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Categories: Biology: Zoology, Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published Climate change threatens lemurs on Madagascar


Even supposedly adaptable mammal species face increased risk of extinction.
Published Biomolecules: Trying nanometer measurement for size



As part of a comparative international study, researchers have successfully tested and validated a method of investigating dynamic protein structures.
Published Probe where the protons go to develop better fuel cells



Researchers have uncovered the chemical inner-workings of an electrolyte they developed for a new generation of solid oxide fuel cells. To uncover the location of the proton-introduction reaction, the team studied extensively the hydration reaction of their scandium-substituted barium zirconate perovskite through a combination of synchrotron radiation analysis, large-scale simulations, machine learning, and thermogravimetric analysis. The new data has the potential to accelerate the development of more efficient fuel cells.
Published Epigenetic fingerprint as proof of origin for chicken, shrimp and salmon


Free-range organic chicken or factory farming? Scientists have developed a new detection method that can reveal such differences in husbandry. The so-called epigenetic method is based on the analysis of the characteristic patterns of chemical markers on the genome of the animals.
Published Nanophysics: The right twist


Stacked layers of ultrathin semiconductor materials feature phenomena that can be exploited for novel applications. Physicists have studied effects that emerge by giving two layers a slight twist.
Published Climate change threatens global fisheries


The diet quality of fish across large parts of the world's oceans could decline by up to 10 per cent as climate change impacts an integral part of marine food chains, a major study has found.
Published Habitat will dictate whether ground beetles win or lose against climate change


The success of North American crops from corn to Christmas trees partly depends on a relatively invisible component of the food web -- ground beetles. Nearly 2,000 species of ground beetle live in North America. New research shows that some of these insects could thrive while others could decline as the climate changes. The team found that the response will largely depend on the species' traits and habitats and could have significant implications for conservation efforts.
Published Babies or beauty? Ancient origin of how female butterflies invest


When resources are scarce, most animals have to choose. A new study reveals an ancient origin to how female butterflies invest.
Published Sea otters killed by unusual parasite strain


An unusually severe form of toxoplasmosis killed four sea otters and could pose a threat to other marine wildlife and humans, finds a new study.
Published Semiconductor lattice marries electrons and magnetic moments


A model system created by stacking a pair of monolayer semiconductors is giving physicists a simpler way to study confounding quantum behavior, from heavy fermions to exotic quantum phase transitions.
Published Observing group-living animals with drones and computer vision


New method to study the movement, behaviour, and environmental context of group-living animals using drones and computer vision.
Published Turn off porch light to aid caterpillars -- and safeguard backyard ecosystems


Moderate levels of artificial light at night -- like the fixture illuminating your backyard -- bring more caterpillar predators and reduce the chance that these lepidoptera larvae grow up to become moths and serve as food for larger prey.
Published Researchers get to the 'bottom' of how beetles use their butts to stay hydrated


Beetles are champions at surviving in extremely dry environments. In part, this property is due to their ability to suck water from the air with their rear ends. A new study explains just how. Beyond helping to explain how beetles thrive in environments where few other animals can survive, the knowledge could eventually be used for more targeted and delicate control of global pests such as the grain weevil and red flour beetle.
Published New animal welfare scoring system could enable better-informed food and farming choices


Scientists have come up with a system of measuring animal welfare that enables reliable comparison across different types of pig farming.
Published Ultra-lightweight multifunctional space skin created to withstand extreme conditions in space


A new nano-barrier coating could help protect ultra-lightweight carbon composite materials from extreme conditions in space, according to a new study.
Published Batteries: Passivation layer mystery solved


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.
Published 'Inkable' nanomaterial promises big benefits for bendable electronics


An international team of scientists is developing an inkable nanomaterial that they say could one day become a spray-on electronic component for ultra-thin, lightweight and bendable displays and devices.
Published Biodiversity amid climate change


Fewer parasites in U.S. waters might be seen by many as a good thing, but a biologist says the trend signals potential danger for fish and other wildlife.
Published Jellyfish size might influence their nutritional value


Researchers confirmed what was already known: jellyfish eat bigger prey as they grow, which means they also occupy a higher position in the food web as they grow. They also found that some of the concentrations of 'healthy fats,' increase as jellyfish grow. These changes might be influenced by their diet, and as they feed on bigger prey with higher levels of fatty acids, the jellyfish accumulate more of these fatty acids.
Published 'Fishing' for biomarkers


Researchers have devised a tiny, nano-sized sensor capable of detecting protein biomarkers in a sample at single-molecule precision. Fittingly coined as 'hook and bait,' a tiny protein binder fuses to a small hole created in the membrane of a cell -- known as a nanopore -- which allows ionic solution to flow through it. When the sensor recognizes a targeted molecule, the ionic flow changes. This change in flow serves as the signal from the sensor that the biomarker has been found.