Chemists suggest using polymeric ionic liquids in supercapacitors

A team of researchers from HSE MIEM joined colleagues from the Institute of Non-Classical Chemistry in Leipzig to develop a theoretical model of a polymeric ionic liquid on a charged conductive electrode. They used approaches from polymer physics and theoretical electrochemistry … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Sports betting: How in-play betting features could be leading to harmful gambling

With the rapid convergence of the gambling and technology spheres over recent years, sports betting has become more accessible, more customizable and more complex. Gone are the days where punters were limited to betting on the winner or loser of a match, and could only do so befo … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Ultra-high-rate plasma coating to improve surface function

A Toyohashi University of Technology research team led by lecturer Toru Harigai has developed an ultra-high-rate coating technology for functional hard carbon films using vacuum plasma. Functional hard carbon films with low friction coefficients are used as protective films with … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Acoustic propulsion of nanomachines depends on their orientation

Microscopically tiny nanomachines which move like submarines with their own propulsion—for example in the human body, where they transport active agents and release them at a target: What sounds like science fiction has, over the past 20 years, become an ever more rapidly growing … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

New vibes in information technology: A ground-breaking platform for advanced multi-signal systems

Current computer and telecommunication technologies use electrical charges (electrons) and light (photons) to transport information. However, a breakthrough in this field could be brought about by the introduction of mechanical vibrations—phonons—as a means of transferring data, … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Researchers develop a new way to grow and monitor very early embryos in the laboratory

One of the most common causes of infertility is failure of implantation—the process by which the early embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. However, despite its critical importance, implantation and the changes it induces in an embryo are notoriously difficult to study. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

How do we solve the problem of agricultural nutrient runoff?

Agricultural runoff from Midwestern farms is a major contributor to a vast "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. Nitrogen, phosphorous and other farm nutrients drain into the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf, spurring algae to overpopulate and suffocating other aquatic … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Climate tipping might not always be disastrous

The consequences of crossing a tipping point might often be much more subtle and less severe than generally assumed. That is the conclusion of a mathematical analysis of tipping in large, spatially heterogeneous systems, which natural systems like ice sheets, lakes, and forests o … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Traits that many species facing extinction have in common

A trio of researchers with the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology, Lincoln Park Zoo, has discovered some of the traits that many species of plants and animals facing extinction have in common. In their paper posted on the open access site PLOS ONE, Haydée Hernández-Y … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Luminescence reaction modeled on fireflies can detect contamination with organophosphate pesticides

A luminescence reaction modeled on fireflies can detect contamination with organophosphates with high sensitivity, ease, and low cost. At the center of this technology is a new enzymatic method for the synthesis of analogs of luciferin, the substance that makes fireflies glow. As … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Endurance captain Frank Worsley, Shackleton's gifted navigator, knew how to stay the course

When the wreck of Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance was found nearly 10,000 feet below the surface of Antarctica's Weddell Sea in March 2022, it was located just 4 miles from its last known position, as recorded by the Endurance's captain and navigator, Frank Worsley, in Novembe … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

New analysis provides more clues about Pilgrim-era shipwreck

In 1626, a ship foundered in stormy seas and wrecked on Cape Cod, where the passengers were aided by the local Indigenous population and the Pilgrims in nearby Plymouth. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Cyclone Gombe hits northern Mozambique with high winds, rain

Cyclone Gombe has slammed into northern Mozambique with torrential winds and rain, causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure and causing at least one death. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Systemic perspective needed for successful climate risk assessments and adaptation strategies

The recently published report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability recognizes that climate change impacts and risks are becoming increasingly complex and more difficult to manage. Multiple climate hazards will occur si … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

How a hurricane fueled wildfires in the Florida Panhandle

The wildfires that broke out in the Florida Panhandle in early March 2022 were the nightmare fire managers had feared since the day Hurricane Michael flattened millions of trees there in 2018. It might sound odd—hurricanes helping to fuel wildfires. But Michael's 160 mph winds le … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Recently discovered protein turbocharges gene expression

For many years, scientists have sought to understand what happens when our genes are flipped to the "on" position. Now, scientists at the University of California San Diego and Rutgers University have identified a new protein that contributes to this important process. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

On the hunt for ultra-thin materials using data mining: Study identifies extensive set of novel 2D materials

Two-dimensional (2D) materials possess extraordinary properties. They usually consist of atomic layers that are only a few nanometers thick and are particularly good at conducting heat and electricity, for instance. To the astonishment of many scientists, it recently became known … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Strong scientific link between forests and human health

Marking two years since the current pandemic spread across the globe, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) today released The Vitality of Forests, a new report synthesizing a mounting body of evidence that documents how human health depends on forests. This is one of the first reports that … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Time is running out to counteract global climate change

The increase in emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is only one of several serious global threats to our continued existence on Earth, and their reduction is at the core of international agreements like the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. T … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

The dark side of the universe: How black holes became supermassive

Black holes are among the most compelling mysteries of the universe. Nothing, not even light, can escape a black hole. And at the center of nearly every galaxy there is a supermassive black hole that's millions to billions of times more massive than the sun. Understanding black h … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

How lockdown highlighted educational inequality in Ireland

Children in Ireland experienced one of the longest school closures among rich countries during the first wave of the pandemic. School children lost 141 days of face-to-face instruction during the 2019–2020 academic year. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

New tool allows unprecedented modeling of magnetic nanoparticles

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new computational tool that allows users to conduct simulations of multi-functional magnetic nanoparticles in unprecedented detail. The advance paves the way for new work aimed at developing magnetic nanoparticles fo … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

New data raises 'important questions' about consistency of support for children in care

Social workers in areas of Wales with decreasing care rates feel more confident in the approach of their local authority, a report has found. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

In the dark, freezing ocean under Antarctica's largest ice shelf, we discovered a thriving microbial jungle

Antarctica represents one of the last frontiers for discoveries on Earth. Our focus is on what lies beneath the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica's massive wedge of floating ice that shelters the southern-most extension of the Southern Ocean. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Chemical engineers use neural networks to discover the properties of metal-organic frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks, a class of materials with porous molecular structures, have a variety of possible applications, such as capturing harmful gases and catalyzing chemical reactions. Made of metal atoms linked by organic molecules, they can be configured in hundreds of thou … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Malaria parasite's survival linked to two proteins

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, killed more than 620,000 people worldwide in 2020. Jeopardizing the survival of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria parasite, is one way to control the spread of this deadly disease. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Many of us welcome working from home, but universities show its dangers for women's careers

If one possibly positive thing came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the impetus it gave to letting people work from home. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Harvard economist weighs in on new inflation data

Inflation continued to soar in February, with a key measure hitting a 40-year high, according to federal data released Thursday. Driven by higher energy costs, gasoline in particular, the Consumer Price Index rose 7.9 percent, compared to a year ago. In recent months Americans ha … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

We need to change our systems to ensure a sustainable world

While composting and taking the bus are helpful, we need to change the very systems we live and work in to truly address climate change. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

How gig workers are managing risk during the pandemic

Customers have long expected service with a smile, which was a reasonable request before the pandemic radically altered the risks and rewards for frontline workers. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Using pump lasers to create plasma lenses that focus at very high intensity levels

A team of researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the University of California at Berkeley and Princeton University has developed plasma-based techniques to build a lens for laser beams with petawatt-scale power. In their paper published in the journal Physical R … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

From field to store to plate, farmers are increasingly worried about climate change

Empty supermarket shelves still shock Australians, who have become accustomed to being able to buy the food they want. But we can expect to see more empty shelves, more often, in coming decades. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

New, highly accurate algorithm scales ability to assemble complete genomes

An international team led by researchers at University of California San Diego's Department of Computer Science and Engineering has shown that a new genome assembly algorithm, called the La Jolla Assembler (LJA), vastly improves large genomes reconstruction, the process by which … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Rehabilitation trumps 'get-tough' policies in juvenile detention

A training program for youth justice officers that develops interpersonal and behavior management skills has improved safety and culture at its trial sites. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Uncertainty, money worries and stress: Gig workers need support and effective ways to cope

This weekend, you might hit "place order" for a meal delivery. Or jump in a ride share to meet friends. In both cases, you'll be engaging a gig worker. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Crystallography, cryo-EM and AlphaFold shed light on key human antibacterial proteins

A team led by Karolinska Institutet has combined Artificial Intelligence (AI) with structural biology to gain insights into two similar proteins that prevent bacterial infection in the urinary tract and the gastrointestinal system. Their results are published in Nature Structural … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

A meteorite recently crashed into Australia, and a drone scoured the area and found it

Drones have become ubiquitous in recent years. From recently discovering the Endurance to participating in wars, drones have made history in more ways than one. Now, they have a new job title to add to their resume—meteorite hunter. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

New model of a fundamental process behind the movement of Earth's tectonic plates

A research team from University of Lisbon (Portugal) and Johannes Gutenberg University (Germany) has developed for the first time an advanced numerical model of one of the main processes behind the movement of Earth's tectonic plates. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Kelp won't help: Why seaweed may not be a silver bullet for carbon storage after all

Over the last few years, there's been a lot of hope placed in seaweed as a way to tackle climate change. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

New giant tortoise species found in Galapagos after DNA study

A new species of giant tortoise has been discovered in the Galapagos after DNA testing found animals living on one island had not yet been recorded, Ecuador's environment ministry said. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

UN holds biodiversity talks on deal to stave off mass extinction

Global efforts to cut plastic and agricultural pollution, protect a third of wild spaces, and ultimately live "in harmony with nature" will dominate UN biodiversity negotiations starting Monday, held in person after a two-year pandemic delay. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Scientists find new colony structure of fire ants evolved in one species before spreading to others

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London have discovered that a new form of ant society spread across species. They found that after the new form of society evolved in one species, a "social supergene" carrying the instruction-set for the new social form spread into other … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Lava flows as Indonesia's Mount Merapi continues to erupt

Indonesia's Mount Merapi continued to erupt Friday, forcing authorities to halt tourism and mining activities on the slopes of the country's most active volcano. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

NASA opens sample taken from the Moon 50 years on

The Apollo missions to the Moon brought a total of 2,196 rock samples to Earth. But NASA has only just started opening one of the last ones, collected 50 years ago. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Four endangered American crocodiles are born in Peru

A Lima zoo announced Thursday the birth in captivity of four American crocodiles, an endangered species, after a successful artificial incubation. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Mexico wins removal of pre-Hispanic artifact at Vienna sale

The government of Mexico said Thursday it succeeded in getting a pre-Hispanic artifact removed from a planned Vienna auction, part of an effort to win the return of archaeological treasures that has largely been unsuccessful so far. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Discovering molecular 'team-work' underlying nitrate assimilation in a unicellular red alga

Nitrogen is an essential component for plant growth and development. Plants generally take up nitrogen from their environment in the form of nitrates or ammonium and assimilate them into amino acids with the help of the products of nitrate or ammonium assimilation genes, respecti … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago

Gamification, past habits may impact future eco-friendly tendencies differently

Green consumer habits may not be impacted by gamification practices, but people who purchased environmentally friendly products in the past are likely to continue to do so, according to a team of researchers, who theorized that adding gamification techniques to a consumer's eco-f … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 years ago