Category archives: Science

Tuning spin and charge in graphene nanoribbons with atomic precision

Tuning spin and charge in graphene nanoribbons with atomic precision

Condensed matterDIPC Electronic PropertiesMaterialsQuantum physics

By DIPC

Graphene—a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice—has captivated scientists because of its extraordinary electronic and mechanical properties. Its electrons move through the lattice almost as if they were massless, giving graphene exceptionally high electrical conductivity and mobility. However, pristine graphene sheets are not magnetic and their electrons are delocalized across the […]

Exotic sulphur hidden in moon’s mantle

Exotic sulphur hidden in moon’s mantle

ChemistryGeosciencesPlanetary Science

By Mapping Ignorance

When astronauts returned from NASA’s final Apollo moon mission in 1972, some of the samples they collected were sealed and carefully stored away in the hope that future researchers using advanced equipment might analyze them and make new discoveries. Now, researchers report a sulphuric surprise in rock samples taken from the moon’s Taurus Littrow region […]

Optomechanical control of molecular motion

Optomechanical control of molecular motion

Physics

By DIPC

At first glance, molecules seem too small and too chaotic to be controlled with light. Their atoms jiggle ceaselessly, driven by thermal energy, and their vibrations—tiny oscillations of chemical bonds—usually remain hidden in the background. But recent work has shown that we can, in fact, use light not only to measure these vibrations but also […]

Is space-time structure, substance or metaphor?

Is space-time structure, substance or metaphor?

Philosophy of sciencePhysics

By Invited Researcher

Author: Daryl Janzen, Observatory Manager and Instructor, Astronomy, University of Saskatchewan Few ideas in modern science have reshaped our understanding of reality more profoundly than space-time — the interwoven fabric of space and time at the heart of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. Space-time is frequently described as the “fabric of reality.” In some accounts […]

Unlocking the secrets of recyclable vitrimers

Unlocking the secrets of recyclable vitrimers

ChemistryDIPC PolymersMaterials

By DIPC

In polymer science, the classic division is between thermoplastics, which soften and flow when heated, and thermosets, which are permanently cross-linked and keep their shape no matter how hot they get—at least until they burn. In the last decade, researchers have discovered a fascinating new class of materials called vitrimers, which sit between these two […]

Major theories of consciousness may have been focusing on the wrong part of the brain

Major theories of consciousness may have been focusing on the wrong part of the brain

Neuroscience

By Invited Researcher

What gives rise to human consciousness? Are some parts of the brain more important than others? Scientists began tackling these questions in more depth about 35 years ago. Researchers have made progress, but the mystery of consciousness remains very much alive. In a recently published article, I reviewed over 100 years of neuroscience research to […]

Covalent bonds found in alpha plutonium

Covalent bonds found in alpha plutonium

ChemistryMaterialsPhysics

By Mapping Ignorance

Plutonium has captured the attention of scientists since its discovery in the early 1940s. This enigmatic element has an important role to play in emerging energy technologies like nuclear batteries and reactors, but it also has complicated electronic behavior that causes some intriguing effects. Its electron structure contributes to unconventional entropic properties at low temperatures […]

Adults with ADHD lose nearly a decade of life

Adults with ADHD lose nearly a decade of life

MedicineNeurobiology

By Invited Researcher

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in children worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of around 5%. Research shows that the condition often continues into adulthood in up to 90% of diagnosed children . Although ADHD has been recognised for decades, it has recently gained much greater visibility […]

Biodiversity needs single-species conservation

Biodiversity needs single-species conservation

BiologyEcologyEnvironment

By Invited Researcher

Autor: Chris Johnson, Professor of Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, University of Northern British Columbia and Justina C. Ray, Adjunct professor, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Toronto Through the federal Building Canada Act, “projects of national interest” are being fast-tracked while hundreds of major resource projects are already under construction or planned in the […]