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Categories: Environmental: Biodiversity, Physics: Optics
Published Powerless mechanoluminescent touchscreen underwater



Scientists have developed an optical display based on mechano-optical mechanisms.
Published Microbes impact coral bleaching susceptibility



A new study provides insights into the role of microbes and their interaction as drivers of interspecific differences in coral thermal bleaching.
Published Making quantum bits fly



Physicists are developing a method that could enable the stable exchange of information in quantum computers. In the leading role: photons that make quantum bits 'fly'.
Published Compact chips advance precision timing for communications, navigation and other applications



Precision timing and synchronization are crucial for navigation, communication and radar systems. Scientists have built compact chips capable of converting light into microwaves, which could improve these systems. This technology shrinks a tabletop system into a chip-sized format, reducing power usage and making it more applicable for use in everyday devices.
Published Invasive plant time bombs: A hidden ecological threat



Invasive plants can stay dormant for decades or even centuries before rapidly expanding and wreaking ecological havoc, finds a new study.
Published New deep-sea worm discovered at methane seep off Costa Rica



Marine biologists have discovered a new species of deep-sea worm living near a methane seep some 50 kilometers (30 miles) off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Published Aluminum nanoparticles make tunable green catalysts



A nanotechnology pioneer has uncovered a transformative approach to harnessing the catalytic power of aluminum nanoparticles by annealing them in various gas atmospheres at high temperatures.
Published Using light to precisely control single-molecule devices



Researchers flip the switch at the nanoscale by applying light to induce bonding for single-molecule device switching.
Published New method measures the 3D position of individual atoms



Since more than a decade it has been possible for physicists to accurately measure the location of individual atoms to a precision of smaller than one thousandth of a millimeter using a special type of microscope. However, this method has so far only provided the x and y coordinates. Information on the vertical position of the atom -- i.e., the distance between the atom and the microscope objective -- is lacking. A new method has now been developed that can determine all three spatial coordinates of an atom with one single image.
Published New cardiovascular imaging approach provides a better view of dangerous plaques



Researchers have developed a new catheter-based device that combines two powerful optical techniques to image the dangerous plaques that can build up inside the arteries that supply blood to the heart. By providing new details about plaque, the device could help clinicians and researchers improve treatments for preventing heart attacks and strokes.
Published Spontaneous curvature the key to shape-shifting nanomaterials



Inspired by nature, nanotechnology researchers have identified 'spontaneous curvature' as the key factor determining how ultra-thin, artificial materials can transform into useful tubes, twists and helices.
Published Opening a window on the brain



Researchers have introduced a new method for in vivo brain imaging, enabling large-scale and long-term observation of neuronal structures and activities in awake mice. This method is called the 'nanosheet incorporated into light-curable resin' (NIRE) method, and it uses fluoropolymer nanosheets covered with light-curable resin to create larger cranial windows.
Published A key to the future of robots could be hiding in liquid crystals



Robots and cameras of the future could be made of liquid crystals, thanks to a new discovery that significantly expands the potential of the chemicals already common in computer displays and digital watches. The findings are a simple and inexpensive way to manipulate the molecular properties of liquid crystals with light exposure.
Published Researchers use liquid crystals to control polarization inside laser-written waveguides



Researchers have developed a new way to control and manipulate optical signals by embedding a liquid crystal layer into waveguides created with direct laser writing. The new devices enable electro-optical control of polarization, which could open new possibilities for chip-based devices and complex photonic circuits based on femtosecond-written waveguides.
Published Scientists make nanoparticles dance to unravel quantum limits



The question of where the boundary between classical and quantum physics lies is one of the longest-standing pursuits of modern scientific research and in new research, scientists demonstrate a novel platform that could help us find an answer.
Published How climate change risks increase at a national scale as the level of global warming increases



Researchers have quantified how climate change risks to human and natural systems increase at a national scale as the level of global warming increases. A collection of eight studies -- all focusing on Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana and India -- shows that the risks of drought, flooding, declines in crop yields, and loss of biodiversity and natural capital greatly increase for each additional degree of global warming. The overarching picture for the accrual of climate risk across these countries as global warming increases from 1.5 C to 4 C above pre-industrial levels is presented.
Published Uncertainty in measuring biodiversity change could hinder progress towards global targets for nature



More than ever before, there is a growing interest in dedicating resources to stop the loss of biodiversity, as recently exemplified by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) decided at COP15 in December 2022. The GBF focuses on understanding why biodiversity is declining and what actions are needed to reverse this trend. However, according to researchers, implementing the plan is challenging because information about biodiversity changes is not evenly available everywhere, and is uncertain in many places.
Published Scientists reveal how light behaves in formless solids



For a long time, it was thought that amorphous solids do not selectively absorb light because of their disordered atomic structure. A new study disproves this theory and shows that amorphous solids actually exhibit dichroism, meaning that they selectively absorb light of different polarizations.
Published A bright idea for recycling rare-earth phosphors from used fluorescent bulbs



Recycling facilities collect glass and mercury from thrown away fluorescent bulbs, but discarded lighting could also supply rare-earth metals for reuse. The 17 metals referred to as rare earths aren't all widely available and aren't easily extracted with existing recycling methods. Now, researchers have found a simpler way to collect slightly magnetic particles that contain rare-earth metals from spent fluorescent bulbs.
Published Bottlenecks and beehives: How an invasive bee colony defied genetic expectations



An invasive Asian honeybee colony in northern Australia has defied expectations, displaying emergent genetic variation in a short period of time. While bad news for biosecurity agencies, it could be a sign that species under pressure from climate change can be resilient.