may pick different partners depending on how packed the nucleus is. The data also reveal new details about short-distance interactions between protons and neutrons in nuclei and may impact results from experiments seeking to tease out further details of nuclear structure.
Published Discovery and naming of Africa's oldest known dinosaur
(via sciencedaily.com) An international team of paleontologists has discovered and named a new, early dinosaur. The skeleton -- incredibly, mostly intact -- was found over the course of two digs, in 2017 and 2019.
Published Elemental research: Scientists apply boron to tungsten components in fusion facilities
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists at have conducted research showing that a powder dropper can successfully drop boron powder into high-temperature plasma within tokamaks that have parts made of a heat-resistant material known as tungsten.
Published Fossils of giant sea lizard that ruled the oceans 66 million years ago discovered
(via sciencedaily.com) Fossils of a giant killer mosasaur have been discovered, along with the fossilized remains of its prey.
Published The electron slow motion: Ion physics on the femtosecond scale
(via sciencedaily.com) How do different materials react to the impact of ions? This is a question that plays an important role in many areas of research -- for example in nuclear fusion research, when the walls of the fusion reactor are bombarded by high-energy ions. However, it is difficult to understand the temporal sequence of such processes. A research group has now succeeded in analyzing on a time scale of one femtosecond what happens to the individual particles involved when an ion penetrates materials such as graphene or molybdenum disulphide.
Published 2D array of electron and nuclear spin qubits opens new frontier in quantum science
(via sciencedaily.com) By using photons and electron spin qubits to control nuclear spins in a two-dimensional material, researchers have opened a new frontier in quantum science and technology, enabling applications like atomic-scale nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and to read and write quantum information with nuclear spins in 2D materials.
Published All the better to better eat you with -- dinosaurs evolved different eye socket shapes to allow stronger bites
(via sciencedaily.com) Large dinosaur predators, such as Tyrannosaurus rex, evolved different shapes of eye sockets to better deal with high bite forces, new research has shown.
Published Prehistoric podiatry: How dinos carried their enormous weight
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists have cracked an enduring mystery, discovering how sauropod dinosaurs -- like Brontosaurus and Diplodocus -- supported their gigantic bodies on land.
Published The speed at which spinosaurid dinosaur teeth were replaced accounts for their overabundance in Cretaceous sites
(via sciencedaily.com) Spinosaurid dinosaurs were able to develop up to three generations of teeth at the same time, a high replacement rate that explains why so many teeth of this type have been found in Cretaceous sites.
Published Upgrade for magnetic resonance methods with a 1,000-fold amplifier
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers determine the structure and dynamics of proteins using NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy. Until now, however, much higher concentrations were necessary for in-vitro measurements of the biomolecules in solution than found in our body's cells. An NMR method enhanced by a very powerful amplifier, in combination with molecular dynamics simulation, now enables their detection and accurate characterization at physiological concentrations.
Published A better way to quantify radiation damage in materials
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers find much of the damage inside nuclear reactors is so small that it has eluded previous tests. Their new tool provides a way to directly measure this damage, potentially opening a path for the safe operation of nuclear power plants far beyond their present licensed lifetimes.
Published Suspended sediment reduced by rapid revegetation after Fukushima decontamination
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have found that soil decontamination efforts following the Fukushima nuclear accident resulted in constant, high levels of suspended river sediment downstream, but a rapid decrease in the amount of particulate radiocesium. Additionally, the rapid recovery of vegetation reduced the duration of unsustainable sediment effects. Future remediation projects should assess the natural restoration ability of local landscapes, and include appropriate revegetation measures to reduce the effects on downstream environments.
Published Listening to the people results in a more sustainable future energy system
(via sciencedaily.com) By taking into account the demographics and preferences of US racial groups, clarified through a nationally representative survey of 3,000 US residents, researchers have created a 'desirable' electricity generation mix for 2050 that includes 50% more energy from renewables than current projections. Combining such bottom-up input with top-down energy system goals set by policymakers could help meet both the needs and preferences of the population along with emission and climate goals.
Published Plesiosaur fossils found in the Sahara suggest they weren't just marine animals
(via sciencedaily.com) Fossils of small plesiosaurs, long-necked marine reptiles from the age of dinosaurs, have been found in a 100-million year old river system that is now Morocco's Sahara Desert. This discovery suggests some species of plesiosaur, traditionally thought to be sea creatures, may have lived in freshwater.
Published Smaller, stronger magnets could improve devices that harness the fusion power of the sun and stars
(via sciencedaily.com) PPPL researchers have found a way to build powerful magnets smaller than before, aiding the design and construction of machines that could help the world harness the power of the sun to create electricity without producing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
Published Study refutes claim that T. rex was three separate species
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study refutes a provocative claim made earlier this year that fossils classified as the dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex represent three separate species. The rebuttal finds that the earlier proposal lacks sufficient evidence to split up the iconic species.
Published Chemists unlock secrets of molten salts
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have come up with a novel way to study the thermodynamic properties of molten salts, which are used in many nuclear and solar energy applications.
Published Go with the flow: New findings about moving electricity could improve fusion devices
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have found that updating a mathematical model to include a physical property known as resistivity could lead to the improved design of doughnut-shaped fusion facilities known as tokamaks.