Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Researchers help AI express uncertainty to improve health monitoring tech      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of engineering and health researchers has developed a tool that improves the ability of electronic devices to detect when a human patient is coughing, which has applications in health monitoring. The new tool relies on an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that helps the AI better identify uncertainty when faced with unexpected data in real-world situations.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Environmental: General
Published

Electrification push will have enormous impacts on critical metals supply chain      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The demand for battery-grade lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and platinum will climb steeply as vehicle electrification speeds up and nations work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through mid-century. This surge in demand will also create a variety of economic and supply-chain problems, according to new research.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

AI-equipped eyeglasses read silent speech      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a silent-speech recognition interface that uses acoustic-sensing and artificial intelligence to continuously recognize up to 31 unvocalized commands, based on lip and mouth movements.

Energy: Batteries
Published

Solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries: Neutrons unveil sluggish charge transport      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Solid-state Lithium-Sulfur batteries offer the potential for much higher energy densities and increased safety, compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, the performance of solid-state batteries is currently lacking, with slow charging and discharging being one of the primary causes. Now, a new study shows that sluggish lithium ion transport within a composite cathode is the cause of this slow charging and discharging.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Detecting, predicting, and preventing aortic ruptures with computational modeling      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

According to some estimates, up to 80% of patients who experience a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm will die before they reach the hospital or during surgery. But early intervention can prevent rupture and improve outcomes. Researchers have now made a computational model of the cardiovascular system in order to predict early AAA rupture and monitor patients' blood vessel conditions. They mimicked specific health conditions and investigated various hemodynamic parameters using image-based computational blood dynamics.

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.

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.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Pulsing ultrasound waves could someday remove microplastics from waterways      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Colorful particles of plastic drift along under the surface of most waterways. These barely visible microplastics -- less than 5 mm wide -- are potentially harmful to aquatic animals and plants, as well as humans. Now, a team reports a two-stage device made with steel tubes and pulsing sound waves that removes most of the plastic particles from real water samples.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Offbeat: General Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound Physics: Optics
Published

What do the elements sound like?      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In chemistry, we have He, Fe and Ca -- but what about do, re and mi? Using a technique called data sonification, a recent college graduate has converted the visible light given off by each of the elements into soundwaves. The notes produced for each element are unique, complex mixtures and are the first step toward an interactive, musical periodic table.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Road noise makes your blood pressure rise -- literally      (via sciencedaily.com) 

If you live near a busy road you might feel like the constant sound of roaring engines, honking horns and wailing sirens makes your blood pressure rise. Now a new study confirms it can do exactly that.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

New invention: The oxygen-ion battery      (via sciencedaily.com) 

An oxygen-ion-battery has been invented, based on ceramic materials. If it degrades, it can be regenerated, therefore it potentially has an extremely long lifespan. Also, it does not require any rare elements and it is incombustible. For large energy storage systems, this could be an optimal solution.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Batteries Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Batteries: Passivation layer mystery solved      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In our daily lives, lithium-ion batteries have become indispensable. They function only because of a passivation layer that forms during their initial cycle. As researchers found out via simulations, this solid electrolyte interphase develops not directly at the electrode but aggregates in the solution. Their findings allow the optimization of the performance and lifetime of future batteries.

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

High-energy-density, long life-cycle rechargeable lithium metal batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Research shows promise for developing high-energy-density rechargeable lithium-metal batteries and addressing the electrochemical oxidation instability of ether-based electrolytes.

Offbeat: General Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Vocal tract size, shape dictate speech sounds      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers explore how anatomical variations in a speaker's vocal tract affect speech production. Using MRI, the team recorded the shape of the vocal tract for 41 speakers as the subjects produced a series of representative speech sounds. They averaged these shapes to establish a sound-independent model of the vocal tract. Then they used statistical analysis to extract the main variations between speakers. A handful of factors explained nearly 90% of the differences between speakers.

Energy: Batteries
Published

Stalactites and stalagmites in the battery?      (via sciencedaily.com) 

They are considered the 'Holy Grail' of battery research: so-called 'solid-state batteries'. They no longer have a liquid core, as is the case with today's batteries, but consist of a solid material. This leads to several advantages: Among other things, these batteries are more difficult to ignite and can also be manufactured on a miniature scale. Scientists have now turned their attention to the life cycle of such batteries and targeted processes that reduce it. With their findings, more durable solid-state batteries could be realized in the future.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Propeller advance paves way for quiet, efficient electric aviation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Electrification is seen as having an important role to play in the fossil-free aviation of tomorrow. But electric aviation is battling a trade-off dilemma: the more energy-efficient an electric aircraft is, the noisier it gets. Now, researchers have developed a propeller design optimization method that paves the way for quiet, efficient electric aviation.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Understanding sound direction estimation in monaural hearing      (via sciencedaily.com) 

One of the fascinating features of human hearing is its ability to localize sound. While the human ear usually does this with binaural cues, it is, in fact, possible to locate sound direction with monaural hearing alone. Now, researchers have developed a method to estimate the direction of sound signals in 3D space using monaural cues based on monaural modulation spectrum that could help simplify sound surveillance techniques and enhance hearing aid instruments.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Engineering: Graphene Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General
Published

3D internal structure of rechargeable batteries revealed      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have pioneered a technique to observe the 3D internal structure of rechargeable batteries. This opens up a wide range of areas for the new technique from energy storage and chemical engineering to biomedical applications.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

New ultrasound method could lead to easier disease diagnosis      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new ultrasound method that can measure the level of tension in human tissue -- a key indicator of disease -- has been developed.