256 articles from TUESDAY 27.10.2020

John Barrow obituary

Cosmologist who asked whether the existence of intelligent life has implications for the nature of the universeThe cosmologist John Barrow, who has died aged 67 from colon and liver cancer, was a renowned populariser of science. He combined mathematical and physical reasoning to increase our understanding of the very first moments of the universe.This he did by giving elegant mathematical...

Juno data indicates 'sprites' or 'elves' frolic in Jupiter's atmosphere

New results from NASA's Juno mission at Jupiter suggest that either "sprites" or "elves" could be dancing in the upper atmosphere of the solar system's largest planet. It is the first time these bright, unpredictable and extremely brief flashes of light—formally known as transient luminous events, or TLE's—have been observed on another world. The findings were published on Oct. 27, 2020, in...

Michigan fireball meteorite fragments could shed light on origins of solar system

US scientists release report on meteorite fragments from 2018 eventA fireball that struck near Hamburg, Michigan, in 2018 could offer new insights into the history of the solar system, researchers have said.The fireball – a type of very bright meteor that would even be observed in daylight – was spotted in several states as it flew across the sky on the evening of 16 January 2018; the meteor...

Scientists use clues in the human genome to discover new inflammatory syndrome

Researchers have discovered a new inflammatory disorder called vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory and somatic syndrome (VEXAS), which is caused by mutations in the UBA1 gene. VEXAS causes symptoms that included blood clots in veins, recurrent fevers, pulmonary abnormalities and vacuoles (unusual cavity-like structures) in myeloid cells.

How to design organic solar cell materials

Scientists have recently scrutinized organic solar cells and derived design rules for light-absorbing dyes that can help to make these cells more efficient, while tailoring the absorption spectrum of the cells to the needs of the chosen application.

Empathy may be in the eye of the beholder

Do we always want people to show empathy? Not so, said researchers. A recently published article suggests that although empathy is often portrayed as a virtue, people who express empathy are not necessarily viewed favorably.

Antarctica yields oldest fossils of giant birds with 21-foot wingspans

Some of the largest birds in history, called pelagornithids, arose a few million years after the mass extinction that killed off the dinosaurs and patrolled the oceans with giant wingspans for some 60 million years. A team of paleontologists has found two fossils -- each from individual pelagornithids with wingspans of 20 feet or more -- that show this gigantism arose at least 50 million years ago...

A tale of two seasons: climate drives winter migration in birds but not the return to breeding sites

Each autumn, migratory birds in Europe set off on long and arduous journeys to spend the winter in the warmer south. They are not alone as around 20 percent of all bird species worldwide are migratory, moving between separate breeding and wintering sites each year. Some species migrate thousands of kilometers in just a few days or weeks whilst others will only travel short distances between...

Scientists fabricate novel ternary ceramic phosphor for warm white-LEDs

By efficiently converting the blue light emitted from InGaN chips into yellow light and mixing them into white light, classic yellow Y3Al5O12: Ce (YAG) phosphor has proved itself to be the most prominent phosphor in white light emitting diodes (w-LEDs). However, the color rendering index (CRI) of YAG: Ce-based w-LEDs is usually limited to < 70 and its correlated color temperature (CCT) is often...

Scientists reveal dual specificity of Vav2-SH2 protein

Recently, a research team led by Prof. Wang Junfeng from the High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science revealed the dual specificity of Vav2-SH2 protein after investigating the specific recognition mechanism of human Vav2 protein with cell membrane phospholipids and the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2 juxtamembrane region.

Endangered trees in Guam contribute to ecosystem diversity and health

Research at the University of Guam has shown that the decomposition of leaf litter from three threatened tree species releases nitrogen and carbon into the soil for use by other plants. The results illuminate the importance of biodiversity and the role certain organisms play in extracting nitrogen and carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering these elements in the biosphere. The findings were...

Water consumption for trees is calculated in order to design precision irrigation systems

In 1995, the severe drought that devastated Spain left some farms using irrigation agriculture without water supplies. Though it has not happened again since, climate change increases the chance of this threat. For farmers growing annual crops, an occurrence such as this one would mean losing a year's work but those who have groves of trees risk losing not only their year's production, but their...

Catalonia to invest in 'Catalan Nasa' space agency and satellites

Surprise announcement comes as region struggles to contain soaring Covid infectionsAs Catalonia faces the prospect of another coronavirus lockdown, the region’s government has announced it is investing €2.5m (£2.3m) to establish its own space agency and a further €18m in launching six communications satellites.The surprise announcement comes amid soaring Covid-19 infection rates and...

Butterfly color diversity due to female preferences

Butterflies have long captured our attention due to their amazing color diversity. But why are they so colorful? A new publication led by researchers from Sweden and Germany suggests that female influence butterfly color diversity by mating with colorful males.