ScienceDaily: Top Technology News


Astronomers spot a 'blinking giant' near the centre of the Galaxy

Posted: 11 Jun 2021 05:56 AM PDT

Astronomers have spotted a giant 'blinking' star towards the centre of the Milky Way, more than 25,000 light years away.

Star's death will play a mean pinball with rhythmic planets

Posted: 11 Jun 2021 05:56 AM PDT

Four planets locked in a perfect rhythm around a nearby star are destined to be pinballed around their solar system when their sun eventually dies, according to a new study that peers into its future.

Novel liquid crystal metalens offers electric zoom

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 01:23 PM PDT

Researchers have created a first-of-its-kind metalens - a metamaterial lens - that can be focused using voltage instead of mechanically moving its components.

Cause, scope determined for deadly winter debris flow in Uttarakhand, India

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 12:01 PM PDT

The Uttarakhand region of India experienced a humanitarian tragedy on Feb. 7, 2021, when a wall of debris and water barreled down the Ronti Gad, Rishiganga and Dhauliganga river valleys. This debris flow destroyed two hydropower facilities and left more than 200 people dead or missing. A self-organized coalition of 53 scientists came together in the days following the disaster to investigate the cause, scope and impacts.

Astronomy meets pathology to identify predictive biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 12:01 PM PDT

Pairing sky-mapping algorithms with advanced immunofluorescence imaging of cancer biopsies, researchers developed a robust platform to guide immunotherapy by predicting which cancers will respond to specific therapies targeting the immune system.

Printing flexible wearable electronics for smart device applications

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 11:44 AM PDT

With the increase in demand for flexible wearable electronics, researchers have explored flexible energy storage devices, such as flexible supercapacitators, that are lightweight and safe and easily integrate with other devices. Printing electronics has proved to be an economical, simple, and scalable strategy for fabricating FSCs. Researchers provide a review of printed FSCs in terms of ability to formulate functional inks, design printable electrodes, and integrate functions with other electronic devices.

Bacteria: Serving tasty solution to global plastic crisis

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

Scientists have devised a novel way of tackling the mounting issue of plastic pollution -- by using bacteria to transform plastic waste into vanilla flavoring.

Bacteria-sized robots take on microplastics and win by breaking them down

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

Small pieces of plastic are everywhere, stretching from urban environments to pristine wilderness. Left to their own devices, it can take hundreds of years for them to degrade completely. Catalysts activated by sunlight could speed up the process, but getting these compounds to interact with microplastics is difficult. In a proof-of-concept study, researchers developed self-propelled microrobots that can swim, attach to plastics and break them down.

Asteroid 16 Psyche might not be what scientists expected

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

New research finds that the target asteroid of NASA's Psyche mission may not be as metallic or dense as previously predicted, hinting that it might not be an exposed planetary core after all.

Could all your digital photos be stored as DNA?

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

Biological engineers have demonstrated a way to easily retrieve data files stored as DNA. This could be a step toward using DNA archives to store enormous quantities of photos, images, and other digital content.

Microscopic imaging without a microscope?

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

A new technique uses high-throughput sequencing, instead of a microscope, to obtain ultra-high-resolution images of gene expression from a tissue slide.

Improved climate resilience through better seasonal forecasts

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Lack of water, floods, or crop losses: As a result of climate change, pronounced periods of drought and rainfall are causing human suffering and major economic damage. Precise seasonal forecasts can help to mitigate these consequences. A research team has now been able to improve global forecasts using statistical methods so that they can be used on the regional level.

Research establishes safe water thresholds for antimicrobials, to help mitigate resistance

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Scientists summarize and critically appraise the current approaches to determining the concentrations of antimicrobials that increase AMR. By collating and assessing available data, they have recommended what these safe thresholds could be, to enable governments to act to reduce them.

Researchers' algorithm to make CRISPR gene editing more precise

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new method which makes CRISPR gene editing more precise than conventional methods. The method selects the molecules best suited for helping the CRISPR-Cas9 protein with high-precision editing at the correct location in our DNA, the researchers explain.

New way to 3D-print custom medical devices to boost performance and bacterial resistance

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Using a new 3D printing process, researchers have discovered how to tailor-make artificial body parts and other medical devices with built-in functionality that offers better shape and durability, while cutting the risk of bacterial infection at the same time.

Novel materials: Sound waves traveling backwards

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Acoustic waves in gases, liquids, and solids usually travel at an almost constant speed of sound. Rotons are an exception: their speed of sound changes significantly with the wavelength, it is also possible that the waves travel backwards. Researchers are studying the possibilities of using rotons in artificial materials. These metamaterials might be used in the future to manipulate or direct sound in ways that have never been possible before.

Tuning the energy gap: A novel approach for organic semiconductors

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

What is already established for inorganic semiconductors stays a challenge for their organic counterparts: Tuning the energy gap by blending different semiconducting molecules to optimize device performance. Now, scientists demonstrated how to reach this goal.

Discovery of ray sperms' unique swimming motion and demonstration with bio-inspired robot

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

It is generally agreed that sperms 'swim' by beating or rotating their soft tails. However, a research team has discovered that ray sperms move by rotating both the tail and the head. The team further investigated the motion pattern and demonstrated it with a robot. Their study has expanded the knowledge on the microorganisms' motion and provided inspiration for robot engineering design.

Reduction of carbon monoxide through nitrogenase

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Through the biological fixation of the element nitrogen by the enzyme nitrogenase, organisms gain access to molecular nitrogen (N2) in the Earth's atmosphere, which is essential for building cellular structures. In addition, a vanadium-dependent variant of nitrogenase can reduce the toxic gas carbon monoxide (CO) to hydrocarbons. These reductions of N2 and CO are among the most important processes in industrial chemistry, as they are used to produce both fertilizers and synthetic fuels. However, researchers have not yet been able to decipher the different pathways of the two reactions.

Humans are ready to take advantage of benevolent AI

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Humans expect that AI is benevolent and trustworthy. A new study reveals that at the same time humans are unwilling to cooperate and compromise with machines. They even exploit them.

Research uncovers broadband gaps in US to help close digital divide

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:38 AM PDT

Events of the past year have exposed the crisis of the digital divide in the U.S. To tackle this problem, researchers have developed a new tool to smooth the collection of federal broadband access data that helps pinpoint coverage gaps across the US.

Cloud computing expands brain sciences

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:38 AM PDT

People often think about human behavior in terms of what is happening in the present -- reading a newspaper, driving a car, or catching a football. But other dimensions of behavior extend over weeks, months, and years.

'Vegan spider silk' provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Researchers have created a plant-based, sustainable, scalable material that could replace single-use plastics in many consumer products.

New twist on DNA data storage lets users preview stored files

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Researchers have turned a longstanding challenge in DNA data storage into a tool, using it to offer users previews of stored data files -- such as thumbnail versions of image files.

Scientists identify distinctive deep infrasound rumbles of space launches

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

New research used a system for monitoring nuclear tests to track the infrasound from 1,001 rocket launches, identifying the distinctive sounds from seven different types of rockets. In some cases, like the Space Shuttle and the Falcon 9, the researchers were also able to identify the various stages of the rockets' journey.

How catalysts age

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:34 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new tomography method with which they can measure chemical properties inside catalyst materials in 3-D extremely precisely and faster than before. The application is equally important for science and industry.

Researchers develop tool to aid in development, efficiency of hydrogen-powered cars

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:33 AM PDT

Researchers are addressing one aspect of creating fuel cells that can convert hydrogen and oxygen safely into water by developing new computational tools and models needed to better understand and manage the conversion process.

Astronomers discover a 'changing-look' blazar

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

Astronomers describe a 'changing-look' blazar -- a powerful active galactic nucleus powered by supermassive blackhole at the center of a galaxy.

CHIME telescope detects more than 500 mysterious fast radio bursts in its first year of operation

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

The large radio telescope CHIME has detected more than 500 mysterious fast radio bursts in its first year of operation, MIT researchers report. The observations quadruple the number of known radio bursts and reveal two types of FRBs: one-offs and repeaters.

Better-fitting face masks greatly improve COVID-19 protection

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

Researchers have found that while N95 masks are effective barriers against airborne diseases like COVID-19, poorly fitting masks can have substantial leaks around the face that reduce their effectiveness and increase the risk of infection.

New adaptable nanoparticle platform enables enhanced delivery of gene therapies

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

Scientists have developed polypeptide-based materials that act as effective vectors for delivering gene therapies. The new platform enables the vectors to be adapted to suit the specific gene therapy cargo.

Researchers create quantum microscope that can see the impossible

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 08:55 AM PDT

In a major scientific leap, researchers have created a quantum microscope that can reveal biological structures that would otherwise be impossible to see.

Important contribution to spintronics has received little consideration until now

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 08:55 AM PDT

The movement of electrons can have a significantly greater influence on spintronic effects than previously assumed. Until now, a calculation of these effects took, above all, the spin of electrons into consideration. The study offers a new approach in developing spintronic components.

Key to carbon-free cars? Look to the stars

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 08:55 AM PDT

Scientists uncover new clues to the origins of the universe - and land new chemistry for cleaner combustion engines.

Machine learning speeds up simulations in material science

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 07:58 AM PDT

Research, development, and production of novel materials depend heavily on the availability of fast and at the same time accurate simulation methods. Machine learning, in which artificial intelligence autonomously acquires and applies new knowledge, will soon enable researchers to develop complex material systems in a purely virtual environment. How does this work, which applications will benefit?

Physicists achieve significant improvement in spotting neutrinos in a cosmic haystack

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 07:58 AM PDT

Two articles describe how ground-breaking image reconstruction and analysis algorithms developed for surface-based MicroBooNE detector filter out cosmic ray tracks to pinpoint elusive neutrino interactions with unprecedented clarity.

'PrivacyMic': For a smart speaker that doesn't eavesdrop

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 05:47 AM PDT

Microphones are perhaps the most common electronic sensor in the world, with an estimated 320 million listening for our commands in the world's smart speakers. The trouble is that they're capable of hearing everything else, too.

Scientists discover new exoplanet with an atmosphere ripe for study

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 05:46 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered a new, temperate sub-Neptune sized exoplanet with a 24-day orbital period orbiting a nearby M dwarf star. The recent discovery offers exciting research opportunities thanks to the planet's substantial atmosphere, small star, and how fast the system is moving away from the Earth.

Control over water friction with 2D materials points to 'smart membranes'

Posted: 08 Jun 2021 05:37 PM PDT

The speed of water flow is a limiting factor in many membrane-based industrial processes, including desalination, molecular separation and osmotic power generation. Researchers have revealed a dramatic decrease in friction when water is passed through nanoscale capillaries made of graphene. In contrast, capillaries made from hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) - which has a similar surface topography and crystal structure as graphene - display high friction.