ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

Researchers create intelligent electronic microsystems from 'green' material

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 05:37 PM PDT

A research team has created an electronic microsystem that can intelligently respond to information inputs without any external energy input, much like a self-autonomous living organism. The microsystem is constructed from a novel type of electronics that can process ultralow electronic signals and incorporates a device that can generate electricity 'out of thin air' from the ambient environment.

Keeping a closer eye on seabirds with drones and artificial intelligence

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 05:37 PM PDT

Drones and artificial intelligence can monitor large colonies of seabirds as well as traditional on-the-ground methods, while reducing costs, labor and the risk of human error, a new study finds. Scientists used an AI deep-learning algorithm to analyze more than 10,000 drone images of mixed colonies of seabirds in the Falkland Islands/Malvinas. The algorithm's automated counts closely matched human counts 90% of the time.

'Surfing' particles: Physicists solve a mystery surrounding aurora borealis

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 12:44 PM PDT

The spectacularly colorful aurora borealis -- or northern lights -- that fills the sky in high-latitude regions has fascinated people for thousands of years. Now, a team of scientists has resolved one of the final mysteries surrounding its origin.

Cosmic cartographers map nearby universe revealing the diversity of star-forming galaxies

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 12:44 PM PDT

A team of astronomers has completed the first census of molecular clouds in the nearby universe. The study produced the first images of nearby galaxies with the same sharpness and quality as optical imaging and revealed that stellar nurseries do not all look and act the same. In fact, they're as diverse as the people, homes, neighborhoods, and regions that make up our own world.

An unprecedented survey of the 'nurseries' where stars are born

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 12:44 PM PDT

Astronomers have taken a big step forward in understanding the dark and violent places where stars are born. Over the past five years, an international team of researchers has conducted the first systematic survey of 'stellar nurseries' across our part of the universe, charting the more than 100,000 of these nurseries across more than 90 nearby galaxies and providing new insights into the origins of stars.

Efficiently 'switching on' bacteria to produce high-value chemicals

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 12:44 PM PDT

High-value chemicals used in biofuels and pharmaceuticals can be made from bacteria by switching their chemistry to produce novel products. Researchers have found a way to drastically cut the cost of turning on these switches.

Absorbent aerogels show some muscle

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 12:44 PM PDT

A simple chemical process creates light and highly absorbent aerogels for environmental remediation or as membranes for batteries and other applications.

From burglar alarms to black hole detectors

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 12:44 PM PDT

Last year a physicist proposed an experiment that could conclusively prove whether gravity is a quantum phenomenon. In a new article, he describes how two types of noise could be reduced and suggests that quantum interference could be applied in the production of a sensitive instrument that could detect movements of objects ranging from butterflies to burglars and black holes.

UIC research paves way for next-generation of crystalline material screening devices

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 12:44 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a novel multi-well, continuous-flow microfluidic device that may help scientists and pharmaceutical companies more effectively study drug compounds and their crystalline shapes and structures, which are key components for drug stability.

Artificial intelligence enhances efficacy of sleep disorder treatments

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 08:32 AM PDT

An algorithm based on 20,000 nights of sleep that can improve the diagnosis, treatment and our overall understanding of sleep disorders has been developed.

Finding quasars: Rare extragalactic objects are now easier to spot

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 08:32 AM PDT

Astrophysicists have developed a new method for pinpointing the whereabouts of extremely rare extragalactic objects. They hope their technique for finding 'changing-look quasars' will take scientists one step closer to unraveling one of greatest mysteries of the universe - how supermassive black holes grow. Quasars are believed to be responsible for regulating the growth of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies.

The next 20 are years crucial in determining the future of coal

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 08:32 AM PDT

Decisions made now will determine whether economies win or lose money as the coal industry changes over the next couple of decades.

Solving the structural mystery of glass

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 08:32 AM PDT

The detailed structure of glass has always been a mystery in science. A research team has now discovered that the amorphous and crystalline metallic glass have the same structural building blocks. And it is the connectivity between these blocks that distinguishes the crystalline and amorphous states of the material.

Discovery of a dying supermassive black hole via a 3,000-year-long light echo

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 08:32 AM PDT

Supermassive black holes (SMBH) occupy the center of galaxies, with masses ranging from one million to 10 billion solar masses. Some SMBHs are in a bright phase called active galactic nuclei (AGN).

Earth's meteorite impacts over past 500 million years tracked

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 08:32 AM PDT

For the first time, a unique study has tracked the meteorite flux to Earth over the past 500 million years. Contrary to current theories, researchers have determined that major collisions in the asteroid belt have not generally affected the number of impacts with Earth to any great extent.

Are heavy metals toxic? Scientists find surprising new clues in yeast

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 06:22 AM PDT

Scientists have compiled the most complete library yet of lanthanide heavy metals and their potential toxicity -- by exposing baker's yeast to lanthanides. Their findings could help researchers uncover hidden pathways between lanthanide metals and disease.

Early endeavors on the path to reliable quantum machine learning

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 05:39 AM PDT

The future quantum computers should be capable of super-fast and reliable computation. Today, this is still a major challenge. Now, computer scientists conduct an early exploration for reliable quantum machine learning.

Super productive 3D bioprinter could help speed up drug development

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 05:39 AM PDT

A new 3D bioprinter developed by nanoengineers operates at record speed -- it can print a 96-well array of living human tissue samples within 30 minutes. The technology could help accelerate high-throughput preclinical drug screening and make it less costly.

Turning off lights can save migrating birds from crashing into buildings

Posted: 07 Jun 2021 01:12 PM PDT

Forty years of data came together to show just how many birds can be saved by buildings turning their lights off. Using decades' worth of data and birds, researchers found that on nights when half the windows were darkened, there were 11 times fewer bird collisions during spring migration and 6 times fewer collisions during fall migration than when all the windows were lit.