Showing 20 articles starting at article 641
< Previous 20 articles Next 20 articles >
Categories: Offbeat: Space, Physics: Optics
Published Highest-resolution single-photon superconducting camera
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have built a superconducting camera containing 400,000 pixels -- 400 times more than any other device of its type. Having more pixels could open up many new applications in science and biomedical research.
Published Massive space explosion observed creating elements needed for life
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have observed the creation of rare chemical elements in the second-brightest gamma-ray burst ever seen -- casting new light on how heavy elements are made.
Published Scientists discover molten layer covering Martian core
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source NASA's InSight mission to Mars helped scientists map out Mars' internal structure, including the size and composition of its core, and provided general hints about its tumultuous formation. But findings from a new paper could lead to reanalysis of that data. An international team of researchers discovered the presence of a molten silicate layer overlying Mars' metallic core -- providing new insights into how Mars formed, evolved and became the barren planet it is today.
Published Achieving large and uniform particle sizes
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Dispersions of polymer particles in a liquid phase (latexes) have many important applications in coatings technology, medical imaging, and cell biology. A team of researchers has now developed a method to produce stable polystyrene dispersions with unprecedentedly large, and uniform, particle sizes. Narrow size distributions are essential in many advanced technologies, but were previously difficult to produce photochemically.
Published Diapers can be recycled 200 times faster with light
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source More than 100,000 tons of diapers are disposed of annually in Germany. Vast amounts of valuable resources, such as diaper liners, end up in the trash. The liners consist of special polymers, so-called superabsorbers. Researchers have now succeeded in considerably improving their complex recycling process. They use UV radiation to degrade the chemical chains that keep the polymers together. No chemicals are needed. Recycling at room temperature is 200 times faster than conventional recycling. The recycled polymers can then be processed to new adhesives and dyes.
Published Scientists shed light on potential breakthrough biomedical molecule
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Developing a new, light-activated method to produce the molecule opens doors for future biomedical applications.
Published Preventing airborne infection without impeding communication with ions and electric field
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A novel device developed by researchers in a new study utilizes ions and an electric field to effectively capture infectious droplets and aerosols, while letting light and sound pass through to allow communication. The innovation is significant in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, since it shows promise in preventing airborne infection while facilitating communication.
Published Astrophysicists scan the Galaxy for signs of life
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Astrophysicists are scanning the Universe for 'technosignatures' emanating from distant planets that would provide support for the existence of intelligent, alien life. Researchers plan to monitor millions of star systems.
Published How quantum light 'sees' quantum sound
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have proposed a new way of using quantum light to 'see' quantum sound. A new paper reveals the quantum-mechanical interplay between vibrations and particles of light, known as photons, in molecules. It is hoped that the discovery may help scientists better understand the interactions between light and matter on molecular scales. And it potentially paves the way for addressing fundamental questions about the importance of quantum effects in applications ranging from new quantum technologies to biological systems.
Published Smartphone attachment could increase racial fairness in neurological screening
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new smartphone attachment could enable people to screen for a variety of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury, at low cost -- and do so accurately regardless of their skin tone. The attachment fits over a smartphone's camera to capture clear video of pupil size changes, which can offer clues about an individual's neurological functions. The device helps the camera see the pupil easily in dark eye colors.
Published Researchers probe how a piece of the moon became a near-Earth asteroid
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Two years after the striking discovery that a near-Earth asteroid could be a chunk of the moon, another UArizona research group has found that a rare pathway could have enabled this to happen.
Published LIGO surpasses the quantum limit
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers report a significant advance in quantum squeezing, which allows them to measure undulations in space-time across the entire range of gravitational frequencies detected by LIGO.
Published Chemists, engineers craft adjustable arrays of microscopic lenses
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A team has created minuscule lenses that it can expand or contract in mere seconds -- modifying their magnification, focal length and other optical properties in the process. That on-the-fly adaptability bodes well for the design's use in micro-projection systems and even the culturing of cells, the researchers said.
Published The Moon is 40 million years older than previously thought
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source By analyzing tiny lunar crystals gathered by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972, researchers recalculated the age of the Earth's Moon. Although previous assessments estimated the Moon as 4.425 billion years old, the new study discovered it is actually 4.46 billion years old -- 40 million years older than previously thought.
Published Accelerating waves shed light on major problems in physics
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers at Tampere University and the University of Eastern Finland have reached a milestone in a study where they derived a new kind of wave equation, which applies for accelerating waves. The novel formalism has turned out to be an unexpectedly fertile ground for examining wave mechanics, with direct connections between accelerating waves, general theory of relativity, as well as the arrow of time.
Published Astronomers detect most distant fast radio burst to date
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An international team has spotted a remote blast of cosmic radio waves lasting less than a millisecond. This 'fast radio burst' (FRB) is the most distant ever detected. Its source was pinned down by the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) in a galaxy so far away that its light took eight billion years to reach us. The FRB is also one of the most energetic ever observed; in a tiny fraction of a second it released the equivalent of our Sun's total emission over 30 years.
Published Scientists propose super-bright light sources powered by quasiparticles
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have proposed ways to use quasiparticles to create light sources as powerful as the most advanced ones in existence today, but much smaller.
Published Soft optical fibers block pain while moving and stretching with the body
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New soft, implantable fibers can deliver light to major nerves through the body. They are an experimental tool for scientists to explore the causes and potential treatments for peripheral nerve disorders in animal models.
Published From square to cube: Hardware processing for AI goes 3D, boosting processing power
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A breakthrough development in photonic-electronic hardware could significantly boost processing power for AI and machine learning applications. The approach uses multiple radio frequencies to encode data, enabling multiple calculations to be carried out in parallel. The method shows promise for outperforming state-of-the-art electronic processors, with further enhancements possible.
Published Milestone: Miniature particle accelerator works
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Particle accelerators are crucial tools in a wide variety of areas in industry, research and the medical sector. The space these machines require ranges from a few square meters to large research centers. Using lasers to accelerate electrons within a photonic nanostructure constitutes a microscopic alternative with the potential of generating significantly lower costs and making devices considerably less bulky. Until now, no substantial energy gains were demonstrated. In other words, it has not been shown that electrons really have increased in speed significantly. Two teams of laser physicists have just succeeded in demonstrating a nanophotonic electron accelerator.