A new spin on energy-efficient electronics

The promising field of spintronics seeks to manipulate electron spin to make a new breed of small and low-power electronic devices. A recent study used Argonne's Advanced Photon Source to bring the widespread use of spintronics closer to reality.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-energy-efficient-electronics.html

Corridor test of Proba-3's formation flying sensors

The longest corridor in ESA's largest establishment was turned into a test site for one of the Agency's most ambitious future missions, Proba-3. The two satellites making up this mission will line up so that one casts a shadow onto the other, revealing inner regions of the Sun's ghostly atmosphere. But such precision formation flying will only be possible through a vision-based sensor system allowing one satellite to lock onto the other.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-corridor-proba-formation-sensors.html

Researchers first to link silicon atoms on surfaces

Materials such as gallium arsenide are extremely important for the production of electronic devices. As supplies of it are limited, or they can present health and environmental hazards, specialists are looking for alternative materials. So-called conjugated polymers are candidates. These organic macromolecules have semi-conductor properties, i.e. they can conduct electricity under certain conditions. One possible way of producing them in the desired two-dimensional—i.e. extremely flat—form is presented by surface chemistry, a field of research established in 2007.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-link-silicon-atoms-surfaces.html

Researchers obtain more efficient red bioluminescence than those available commercially

Researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, have developed a novel far red light-emitting luciferin-luciferase system that is more efficient than those available commercially. An article on the subject is published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-efficient-red-bioluminescence-commercially.html

Unique AI method for generating proteins to speed up drug development

Artificial intelligence is now capable of generating novel, functionally active proteins, thanks to recently published work by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-unique-ai-method-proteins-drug.html

Topological protection of entangled two-photon light in photonic topological insulators

In a joint effort, researchers from the Humboldt-Universität (Berlin), the Max Born Institute (Berlin) and the University of Central Florida (U.S.) have revealed the necessary conditions for the robust transport of entangled states of two-photon light in photonic topological insulators, paving the way the toward noise-resistant transport of quantum information. The results have appeared in Nature Communications.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-topological-entangled-two-photon-photonic-insulators.html

Researchers shed new light on DNA replication

In preparation for cell division, cells need to replicate the DNA that they contain. A team of researchers from TU Delft, collaborating with investigators from the Francis Crick Institute in London, has now shown that the protein building blocks involved in the initial steps of DNA replication are mobile but reduce their speed at specific DNA sequences on the genome. Their findings, which were published in the open-access journal Nature Communications on 26 March, were facilitated using an integrated approach involving biophysics and biochemistry that will propel new discoveries in the field.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-dna-replication.html

UK food giant Deliveroo set for £7.6bn London IPO

Britain's app-driven food delivery firm Deliveroo is set for London's largest stock market launch in a decade with a valuation of £7.6 billion, despite mounting criticism over its treatment of riders.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-uk-food-giant-deliveroo-76bn.html

Fire-hit chipmaker Renesas says recovery could take four months

Japanese chip manufacturer Renesas said Tuesday it could take three to four months to restore full capacity after a factory fire that threatens to worsen a global chip shortage.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-fire-hit-chipmaker-renesas-recovery-months.html

Zuckerberg confirms Instagram for kids plans at Congressional hearing on misinformation

During his contentious testimony with Congress members, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the platform's plans to create an Instagram for kids.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-zuckerberg-instagram-kids-congressional-misinformation.html

The curious case of northeast Brazil's cross-breeding sea turtles

Sea turtles have been around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, stretching back about 110 million years. Yet now their existence is at risk, with six of today's seven species classified as threatened or endangered.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-curious-case-northeast-brazil-cross-breeding.html

Comcast commits $1 billion to help close the digital divide as Americans increasingly rely on the internet

Comcast Corp. plans to spend $1 billion over the next decade to help low-income Americans connect to the internet, company officials said Wednesday.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-comcast-commits-billion-digital-americans.html

Ecuador policeman held over 185 baby tortoises in suitcase

An Ecuadorian policeman has been arrested after airport officials in the Galapagos Islands discovered 185 baby giant tortoises stuffed in a suitcase to be trafficked, prosecutors said Monday.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-ecuador-policeman-held-baby-tortoises.html

In Tunis, flamingos wade past waste in key Africa wetlands

Hundreds of flamingos wade past waste in the murky waters of the vast Sijoumi lagoon, a critical wetland in the heart of Tunisia's capital threatened by overexpansion.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-tunis-flamingos-wade-key-africa.html

Disney+ has a $1 price increase taking effect Friday

It's official: Starting Friday, you'll be paying more for your Disney+ streaming subscription.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-disney-price-effect-friday.html

Amazon faces new lawsuit alleging it fixed book prices

A proposed class-action lawsuit from a Seattle firm has added to the swarm of antitrust scrutiny gathering around Amazon.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-amazon-lawsuit-alleging-prices.html

Airport crowds, airline ticket sales show travel recovering

Evidence is mounting that Americans are eager to drive or fly somewhere after being mostly cooped up at home for a year.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-airport-crowds-airline-ticket-sales.html

VW plans brand-name change to 'Voltswagen' in US

Volkswagen plans to change its brand name in the United States to "Voltswagen" as its shifts its production increasingly toward electric vehicles and tries to distance itself from an emissions cheating scandal.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-vw-brand-name-voltswagen.html

The truth about Christ lies in contradiction, philosopher finds

While the quest to explain how Christ can be both fully human and fully divine enjoys a long, fascinating history, Jc Beall, the O'Neill Family Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, believes that the quest should end.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-truth-christ-lies-contradiction-philosopher.html

When parole, probation officers choose empathy, returns to jail decline

Heavy caseloads, job stress and biases can strain relations between parole and probation officers and their clients, upping offenders' likelihood of landing back behind bars.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-parole-probation-officers-empathy-decline.html

Scientists identify molecular pathway that helps moving cells avoid aimless wandering

Working with fruit flies, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have identified a new molecular pathway that helps steer moving cells in specific directions. The set of interconnected proteins and enzymes in the pathway act as steering and rudder components that drive cells toward an "intended" rather than random destination, they say.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-scientists-molecular-pathway-cells-aimless.html