Researchers design a solar harvester with enhanced energy conversion capabilities. The device employs a quasiperiodic nanoscale pattern, meaning most of it is an alternating and consistent pattern, while the remaining portion contains random defects that do not affect its performance. The fabrication process makes use of self-assembling nanoparticles, which form...
Bouncing seismic waves reveal distinct layer in Earth’s inner core
Data captured from seismic waves caused by earthquakes has shed new light on the deepest parts of Earth's inner core, according to seismologists.
Using sewage to forecast COVID-19 infections
Sifting through sewage for SARS-CoV-2 genetic material could help authorities tailor infection control policies.
New Knowledge About Ice Sheet Movement Can Shed Light on When Sea Levels Will Rise
The trawling of thousands of satellite measurements using artificial intelligence has shown researchers from the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and University of Copenhagen that meltwater in tunnels beneath Greenland’s ice sheet causes it to change speed, and in some places, accelerate greatly towards the ocean.
An Emerging Agricultural Practice Offers New Promise for a Climate-Smart Future
UConn Department of Natural Resources and the Environment researcher Wei Ren sees the interconnections between the systems in nature and how each component impacts the others.
Studying Ship Tracks to Inform Climate Intervention Decision-Makers
Scientists from Sandia National Laboratories are studying ship tracks — clouds that reflect sunlight and are formed by moving ships, similar to contrails from planes — to help inform decision-makers of the benefits and risks of one technology being considered to slow climate change.
Gene variations for immune and metabolic conditions have persisted in humans for more than 700,000 years
A new study explores 'balancing selection' by analyzing thousands of modern human genomes alongside ancient hominin groups, such as Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes. The research has 'implications for understanding human diversity, the origin of diseases, and biological trade-offs that may have shaped our evolution,' says evolutionary biologists.
A More Sustainable Way to Generate Phosphorus
Phosphorus is an essential ingredient in thousands of products, including herbicides, lithium-ion batteries, and even soft drinks.
A New Way for Quantum Computing Systems to Keep Their Cool
Heat causes errors in the qubits that are the building blocks of a quantum computer, so quantum systems are typically kept inside refrigerators that keep the temperature just above absolute zero (-459 degrees Fahrenheit).
Geckos know their own odor
Geckos can use their tongue to differentiate their own odor from that of other members of their species, as researchers have shown in a new experimental study. The findings show that geckos are able to communicate socially, meaning that they are more intelligent than was previously assumed.