Author archives: César Tomé

MI weekly selection #514

MI weekly selection #514

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Simulated accretion disks may explain black hole growth Researchers using the Mega Ampere Generator for Plasma Implosion Experiments produced spinning columns that mimicked artificial accretion disks by accelerating and then colliding plasma jets. One of the research team’s primary goals is to understand how black holes are able to grow when accretion disks’ orbits stay […]

Refsdal measurement of the Universe’s expansion rate

Refsdal measurement of the Universe’s expansion rate

AstronomyAstrophysicsCosmology

By César Tomé

Thanks to data from a magnified, multiply imaged supernova, a team of researchers has successfully used a first-of-its-kind technique based on the Refsdal method to measure the expansion rate of the Universe. Their data provide insight into a longstanding debate in the field and could help scientists more accurately determine the Universe’s age and better […]

MI weekly selection #513

MI weekly selection #513

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Human pangenome captures genetic diversity A draft human pangenome published in Nature aggregates the genomic sequences of 47 people from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe and captures more genetic variation than previous reference genomes have. The researchers computationally aligned the sequences to form a map with branching paths that indicate genetic variation, and the […]

First real-space images of THz plasmon polaritons

First real-space images of THz plasmon polaritons

Condensed matterMaterialsQuantum physics

By César Tomé

Polaritons attract wide attention due to their ability to confine and guide light at the nanometre scale. These capacities are key for the development of ultrasmall resonators and waveguides that can be used for sensing, heat transfer and optical circuitry applications. But, what are polaritons in the first place? If, for the sake of the […]

MI weekly selection #512

MI weekly selection #512

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Mars formations may derive from similar material Scientists who reviewed data from the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer on NASA’s Opportunity rover say Mars’ Burns formation and underlying Grasberg formation may have originated from a similar source material. Dust particles or ash from volcanic eruptions may have solidified before they were blown to the site and […]

Reducing the energy requirements and carbon footprint of ammonia production

Reducing the energy requirements and carbon footprint of ammonia production

CatalysisChemical engineeringChemistry

By César Tomé

Ammonia (NH3), a ubiquitous compound, was generated in excess of 187 million tons globally in 2020. Roughly 85% is employed in the creation of nitrogenous fertilizers, while the remainder is used for refining petroleum, producing various other chemicals, and manufacturing synthetic fibers like nylon. However, these processes come with a substantial energy expenditure. Presently, the […]

MI weekly selection #511

MI weekly selection #511

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Researchers compare hundreds of mammalian genomes Researchers working on the Zoonomia Project, an international study comparing the traits and genomes of some 240 mammal species, including humans, have released some of their findings in 11 papers published in Science. Researchers found conserved stretches of DNA common across species that are largely unchanged by evolution, and […]

A recyclable aqueous organic high-capacity battery

A recyclable aqueous organic high-capacity battery

ChemistryMaterials

By César Tomé

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 […]

MI weekly selection #510

MI weekly selection #510

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

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 […]