Probing deeper into origins of cosmic rays
Cosmic rays are high-energy atomic particles continually bombarding Earth's surface at nearly the speed of light. Our planet's magnetic field shields the surface from most of the radiation generated by these particles. Still, cosmic rays can cause el.....»»
A galactic "comet" called Terzan 5 illuminates a 100-year-old puzzle about cosmic rays
When my colleagues and I set to work on a century-old cosmic mystery, we found an unexpected celestial laboratory in Terzan 5, a dense star cluster currently plunging through our galaxy at breakneck speed......»»
The biggest-ever sample of core material from Earth"s mantle could have valuable clues into the origins of life
If you were to slice through it, you would see the Earth is divided into distinct layers. On top is the relatively thin crust where we live. Beneath that is the 2,900 km thick mantle layer. Then, enclosed within the mantle is the innermost metallic c.....»»
520-million-year-old larva fossil reveals the origins of arthropods
Early arthropod development illuminated by a microscopic fossil. Enlarge / The fossil in question, oriented with its head to the left. (credit: Yang Jie / Zhang Xiguang) Around half a billion years ago, in what is now th.....»»
The universe on display: The powerful instruments that allow us to observe the cosmos
Starting today, the Earth will be passing through a meteor shower. But in astronomy, the human eye is very much a limited tool. But increasingly powerful instruments are allowing us to peer ever deeper into the cosmos and ever further back in time, s.....»»
PhAI—an AI system that figures out the phase of x-rays that crystals have diffracted
A trio of chemists at the University of Copenhagen has developed an AI application that can be used to figure out the phase of x-rays that crystals have diffracted as part of efforts to predict the structure of small molecules......»»
You can kick the alpha tires on System76’s Cosmic, a new Linux desktop
A whole new desktop aims to appeal with tiling, themes, and a safer Rust core. Enlarge / A little auto-tiling on the Cosmic desktop. (credit: System76) System76 has released an alpha version of its Cosmic desktop environ.....»»
High nitrogen input promotes the redistribution of new organic carbon to deeper soil layers
Exogenous reactive nitrogen input has a profound effect on the carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. Most current research on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in relation to nitrogen input has focused predominantly on the surface soil layers. How.....»»
Slime Mold Helps to Map the Universe’s Tendrils of Dark Matter
A single-celled organism’s pathfinding reveals connections in the universe’s vast “cosmic web”.....»»
Observations confirm plasma bubble origin of persistent radio emissions from fast radio bursts
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are one of the most recent open mysteries of modern astrophysics. Within a few milliseconds, these powerful events release an immense amount of energy, among the highest observable in cosmic phenomena......»»
New X-ray world record: Looking inside a microchip with 4 nanometer precision
In a collaboration with EPFL Lausanne, ETH Zurich and the University of Southern California researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have used X-rays to look inside a microchip with higher precision than ever before. The image resolution of 4 n.....»»
Researchers dig deeper into stability challenges of nuclear fusion—with mayonnaise
Mayonnaise continues to help researchers better understand the physics behind nuclear fusion......»»
Born to modulate: Researchers reveal origins of climate-controlling particles
Aerosol particles are tiny. Swirling suspended in the air around us, most are smaller than the smallest bug, thinner than the thinnest hair on your head, gossamer specks practically invisible to the naked eye. Newly formed ones are nano-sized. Yet th.....»»
Scientists pin down the origins of the moon"s tenuous atmosphere
While the moon lacks any breathable air, it does host a barely-there atmosphere. Since the 1980s, astronomers have observed a very thin layer of atoms bouncing over the moon's surface. This delicate atmosphere—technically known as an "exosphere"—.....»»
Cosmic microwave background experiments could probe connection between cosmic inflation, particle physics
Various large-scale astrophysical research projects are set to take place over the next decade, several of which are so-called cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments. These are large-scale scientific efforts aimed at detecting and studying CMB.....»»
Researchers demonstrate mechanism that may have stabilized the first RNA molecules
The origins of life remain a major mystery. How were complex molecules able to form and remain intact for prolonged periods without disintegrating? A team at ORIGINS, a Munich-based Cluster of Excellence, has demonstrated a mechanism that could have.....»»
NHTSA probes nearly 1 million Dodge Journeys over reports of faulty door locks, windows
The safety regulator said it was probing into inoperative door locks and windows in about 992,643 Dodge Journey crossovers built between 2009 and 2020, which might prevent occupants from exiting in the event of an emergency......»»
Scientists find a human "fingerprint" in the upper troposphere"s increasing ozone
Ozone can be an agent of good or harm, depending on where you find it in the atmosphere. Way up in the stratosphere, the colorless gas shields the Earth from the sun's harsh ultraviolet rays. But closer to the ground, ozone is a harmful air pollutant.....»»
Physicists use light to probe deeper into the "invisible" energy states of molecules
A new optical phenomenon has been demonstrated by an international team of scientists led by physicists at the University of Bath, with significant potential impact on pharmaceutical science, security, forensics, environmental science, art conservati.....»»
Scientists investigate nonlinear current response in perovskite X-ray detectors
A research team led by Dr. Li Yunlong at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences delved into the origins of nonlinear current response in polycrystalline metal halide perovskite X-ray detectors. Their s.....»»
Discovery sheds light on the origins of matter in the early universe
The early universe was 250,000 times hotter than the core of our sun. That's far too hot to form the protons and neutrons that make up everyday matter. Scientists recreate the conditions of the early universe in particle accelerators by smashing atom.....»»