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Science News for August 5, 2016


Diamond-based light sources will lay a foundation for quantum communications of the future

Researchers have created highly efficient electrically-driven single-photon sources in diamond, promising breakthroughs in quantum computers and secure communication lines. The discovery enables operation at room temperature, increasing energy efficiency by over a thousand times and laying the foundations for novel quantum devices.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateAug 5, 2016

Veins on Mars were formed by evaporating ancient lakes

A new study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science reveals that mineral veins on Mars were formed by the evaporation of ancient lakes. The research, conducted by scientists from The Open University and University of Leicester, found that the fluids present in Martian Yellowknife Bay were habitable by Earth standards.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalMeteoritics and Planetary Science·DateAug 5, 2016

Hot 'new' material found to exist in nature

Researchers at McGill University found that two rare minerals, stepanovite and zhemchuzhnikovite, have the same structure as man-made MOFs. This discovery opens up new possibilities for using these materials in various applications such as hydrogen storage and carbon sequestration.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 5, 2016

Why you're stiff in the morning: Your body suppresses inflammation when you sleep at night

A study published in The FASEB Journal found that the CRYPTOCHROME protein represses inflammatory pathways during nighttime sleep, leading to increased inflammation symptoms upon waking. This discovery offers new opportunities for developing anti-inflammatory treatments for conditions like arthritis.

Under-reporting of fisheries catches threatens Caribbean marine life

A recent study reveals that marine fisheries catches in the Turks and Caicos Islands are being under-reported by 86%, threatening the marine environment and local livelihoods. The research calls for urgent policy action to establish more accurate catch limits, taking into account both commercial and local consumption of seafood.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateAug 5, 2016

Researchers find most volcanic activity on Mercury stopped about 3.5 billion years ago

New research from North Carolina State University reveals that Mercury's crust-forming volcanism stopped around 3.5 billion years ago, likely due to the planet's small mantle size and rapid cooling. This finding provides insight into Mercury's geological evolution and challenges previous theories about planetary formation.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 5, 2016

Putting the pressure on platinum

Hokkaido University researchers have synthesized a platinum-based superconducting material with unique crystal structure, which becomes superconducting at 10 GPa but returns to non-superconductive state at 15 GPa. The high-pressure synthesis method holds promise for further exploration of unknown phases in various materials.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 5, 2016