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Categories: Chemistry: Thermodynamics, Ecology: Trees

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

Chaos gives the quantum world a temperature      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Two seemingly different areas of physics are related in subtle ways: Quantum theory and thermodynamics. How can the laws of thermodynamics arise from the laws of quantum physics? This question has now been pursued with computer simulations, which showed that chaos plays a crucial role: Only where chaos prevails do the well-known rules of thermodynamics follow from quantum physics.

Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Trees
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Study examines feeding damage caused by spotted lanternflies on young maples      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Short-term, heavy feeding by adult spotted lanternflies on young maple trees inhibits photosynthesis, potentially impairing the tree's growth by up to 50 percent, according to a new study.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Gold-based passive heating for eyewear      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a new transparent gold nanocoating that harnesses sunlight to heat the lenses of glasses, thereby preventing them from fogging in humid conditions. This coating could potentially also be applied to car windshields.

Ecology: Trees
Published

Findings for invasive insect's life cycle could aid management in southeast      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research findings could help scientists control the emerald ash borer, an invasive pest ravaging native ash trees in North America.

Ecology: Trees Paleontology: Fossils
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New branch on tree of life includes 'lions of the microbial world'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

There's a new branch on the tree of life and it's made up of predators that nibble their prey to death. These microbial predators fall into two groups, one of which researchers have dubbed 'nibblerids' because they, well, nibble chunks off their prey using tooth-like structures. The other group, nebulids, eat their prey whole. And both comprise a new ancient branch on the tree of life called 'Provora,' according to a new article.

Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems
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In the tropics, nitrogen-fixing trees take a hit from herbivores      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The ability of tropical forests to grow and store carbon is limited, in part, by herbivory. Insects and other animals prefer to feed on nitrogen-fixing trees, reducing the success of fixers and the nitrogen they provide. Experts now recommend accounting for herbivory constraints on nitrogen-fixing trees in climate models and projections of the tropical forest carbon sink.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Batteries
Published

Flameproofing lithium-ion batteries with salt      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A polymer-based electrolyte makes for batteries that keep working -- and don't catch fire -- when heated to over 140 degrees F.

Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Forest resilience linked with higher mortality risk in western US      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A forest's resilience, or ability to absorb environmental disturbances, has long been thought to be a boost for its odds of survival against the looming threat of climate change. But a new study suggests that for some Western U.S. forests, it's quite the opposite. The results of one of the first large-scale studies of its kind show that while high ecosystem resilience correlates with low mortality in eastern forests, it is linked to high mortality in western regions.

Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Climate change in the forests of northern Germany      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

More and more trees are suffering the consequences of decades of human-made climate change. The growth of the European beech has so far suffered decline mainly in southern Europe. European beech is Germany's most important native forest tree species and it is most commonly found in Central Europe. A research team has now been able to show that the European beech is suffering from increasing drought stress in summer in northern Germany as well. This climate stress is particularly pronounced at warmer sites, when there is a higher density of these trees together, and on very sandy soils.

Ecology: Trees
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Living in greener areas is associated with better mental health and less medication use      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has evaluated the relationship between better mental health and the 3-30-300 green space rule. According to this rule of thumb, everyone should be able to see at least three trees from their home, have 30 percent tree canopy cover in their neighborhood and not live more than 300 meters away from the nearest park or green space.

Ecology: Trees
Published

Cheetah marking trees are hotspots for communication also for other species      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Marking trees are important hotspots of communication for cheetahs: Here they exchange information with and about other cheetahs via scent marks, urine and scats. A team has now shown that several mammalian species on farmland in Namibia maintain a network for intra- and interspecific communication at cheetah trees. Black-backed jackals, African wildcats and warthogs visited and sniffed the cheetahs' 'places to be' more frequently than control trees, the team concluded from photos and videos recorded by wildlife camera traps. A common prey species of the cheetahs, however, avoided these hotspots.

Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Paleontology: Climate
Published

Old-growth trees more drought tolerant than younger ones, providing a buffer against climate change      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new analysis of more than 20,000 trees on five continents shows that old-growth trees are more drought tolerant than younger trees in the forest canopy and may be better able to withstand future climate extremes. The findings highlight the importance of preserving the world's remaining old-growth forests, which are biodiversity strongholds that store vast amounts of planet-warming carbon, according to forest ecologists.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Team recycles previously unrecyclable plastic      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have discovered a way to chemically recycle PVC into usable material, finding a way to use the phthalates in the plasticizers -- one of PVC's most noxious components -- as the mediator for the chemical reaction.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Researchers introduce an energy-efficient method to enhance thermal conductivity of polymer composites      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Thermally conductive polymer composites consist of fillers oriented in certain directions that form pathways for heat flow. However, conventional methods to control the orientation of these fillers are energy-intensive and require surface modifications that can deteriorate the quality and properties of these materials. Now, researchers have developed an energy-efficient method to control the orientation of the fillers without the need for surface modification, resulting in improvement in thermal conductivity.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Engineers use quantum computing to develop transparent window coating that blocks heat, saves energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have devised a transparent coating for windows that could help cool the room, use no energy and preserve the view.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Cooling down solar cells, naturally      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Too much sun and too much heat can reduce the efficiency of photovoltaics. A solar farm with optimally spaced panels facing the correct direction could cool itself through convection using the surrounding wind. Researchers explored how to exploit the geometry of solar farms to enhance natural cooling mechanisms.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

High-performance and compact vibration energy harvester created for self-charging wearable devices      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has developed a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) piezoelectric vibration energy harvester, which is only about 2 cm in diameter with a U-shaped metal vibration amplification component. The device allows for an increase of approximately 90 times in the power generation performance from impulsive vibration. Since the power generation performance can be improved without increasing the device size, the technology is expected to generate power to drive small wearable devices from non-steady vibrations, such as walking motion.

Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Forests benefit from tree species variety and genetic diversity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Reforestation projects should include a variety of tree species and ensure genetic diversity within each species to maximize new forests' health and productivity.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

Research unearths obscure heat transfer behaviors      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have found that boron arsenide, which has already been viewed as a highly promising material for heat management and advanced electronics, also has a unique property. After reaching an extremely high pressure that is hundreds of times greater than the pressure found at the bottom of the ocean, boron arsenide's thermal conductivity actually begins to decrease. The results suggest that there might be other materials experiencing the same phenomenon under extreme conditions.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published

A life-inspired system dynamically adjusts to its environment      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The system regulates its own temperature in response to environmental disturbances.