186 articles from THURSDAY 21.7.2022

Study finds ultimate limits of spaceplates in optical systems

Engineers working to miniaturize optical systems for modern electronics have seen great success when it comes to the most familiar components, the lenses and optical sensors. It's been more challenging to reduce the size of the third component of an optical system, the free space between the lens and the sensor needed for light waves to achieve focus.

Team tests the effects of oxygen on uranium

A team of researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the University of Michigan has found that the rate of cooling in reactions dramatically affects the type of uranium molecules that form.

How 'Shark Week' could inspire love for ocean predators

Videos of shark attacks are popular—some of Discovery's "Shark Week" videos of sharks attacking cages or people have attracted millions of views online. But according to a new study from North Carolina State University, positive videos of sharks could help change people's attitudes in the predators' favor.

North Atlantic temperature helps forecast extreme events in Northeast Brazil up to three months in advance

The sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic Ocean can be a predictor up to three months in advance of extreme climate events involving reduced rainfall and intense drought in the Northeast region of Brazil. This is one of the main findings of a study by researchers in Brazil, China, Australia and Germany, according to an article published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Climate change and land-use changes increase likelihood of flood events

The German government estimates the total losses resulting from the disastrous floods in July 2021 at 32 billion euros. In two studies, one of which is currently available in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have investigated how precipitation, evaporation processes, water flow, and runoff led to this flooding. To improve future...

Are you clumsy—or just mean? Your dog may know the difference

Does your dog know what you’re thinking? Cognitive biologists have shown our canine companions understand what we mean when we point at something , like a hidden snack. But are dogs really reading our minds? Or have they just lived with us so long that they’ve simply learned to make an association between, say, a hand and a tasty treat? “I still think...

Working to discover new treatments for tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, remains the leading cause of infectious disease worldwide, affecting approximately a quarter of the globe's population. Treatment of infections is problematic due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains; however, University of Oklahoma professor Helen Zgurskaya, an expert in antibiotic resistance, is leading research on new...

Healthy sleep habits before kindergarten help children adjust to school

The transition to kindergarten is a notable milestone for children and families, who typically prepare by gathering school supplies and meeting the teacher. New research suggests that one important way to prepare for the transition to first-time schooling is to develop a bedtime routine in which children consistently get at least 10 hours of sleep at night, which will help them adjust during the...

Gender pay gap linked to unpaid chores in childhood

Young women and girls' time spent in unpaid household work contributes to the gender pay gap, according to new research. The research shows women's later employment participation is affected by taking on the weight of this care burden in childhood, thus adding to existing inequality gaps in the study countries.

A fast, efficient COVID-19 biosensor is under development

As the BA.5 omicron variant continues to spread, health experts are increasingly preparing for a future in which such COVID-19 variants emerge, surge and recede, similar to seasonal flu. An important part of staying on top of these changes will be the ability to quickly monitor the virus at a "population scale," an effort that will require accurate and ultra-fast testing.

'Sensing system' spots struggling ecosystems

A new "resilience sensing system" can identify ecosystems that are in danger of collapse, research shows. The system uses satellites to spot areas of concern—including those at risk of "tipping points"—and can also measure the success of conservation and restoration efforts.

New method to map the surface of the moon increases accuracy to unprecedented levels

The surface of the moon and rocky planets—Mars in particular—are of huge interest to anyone trying to explore our solar system. The surface must be known in as much detail as possible, for missions to land safely, or for any robotic vessel to drive across the surface. But until now, the methods to analyze images from orbiting spacecraft have entailed a huge work load and immense computer...