Energy: Technology Physics: Optics
Published

Photonic filter separates signals from noise to support future 6G wireless communication      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a new chip-sized microwave photonic filter to separate communication signals from noise and suppress unwanted interference across the full radio frequency spectrum. The device is expected to help next-generation wireless communication technologies efficiently convey data in an environment that is becoming crowded with signals.

Chemistry: General Energy: Technology
Published

Researchers discover new circuit element      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have identified a new circuit element known as a meminductor.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Cities will need more resilient electricity networks to cope with extreme weather      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Dense urban areas amplify the effects of higher temperatures, due to the phenomenon of heat islands in cities. This makes cities more vulnerable to extreme climate events. Large investments in the electricity network will be necessary to cool us down during heatwaves and keep us warm during cold snaps, according to a new study.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Nuclear Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Shutting down nuclear power could increase air pollution      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study shows that if U.S. nuclear power plants are retired, the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas to fill the energy gap could cause more than 5,000 premature deaths.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Environmental: Ecosystems Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Woolly mammoths evolved smaller ears and woolier coats over the 700,000 years that they roamed the Siberian steppes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers compared the genomes of woolly mammoths with modern day elephants to find out what made woolly mammoths unique, both as individuals and as a species. The investigators report that many of the woolly mammoth's trademark features -- including their woolly coats and large fat deposits -- were already genetically encoded in the earliest woolly mammoths, but these and other traits became more defined over the species' 700,000+ year existence. They also identified a gene with several mutations that may have been responsible for the woolly mammoth's miniscule ears.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Long-forgotten equation provides new tool for converting carbon dioxide      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To manage atmospheric carbon dioxide and convert the gas into a useful product, scientists have dusted off an archaic -- now 120 years old -- electrochemical equation.

Energy: Technology
Published

Shedding light on mechanisms of electrochemical energy storage      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a new technique that can quickly identify the exact electrochemical mechanisms taking place in batteries and supercapacitors of various compositions -- a breakthrough that could speed the design of higher performing energy storage devices.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Engineering: Graphene Physics: General
Published

Discovery of ferroelectricity in an elementary substance      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a new single-element ferroelectric material that alters the current understanding of conventional ferroelectric materials and has future applications in data storage devices.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Levies on Renewable Energy Profits could serve as a barrier to achieving Net Zero Targets in the UK      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Placing levies on the profits made in the renewable energy industry could hinder the UK's ability to meet its 2050 net zero carbon reduction targets, an expert has said.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

Major storage capacity in water-based batteries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chemical engineers have discovered a 1,000% difference in the storage capacity of metal-free, water-based battery electrodes.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Paleontology: Dinosaurs Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds Paleontology: General
Published

Analysis of dinosaur eggshells: Bird-like Troodon laid 4 to 6 eggs in a communal nest      (via sciencedaily.com) 

An international research team has determined that Troodon, a dinosaur very close to modern birds, was a warm-blooded animal (an endotherm), but had a reproductive system similar to that of modern reptiles. The scientists applied a new method which allowed for accurate determination of the temperature when the egg's carbonate shell was formed. Furthermore, the researchers showed that Troodon laid 4 to 6 eggs per clutch. As nests with up to 24 Troodon eggs had been found, the scientists conclude that several Troodon females laid their eggs in communal nests.

Energy: Technology Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Smart films help to make loudspeakers lighter and more energy-efficient      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists are developing intelligent materials that are opening up new avenues in sound reproduction technology: lightweight loudspeakers that use far less energy than their conventional counterparts, novel shapes for sound and signal generators and applications involving noise cancelling textiles. The basis for these smart materials are ultrathin silicone films that can act as artificial muscles with their own built-in sensors.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: General
Published

Mathematical model provides bolt of understanding for lightning-produced X-rays      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In the early 2000s, scientists observed lightning discharge producing X-rays comprising high energy photons -- the same type used for medical imaging. Researchers could recreate this phenomenon in the lab, but they could not fully explain how and why lightning produced X-rays. Now, two decades later, a team has discovered a new physical mechanism explaining naturally occurring X-rays associated with lightning activity in the Earth's atmosphere.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Dinosaurs Paleontology: Early Mammals and Birds Paleontology: General
Published

Predatory dinosaurs such as T. rex sported lizard-like lips      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study suggests that predatory dinosaurs, such as Tyrannosaurus rex, did not have permanently exposed teeth as depicted in films such as Jurassic Park, but instead had scaly, lizard-like lips covering and sealing their mouths.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Energy-efficient and customizable inorganic membranes for a cleaner future      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A team of researchers has developed a revolutionary technique for producing ultrathin inorganic membranes. These inorganic membranes are not just energy-efficient but also highly customizable for different applications, such as filtration, separation, energy conversion, catalysis and sensing. This ground-breaking achievement could potentially revolutionize the way many industries operate for greater sustainability.

Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Highly charged ions melt nano gold nuggets      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Shooting ions is very different from shooting a gun: By firing highly charged ions onto tiny gold structures, these structures can be modified in technologically interesting ways. Surprisingly, the key is not the force of impact, but the electric charge of the projectiles.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Technology
Published

The powerhouse of the future: Artificial cells      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers identify the most promising advancements and greatest challenges of artificial mitochondria and chloroplasts. The team describes the components required to construct synthetic mitochondria and chloroplasts and identifies proteins as the most important aspects for molecular rotary machinery, proton transport, and ATP production. The authors believe it is important to create artificial cells with biologically realistic energy-generation methods that mimic natural processes; replicating the entire cell could lead to future biomaterials.

Computer Science: General Energy: Technology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

First silicon integrated ECRAM for a practical AI accelerator      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The transformative changes brought by deep learning and artificial intelligence are accompanied by immense costs. For example, OpenAI's ChatGPT algorithm costs at least $100,000 every day to operate. This could be reduced with accelerators, or computer hardware designed to efficiently perform the specific operations of deep learning. However, such a device is only viable if it can be integrated with mainstream silicon-based computing hardware on the material level.