Chemistry: Thermodynamics Engineering: Robotics Research Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General
Published

Elastocaloric cooling: Refrigerator cools by flexing artificial muscles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

There is room for just one small bottle in the world's first refrigerator that is cooled with artificial muscles made of nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy. But the mini-prototype is groundbreaking: it shows that elastocalorics is becoming a viable solution for practical applications. This climate-friendly cooling and heating technology is far more energy-efficient and sustainable than current methods.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Sunrise to sunset, new window coating blocks heat -- not view      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Windows welcome light into interior spaces, but they also bring in unwanted heat. A new window coating blocks heat-generating ultraviolet and infrared light and lets through visible light, regardless of the sun's angle. The coating can be incorporated onto existing windows or automobiles and can reduce air-conditioning cooling costs by more than one-third in hot climates.

Computer Science: Encryption Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

100 kilometers of quantum-encrypted transfer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have taken a big step towards securing information against hacking. They have succeeded in using quantum encryption to securely transfer information 100 kilometers via fiber optic cable -- roughly equivalent to the distance between Oxford and London.

Computer Science: General
Published

I spy with my speedy eye: Scientists discover speed of visual perception ranges widely in humans      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Using a blink-and-you'll-miss-it experiment, researchers have discovered that individuals differ widely in the rate at which they perceive visual signals. Some people perceive a rapidly changing visual cue at frequencies that others cannot, which means some access more visual information per timeframe than others. This discovery suggests some people have an innate advantage in certain settings where response time is crucial, such as in ball sports, or in competitive gaming.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Revolutionary biomimetic olfactory chips to enable advanced gas sensing and odor detection      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has addressed the long-standing challenge of creating artificial olfactory sensors with arrays of diverse high-performance gas sensors. Their newly developed biomimetic olfactory chips (BOC) are able to integrate nanotube sensor arrays on nanoporous substrates with up to 10,000 individually addressable gas sensors per chip, a configuration that is similar to how olfaction works for humans and other animals.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Computer Science: General Physics: Optics
Published

More efficient TVs, screens and lighting      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New multidisciplinary research could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General
Published

New software enables blind and low-vision users to create interactive, accessible charts      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Umwelt is a new a system that enables blind and low-vision users to author accessible, interactive charts representing data in three modalities: visualization, textual description, and sonification.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Heat, cold extremes hold untapped potential for solar and wind energy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Conditions that usually accompany the kind of intense hot and cold weather that strains power grids may also provide greater opportunities to capture solar and wind energy. A study found that widespread, extreme temperature events are often accompanied by greater solar radiation and higher wind speeds that could be captured by solar panels and wind turbines. The research, which looked at extensive heat and cold waves across the six interconnected energy grid regions of the U.S. from 1980-2021, also found that every region experienced power outages during these events in the past decade. The findings suggest that using more renewable energy at these times could help offset increased power demand as more people and businesses turn on heaters or air conditioners.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

New method to measure entropy production on the nanoscale      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Entropy, the amount of molecular disorder, is produced in several systems but cannot be measured directly. A new equation sheds new light on how entropy is produced on a very short time scale in laser excited materials.

Chemistry: General Computer Science: General Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Pairing crypto mining with green hydrogen offers clean energy boost      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Pairing cryptocurrency mining -- notable for its outsize consumption of carbon-based fuel -- with green hydrogen could provide the foundation for wider deployment of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, according to a new study.

Chemistry: General Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Scientists deliver quantum algorithm to develop new materials and chemistry      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists published the Cascaded Variational Quantum Eigensolver (CVQE) algorithm in a recent article, expected to become a powerful tool to investigate the physical properties in electronic systems.

Chemistry: General Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

The world is one step closer to secure quantum communication on a global scale      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have brought together two Nobel prize-winning research concepts to advance the field of quantum communication. Scientists can now efficiently produce nearly perfect entangled photon pairs from quantum dot sources.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Cool paint coatings help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler in urban setting      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A real-world study has shown that the use of cool paint coatings in cities can help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler, making the urban area more comfortable for work and play.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Novel quantum algorithm for high-quality solutions to combinatorial optimization problems      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Conventional quantum algorithms are not feasible for solving combinatorial optimization problems (COPs) with constraints in the operation time of quantum computers. To address this issue, researchers have developed a novel algorithm called post-processing variationally scheduled quantum algorithm. The novelty of this innovative algorithm lies in the use of a post-processing technique combined with variational scheduling to achieve high-quality solutions to COPs in a short time.

Computer Science: General
Published

Semiconductors at scale: New processor achieves remarkable speed-up in problem solving      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Annealing processors are crucial for solving combinatorial optimization problems. However, they face scalability challenges due to the complexity of required architecture. TUS researchers have now designed a scalable, fully-coupled processor with 4096 spins and parallel processing capabilities. It demonstrates superior performance and power efficiency compared to traditional devices. The research team aims to develop a 2050-level quantum computer computing system by 2030, potentially revolutionizing digital industries without relying on extensive infrastructure or cloud support.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: General Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Physicists develop modeling software to diagnose serious diseases      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have recently published FreeDTS -- a shared software package designed to model and study biological membranes at the mesoscale -- the scale 'in between' the larger macro level and smaller micro level. This software fills an important missing software among the available biomolecular modeling tools and enables modeling and understanding of many different biological processes involving the cellular membranes e.g. cell division.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Computer Science: General Physics: General
Published

N-channel diamond field-effect transistor      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has developed an n-channel diamond MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor). The developed n-channel diamond MOSFET provides a key step toward CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor: one of the most popular technologies in the computer chip) integrated circuits for harsh-environment- applications as well as the development of diamond power electronics.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General
Published

In-situ observation of nanoscale heat propagation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has developed a technique that enables the nanoscale observation of heat propagation paths and behavior within material specimens. This was achieved using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) capable of emitting a pulsed electron beam and a nanosized thermocouple -- a high-precision temperature measurement device.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General
Published

AI can now detect COVID-19 in lung ultrasound images      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Artificial intelligence can spot COVID-19 in lung ultrasound images much like facial recognition software can spot a face in a crowd, new research shows. The findings boost AI-driven medical diagnostics and bring health care professionals closer to being able to quickly diagnose patients with COVID-19 and other pulmonary diseases with algorithms that comb through ultrasound images to identify signs of disease.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Verifying the work of quantum computers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have invented a new method by which classical computers can measure the error rates of quantum machines without having to fully simulate them.