New discoveries about the nature of light could improve methods for heating fusion plasma
Both literally and figuratively, light pervades the world. It banishes darkness, conveys telecommunications signals between continents and makes visible the invisible, from faraway galaxies to the smallest bacterium. Light can also help heat the plas.....»»
Advancing light control: New opportunities for metasurfaces in optoelectronics
A global review of advancements in integrating metasurfaces—thin planar arrays of nanostructures—into optoelectronic devices highlights their potential to transform technologies such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, optical modulators, an.....»»
Quantum walk computing unlocks new potential in quantum science and technology
Quantum walks are a powerful theoretical model using quantum effects such as superposition, interference and entanglement to achieve computing power beyond classical methods......»»
Professor challenges tokenizing women of color in academia
The unspoken rule for women of color in academia is to be everything to everyone—mentor, diversity champion, tireless scholar, and silent workhorse, says York University equity studies Assistant Professor Yvonne Su in her paper published in Nature.....»»
Shedding light on snow"s crucial role in Earth"s climate system
EU researchers are braving extreme Arctic conditions to shed light on snow's crucial role in Earth's climate system......»»
Neural networks unlock potential of high-entropy carbonitrides in extreme environments
The melting point is one of the most important measurements of material properties, which informs potential applications of materials in various fields. Experimental measurement of the melting point is complex and expensive, but computational methods.....»»
First results from 2021 rocket launch shed light on aurora"s birth
Results from a 2021 experiment led by a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist have begun to reveal the particle-level processes that create the type of auroras that dance rapidly across the sky......»»
Compact on-chip polarimeter measures light polarization with high accuracy
Reliably measuring the polarization state of light is crucial for various technological applications, ranging from optical communication to biomedical imaging. Yet conventional polarimeters are made of bulky components, which makes them difficult to.....»»
Giant sloths and mastodons coexisted with humans for millennia in Americas, new discoveries suggest
Sloths weren't always slow-moving, furry tree-dwellers. Their prehistoric ancestors were huge—up to 4 tons (3.6 metric tons)—and when startled, they brandished immense claws......»»
How to solve the Three Eyed Gate puzzle in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Even Indy doesn't like light puzzles in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The three eyed gate puzzle is mandatory, though, so we will help you solve it......»»
The New Glenn rocket’s seven powerful engines may light up as soon as today
"Maybe, maybe, maybe today, maybe soon. I think it's very soon." In a widely anticipated test, Blue Origin may ignite the seven main engines on its New Glenn rocket as soon as Thu.....»»
Plasma heating efficiency in fusion devices boosted by metal screens
Heating plasma to the ultra-high temperatures needed for fusion reactions requires more than turning the dial on a thermostat. Scientists consider multiple methods, one of which involves injecting electromagnetic waves into the plasma, the same proce.....»»
Scientists document rich biodiversity along underexplored Chilean coastline
An international team of scientists on board a recent Schmidt Ocean Institute R/V Falkor (too) expedition surveyed nearly 20 methane seeps, some of which are new discoveries, and four submarine canyon systems previously never before seen by humans......»»
Prototype sunscreen uses TiO₂ nanoparticles to cool skin while blocking UV rays
Wearing sunscreen is important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation but doesn't cool people off. However, a new formula, described in Nano Letters, protects against both UV light and heat from the sun using radiative cooling......»»
Scientists recreate molecular timers to control nanomachine activation rates
Living organisms monitor time—and react to it—in many different ways, from detecting light and sound in microseconds to responding physiologically in pre-programmed ways, via their daily sleep cycle, monthly menstrual cycle, or to changes in the.....»»
Arctic snow shows up to 71 times more PFAS during sunny months
PFAS refers collectively to the thousands of man-made chemicals that take a very long time to break down in nature. None of these substances occur naturally—also called forever chemicals, and several are suspected of negatively affecting humans and.....»»
Optical spring enables programmable defect mode in new mechanical crystal
Mechanical crystals, also known as phononic crystals, are materials that can control the propagation of vibrations or sound waves, just like photonic crystals control the flow of light. The introduction of defects in these crystals (i.e., intentional.....»»
SpaceX gets green light for seventh Starship test, but when is it?
The FAA has given the nod to SpaceX to conduct its seventh Starship test from its Starbase site in Texas......»»
Distant blazar discovery supports rapid black hole formation in the early universe
Astronomers have discovered an important piece of the puzzle of how supermassive black holes were able to grow so quickly in the early universe: a special kind of active galactic nucleus so distant that its light has taken more than 12.9 billion year.....»»
Nature"s instructions: How fungi make a key medicinal molecule
For roughly a century, ever since Alexander Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928, fungi have proven to be a goldmine for medicines. They've provided treatments for a wide range of diseases, from infections and high cholesterol to orga.....»»
Advance in photochemical water oxidation enhances sustainable energy potential
With the global shift towards sustainable and renewable energy, the urgency to develop efficient methods for producing clean energy has never been greater. Imagine a future where the energy that powers our homes and cities comes from one of the plane.....»»