Chemistry: Thermodynamics Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: General Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

'Hot' new form of microscopy examines materials using evanescent waves      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers has built a prototype microscope that does not rely on backscattered radiation, instead uses passive detection of thermally excited evanescent waves. They have examined dielectric materials with passive near-field spectroscopy to develop a detection model to further refine the technique, working to develop a new kind of microscopy for examining nanoscopic material surfaces.

Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

French love letters confiscated by Britain finally read after 265 years      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Over 100 letters sent to French sailors by their fianc es, wives, parents and siblings -- but never delivered -- have been opened and studied for the first time since they were written in 1757-8.

Anthropology: Cultures Archaeology: General Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

Long-distance weaponry identified at the 31,000-year-old archaeological site of Maisières-Canal      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The hunter-gatherers who settled on the banks of the Haine, a river in southern Belgium, 31,000 years ago were already using spearthrowers to hunt their game. The material found at the archaeological site of Maisières-Canal permits establishing the use of this hunting technique 10,000 years earlier than the oldest currently known preserved spearthrowers. This discovery is prompting archaeologists to reconsider the age of this important technological innovation.

Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: Optics
Published

Decarbonizing light-duty transportation in the United States: Study reveals strategies to achieve goal      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers found that meeting greenhouse gas emissions goals for light-duty vehicles, which are passenger vehicles such as cars and trucks, is possible, but not just by increasing electric vehicle sales.  

Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Vacuum in optical cavity can change material's magnetic state without laser excitation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers in Germany and the USA have produced the first theoretical demonstration that the magnetic state of an atomically thin material, ?-RuCl3, can be controlled solely by placing it into an optical cavity. Crucially, the cavity vacuum fluctuations alone are sufficient to change the material's magnetic order from a zigzag antiferromagnet into a ferromagnet.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Mathematics: Statistics Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Optical-fiber based single-photon light source at room temperature for next-generation quantum processing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Single-photon emitters quantum mechanically connect quantum bits (or qubits) between nodes in quantum networks. They are typically made by embedding rare-earth elements in optical fibers at extremely low temperatures. Now, researchers have developed an ytterbium-doped optical fiber at room temperature. By avoiding the need for expensive cooling solutions, the proposed method offers a cost-effective platform for photonic quantum applications.

Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Bartering light for light: Scientists discover new system to control the chaotic behavior of light      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers describe a new platform for controlling the chaotic behavior of light by tailoring its scattering patterns using light itself.

Geoscience: Earthquakes Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

Hebrew prayer book fills gap in Italian earthquake history      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The chance discovery of a note written in a 15th century Hebrew prayer book fills an important gap in the historical Italian earthquake record, offering a brief glimpse of a previously unknown earthquake affecting the Marche region in the central Apennines.  

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Offbeat: General Physics: Optics
Published

In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate without heat      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

At the interface of water and air, light can, in certain conditions, bring about evaporation without the need for heat, according to a new study.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Marine Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Where is a sea star's head? Maybe just about everywhere      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study that combines genetic and molecular techniques helps solve the riddle of sea star (commonly called starfish) body plans, and how sea stars start life with bilateral body symmetry -- just like humans -- but grow up to be adults with fivefold 'pentaradial' symmetry.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Computer Science: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics
Published

New twist on optical tweezers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Optical tweezers use laser light to manipulate small particles. A new method has been advanced using Stampede2 supercomputer simulations that makes optical tweezers safer to use for potential biological applications, such as cancer therapy. 

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics
Published

Photography: One-stop solution for shaping and outlining objects      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A joint research team has developed a dual metalens that can switch between shooting modes based on light conditions.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

New frequency comb can identify molecules in 20-nanosecond snapshots      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a device that can detect the presence of specific molecules in a sample every 20 nanoseconds, or billionths of a second. With this new capability, researchers can potentially use frequency combs to better understand the split-second intermediate steps in fast-moving processes ranging from the workings of hypersonic jet engines to the chemical reactions between enzymes that regulate cell growth.

Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Physics: Optics Space: Astronomy Space: Exploration Space: General
Published

To advance space colonization, new research explores 3D printing in microgravity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Research into how 3D printing works in a weightless environment aims to support long-term exploration and habitation on spaceships, the moon or Mars.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

New species of mosasaur named for Norse sea serpent      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have discovered a new species of mosasaur, large, carnivorous aquatic lizards that lived during the late Cretaceous. With 'transitional' traits that place it between two well-known mosasaurs, the new species is named after a sea serpent in Norse mythology, Jormungandr, and the small North Dakota city Walhalla near to where the fossil was found.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Controlling organoids with light      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Organoids help researchers understand biological processes in health and in disease. It is, however, difficult to influence the way in which they organize themselves into complex tissues. Now a group has found a new way to do so.

Archaeology: General Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

Cold War spy satellite imagery reveals Ancient Roman forts      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study analyzing declassified Cold War satellite imagery reveals 396 previously undocumented Roman forts and reports that these forts were constructed from east to west, spanning from what is now western Syria to northwestern Iraq. The analysis refutes Father Antoine Poidebard's claim that the forts were located along a north-south axis.