225 articles from THURSDAY 25.5.2023

New skyrmion transistors propel quantum and AI research

In an era marked by an escalating energy crisis, the world stands on the precipice of a transformative revolution in spintronics technology, promising ultra-low power consumption paired with superior performance. To illustrate the potential, consider this: the power consumed by AlphaGo during its famous Go game in 2016 equaled the daily power use of 100 households. By 2021, Tesla's autonomous...

Advanced imaging of root chemicals offers new insights on plant growth

On a sunny springtime stroll through a park, it's easy to ignore the parts of plants that are hidden from view. Plant biologists see things differently. They look below the surface where plant roots are organized in elaborate systems that are critical to the organism's development. Intricately organized tree root systems, for example, can span as far underground as the tree grows high above the...

Artificial muscle fibers could serve as cell scaffolds

In two new studies, North Carolina State University researchers have designed and tested a series of textile fibers that can change shape and generate force like a muscle. In the first study, published in Actuators, the researchers focused on the materials' influence on artificial muscles' strength and contraction length. The findings could help researchers tailor the fibers for different...

Scientists use AI to discover new antibiotic to treat deadly superbug

AI used to discover abaucin, an effective drug against A baumannii, bacteria that can cause dangerous infectionsScientists using artificial intelligence have discovered a new antibiotic that can kill a deadly superbug.According to a new study published on Thursday in the science journal Nature Chemical Biology, a group of scientists from McMaster University and the Massachusetts Institute of...

Breed, age and puppyhood socialization linked to canine personality

The dog, man's best friend, is a popular pet. There are hundreds of different dog breeds, each of which is said to have a personality of their own. A study recently completed at the University of Helsinki confirms this notion of personality differences between dog breeds. The research is published in the journal iScience.

Ask Astro: Could isolated black holes be dark matter?

Can isolated black holes account for dark matter? Rick PinsonLong Beach, California Astronomers estimate about 100 million black holes wander the Milky Way. Since black holes emit no light, we rely on indirect methods to infer their presence. The first method is to search for a black hole’s gravitational influence on nearby objects, such asContinue reading "Ask Astro: Could isolated black holes...

Evolution characteristics of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and its thermodynamic and dynamic effects

Recently, the journal Science China Earth Sciences published a study led by Dr. Wang Huan (Sichuan Normal University) and Professor Zuo Zhiyan (Fudan University). Based on modern observations, historical proxy data, and climate model simulations, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the past, present and future evolution characteristics of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation...

A visit to Ecuador’s astronomical center

Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, is perched on the mountainous backbone of the Andes, which run through the center of this equatorial nation on the northwest shoulder of South America. Although February is the wet season, but it isn’t raining today so people lounge near a pond in Parque Alameda, with fountains spraying jetsContinue reading "A visit to Ecuador’s astronomical center" The post...

Arctic ground squirrels are altering their hibernation patterns in response to climate change

Arctic ground squirrels are unique among mammals. Their ability to keep from freezing even when body temperatures dip below that mark on the thermometer enables them to survive extreme winter climates. New research published in Science analyzes more than 25 years of climate and biological data. The findings include shorter hibernation periods and differences between male and female hibernation...