ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

Evidence mounts for quantum criticality theory Posted: 30 Jan 2015 06:14 PM PST A new study adds to the growing evidence supporting a theory that strange electronic behaviors -- including high-temperature superconductivity and heavy fermion physics -- arise from quantum fluctuations of strongly correlated electrons.

New method allows for greater variation in band gap tunability Posted: 30 Jan 2015 10:28 AM PST If you can't find the ideal material, then design a new one. By manipulating the ordered arrangement of atoms in layered complex oxide materials, scientists have found a way to control their electronic band gaps, which determines the electrical behavior of the material and how it interacts with light.

Renewable energy policies drive production of Southern wood pellets for bioenergy Posted: 30 Jan 2015 10:28 AM PST Policies in the European Union and elsewhere requiring the use of renewable and low greenhouse gas-emitting energy are driving demand for wood pellets used to generate bioenergy. This demand could provide new markets for US timber exports, increase wood prices, and lead to increases in forestland area.

DNA nanoswitches reveal how life's molecules connect Posted: 30 Jan 2015 09:18 AM PST 'Bio-molecular interaction analysis, a cornerstone of biomedical research, is traditionally accomplished using equipment that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars,' said the senior author of a new study. 'Rather than develop a new instrument, we've created a nanoscale tool made from strands of DNA that can detect and report how molecules behave, enabling biological measurements to be made by almost anyone, using only common and inexpensive laboratory reagents.'

Fluorescent dyes 'light up' brain cancer cells Posted: 30 Jan 2015 09:16 AM PST Two new fluorescent dyes attracted to cancer cells may help neurosurgeons more accurately localize and completely resect brain tumors, suggests a new study. Removing all visible areas of cancer (gross total resection) significantly improves survival after brain cancer surgery.

Understanding the reinforcing ability of carbon nanotubes Posted: 30 Jan 2015 07:25 AM PST A new article explores what is preventing the reinforcing ability of carbon nanotubes from being used in a ceramic matrix. Ever since their discovery, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered the ultimate additive to improve the mechanical properties of structural ceramics, such as aluminum oxide, silicon nitride and zirconium dioxide. Yet despite the remarkable strength and stiffness of CNTs, many studies have reported only marginal improvements or even the degradation of mechanical properties after these super-materials were added.

Biomaterial coating raises prospect of more successful medical implants Posted: 30 Jan 2015 07:25 AM PST A novel, bacteria-repelling coating material that could increase the success of medical implants has been created. The material helps healthy cells 'win the race' to the medical implant, beating off competition from bacterial cells and thus reducing the likelihood of the implant being rejected by the body.

Updating satellite data on seas could dramatically reduce search and rescue times for lost planes, ships Posted: 30 Jan 2015 05:15 AM PST A new satellite imaging concept could significantly reduce search areas for missing boats and planes. Researchers have been trialling a concept for using satellite imagery to significantly improve the chances of locating ships and planes, such as the missing Malaysian flight MH370, lost at sea. A preliminary study identified 54 satellites with 85 sensors, currently only taking images of land, which could be used to take images of Earth's oceans and inland waters. The research team believe regularly updated images of the seas via these satellites could enable the reduction of search areas for missing ships to just a few hundred square miles. This offers the possibility of dramatically reducing search and rescue times and significantly improving chances of survival for missing ships.

HiSIM-SOTB, compact transistor model, selected as international industry standard Posted: 30 Jan 2015 05:15 AM PST A new compact transistor model was developed and the framework for realizing a faster design support process and product development for integrated circuits in the ultra-low voltage category was established. The new compact model, HiSIM-SOTB (Hiroshima University STARC IGFET Model Silicon-on-Thin BOX), was developed by Hiroshima University’s HiSIM Research Center in collaboration with its partners in the industry and government institutions, including the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) of Japan.

Water purification: Running fuel cells on bacteria Posted: 30 Jan 2015 05:15 AM PST Researchers in Norway have succeeded in getting bacteria to power a fuel cell. The "fuel" used is wastewater, and the products of the process are purified water droplets and electricity. This is an environmentally-friendly process for the purification of water derived from industrial processes and suchlike. It also generates small amounts of electricity – in practice enough to drive a small fan, a sensor or a light-emitting diode. In the future, the researchers hope to scale up this energy generation to enable the same energy to be used to power the water purification process, which commonly consists of many stages, often involving mechanical and energy-demanding decontamination steps at its outset.

Pinholes are pitfalls for high performance solar cells Posted: 30 Jan 2015 05:15 AM PST The most popular next-generation solar cells under development may have a problem – the top layer is full of tiny pinholes, researchers have found.

Crystal light: New family of light-converting materials points to cheaper, more efficient solar power and LEDs Posted: 29 Jan 2015 02:03 PM PST Engineers have shone new light on an emerging family of solar-absorbing materials that could clear the way for cheaper and more efficient solar panels and LEDs. The materials, called perovskites, are particularly good at absorbing visible light, but had never been thoroughly studied in their purest form: as perfect single crystals. Using a new technique, researchers grew large, pure perovskite crystals and studied how electrons move through the material as light is converted to electricity.

Future of oil and gas development in the Western Amazon Posted: 29 Jan 2015 07:43 AM PST The western Amazon -- a vast region encompassing the Amazonian portions of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Brazil -- is one of the world's last high-biodiversity wilderness landscapes. It is also home to an active hydrocarbon (oil and gas) sector, characterized by operations in extremely remote areas that require new access routes.

Natural ventilation system of roofs patented that prevents heat build-up? Posted: 28 Jan 2015 08:37 AM PST A modular ventilation system for pitched roofs solves the problem of heat accumulation by solar radiation under the roofs without the need for refrigeration. A newly patented system is a passive and energy efficient solution for thermal conditioning of buildings. The module can be applied to restoration and rehabilitation of roofs, especially to those of historical value, and to new premises.

New imaging technology to design, build greener, safer aircraft Posted: 28 Jan 2015 08:37 AM PST New research is helping to develop new imaging technology to be used in the design, manufacture and maintenance for current and future generations of carbon composite aircraft. Two new non-destructive testing processes for the detection of flaws in composite aerospace components are being developed, designers report, for scanning and visualizing the insides of large, flat components using X-rays.

Testing investigational device for emphysema Posted: 27 Jan 2015 01:49 PM PST A research trial has been launched to study an investigational medical device designed to aid patients with emphysema by shutting off the diseased part of the lung.

Low-frequency deep brain stimulation improves difficult-to-treat Parkinson's symptoms Posted: 27 Jan 2015 01:48 PM PST Parkinson’s disease patients treated with low-frequency deep brain stimulation show significant improvements in swallowing dysfunction and freezing of gait over typical high-frequency treatment, a study has demonstrated.

From tar sands to ring of fire: Forewarning changes to Canada's watersheds Posted: 27 Jan 2015 11:08 AM PST Ecologists have found the conservation of aquatic ecosystems in Canada has not kept pace with the country's changing landscape, and a prioritization of protection is needed. This new assessment of environmental, human census and business pattern data shows climate warming and northward expansion of human activities over a decade, and can be used to guide strategies for managing freshwater resources by highlighting the regions where humans are now having the greatest impact.

Online monitoring system for patients with sleep apnea Posted: 27 Jan 2015 07:01 AM PST An assistance system has been developed by scientists, based on telemedicine using information and communication technologies, that allows an online daily monitoring of people with sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome. The method proposed by the company is particularly focused on patient adherence to treatment as only 30% of patients successfully achieve to adapt to it.