New criteria to determine whether shear bands are beneficial or harmful to crystalline materials
Shear band formation is not typically a good sign in a material—the bands often appear before a material fractures or fails. But materials science and engineering researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have found that shear bands aren.....»»
Cheesemaking is a complex science—a food chemist explains the process from milk to mozzarella
Cheese is a relatively simple food. It's made with milk, enzymes—these are proteins that can chop up other proteins—bacterial cultures and salt. Lots of complex chemistry goes into the cheesemaking process, which can determine whether the cheese.....»»
Reduce, reuse, reflycle: How genetically modified flies can reduce waste and keep it out of landfills
A Macquarie University team proposes using genetically engineered black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) to address worldwide pollution challenges and produce valuable raw materials for industry, including the USD $500 billion global animal feed mar.....»»
Synthesis of a new compound with excellent intrinsic magnetic properties using smaller amounts of rare earth elements
The National Institute for Materials Science has successfully synthesized a new SmFe-based magnetic compound, SmFe8.8N1.1, which possesses superior intrinsic magnetic properties when compared to those of NdFeB compound used in neodymium magnets. The.....»»
New work sheds light on nonlinear encoding in diffractive optical processors based on linear materials
UCLA researchers have conducted an in-depth analysis of nonlinear information encoding strategies for diffractive optical processors, offering new insights into their performance and utility. Their study, published in Light: Science & Applications, c.....»»
Study proposes changes to simplify legislation on Atlantic Rainforest biome and enhance conservation
A group of researchers has found that the key criteria according to which areas of the Atlantic Rainforest can be legally cleared by their owners are defined in too "subjective and imprecise" a manner in Brazil's environmental legislation, allowing f.....»»
Nature-inspired novel catalyst paves the way for efficient hydrocarbon decomposition
A research team affiliated with UNIST has developed a novel catalyst that mimics the ability of a natural enzyme to break down harmful hydrocarbons, paving the way for a more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient approach to reducing pollutio.....»»
Spontaneous supercrystal discovered in switching metal-insulator
A supercrystal formation previously unobserved in a metal-insulating material was discovered by a Cornell-led research team, potentially unlocking new ways to engineer materials and devices with tunable electronic properties......»»
New rapid method for determining virus infectivity
A new method that can rapidly determine whether a virus is infectious or non-infectious could revolutionize the response to future pandemics......»»
Aluminum scandium nitride films: Enabling next-gen ferroelectric memory devices
Imagine a thin film, just nanometers thick, that could store gigabytes of data—enough for movies, video games, and videos. This is the exciting potential of ferroelectric materials for memory storage. These materials have a unique arrangement of io.....»»
Sensing ultraviolet light with the help of molecular switches
The old saying "the dose makes the poison" also holds true for ultraviolet (UV) light. While UV light is essential for vitamin D production, it is also important in phototherapy, several industrial processes, and plant growth. It also has harmful eff.....»»
Effects of stellar magnetism could expand criteria for exoplanet habitability
Interest in Earth-like planets orbiting within the habitable zone of their host stars has surged, driven by the quest to discover life beyond our solar system. But the habitability of such planets, known as exoplanets, is influenced by more than just.....»»
Apple “clearly underreporting” child sex abuse, watchdogs say
Report: Apple vastly undercounts child sex abuse materials on iCloud and iMessage. Enlarge (credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg) After years of controversies over plans to scan iCloud to find more child sexual ab.....»»
Warframe: 1999 is the Y2K dating sim I didn’t know I needed
We spoke with the Warframe Creative Director and had an early look at Warframe: 1999, the upcoming update with new story, frames, boy bands and dating......»»
Chemists design novel method for generating sustainable fuel
Chemists have been working to synthesize high-value materials from waste molecules for years. Now, an international collaboration of scientists is exploring ways to use electricity to streamline the process......»»
Rhythmic gene expression in plants is crucial for symbiosis with nutrient-providing bacteria, study finds
Legumes thrive in low-nitrogen environments by partnering with rhizobia, soil bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, a usable form for the plants. These beneficial bacteria are housed in root nodules formed on legume roots......»»
A new way to control the magnetic properties of rare earth elements
The special properties of rare earth magnetic materials are due to the electrons in the 4f shell. Until now, the magnetic properties of 4f electrons were considered almost impossible to control......»»
New AI approach accelerates targeted materials discovery and sets the stage for self-driving experiments
Scientists have developed an AI-based method that helps gather data more efficiently in the search for new materials, allowing researchers to navigate complex design challenges with greater precision and speed......»»
Study reveals key gene protecting plants from harmful metals in soil
The negative impact of human activity on Earth doesn't just affect our planet's atmosphere—it goes much deeper, into its soils. For instance, excessive application of manure or sewage sludge can increase heavy metal concentrations in agricultural l.....»»
Nano-scale materials that mimic enzymes could convert CO₂ into chemical building blocks
Montana State University researcher James Crawford recently published a collaborative paper with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that marks a step forward in their quest for what he calls a "holy grail" of chemistry: converting the greenhous.....»»
Bubbling with benefits: Hydrogen nanobubbles boost tomato antioxidants
Tomatoes are a key source of antioxidants, crucial for human health as they help combat oxidative stress. Traditional irrigation methods often fail to significantly enhance these beneficial compounds in crops. Hydrogen, known for its unique antioxida.....»»