Science News for December 24, 2023

Researchers prove human influence on large herbivore diets during anthropocene

A study published in Ecology Letters reveals that human population growth and land-use changes led to significant dietary shifts in large herbivores in eastern China. The researchers found that these herbivores adapted by altering their diets, with increased interspecific differences and expanded intraspecific dietary ranges.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalEcology Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 24, 2023

Tears without fears: sniffing women’s tears reduces aggression in men

A new study reveals that human tears contain chemicals that reduce aggression in others, similar to the tears of mice and blind mole rats. Sniffing women's emotional tears lowered brain activity related to aggression in men, reducing aggressive behavior in a two-person game.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalPLOS Biology·DateDec 24, 2023

Turning plastic trash into chemistry treasure

A team at Hokkaido University has developed a method to reuse plastic waste while improving process safety and efficiency. The approach uses common plastic materials to initiate radical chain reactions, detoxifying hazardous chemicals and reducing toxicity.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 24, 2023

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Piezoelectric-enhanced p-n junctions in photoelectrochemical systems

A team of researchers has designed a unique n-TiO2/BaTiO3/p-TiO2 heterojunction that couples with the piezoelectric effect to overcome charge separation and transfer limitations. The design achieves higher photocurrent density than traditional p-n junctions, enabling more efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalGreen Energy & Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 24, 2023

Harnessing all-dielectric metamaterials to precisely manipulate the polarization state of light

Researchers develop cross-shaped microstructure metamaterial for efficient broadband polarization conversion, achieving conversion efficiency of over 80% in the 1-2.32 THz range. The design also facilitates linear-to-circular polarization conversion with an ellipticity of 1 at 0.85 THz.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers of Optoelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 24, 2023