China's auto sales rise in November, but down for the year

China's sales of SUVs, minivans and sedans rose by double digits in November as the country recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, but were below pre-virus levels for the year, an industry group reported Friday.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-china-auto-sales-november-year.html

Colonial history of the Marshall Islands limits their ability to save themselves from climate change

Along U.S. coastlines, from California to Florida, residents are getting increasingly accustomed to "king tides." These extra-high tides cause flooding and wreak havoc on affected communities. As climate change raises sea levels, they are becoming more extreme.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-colonial-history-marshall-islands-limits.html

New species of edible marine snail

Recognizing species is important for understanding regional biodiversity and for environmental conservation. However, taxonomic identity is sometimes obscure even with the organisms that are closest to human life.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-species-edible-marine-snail.html

Scientists develop novel self-healing human-machine interactive hydrogel touch pad

A research group led by Prof. Chen Tao at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), developed a novel soft self-healing and adhesive human-machine interactive touch pad based on transparent nanocomposite hydrogels, in cooperation with the researchers from the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems of CAS. The study was published in Advanced Materials.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-scientists-self-healing-human-machine-interactive-hydrogel.html

SoftBank sells controlling stake in Boston Dynamics to Hyundai

Japan's SoftBank Group will sell an 80 percent stake in robotics firm Boston Dynamics to Hyundai, the trio said Friday, in a deal that values the US company at $1.1 billion.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-softbank-stake-boston-dynamics-hyundai.html

Comb jellies make their own glowing compounds instead of getting them from food

In the pitch-black environment of the deep sea, light is a precious thing. In fact, making light is essential for the survival of many deep-sea animals. At least nine major groups of deep-sea animals, including jellies, corals, brittle stars, squids, and fish, use the same light-emitting chemical, coelenterazine, to power their displays. Surprisingly, many of these animals can't actually produce coelenterazine, but must get it by eating other glowing animals.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-jellies-compounds-food.html

Scientists fabricate versatile catalyst for polyester synthesis and degradation

White pollution from discarded plastic waste is one of the most urgent environmental problems facing human beings. With the rapid development of science and technology and the increasing awareness of environmental protection, degradable green functional materials are of great demanding.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-scientists-fabricate-versatile-catalyst-polyester.html

Scientists demonstrate laser direct mapping of attosecond electron dynamics

Recently, a research group from the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has observed periodic electron bunch fringes induced by the femtosecond laser field.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-scientists-laser-attosecond-electron-dynamics.html

Visualization of mechanical waves in a liquid medium

The effect of ultrasound on the liquid phase has been visualized using dynamic electron microscopy. The use of the effect of standing mechanical waves arising in the liquid phase under the action of an external ultrasound source makes it possible to control the structure of liquid reaction media at the micro-level and influence the result of chemical transformations.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-visualization-mechanical-liquid-medium.html

Expression, diffusion and molecular interactions determine Wnt3 distribution

An interdisciplinary team of physicists and biologists from NUS has characterized the mechanism by which Wnt3, a key regulator in neural patterning and brain development, spreads to long distances in the developing zebrafish brain.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-diffusion-molecular-interactions-wnt3.html

Artificial visual system of record-low energy consumption for the next generation of AI

A joint study led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has built an ultralow-power consumption artificial visual system to mimic the human brain, which successfully performed data-intensive cognitive tasks. Their experiment results could provide a promising device system for the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-artificial-visual-record-low-energy-consumption.html

How epigenetic switches control gene expression

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have deciphered how to quantitatively assess the effects of specific epigenetic changes on the rate of transcription by developing a mathematical model. Using their method, they successfully generated reconstituted chromatin-bearing histone modifications in vitro. Their study published in Nucleic Acids Research provides an accurate quantitative approach for understanding how site-specific changes to histone proteins impact the accessibility of chromatin and gene expression levels.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-epigenetic-gene.html

Artificial intelligence improves control of powerful plasma accelerators

Researchers have used AI to control beams for the next generation of smaller, cheaper accelerators for research, medical and industrial applications.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-artificial-intelligence-powerful-plasma.html

Scientists publish open resource to help design 'greener' energy systems

Researchers have created a database of measurements from existing global power grid systems that will help develop new power systems capable of meeting changing demands, such as the move towards renewable energy sources.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-scientists-publish-resource-greener-energy.html

Shortages, jams and shutdowns: UK readies for Brexit 'no-deal' chaos

Food shortages, tailbacks and congested ports: as talks with Brussels remain unresolved three weeks before leaving the EU single market, the UK is preparing for a chaotic "no-deal".

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-shortages-shutdowns-uk-readies-brexit.html

Current pace of action on climate change is "unthinkable" state ex UN climate leaders

Justifiable pride can be taken in the incremental accomplishments of international climate change cooperation, but it is "unthinkable" to continue at the current pace. The global response to climate change is completely insufficient and leaves the world on a "road to hell".

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-current-pace-action-climate-unthinkable.html

Scientists call for robust goal for species in Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Scientists urge that a clear, unambiguous goal for preventing human-induced species extinctions and stabilising populations must be front and centre in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework—currently formulated draft iterations carry a serious risk of failure.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-scientists-robust-goal-species-post-.html