ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

Researchers snap-shot fastest observations of superconductivity yet Posted: 10 Mar 2015 01:02 PM PDT An international team of researchers has used infinitely short light pulses to observe ultrafast changes in the electron-level properties of superconductors, setting a new standard for temporal resolution in the field.

Process for improving durability of glass identified Posted: 10 Mar 2015 01:02 PM PDT Researchers have identified a method for manufacturing longer-lasting and stronger forms of glass. The research could lead to more durable display screens, fiber optic cables, windows and other materials, including cement.

New formula for identifying suitable graphene substrate Posted: 10 Mar 2015 10:19 AM PDT Physicists have developed a criterion with which scientists can seek suitable substrate materials for graphene in a targeted way. Interactions with the substrate material often lead to a loss of the amazing properties that characterize this special form of carbon. Together with partners at other institutions, the scientists were able to demonstrate that the influence exerted by the substrate on the electronic properties of graphene can be estimated by means of a simple structural parameter.

Alarms in cars could cut crash rates Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:36 AM PDT An in-car alarm that sounds when sensors on the vehicle detect an imminent crash could cut crash rates from one in five to one in 10 for drivers over the of 60 suffering tiredness on long journeys, according to a study.

'Digitizing' crosstalk among heart cells may help locate epicenters of heart rhythms Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:35 AM PDT A mathematical model has been developed to measure and digitally map the beat-sustaining electrical flow between heart cells. "Successful arrhythmia treatment depends on correctly identifying the epicenter of the malfunction," the lead investigator says. "We cannot begin to develop such precision-targeted therapies without understanding the exact nature of the malfunction and its precise location. This new model is a first step toward doing so."

Fading orange-red in Van Gogh's paintings Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:35 AM PDT Red lead is most familiar to us in orange-red rustproof paint. Artists have treasured the brilliant color of this pigment for their paintings since ancient times. However, various aging processes cause discoloration of the saturated hue over time. Thanks to a combination of X-ray diffraction mapping and tomography experiments, scientists have now explained an additional step in the light-induced degradation of lead red.

Microbial soil cleanup at Fukushima Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:33 AM PDT Proteins from salt-loving, halophilic, microbes could be the key to cleaning up leaked radioactive strontium and caesium ions from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant incident in Japan.

Combination therapy best for low-grade brain tumors, clinical trial suggests Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:33 AM PDT Combining chemotherapy with radiation therapy is the best treatment for people with a low-grade form of brain cancer, mew clinical-trial findings suggest, providing further evidence to support this approach.

Risk of motor vehicle accidents is higher in people with sleep apnea Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:33 AM PDT A new study finds that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with a significantly increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, and this risk is reduced when sleep apnea is treated effectively using continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

Mid-IR frequency combs enable high resolution spectroscopy for sensitive and accurate gas sensing Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:32 AM PDT Scientists have developed a frequency comb light source in the mid-IR wavelength band. These frequency comb light sources with an extended spectrum can be used for real-time, extremely high resolution spectroscopy, e.g. to measure the presence and concentration of gas molecules in analytes.

The chameleon reorganizes its nanocrystals to change colors Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:31 AM PDT Many chameleons have the remarkable ability to exhibit complex and rapid color changes during social interactions. Biologists have now unveiled the mechanisms that regulate this phenomenon. They have demonstrated that the changes take place via the active tuning of a lattice of nanocrystals present in a superficial layer of dermal cells called iridophores. The researchers also reveal the existence of a deeper population of iridophores with larger and less ordered crystals that reflect the infrared light. The organisation of iridophores into two superimposed layers constitutes an evolutionary novelty and it allows the chameleons to rapidly shift between efficient camouflage and spectacular display, while providing passive thermal protection.

High performance, lightweight supercapacitor electrodes of the future Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:31 AM PDT Many scientists are working to develop green, lightweight, low-cost supercapacitors with high performance, and now two researchers have developed a novel supercapacitor electrode based on a hybrid nanostructure made from a hybrid nickel oxide-iron oxide exterior shell and a conductive iron-nickel core. Its core/shell structure could mean faster charging time and longer battery life in electric vehicles and portable electronics.

New thin-film material synthesized for use in fuel cells Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:31 AM PDT Researchers have synthesized a new thin-film catalyst for use in fuel cells.They report the first-ever epitaxial thin-film growth of Bi2Pt2O7 pyrochlore, which could act as a more effective cathode -- a fundamental electrode component of fuel cells from which positive current flows through an external circuit delivering electric power.

Predicting the extent of flash flooding Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:31 AM PDT Devastating floodwaters such as those experienced during Iowa's Flood of 2008 are notoriously difficult to predict. So a team of mathematicians and hydrologists have set out to gain a better understanding of flood genesis and the factors impacting it. They were able to do this by zeroing in on the impacts of certain rainfall patterns at the smallest unit of a river basin: the hillslope scale.

New approach combines biomass conversion, solar energy conversion Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:30 AM PDT A new approach to combine solar energy conversion and biomass conversion has been presented by researchers. These are two important research areas for renewable energy, they say.

New carbon accounting method proposed Posted: 10 Mar 2015 07:48 AM PDT Established ways of measuring carbon emissions can sometimes give misleading feedback on how national policies affect global emissions. In some cases, countries are even rewarded for policies that increase global emissions, and punished for policies that contribute to reducing them. Consumption-based accounting, also known as carbon footprints, has been suggested as an alternative to today's production-based accounting

Scientists have found a way to make the strongest spider silk fibers Posted: 10 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT The strongest spider silk fiber ever created has been developed by Spanish scienitsts. They used a technique that made popular the silk from Murcia in the 19th century. Given the good properties of this new material, this silk can be used for regenerative medicine.

Real estate index examines whether it’s better to buy or rent a home Posted: 10 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT A new index attempts to answer one of the toughest questions American consumers face: Is it better to rent or buy a home in today’s housing market?

New research into materials for tooth fillings Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:44 AM PDT Tooth decay is a serious health problem and it is often necessary to repair cavities. Dentists often use a composite filling material made of acrylate compounds, as it resembles the color of the teeth and is reasonably strong. But composite filling materials have some disadvantages and now researchers are working on an interdisciplinary collaboration between physicists and dentists to develop a material comprised of glass ionomer cement.

Bio-inspired eye stabilizes robot's flight Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:41 AM PDT Biorobotics researchers have developed the first aerial robot able to fly over uneven terrain that is stabilized visually without an accelerometer. Called BeeRotor, it adjusts its speed and avoids obstacles thanks to optic flow sensors inspired by insect vision. It can fly along a tunnel with uneven, moving walls without measuring either speed or altitude.

Solving the riddle of neutron stars Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:41 AM PDT It has not yet been possible to measure the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity. They are so weak that they get lost in the noise of the measurements. But thanks to the latest simulations of the merging of binary neutron star systems, the structure of the sought-after signals is now known. As theoretical astrophysicists report, gravitational waves have a characteristic spectrum that is similar to the spectral lines of atoms.

Molecular Lego of knots Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:40 AM PDT Trefoil, Savoy, or simple ... how do you fashion a "molecular" knot that has one of these shapes? Or better still, what are the most suitable "building blocks" for enabling the knot to assemble itself? A team of scientists has studied and catalogued the shapes that molecular building blocks should have so as to be able to assemble spontaneously into knots having specific forms, each with a possible utility in nanotechnology.

New gene sequencing technology like a high-powered microscope Posted: 09 Mar 2015 11:50 AM PDT A new gene sequencing technology known as 'Capture Sequencing' allows us to explore the human genome at a much higher resolution than ever before, with revolutionary implications for research and cancer diagnosis, scientists report.