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Science News Archive April 2019 - Page 44


Page 44 of 44

URI researcher calculates temperature inside moon to help reveal its inner structure

A University of Rhode Island scientist has determined the temperature at the boundary of the Moon's core and mantle, finding it to be between 1,130 and 1,470 degrees Celsius. This discovery will help create a temperature profile through the Moon, allowing researchers to better understand its internal structure, composition, and evolution.

SourceUniversity of Rhode Island·JournalGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta·DateApr 1, 2019

Putting a new spin on Majorana fermions

Physicists propose a novel method to produce robust Majorana fermions in magnetic materials with different phase boundaries. This could lead to the creation of stable qubits for quantum computers, addressing limitations of current technology. The team plans to experimentally verify their findings using engineered systems.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 1, 2019

A bald gene find­ing

A recent study found a gene variant in the SGK3 gene causing hairlessness in Scottish Deerhounds. The defect results in puppies born with thin fur that loses all their hair in weeks. This discovery may also provide insights into human non-hormonal baldness, as the SGK3 gene is also associated with early hair loss and baldness.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalHuman Genetics·DateApr 1, 2019

Just an hour of weekly walking staves off disability

A new Northwestern Medicine study found that an hour of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can help older adults maintain their independence and reduce the risk of mobility disability by 85%. The study also showed that this amount of exercise can lower the risk of activities of daily living disability by almost 45%.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateApr 1, 2019

Rise of religion pre-dates Incas at Lake Titicaca

Researchers have uncovered ancient ritual offerings near Lake Titicaca that pre-date the arrival of the Incas by several centuries. The findings suggest a more complex and ambitious spiritual system among the Tiwanaku people, who developed in the area between 500-1,100 AD.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 1, 2019

Climate change threat to dolphins' survival

A recent study found that climate change can have long-lasting negative impacts on dolphin populations, with a 12% decrease in survival rate following a heatwave in Shark Bay, Western Australia. The researchers also observed fewer births among female dolphins, which persisted for at least six years.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 1, 2019

How to ice-proof the next generation of aircraft

Scientists have discovered a new method to control icing on next-generation aircraft using plasma actuators. The technology can transfer heat locally while mixing well with incoming airflow, preventing stress on composite materials. Researchers tested three configurations of actuators in high-speed cameras and infrared thermal imaging.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateApr 1, 2019

Skyrmions could provide next generation data storage

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a way to combine multiple skyrmions into 'skyrmion bags' that can store and transfer data more efficiently. This breakthrough technology has the potential to increase data storage capacity, reduce power consumption, and pave the way for next-generation computing devices.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 1, 2019

Same properties, lower cost

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a technique to transform copper into a material that mimics properties of gold and silver. The new medium, made of copper nanoparticles, has applications in the production of electronic devices and is suitable for environmentally friendly printing technologies.

SourceTohoku University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 1, 2019