Carbon nanospike catalyst splits water, carbon dioxide and recombines atoms into heavier nanocarbons

In a new twist to an existing ORNL technology, researchers have developed an electrocatalyst that enables water and carbon dioxide to be split and the atoms recombined to form higher weight hydrocarbons for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-carbon-nanospike-catalyst-dioxide-recombines.html

The Deep-time Digital Earth program: Data-driven discovery in geosciences

Humans have long explored three big scientific questions: the evolution of the universe, the evolution of Earth, and the evolution of life. Geoscientists have embraced the mission of elucidating the evolution of Earth and life, which are preserved in the information-rich but incomplete geological record that spans more than 4.5 billion years of Earth history. Delving into Earth's deep-time history helps geoscientists decipher mechanisms and rates of Earth's evolution, unravel the rates and mechanisms of climate change, locate natural resources, and envision the future of Earth.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-deep-time-digital-earth-data-driven-discovery.html

Tattoo made of gold nanoparticles revolutionizes medical diagnostics

The idea of implantable sensors that continuously transmit information on vital values and concentrations of substances or drugs in the body has fascinated physicians and scientists for a long time. Such sensors enable the constant monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic success. However, until now, implantable sensors have not been suitable to remain in the body permanently and require replacement after a few days or weeks.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-tattoo-gold-nanoparticles-revolutionizes-medical.html

How baked bat guano helped archaeologists understand our ancient past

In an experiment to understand better how ancient artifacts are altered by the sediment in which they are buried for thousands of years, Australian archaeological scientists buried bones, stones, charcoal and other items in bat guano, cooked it, and analyzed how this affected the different items.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-guano-archaeologists-ancient.html

Inferring what we share by how we share

It's getting harder for people to decipher real information from fake information online. But patterns in the ways in which information is spread over the internet—say, from user to user on a social media network—may serve as an indication of whether the information is authentic or not.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-inferring.html

Amazing integration of technology and art: A 3D LotusMenu in your palm

A recent study by Associate Professor Lu Fei's human-computer interaction research team from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications has proposed a three-dimensiona menu that can "bloom in the palm."

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-amazing-technology-art-3d-lotusmenu.html

Researchers develop materials for oral delivery of insulin medication

A revolutionary technology developed within the Trabolsi Research Group at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) could dramatically improve the wellbeing of diabetic patients: an insulin oral delivery system that could replace traditional subcutaneous injections without the side effects caused by frequent injections.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-materials-oral-delivery-insulin-medication.html

Atari creates blockchain division for cryptocurrency, games

Video game pioneer Atari announced on Tuesday the creation of a blockchain division that will seize on the technology to develop games and a cryptocurrency that players could spend on items.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-atari-blockchain-division-cryptocurrency-games.html

'A space to listen': Lebanese tackle crisis on Clubhouse

In a break from social media mud-slinging and Lebanon's perennially polarised debates, audio app Clubhouse is hosting a new kind of conversation in the crisis-hit country.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-space-lebanese-tackle-crisis-clubhouse.html

Discovery is key to creating heat-tolerant crops

By 2050 global warming could reduce crop yields by one-third. UC Riverside researchers have identified a gene that could put the genie back in the bottle.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-discovery-key-heat-tolerant-crops.html

Separating beer waste into proteins for foods, and fiber for biofuels

Home brewing enthusiasts and major manufacturers alike experience the same result of the beer-making process: mounds of leftover grain. Once all the flavor has been extracted from barley and other grains, what's left is a protein- and fiber-rich powder that is typically used in cattle feed or put in landfills. Today, scientists report a new way to extract the protein and fiber from brewer's spent grain and use it to create new types of protein sources, biofuels and more.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-beer-proteins-foods-fiber-biofuels.html

Taiwan imposes water rationing as drought worsens

More than one million households and businesses in Taiwan's heavily industrialised central regions were put on water rationing Tuesday, as the island battles its worst drought in 56 years.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-taiwan-imposes-rationing-drought-worsens.html

Climate change driving marine species poleward

Warming waters have driven thousands of ocean species poleward from the equator, threatening marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of people who depend on them, researchers reported Monday.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-climate-marine-species-poleward.html

Softbank to buy $2.8 bn stake in Norway robotics firm

Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group will buy a 40 percent stake in Norwegian robotics company AutoStore in a deal worth $2.8 billion, the two firms said.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-softbank-bn-stake-norway-robotics.html

Rise of the 'robo-plants', as scientists fuse nature with tech

Remote-controlled Venus flytrap "robo-plants" and crops that tell farmers when they are hit by disease could become reality after scientists developed a high-tech system for communicating with vegetation.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-robo-plants-scientists-fuse-nature-tech.html

Apple chief Tim Cook talks of autonomous cars

Apple chief Tim Cook portrayed self-driving cars as an ideal match for the technology giant during an interview released Monday by the New York Times.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-apple-chief-tim-cook-autonomous.html

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter survives first night alone on Mars

NASA's Ingenuity mini-helicopter has survived its first night alone on the frigid surface of Mars, the US space agency said, hailing it as "a major milestone" for the tiny craft as it prepares for its first flight.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-nasa-ingenuity-helicopter-survives-night.html

Air France gets EU green light for 4 bn euros aid

The EU approved a plan Tuesday by the French government to inject up to four billion euros into Air France, hit by a collapse in passenger traffic during the pandemic.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-air-france-eu-green-bn.html

How a moving platform for 3D printing can cut waste and costs

3-D printing has the potential to revolutionize product design and manufacturing in a vast range of fields—from custom components for consumer products, to 3-D printed dental products and bone and medical implants that could save lives. However, the process also creates a large amount of expensive and unsustainable waste and takes a long time, making it difficult for 3-D printing to be implemented on a wide scale.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-platform-3d.html

COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse gains made on Sustainable Development Goal 1 and 2

A new study analyzing bean production and food security across 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, found COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions to significantly impact bean production. Border controls and high transport costs have led to drops in production of the key food security crop, threatening to reverse gains made in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2, towards no poverty and zero hunger, respectively.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-covid-pandemic-threatens-reverse-gains.html

For some Black students, discrimination outweighed integration's benefits

Integrating the American classroom has long been a goal of many who seek to eradicate racial discrimination. But a new paper from four economists, including Duke University's William A. "Sandy" Darity Jr., suggests that Black students do not always benefit from attending racially balanced schools.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-black-students-discrimination-outweighed-benefits.html

New deadly snake from Asia named after character from Chinese myth 'Legend of White Snake'

In 2001, the famous herpetologist Joseph B. Slowinski died from snakebite by an immature black-and-white banded krait, while leading an expedition team in northern Myanmar. The very krait that caused his death is now confirmed to belong to the same species identified as a new to science venomous snake, following an examination of samples collected between 2016 and 2019 from Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-deadly-snake-asia-character-chinese.html

What can we learn from vanishing wildlife species: The case of the Pyrenean Ibex

Likely the first extinction event of the 2000s in Europe, the sad history of the Pyrenean Ibex (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica) is a powerful example of the ever-increasing species loss worldwide due to causes related to human activity. It can, however, give us valuable information on what should be done (or avoided) to halt this extinction vortex.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-wildlife-species-case-pyrenean-ibex.html