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Science News Archive April 2018 - Page 23


Page 23 of 42

From insulator to conductor in a flash

Researchers have developed a method to rapidly transition strongly correlated materials from insulators to conductors using tailored laser pulses. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of next-generation electronics that are faster and more energy efficient.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 16, 2018

General aviation pilots struggle to interpret weather forecast and observation displays

A study by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University researchers found that general aviation pilots had difficulty understanding various types of weather information, including METAR reports and radar displays. The findings suggest that improved pilot training and more effective weather display designs could help advance aviation safety.

SourceEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University·JournalThe International Journal of Aerospace Psychology·DateApr 16, 2018

Run faster, learn better

A new study found that faster mice run, the faster they learn. Researchers used mutant mice with reduced running speed to demonstrate the causal link between running speed and enhanced learning. They also showed that once learned, performance still depended on running speed.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateApr 16, 2018

Once upon a time, an exoplanet was discovered

The discovery of 51 Pegasi b marked a significant milestone in the search for exoplanets, with Michel Mayor and his colleague Queloz credited with the groundbreaking find. The development of better telescopes enabled this achievement, contributing to a new community of researchers exploring this field.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal H·DateApr 16, 2018

Engineering a plastic-eating enzyme

Scientists at the University of Portsmouth and NREL have engineered an enzyme that can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics, a major contributor to ocean pollution. The discovery could lead to a recycling solution for millions of tons of plastic waste.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 16, 2018

When nuclei catch up with electrons

Researchers at ETH Zurich found that ionization delays in molecules can significantly depend on the kinetic energy of both the photoelectron and the nuclei. This study extends the concept of ionization delays introduced for atomic systems, showing that variations can be as large as those with electronic kinetic energy.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 16, 2018

Altered immune cells clear childhood brain tumor in mice

Researchers at Stanford Medicine have developed a CAR-T therapy that eradicates diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) tumors in mice, leaving few residual cancer cells. The treatment targets the GD2 sugar molecule on DIPG tumors and has shown promising results, but side effects such as brain swelling must be carefully managed.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateApr 16, 2018

Surviving climate change, then and now

Researchers analyzed ancient tools, ornaments, and human remains to find that early Homo sapiens adapted to climate change by staying interconnected. The study found that a vast social network helped these ancestors survive a volcanic eruption 40,000 years ago and potentially inform our response to modern global warming.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalJournal of Quaternary Science·DateApr 16, 2018

Warming climate could speed forest regrowth in eastern US

A new study suggests that warmer temperatures will speed up the transition from field to forest in the eastern US, leading to increased carbon sequestration. This could result in more rapidly growing forests replacing weeds and grasses, but also raises concerns about the impact of droughts on tree growth.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 16, 2018

Freeing electrons to better trap them

Researchers at UNIGE and MBI successfully place an electron in a dual state, neither free nor bound, and regulate its electronic structure. They also discover that high-intensity lasers can amplify light, enabling new possibilities for intense laser propagation in gases.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 16, 2018