Showing 20 articles starting at article 41
< Previous 20 articles Next 20 articles >
Categories: Paleontology: General, Physics: Optics
Published What no one has seen before -- simulation of gravitational waves from failing warp drive
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Physicists have been exploring the theoretical possibility of spaceships driven by compressing the four-dimensional spacetime for decades. Although this so-called 'warp drive' originates from the realm of science fiction, it is based on concrete descriptions in general relativity. A new study takes things a step further -- simulating the gravitational waves such a drive might emit if it broke down.
Published Researchers trap atoms, forcing them to serve as photonic transistors
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed a means to realize cold-atom integrated nanophotonic circuits.
Published Scientists untangle interactions between the Earth's early life forms and the environment over 500 million years
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The atmosphere, the ocean and life on Earth interacted over the past 500-plus million years in ways that improved conditions for early organisms to thrive. Now, an interdisciplinary team of scientists has produced a perspective article of this co-evolutionary history.
Published Optical fibers fit for the age of quantum computing
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new generation of specialty optical fibers has been developed by physicists to cope with the challenges of data transfer expected to arise in the future age of quantum computing.
Published Atomic 'GPS' elucidates movement during ultrafast material transitions
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have created the first-ever atomic movies showing how atoms rearrange locally within a quantum material as it transitions from an insulator to a metal. With the help of these movies, the researchers discovered a new material phase that settles a years-long scientific debate and could facilitate the design of new transitioning materials with commercial applications.
Published Fresh light on the path to net zero
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have used magnetic fields to reveal the mystery of how light particles split. Scientists are closer to giving the next generation of solar cells a powerful boost by integrating a process that could make the technology more efficient by breaking particles of light photons into small chunks.
Published Shining light on similar crystals reveals photoreactions can differ
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A research team has revealed that photoreactions proceed differently depending on the crystal structure of photoreactive molecules, shining a light on the mechanism by which non-uniform photoreactions occur within crystals. This is a new step toward controlling photoreactions in crystals.
Published The ancestor of all modern birds probably had iridescent feathers
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Birds tend to be more colorful in the tropics, and scientists wanted to find out how they got there: if colorful feathers evolved in the tropics, or if tropical birds have brightly-colored ancestors that came to the region from somwhere else. Scientists built a database of 9,409 birds to explore the spread of color across the globe. They found that iridescent, colorful feathers originated 415 times across the bird tree of life, and in most cases, arose outside of the tropics -- and that the ancestor of all modern birds likely had iridescent feathers, too.
Published Save your data on printable magnetic devices? New laser technique's twist might make this reality
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A team has been developing a new type of laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) for laser printing using an optical vortex, which has been dubbed OV-LIFT. The team succeeded in printing crystals with helix-like twisted structures, which could hold promise in creating printable magnetic devices for high-density data storage.
Published Nonreciprocal interactions go nonlinear
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Using two optically trapped glass nanoparticles, researchers observed a novel collective Non-Hermitian and nonlinear dynamic driven by nonreciprocal interactions. This contribution expands traditional optical levitation with tweezer arrays by incorporating the so called non-conservative interactions.
Published Engineer develops technique that enhances thermal imaging and infrared thermography for police, medical, military use
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new method to measure the continuous spectrum of light is set to improve thermal imaging and infrared thermography.
Published Komodo dragons have iron-coated teeth to rip apart their prey
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have discovered that the serrated edges of Komodo dragons' teeth are tipped with iron. The study gives new insight into how Komodo dragons keep their teeth razor-sharp and may provide clues to how dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex killed and ate their prey.
Published Nanoscale device simultaneously steers and shifts frequency of optical light, pointing the way to future wireless communication channels
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A tunable metasurface can control optical light in space and time, offering a path toward new ways of wirelessly and securely transmitting large amounts of data both on Earth and in space.
Published Scientists assess how large dinosaurs could really get
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A study looks at the maximum possible sizes of dinosaurs, using the carnivore, Tyrannosaurus rex, as an example. Using computer modelling, experts produced estimates that T. Rex might have been 70% heavier than what the fossil evidence suggests.
Published Taco-shaped arthropod fossils gives new insights into the history of the first mandibulates
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Palaeontologists are helping resolve the evolution and ecology of Odaraia, a taco-shaped marine animal that lived during the Cambrian period. Fossils reveal Odaraia had mandibles. Palaeontologists are finally able to place it as belonging to the mandibulates, ending its long enigmatic classification among the arthropods since it was first discovered in the Burgess Shale over 100 years ago and revealing more about early evolution and diversification.
Published Nanoscopic imaging aids in understanding protein, tissue preservation in ancient bones
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A pilot study shows that nanoscopic 3-D imaging of ancient bone not only provides further insight into the changes soft tissues undergo during fossilization, it also has potential as a fast, practical way to determine which specimens are likely candidates for ancient DNA and protein sequence preservation.
Published A promising new method uses light to clean up forever chemicals
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A room-temperature method to decompose perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) using visible LED light offers a promising solution for sustainable fluorine recycling and PFAS treatment.
Published Ore-some: New date for Earth's largest iron deposits offers clues for future exploration
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Research reveals that Earth's largest iron ore deposits -- in the Hamersley Province of Western Australia -- are about one billion years younger than previously believed, a discovery which could greatly boost the search for more of the resource.
Published 3D printing of light-activated hydrogel actuators
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An international team of researchers has embedded gold nanorods in hydrogels that can be processed through 3D printing to create structures that contract when exposed to light -- and expand again when the light is removed. Because this expansion and contraction can be performed repeatedly, the 3D-printed structures can serve as remotely controlled actuators.
Published New snake discovery rewrites history, points to North America's role in snake evolution
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new species of fossil snake unearthed in Wyoming is rewriting our understanding of snake evolution. The discovery, based on four remarkably well-preserved specimens found curled together in a burrow, reveals a new species named Hibernophis breithaupti. This snake lived in North America 34 million years ago and sheds light on the origin and diversification of boas and pythons.