Salient object detection makes computer vision smarter

Salient object detection aims at simulating the visual characteristics of human beings and extracts the most important regions from images or videos. The contents in these saliency areas are called salient objects.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-salient-vision-smarter.html

Enhanced interactions through strong light-matter coupling

Why do two-dimensional exciton-polaritons interact? The exciton-polariton quasiparticle is part light (photon), and part matter (exciton). Their excitonic (matter) part confers them the ability to interact with other particles, a property lacking to bare photons.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-interactions-strong-light-matter-coupling.html

Tiny quantum computer solves real optimization problem

Quantum computers have already managed to surpass ordinary computers in solving certain tasks—unfortunately, totally useless ones. The next milestone is to get them to do useful things. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have now shown that they can solve a small part of a real logistics problem with their small, but well-functioning quantum computer.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-tiny-quantum-real-optimization-problem.html

Abandoned termite mounds are 'islands of fertility'

Termites are considered to be ecosystem engineers. Fungus-growing termites could play an important role in soil nutrient availability and dynamics in humid and subhumid tropical ecosystems, by building numerous mounds with differing properties compared to adjacent soils. However, far less is known about the nutrient variability within the mounds and the nutrient stocks in whole mounds.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-abandoned-termite-mounds-islands-fertility.html

Detailing the formation of distant solar systems with NASA's Webb Telescope

We live in a mature solar system—eight planets and several dwarf planets (like Pluto) have formed, the latter within the rock- and debris-filled region known as the Kuiper Belt. If we could turn back time, what would we see as our solar system formed? While we can't answer this question directly, researchers can study other systems that are actively forming—along with the mix of gas and dust that encircles their still-forming stars—to learn about this process.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-formation-distant-solar-nasa-webb.html

Scientists discover a new type of molecular knot using X-ray diffraction techniques

Scientists have developed a way of braiding three molecular strands enabling tighter and more complex knots to be made than has previously been possible.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-scientists-molecular-x-ray-diffraction-techniques.html

Scientists discover insulator-to-semiconductor transition in fluorescent carbon quantum dots

Recently, researchers led by Prof. XU Wen from the Institute of Solid State Physics of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), along with their collaborators from the Southwest University in Chongqing, applied the Terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz TDS) to study the optoelectronic properties of fluorescent carbon quantum dots (FQCDs).

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-scientists-insulator-to-semiconductor-transition-fluorescent-carbon.html

A no-meat diet everywhere will not solve the climate crisis

People in industrialized regions like the United States of America or Europe are generally urged to eat less meat and animal-source foods as part of a healthier and lower-emissions diet. But such recommendations are not universal solutions in low- or middle-income countries, where livestock are critical to incomes and diets, argue scientists in recently published research in Environmental Research Letters.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-no-meat-diet-climate-crisis.html

Longest known exposure photograph ever captured using a beer can

A photograph thought to be the longest exposure image ever taken has been discovered inside a beer can at the University of Hertfordshire's Bayfordbury Observatory.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-longest-exposure-captured-beer.html

Restoring wetlands near farms would dramatically reduce water pollution

Runoff from fertilizer and manure application in agricultural regions has led to high levels of nitrate in groundwater, rivers, and coastal areas. These high nitrate levels can threaten drinking water safety and also lead to problems with algal blooms and degradation of aquatic ecosystems.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-wetlands-farms-pollution.html

Ultra-thin designer materials unlock quantum phenomena

A team of theoretical and experimental physicists have designed a new ultra-thin material that they have used to create elusive quantum states. Called one-dimensional Majorana zero energy modes, these quantum states could have a huge impact for quantum computing.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-ultra-thin-materials-quantum-phenomena.html

Moon rocks in hand, China prepares for future moon missions

Following the successful return of moon rocks by its Chang'e 5 robotic probe, China is preparing for future missions that could set the stage for an eventual lunar base to host human explorers, a top space program official said Thursday.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-moon-china-future-missions.html

Volkswagen loses top court case in EU in diesel scandal

The European Union's top court ruled on Thursday that Volkswagen breached the law by installing on its cars a so-called defeat device to cheat on emission tests and cannot argue it was merely protecting car engines.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-volkswagen-court-case-eu-diesel.html

Two smuggled Indonesian orangutans fly home from Thailand

Eating fruit and drinking from plastic bottles, two Sumatran orangutans stared from their cages at Bangkok airport on Thursday before flying home to Indonesia, years after being smuggled into Thailand.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-smuggled-indonesian-orangutans-home-thailand.html

Super cyclone hits Fiji bringing floods, landslides

Super cyclone Yasa slammed into Fiji's second-largest island Thursday, tearing roofs off buildings as it triggered flash floods and landslides in the Pacific island nation.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-super-cyclone-fiji-landslides.html

New lab director expects more work on next wave of reactors

The new director of Idaho National Laboratory said its efforts to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating a new generation of nuclear reactors appears to align with the goals of the incoming Biden administration and will likely receive ongoing bipartisan support.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-lab-director-reactors.html

Chinese capsule returns to Earth carrying moon rocks

A Chinese lunar capsule returned to Earth on Thursday with the first fresh rock samples from the moon in more than 40 years, offering the possibility of new insights into the history of the solar system and marking a new landmark for China's rapidly advancing space program.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-chinese-capsule-earth-moon.html

Scientists use NASA data to predict appearance of December 14, 2020 eclipse

On Dec. 14, 2020, the Moon's shadow raced across Chile and Argentina, casting a thin ribbon of land into brief, mid-day darkness.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-scientists-nasa-december-eclipse.html

When genetic data meets marketing

Researchers from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that assesses the implications of the growth of private genetic testing for the field of marketing and evaluates ethical challenges that arise. The researchers review past research in the field of behavioral genetics and use these findings to incorporate genetic influences into existing consumer behavior theory. They then survey potential uses of genetic data for marketing strategy and research, and raise concerns regarding significant ethical challenges that arise from unique features of genetic data.

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

Public cameras provide valuable insights on pandemic, consumers

Technology similar to massive search engines used to scour the web may soon be used to provide new insights into consumer behavior and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies across the world. The technology also may be a useful tool for reducing misinformation in news media.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2020-12-cameras-valuable-insights-pandemic-consumers.html

Organic molecules on a metal surface... a machinist's best friend

How can you improve the cutting of "gummy" metals? Purdue University innovators have come up with an answer—and their findings may help in manufacturing products and reducing component failures.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-molecules-metal-surface-machinist-friend.html

New path to rare earth mineral formation has implications for green energy and smart tech

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have shed new light on the formation mechanisms of a rare earth-bearing mineral that is in increasingly high demand across the globe for its use in the green energy and tech industries.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-path-rare-earth-mineral-formation.html

Shark fishing bans partially effective: study

Bans on shark fishing are only partially effective in protecting sharks, new research suggests.

source https://phys.org/news/2020-12-shark-fishing-partially-effective.html