Heat-resistant nanophotonic material could help turn heat into electricity
A new nanophotonic material has broken records for high-temperature stability, potentially ushering in more efficient electricity production and opening a variety of new possibilities in the control and conversion of thermal radiation......»»
Study sheds light on trade-off between noise and power in nanoscale heat engines
Thanks to nanoscale devices as small as human cells, researchers can create groundbreaking material properties, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics. However, to fully unlock the potential of nanotechnology, addressing no.....»»
This AI can turn your mundane video into a special effects spectacular
Runway adds video-to-video feature to its Gen-3 AI video generator......»»
Using sunlight to turn greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals
McGill University researchers have harnessed the power of sunlight to transform two of the most harmful greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals. The discovery could help combat climate change and provide a more sustainable way to produce certain ind.....»»
Video: Why Canadian trash costs $30,000 per gram
How do you turn nuclear waste into a $30,000-per-gram commodity? Tritium, once discarded as a by-product of Canadian nuclear reactors, is now one of the most expensive materials on Earth. This rare isotope of hydrogen powers glow-in-the-dark keychain.....»»
Get set for more extreme weather across Australia this spring and summer, say meteorologists
Australia is no stranger to extreme weather. From heat waves and droughts to flooding rains, hailstorms or fire weather, our continent experiences it all......»»
The Bird Flu Outbreak Takes a Mysterious Turn
US health officials say they don’t know how a patient in Missouri contracted bird flu......»»
Printed engines propel the next industrial revolution
In the fall of 2023, NASA hot fire tested an aluminum 3D printed rocket engine nozzle. Aluminum is not typically used for 3D printing because the process causes it to crack, and its low melting point makes it a challenging material for rocket engines.....»»
Urban forests could help reduce heat-related mortality, study suggests
Across the globe, heat waves are becoming more frequent and more intense. Therefore, how to effectively combat the adverse effects of heat is an increasingly important topic of research......»»
Multifunctional phosphor developed for white LED lighting and optical thermometry
In the realm of lighting and temperature measurement, advancements in material science are paving the way for significant improvements in technology and safety. Traditional methods, which combine yellow phosphors with blue chips in LEDs, have limitat.....»»
Evidence of “snowball Earth” found in ancient rocks
An outcrop in Scotland has material from when the Earth went into a deep freeze. Enlarge / Artist's conception of the state of the Earth during its global glaciations. (credit: NASA) Earth has gone through many geologic.....»»
Google will turn those long documents into your next favorite podcast
Google AI Audio Overviews transforms documents into pseudo-podcasts.....»»
Researchers solve long-standing mystery of alumina surface structure
Aluminum oxide (Al2O3), also known as alumina, corundum, sapphire, or ruby, is one of the best insulators used in a wide range of applications: in electronic components, as a support material for catalysts, or as a chemically resistant ceramic, to na.....»»
Development strategies for using carbon-based catalysts in CO₂ conversion
One of the primary drivers of climate change, CO2 emissions, has reached over 35 million tons worldwide. With global annual temperatures still rising, reducing CO2 emissions has become a necessity. To turn this necessity into an opportunity, research.....»»
New findings in a decade-long study of enzyme catalysis
Synthetic chemistry provides an essential material basis for our clothing, food, housing, transportation, and medicine and is an important driving force for economic development. However, traditional chemical synthesis has bottleneck problems such as.....»»
Newly discovered antimicrobial could prevent or treat cholera
More than a million people each year die from infections by pathogens that are resistant to antimicrobials, and the problem is growing. Meanwhile, the discovery of new antimicrobials that can help stem the tide has not kept pace......»»
Proposed underwater data center surprises regulators who hadn’t heard about it
Startup NetworkOcean wants to sink GPUs into San Francisco Bay. (credit: BalticServers.com) Data centers powering the generative AI boom are gulping water and exhausting electricity at what some researchers view as an un.....»»
Pollution of the potent warming gas methane soars and people are mostly to blame
The amount and proportion of the powerful heat-trapping gas methane that humans spew into the atmosphere is rising, helping to turbocharge climate change, a new study finds......»»
The US has sweltered through its fourth-hottest summer on record
A very warm August wrapped up an extremely hot summer across the U.S., with many cities breaking all-time heat records......»»
Bringing electricity to the smallest villages is not likely to reduce poverty
Nearly 800 million people in the world lack access to commercial electricity. It is easy to assume that connecting them to the grid will reduce poverty and improve lives. In fact, expanding energy infrastructure to everyone on the planet by 2030 is o.....»»
Unprecedented heat wave on the Tibetan plateau: Study highlights land-atmosphere interactions
Heat waves are generally thought to occur in hot, lowland regions—but what happens when extreme heat strikes the frigid, high-altitude Tibetan Plateau? Is the definition of a heat wave the same at 5,000 meters above sea level as it is in the plains.....»»