Engineering: Robotics Research Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

New framework for oceanographic research provides potential for broader access to deep sea scientific exploration      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientific exploration of the deep ocean has largely remained inaccessible to most people because of barriers to access due to infrastructure, training, and physical ability requirements for at-sea oceanographic research.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Light regulates structural conversion of chiral molecules      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A team of chemists have developed a novel concept in which a mixture of molecules that behave like mirror images is converted to a single form. To this end, they use light as external energy source. The conversion is relevant e.g. for the preparation of drugs.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Loss of Antarctic sea ice causes catastrophic breeding failure for emperor penguins      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Emperor penguin colonies experienced unprecedented breeding failure in a region of Antarctica where there was total sea ice loss in 2022. The discovery supports predictions that over 90% of emperor penguin colonies will be quasi-extinct by the end of the century, based on current global warming trends.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Scientists solve mystery of why thousands of octopus migrate to deep-sea thermal springs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers used advanced technology to study a massive aggregation of deep-sea octopus gathered at thermal springs near an extinct underwater volcano off the coast of Central California. Warm water from hydrothermal springs accelerates development of octopus embryos, giving young octopus a better chance of survival. The Octopus Garden is the largest known aggregation of octopus on the planet -- the size of this nursery, and the abundance of other marine life that thrives in this rich community, highlight the need to understand and protect the hotspots of life on the deep seafloor from threats like climate change and seabed mining.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Geoscience: Earth Science Physics: General
Published

Hot chemistry quickly transforms aromatic molecules into harmful aerosols      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research group has established key early steps in the conversion of aromatic molecules, a major constituent of traffic and other urban volatile emissions, into aerosol. Their findings increase understanding of the chemical processes that degrade urban air quality and influence climate change.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Barnacles may help reveal location of lost Malaysia Airlines flight MH370      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Geoscientists have created a new method that can reconstruct the drift path and origin of debris from flight MH370, an aircraft that went missing over the Indian Ocean in 2014 with 239 passengers and crew. 

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Sci­en­tists develop fermionic quan­tum pro­ces­sor      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have designed a new type of quantum computer that uses fermionic atoms to simulate complex physical systems. The processor uses programmable neutral atom arrays and is capable of simulating fermionic models in a hardware-efficient manner using fermionic gates. The team demonstrated how the new quantum processor can efficiently simulate fermionic models from quantum chemistry and particle physics.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology
Published

Steam condenser coating could save 460M tons of CO2 annually      (via sciencedaily.com) 

If coal and natural gas power generation were 2% more efficient, then, every year, there could be 460 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide released and 2 trillion fewer gallons of water used. A recent innovation to the steam cycle used in fossil fuel power generation could achieve this.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Physics: General
Published

Topology's role in decoding energy of amorphous systems      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers used topological data analysis to improve the predictions of physical properties of amorphous materials by machine-learning algorithms. This may allow for cheaper and faster calculations of material properties.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

New epoxy resin resists flames and reduces waste      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed an epoxy resin that can be repaired and recycled, in addition to being flame-retardant and mechanically strong. Potential applications range from coating for wooden flooring to composites in aerospace and railways.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Computer Science: General
Published

Deciphering the molecular dynamics of complex proteins      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Which structures do complex proteins adopt in solution? Biophysicists answer this question using the example of ubiquitin dimers as well as a new combination of high-resolution NMR spectroscopy and sophisticated computer simulations.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General
Published

Sharing chemical knowledge between human and machine      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a platform that uses artificial neural networks to translate chemical structural formulae into machine-readable form. With this platform, they have created a tool with which this information from scientific publications can be automatically fed into databases. Until now, this had to be done literally by hand and was time-consuming.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

'Coastal squeeze:' Massive loss of U.S. coastline tidal flats over 31 years      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The entire contiguous U.S. has experienced massive urban expansions and the Atlantic Coast shows outstandingly high rates. Urban expansion has substantially squeezed the space of tidal flats and affected surrounding environments. In new urban areas, tidal flats have undergone considerable degeneration with more significant patterns as they get closer to new urban locations. Tidal flats protect against the ocean's destructive powers such as hurricanes. Without some inland spaces to move around, they will likely disappear, which will have dire consequences for beachfront communities.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

New approach shows hydrogen can be combined with electricity to make pharmaceutical drugs      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The world needs greener ways to make chemicals. In a new study, researchers demonstrate one potential path toward this goal by adapting hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Thinning ice sheets may drive sharp rise in subglacial waters      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study shows that water underneath glaciers may surge due to thinning ice sheets -- a dangerous feedback cycle that could increase glacial melt, sea level rise, and biological disturbances.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Demon hunting: Physicists confirm 67-year-old prediction of massless, neutral composite particle      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In 1956, theoretical physicist David Pines predicted that electrons in a solid can do something strange. While they normally have a mass and an electric charge, Pines asserted that they can combine to form a composite particle that is massless, neutral, and does not interact with light. He called this particle a 'demon.' Now, researchers have finally found Pines' demon 67 years after it was predicted.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Unprecedented look at what influences sea ice motion in the Arctic      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The in-depth analysis reveals how local tidal currents strongly affect the movement of sea ice in the Arctic ocean and provides an unprecedented look at how the makeup of the seafloor is causing some of the most abrupt changes.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Oceans release microplastics into the atmosphere      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Tiny plastic particles can be found in the air over the oceans even far away from the coast. According to a new study, microplastics are not only carried by the wind, but also escape into the atmosphere from seawater. Researchers present data on the composition and sources of different types of plastic in the air over the North Atlantic and the origin of the particles.