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Categories: Ecology: Animals, Physics: Optics

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Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Genes identified that allow bacteria to thrive despite toxic heavy metal in soil      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Some soil bacteria can acquire sets of genes that enable them to pump the heavy metal nickel out of their systems, a study has found. This enables the bacteria to not only thrive in otherwise toxic soils but help plants grow there as well. A research team pinpointed a set of genes in wild soil bacteria that allows them to do this in serpentine soils which have naturally high concentrations of toxic nickel. The genetic discovery could help inform future bioremediation efforts that seek to return plants to polluted soils.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water
Published

Artificial streams reveal how drought shapes California's alpine ecosystems      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have used a series of artificial stream channels to mimic the behavior of headwater creeks under future climate change scenarios. They found that drier conditions shifted the life cycles of the algae and insects that form the base of the alpine food web. However, because species adjusted to the shifts in a variety of ways, the stream ecosystems were generally resilient to the changing conditions.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals Physics: General Physics: Optics
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Backyard insect inspires invisibility devices, next gen tech      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Leafhoppers, a common backyard insect, secrete and coat themselves in tiny mysterious particles that could provide both the inspiration and the instructions for next-generation technology, according to a new study. In a first, the team precisely replicated the complex geometry of these particles, called brochosomes, and elucidated a better understanding of how they absorb both visible and ultraviolet light.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Physics: Optics
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Using light to produce medication and plastics more efficiently      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Anyone who wants to produce medication, plastics or fertilizer using conventional methods needs heat for chemical reactions -- but not so with photochemistry, where light provides the energy. The process to achieve the desired product also often takes fewer intermediate steps. Researchers are now going one step further and are demonstrating how the energy efficiency of photochemical reactions can be increased tenfold. More sustainable and cost-effective applications are now tantalizingly close.

Physics: Optics
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Projection mapping leaves the darkness behind      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers developed a system that enables projection mapping within an illuminated environment. Several standard projectors and one large-aperture projector reproduce the environmental illumination in all areas except for the target object, whereas texture projectors display the texture on the unilluminated object's surface. Experiments show that participants perceived the objects using surface-color mode instead of aperture-color mode, verifying that the proposed system has the potential to produce highly realistic interactive environments.

Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Physics
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Holographic message encoded in simple plastic      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Important data can be stored and concealed quite easily in ordinary plastic using 3D printers and terahertz radiation, scientists show. Holography can be done quite easily: A 3D printer can be used to produce a panel from normal plastic in which a QR code can be stored, for example. The message is read using terahertz rays -- electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to the human eye.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
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Fish species that move rapidly toward the poles due to global warming decline in abundance, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has found a decline in the abundance of marine fish species that move rapidly toward the poles to escape rising sea temperatures. The researchers explain that many animal species are currently moving toward cooler regions as a result of global warming, but the velocity of such range shifts varies greatly for different species. Examining thousands of populations from almost 150 fish species, the researchers show that contrary to the prevailing view, rapid range shifts coincide with widescale population declines.

Computer Science: General Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Physics: Optics
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An innovative mixed light field technique for immersive projection mapping      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A novel mixed light field technique that utilizes a mix of ray-controlled ambient lighting with projection mapping (PM) to obtain PM in bright surroundings has been developed by scientists. This innovative technology utilizes a novel kaleidoscope array to achieve ray-controlled lighting and a binary search algorithm for removing ambient lighting from PM targets. It provides an immersive augmented reality experience with applications in various fields.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Nature Geoscience: Geography
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Global wildlife study during COVID-19 shows rural animals are more sensitive to human activity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

One of the largest studies on wildlife activity reveals that wild animals react differently to humans depending on where the animals live and what they eat. Bigger herbivores -- plant-eating animals like deer or moose -- tend to become more active when humans are around, while meat-eaters like wolves or wolverines tend to be less active, preferring to avoid risky encounters.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Environmental: General Physics: Optics
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Reimagining the future of solar energy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research suggests that there might be other ways to generate solar energy than just trying to make individual solar cells super-efficient.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Animals
Published

Less social with age      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists tested several hypotheses on the drivers of social aging in free-living Assamese macaques in Thailand. The researchers collected data on the social behavior of females for eight years and found that the size of their social networks decreases with increasing age. The females continued to interact with their close social partners, but gradually withdrew from social interactions altogether. The results contribute to the understanding of the evolutionary origins of social aging.

Chemistry: General Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Breakthrough in ultraviolet spectroscopy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Physicists achieve major leap in precision and accuracy at extremely low light levels.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Nuclear Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Plasma oscillations propel breakthroughs in fusion energy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a new class of plasma oscillations -- the back-and-forth, wave-like movement of electrons and ions. The research paves the way for improved particle accelerators and commercial fusion energy.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Shark-bitten orcas in the Northeastern Pacific could be a new population of killer whale      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers believe a group of killer whales observed hunting marine mammals including sperm whales, as well as a sea turtle, in the open ocean off California and Oregon could be a new population. Based on available evidence, the researchers posit that the 49 orcas could belong to a subpopulation of transient killer whales or a unique oceanic population found in waters off the coast of California and Oregon.

Biology: General Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Diverse habitats help salmon weather unpredictable climate changes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Restored salmon habitat should resemble financial portfolios, offering fish diverse options for feeding and survival so that they can weather various conditions as the climate changes, a new study shows.

Energy: Technology Physics: General Physics: Optics
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Researchers prove fundamental limits of electromagnetic energy absorption      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Electrical engineers have determined the theoretical fundamental limit for how much electromagnetic energy a transparent material with a given thickness can absorb. The finding will help engineers optimize devices designed to block certain frequencies of radiation while allowing others to pass through, for applications such as stealth or wireless communications.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Physics: Optics
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Perovskite solar cells: Vacuum process may offer a short track to commercialization      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Which process is best suited for mass production of perovskite solar cells? While solvent-based manufacturing processes are used in laboratories around the world, vacuum vapor-phase deposition processes are still the standard for the production of thin films for photovoltaics or organic light-emitting diodes. A new study that reveals major differences in the scientific discussion of these production processes.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Tropical birds could tolerate warming better than expected, study suggests      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

We expect tropical animals to handle a certain degree of heat, but not wild swings in temperature. That seems to be true for tropical ectotherms, or 'cold-blooded' animals such as amphibians, reptiles, and insects. However, in a new study of 'warm-blooded' endotherms, a research team found tropical birds can handle thermal variation just fine.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals
Published

Sleep-wake rhythm: Fish change our understanding of sleep regulation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that some fish -- unlike humans -- do not need orexin to stay awake. This molecule was thought to be necessary for normal wake and sleep rhythms in vertebrates. Humans without orexin suffer from narcolepsy.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Ecology: Animals Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Chimp moms play with their offspring through good times and bad      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A recent study observing wild chimpanzees over a period of more than 10 years revealed that when food gets scarcer, the adults put play aside and focus on survival, while mother chimps continue to be their children's primary playmate -- suggesting their indispensable role to foster their young's physical and social development.