At the nanoscale, even the most basic quantum size effect, the induction of semiconducting gaps by electron confinement, requires ultimate precision. The case of graphene is a dramatic example, where deviations of a single atom in width can induce dramatic variations of the gap. As a consequence, local defects or variations in width can severely […]
Mesodinium Author: Ramón Muñoz-Chápuli has been Professor of Animal Biology in the University of Málaga until his retirement. He has investigated for forty years in the fields of developmental biology and animal evolution. The ciliate Mesodinium rubrum acquires phototrophy by ingestion of a photosynthetic cryptomonad. Besides the stolen plastid (derived from a secondary endosymbiotic event […]
Our modern rechargeable batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, are anything but sustainable. One alternative is organic batteries with redox-organic electrode materials (OEMs), which can be synthesized from natural “green” materials. A Chinese team has now introduced a new OEM for aqueous organic high-capacity batteries that can be easily and cheaply recycled. Traditional inorganic electrode materials […]
geopolymer Author: Ada Martinelli holds a PhD in organic chemistry and is a researcher in an Italian ceramics company The construction industry is one of the major exploiters of natural resources, and it has a great contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions and non-sustainable development of the global economy. Nowadays, it still mostly relies on […]
Colour-changing dressing to aid in wound monitoring A wound dressing composed of a nanocellulose mesh with bromthymol blue dye that changes from yellow to blue when the wound has become infected has been developed. Being able to see instantly whether a wound has become infected, without having to lift the dressing, opens up for a […]
wavelike All the matter that has ever been detected accounts for a mere 4.9% of the Universe. Most of the cosmos is the dark universe: a mix of dark matter (26.8%) and dark energy (68.3%), both of which have so far proved impenetrable puzzles. The existence of dark matter has been inferred from the motion […]
We reflect other people’s emotions through an ingrained, unconscious process. According to the facial feedback hypothesis, seeing a happy or angry face would make us contract or relax the appropriate face muscles to emulate that expression and better identify and experience the associated emotion. Since botox impairs some facial muscles from contracting in response to […]
HIP 99770 b is the first exoplanet detected through a pioneering approach that combines direct imaging with astrometry, the precise measurements of a star’s motion in the sky. This innovative method holds great promise for enhancing the efficiency of exoplanet searches, bringing us closer to the long-awaited discovery of an Earth-like twin in the vast […]
Evidence suggests that cyberbullying is more widespread among adolescents and young adults than among older people. This type of violence done intentionally using digital devices represents a wide range of online behaviors, such as: name-calling, online impersonation, solicitation for sex, sending coercive text messages, spreading online rumors, inserting offensive comments or isolation for example, being […]
Scientists use AI to sharpen first black hole image Scientists have used artificial intelligence to refine the first image of a black hole taken in 2019. The picture reveals a skinnier doughnut-shaped ring and darker center than the original image. Full Story: The Associated Press Volcanic eruptions led to 2 ancient extinctions Carnivores died in […]