Glass and the energy reform: Sustainable production thanks to electricity?
2022 is the international year of glass. And yet many glass factories are struggling to survive. High energy costs and considerable CO2 emissions mean that glass production faces a challenging future. Researchers at FAU and Technische Hochshchule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm are currently conducting research aimed at finding a solution to make glass production more sustainable without relying on...
Asian Americans armed themselves during the pandemic in response to racial acts, study finds
Asian Americans who experienced increased acts of racism at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to acquire firearms and ammunition for self-defense, according to a study by researchers at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.
Fighting fire with fire: Controlled burns remain essential as US wildfires intensify
In 2015, the Lake Fire burned 31,000 acres in this popular hiking forest northeast of Los Angeles. It destroyed four buildings, came perilously close to the resort town of Big Bear Lake and took more than 1,900 firefighters five days to contain at a cost of almost $40 million.
Temperature records broken across the US as UN warns of continued climate disruption
A heat wave gripping parts of the nation added an exclamation point to a series of announcements this week about the world's warming climate.
Carbon capture takes sponge-like form with new cost-effective method
An international team of scientists is using porous, sponge-like materials that can trap carbon dioxide in their cavities while allowing other gases such as nitrogen to pass through.
Under anaerobic conditions, common microbial communities can break the ultra-strong carbon-fluorine bond
Engineers at University of California Riverside are the first to report selective breakdown of a particularly stubborn class of PFAS, called fluorinated carboxylic acids (FCAs), by common microorganisms.
New study explains how to broaden strategy to avert catastrophic climate change
Slashing emissions of carbon dioxide, by itself, cannot prevent catastrophic global warming. But a new study concludes that a strategy that simultaneously reduces emissions of other largely neglected climate pollutants would cut the rate of global warming in half and give the world a fighting chance to keep the climate safe for humanity.
New 'CRISPR-Combo' method boosts genome editing power in plants
Ten years ago, a new technology called CRISPR-CAS9, made it possible for scientists to change the genetic code of living organisms. As revolutionary as it was, the tool had its limitations. Like the first cell phones that could only perform one function, the original CRISPR method can perform one function: removing or replacing genes in a genetic sequence. Later iterations of CRISPR were developed...
South Asia's intense heat wave a 'sign of things to come'
The devastating heat wave which has baked India and Pakistan in recent months was made more likely due to climate change, according to a study by an international group of scientists on Monday. This, they say, is a glimpse of what the future holds for the region.
One step closer to making terahertz technology usable in the real world
Researchers have discovered in two-dimensional conductive systems a new effect that promises improved performance of terahertz detectors.
Foreign fishing fleets and trade are taking fish nutrients away from malnourished people
Foreign fishing fleets, as well as international seafood trade, are diverting vital micronutrients away from malnourished populations, a new study reveals.
Low-cost gel film can pluck drinking water from desert air
More than a third of the world's population lives in drylands, areas that experience significant water shortages. Scientists and engineers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a solution that could help people in these areas access clean drinking water.
New measurements from Northern Sweden show less methane emission than feared
It is widely understood that thawing permafrost can lead to significant amounts of methane being released. However, new research shows that in some areas, this release of methane could be a tenth of the amount predicted from a thaw. The research was conducted in Sweden by an international group that includes researchers from the University of Copenhagen. A crucial, yet an open question is how much...
What 40-million-year-old tropical reef corals tell us about climate change
Unusually well-preserved reef corals from the Geological and Paleontological Collection at Leipzig University hold a great secret: They allow us to travel far into the past and reconstruct climatic conditions in our latitudes. Researchers from Leipzig University, the Universities of Bremen and Greifswald, and UniLaSalle in Beauvais have now succeeded in doing just this. Using chemical analyses,...
Using artificial intelligence to predict life-threatening bacterial disease in dogs
Leptospirosis, a disease that dogs can get from drinking water contaminated with Leptospira bacteria, can cause kidney failure, liver disease and severe bleeding into the lungs. Early detection of the disease is crucial and may mean the difference between life and death.
New study of racism caught on video spotlights hate faced by Asians, Asian Americans amid pandemic
A new Rice University study showcases the severity of discriminatory behavior toward Asians and Asian Americans driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instability can benefit teams with different expertise
Co-workers who team up to solve problems or work on projects can benefit when they have less in common and take turns spotlighting their different expertise, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin. The findings have implications for how managers can better form and manage teams so all voices are heard.
California shellfish farmers adapt to climate change
Because of their proximity to the ocean, Californians get to enjoy locally-sourced oysters, mussels, abalone and clams. Most of the shellfish consumed here come from aquaculture farms along the coast—from San Diego to Humboldt County. And because the animals are filter feeders that siphon tiny plankton out of seawater, growing them is environmentally sustainable.
Denial of structural racism linked to anti-Black prejudice
People who deny the existence of structural racism are more likely to exhibit anti-Black prejudice and less likely to show racial empathy or openness to diversity, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Further insights into the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycan shield
An unprecedented wealth of information has been gathered on SARS-CoV-2 in a very short period. This information is primarily focused on the cellular entry process and mechanism of antibody recognition where mainly protein-protein interactions occur.
Protection of sodium metal anodes meets in situ photoelectron spectroscopy
Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) have attracted extensive attention because of their high theoretical capacity (1166 mAh/g), low redox potential (−2.71 V vs. SHE), high natural material abundance, and low cost. However, the growth of dendrites results in poor battery performance and severe safety problems, inhibiting the commercial application of SMBs.
Halting a wave in its tracks
Topological ideas have recently taken the center stage of modern electromagnetics. Typical topological photonic systems are based on nonreciprocal materials, a class of materials that enables asymmetric light–matter interactions. In particular, nonreciprocal platforms may support unidirectional channels that allow propagation in a given direction of space—let's say from left to right, but not...
High school students measure Earth's magnetic field from ISS
A group of high school students used a tiny, inexpensive computer to try to measure Earth's magnetic field from the International Space Station, showing a way to affordably explore and understand our planet.
Emulating impossible 'unipolar' laser pulses paves the way for processing quantum information
A laser pulse that sidesteps the inherent symmetry of light waves could manipulate quantum information, potentially bringing us closer to room temperature quantum computing.
Acoustic sensors to pinpoint shooters in an urban setting
During a gunshot, two sound events occur: the muzzle blast and the supersonic shock wave. Acoustic sensors, such as arrays of microphones, can capture these sounds and use them to approximate the location of a shooter.