Chemistry: Biochemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Miniaturizing a laser on a photonic chip      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have successfully miniaturized a powerful erbium-based biber laser on a silicon-nitride photonic chip. Since typical erbium-based fiber lasers are large and difficult to scale down, the breakthrough promises major advances in optical communications and sensing technologies.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Splitting hairs: Science of biomechanics to understand of bad hair days      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Academics are often accused of 'splitting hairs', but a team has now devised a machine to do just that. We all have a bad hair day from time to time, and split ends are a common problem. However, the science behind this kind of hair damage is poorly understood, which is why scientists are investigating this knotty problem.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Planetary Health Diet associated with lower risk of premature death, lower environmental impact      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

People who eat a healthy, sustainable diet may substantially lower their risk of premature death in addition to their environmental impact, according to a new study. This large study directly evaluates the impacts of adherence to recommendations in the landmark 2019 EAT-Lancet report. The researchers have named the dietary pattern outlined in the report -- which emphasizes a variety of minimally processed plant foods but allows for modest consumption of meat and dairy foods -- the Planetary Health Diet (PHD).

Chemistry: Biochemistry
Published

Epitope binning-seq: A game-changer in antibody drug discovery      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Antibody drug discovery is an extremely laborious and tedious process. Epitope Binning-seq, a novel method, introduces a groundbreaking approach by enabling simultaneous analysis of multiple antibodies. Using a fluorescently labeled reference antibody (rAb), this method employs flow cytometry to identify similar epitope-binding query antibodies (qAbs). Next-generation sequencing of fluorescence-negative cells then groups qAbs with epitopes akin to the rAb into epitope bins. This innovative technique holds immense potential in enhancing antibody drug discovery process.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Sky's the limit for biofuels      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The United States has enough biomass potential to produce 35 billion gallons per year of aviation biofuel by 2050, a new report confirms.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Changes Upstream: RIPE team uses CRISPR/Cas9 to alter photosynthesis for the first time      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists used CRISPR/Cas9 to increase gene expression in rice by changing its upstream regulatory DNA. While other studies have used the technology to knock out or decrease the expression of genes, this study, is an unbiased gene-editing approach to increase gene expression and downstream photosynthetic activity. The approach is more difficult than transgenic breeding, but could potentially preempt regulatory issues by changing DNA already within the plant, allowing the plants to get in the hands of farmers sooner.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Basic income can double global GDP while reducing carbon emissions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Giving a regular cash payment to the entire world population has the potential to increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by 130%, according to a new analysis. Researchers suggest that charging carbon emitters with an emission tax could help fund such basic income program while reducing environmental degradation.

Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Mushroom stump waste could be inexpensive, healthy chicken feed supplement      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Feed costs for producing broiler chickens accounts for 60% to 70% of total production costs, and stump waste from the production of button mushrooms comprises nearly 30% of total mushroom weight. Marrying the two has the potential to reduce both cost and waste, especially in Pennsylvania, which is a national leader in the production of broiler chickens and button mushrooms.

Chemistry: General Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Frozen? Let it melt with efficient new de-icer friendly to the environment      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has found a de-icing mixture with high effectiveness and low environmental impact after using machine learning to analyze ice melting mechanisms of aqueous solutions of 21 salts and 16 organic solvents.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Physics: Optics
Published

With programmable pixels, novel sensor improves imaging of neural activity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New camera chip design allows for optimizing each pixel's timing to maximize signal to noise ratio when tracking real-time visual indicator of neural voltage.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Earth and space share the same turbulence      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that the turbulence found in the thermosphere -- known as the gateway to space -- and turbulence in the troposphere, here closer to sea level, follow the same physical laws despite having drastically different atmospheric compositions and dynamics.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Space: General
Published

Diagnosing damaged infrastructure from space      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing systems allow researchers to inspect and characterize pavements, retaining walls, and embankments from space and can help determine if there are flaws that should be further inspected for repair.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Climate crisis puts Australia's ski industry on slippery slope, but not all hope is lost      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Australia's ski industry is at risk of major disruptions and shorter seasons if the current level of climate pollution continues, according to new modelling. The report found the average ski season across all resorts in Australia will be 44 days shorter by 2050 under a mid-greenhouse gas emissions scenario and 55 days shorter under a high-emissions scenario.

Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Fish out of water: How killifish embryos adapted their development      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The annual killifish lives in regions with extreme drought. A research group now reports that the early embryogenesis of killifish diverges from that of other species. Unlike other fish, their body structure is not predetermined from the outset. This could enable the species to survive dry periods unscathed.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Liquid metal-based electronic logic device that mimics intelligent prey-capture mechanism of Venus flytrap      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has developed a liquid metal-based electronic logic device that mimics the intelligent prey-capture mechanism of Venus flytraps. Exhibiting memory and counting properties, the device can intelligently respond to various stimulus sequences without the need for additional electronic components. The intelligent strategies and logic mechanisms in the device provide a fresh perspective on understanding 'intelligence' in nature and offer inspiration for the development of 'embodied intelligence'.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Nanoparticles: Risk for babies in the womb      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Little is yet known about the health effects of nanoparticles on pregnancy. An interdisciplinary team is currently analyzing the risks for babies in the womb. Using a lab model, the researchers were able to determine that certain nanoparticles impair the release of chemical messengers in the placenta and thus the formation of blood vessels.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Chemistry: Biochemistry Ecology: Endangered Species Engineering: Nanotechnology Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Better farming through nanotechnology      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Advanced technologies enable the controlled release of medicine to specific cells in the body. Scientists argue these same technologies must be applied to agriculture if growers are to meet increasing global food demands.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Climate policy: competing crises      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Current crises are distracting from the climate crisis and weakening support for climate action, a Europe-wide survey reveals.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

People feel more connected to 'tweezer-like' bionic tools that don't resemble human hands      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Some say the next step in human evolution will be the integration of technology with flesh. Now, researchers have used virtual reality to test whether humans can feel embodiment -- the sense that something is part of one's body -- toward prosthetic 'hands' that resemble a pair of tweezers. They report that participants felt an equal degree of embodiment for the tweezer-hands and were also faster and more accurate in completing motor tasks in virtual reality than when they were equipped with a virtual human hand.