New self-assembly method creates bioelectronics out of microscopic structures

Bringing together soft, malleable living cells with hard, inflexible electronics can be a difficult task. UChicago researchers have developed a new method to face this challenge by utilizing microscopic structures to build up bioelectronics rather than creating them from the top down—creating a highly customizable product.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-self-assembly-method-bioelectronics-microscopic.html

The influence and importance of language

In the hours immediately following the events at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, no one quite knew how to describe what had happened. It wasn't simply because nothing like it had occurred in a century, but also because details regarding what preceded and took place during the event itself—a breach by a large, angry group of Trump supporters that resulted in five deaths—still remains murky several weeks later.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-importance-language.html

The Very Large Array: Astronomical shapeshifter

When the Very Large Array was completed forty years ago, it was a different kind of radio telescope. Rather than having a single antenna dish, the VLA has 27. The data these antennas gather is combined in such a way that they act as a single radio telescope. As a radio array, the virtual dish of the VLA can cover an area roughly the size of Disney World. But the VLA can also do something ordinary telescopes can't do: it can change shape.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-large-array-astronomical-shapeshifter.html

Scientists shine new light on heat-damaged hair

A new technique allowed researchers to observe in greater detail how heat alters keratin proteins, helping in their search for ingredients that can prevent heat-damaged hair.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-scientists-heat-damaged-hair.html

New variety of paintbrush lily developed by a novel plant tissue culture technique

Scientists at Hokkaido University and Chiba University have developed simultaneous triploid and hexaploid varieties of Haemanthus albiflos by the application of endosperm culture, thus extending the use of this technique.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-variety-paintbrush-lily-tissue-culture.html

New study reveals secrets to solar success

A new study shows how researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) achieved a world record in solar cell efficiency.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-01-reveals-secrets-solar-success.html

How do aggregates of different sizes mediate soil-plant relationship?

Aggregates of different sizes provide heterogeneous microhabitats for soil microorganisms, which in turn drive the cycling and transformation of soil materials and energy, and have different effects on key processes related to nutrient supply and storage. The role of soil aggregates in ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, fertilizer preservation and erosion prevention has been widely studied. However, little is known about their roles in mediating the relationship between soil and plant community properties.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-aggregates-sizes-soil-plant-relationship.html

Algorithm supports cheaper, quicker microbiome functional assessment

A new algorithm may reduce the need for expensive, time-consuming whole-genome sequencing computations to understand how a microbiome functions. A team led by Jing Gongchao of the Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Su Xiaoquan of Qingdao University, published their approach, called Meta-Apo, on Jan. 6 in BMC Genomics.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-algorithm-cheaper-quicker-microbiome-functional.html

Targeted coating improves graphene oxide membranes for nanofiltration

Nanofiltration (NF) is an advanced technology for treating wastewater containing organic micropollutants (OMPs).

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-coating-graphene-oxide-membranes-nanofiltration.html

Researchers propose new method for accurate measurement of electro-optic coefficient

Recently, researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have proposed a novel measurement method of the electro-optic (EO) coefficient based on the χ(2) nonlinear optical technology to measure the linear EO coefficients of KH2PO4 (KDP) and K(H1−xDx)2PO4 (DKDP) precisely. Relevant results were published in Optics Express on Jan. 18, 2021.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-method-accurate-electro-optic-coefficient.html

Record-breaking laser link could provide test of Einstein's theory

Scientists from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) and the University of Western Australia (UWA) have set a world record for the most stable transmission of a laser signal through the atmosphere.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-record-breaking-laser-link-einstein-theory.html

Role of dams in reducing global flood exposure under climate change

A new collaborative study led by researchers at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, the University of Tokyo, and Michigan State University exposes the role of dams for mitigating flood risk under climate change.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-role-global-exposure-climate.html

SpaceX to send TU Dresden satellite into space

TU Dresden's SOMP2b satellite will be lifted into orbit by SpaceX on January 22, 2021. It will be used to investigate new nanomaterials under the extreme conditions of space, to test systems for converting the sun's heat into electricity and to precisely measure the residual atmosphere around the satellite. SOMP2b will begin its journey around the Earth at an altitude of 500 km—slightly higher than the ISS space station. It will orbit the Earth in a special polar, sun-synchronous orbit, always flying over the TU Dresden ground station at approximately the same time of day and sending measurement data.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-spacex-tu-dresden-satellite-space.html

Navigating uncertainty: Why we need decision theory during a pandemic

During a pandemic, decisions have to be made under time pressure and amid scientific uncertainty, with potential disagreements among experts and models. With COVID-19, especially during the first wave, there was uncertainty about the virus transmissibility, the disease severity, the future evolution of the pandemic and the effectiveness of the proposed policy interventions, such as wearing face masks or closing schools. Together with a group of epidemiologists and economists, including the Nobel Prize winner Lars Peter Hansen, Bocconi professors Massimo Marinacci, AXA-Bocconi Chair in Risk, and Valentina Bosetti investigated how modern decision theory can help policymakers navigate through the uncertainty that characterizes this pandemic and possible future ones.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-uncertainty-decision-theory-pandemic.html

Alphabet closes down internet balloon network project 'Loon'

Google parent company Alphabet announced Friday it was shutting down "Loon", a high-profile project aiming to deliver wireless internet via flying balloons in the stratosphere, because it is not commercially viable.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-01-alphabet-internet-balloon-network-loon.html

Raspberry unveils $4 Pi Pico microcontroller

Raspberry is introducing a new member to its family: a microcontroller. And its price won't set anyone back too much: The new Raspberry Pi Pico costs about the same as a box of fresh-picked raspberries at the grocery store, $4.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-01-raspberry-unveils-pi-pico-microcontroller.html

Air Force issues national call for 3-D scanner

Additive manufacturing and computer design experts, the Air Force needs your ideas.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-01-air-issues-national-d-scanner.html

Embattled Intel says earnings better than expected

Intel said Thursday that earnings topped prior expectations, as the computer chip giant faces pressure to come up with bold ways to fend off fierce competition and an activist shareholder.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-01-embattled-intel.html

Combined river flows could send up to 3 billion microplastics a day into the Bay of Bengal

The Ganges River—with the combined flows of the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers—could be responsible for up to 3 billion microplastic particles entering the Bay of Bengal every day, according to new research.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-combined-river-billion-microplastics-day.html

Do promotions make consumers more generous?

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and University of Hong Kong published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines why and how charitable organizations can increase donations by soliciting consumers after retailers' price promotions.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-consumers.html

Astronomers discover first cloudless, Jupiter-like planet

Astronomers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian have detected the first Jupiter-like planet without clouds or haze in its observable atmosphere. The findings were published this month in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-astronomers-cloudless-jupiter-like-planet.html

Study highlights factors that predict success for treating canine behavioral disorders

There is a saying that you can't teach old dogs new tricks. When it comes to canine behavioral problems, age is only one factor that can predict how well a pet may respond to clinical intervention. In a paper published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, researchers provide the first evidence on the importance of not just a dog's age, sex and size on treatment success, but the owner's personality and the kind of bond that human and animal share.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-01-highlights-factors-success-canine-behavioral.html

Google threatens to pull search engine in Australia

Google on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-01-google-threatens-australia.html