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Science News for May 19, 2013


Kinks and curves at the nanoscale

New research finds that coherent twin boundaries in metals contain tiny kink-like steps and curvatures, making them stronger but also more electrically resistant. This discovery challenges previous understanding of these materials and could lead to improved engineering designs for high-strength applications.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalNature Materials·DateMay 19, 2013

Why we need to put the fish back into fisheries

A recent study found that traditional fisheries targeting large predators like cod have declined, while shellfish such as prawns and scallops have increased in value. However, this shift is at risk due to disease, species invasions, and climate change, which threaten the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalFish and Fisheries·DateMay 19, 2013

Competition in the quantum world

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck and Complutense University of Madrid use a quantum simulator to study quantum mechanical phase transitions in many-body systems. They observe how competition between two processes takes place, leading to fragile long-range correlations between distant particles.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·DateMay 19, 2013

Lovelorn frogs bag closest crooner

In a surprise twist, female strawberry poison frogs in Costa Rica prioritize the nearest singing male over physical appearance and vocal quality. The research found that females fail to discriminate between different call rates or frequencies, instead opting for the closest speaker.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalFrontiers in Zoology·DateMay 19, 2013