Month: January 2019

Some iron-based superconductors could benefit from a tuneup, according to two studies by Rice University physicists and collaborators. “Our work demonstrates a new design principle for tuning quantum materials to achieve unconventional superconductivity at higher temperatures,” said Rice’s Qimiao Si, the lead theoretical physicist on the studies, which investigate unusual patterns of superconductivity that have … Read more

There are many planets in the entire universe, but as far as we know, there is only a handful which could possibly support life. Naturally, some say that life may flourish under other conditions, and perhaps even in the absence of water. While that may be true, take a look around – life seems to do quite … Read more

In the year 2135, There is a chance that an asteroid the size of the Empire State Building nicknamed BENNU will crash into Earth. Well, the probability of happening that is 1 in 17000, which is very low, But even so, the near-earth objects like asteroids and comets are a  real threat. Barringer Crater in … Read more

Elemental (metallic) mercury is the shiny, silver-grey metal found in thermometers, barometers, and thermostats and other electrical switches. Mercury: Can break into droplets when spilled. The droplets spread easily and can build up in tiny cracks and spaces in your house. Can vaporize (evaporate) into the air in your house. The vapour cannot be seen or smelled. Can be … Read more

More than 100 years ago, Albert Einstein and Wander Johannes de Haas discovered that when they used a magnetic field to flip the magnetic state of an iron bar dangling from a thread, the bar began to rotate. Now experiments at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have seen for the first time … Read more

One way to produce clean water is to heat dirty water until it turns into steam. As the steam rises, it leaves behind the heavier contaminants and can be collected and cooled, providing clean water. There are many ways to heat water, one of which is to use light-absorbing materials at the air/water interface to … Read more

We all know we should eat fruits and vegetables to keep our own heart healthy. But now, scientists are learning that epigenetic changes, or molecular tags that modify our DNA, can cause your children—and even your grandchildren—to inherit the negative effects of your poor diet. However, the details behind this inheritance—and how to stop it—have … Read more

A team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a new microfluidics-assisted technique for developing high-performance macroscopic graphene fibers. Graphene fiber, a recently discovered member of the carbon fiber family, has potential applications in diverse technological areas, from energy storage, electronics and optics, electro-magnetics, thermal conductor and thermal management, to structural applications. Their findings … Read more

Impasto is thick paint laid on the canvas in an amount that makes it stand from the surface. The relief of impasto increases the perceptibility of the paint by increasing its light-reflecting textural properties. Scientists know that Rembrandt, epitome of the Dutch Golden Age, achieved the impasto effect by using materials traditionally available on the … Read more

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, in collaboration with researchers at University of Oslo, Norway, have demonstrated the most accurate distance between densely packed antigens in order to get the strongest bond to antibodies in the immune system. The study, which is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, may be of significance to the development of … Read more

New research from North Carolina State University and the University of South Florida finds significant flaws in recently released forensic software designed to assess the age of individuals based on their skeletal remains. The researchers report that, on average, the software’s age estimates are off by more than 14 years. “Estimating someone’s age at death, … Read more

The metabolic protein AMPK has been described as a kind of magic bullet for health. Studies in animal models have shown that compounds that activate the protein have health-promoting effects to reverse diabetes, improve cardiovascular health, treat mitochondrial disease—even extend life span. However, how much of the effects of these compounds can be fully attributed … Read more

Couples considering medically assisted reproduction (MAR) because they have difficulty conceiving naturally have feared the possibility of preterm birth (less than 37 weeks of pregnancy) and low birth weight (less than 2.5 kilograms). Doctors often warn prospective parents about these risks. It’s a hard decision for couples with an unmet desire for children. Low birth … Read more

Researchers at the University of Wollongong, Deakin University, Monash University and Kyushu University have developed a framework that could be used to build a smart, AI-powered agile project management assistant. Their paper, pre-published on arXiv, has been accepted at the 41st International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE) 2019, in the New Ideas and Emerging Results … Read more

Shooting stars may fill you with child-like wonder, but these celestial showstoppers are also reminders that Earth is hardly alone in space, and some of those cosmic objects can be downright dangerous. The Perseid meteor shower, which appears every year in mid-August, occurs when Earth passes through a trail of debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. … Read more