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Plate tectonic processes in the Pacific and Atlantic during the Cretaceous period have shaped the Caribbean region to this day

Researchers used computer simulations to understand the formation of new subduction zones and the development of the Caribbean large igneous province. The study found that simultaneous subduction of two plates led to a major mantle flow, triggering the formation of a plume and extensive magmatic activity.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 19, 2023

How drugs get into the blood

Researchers at ETH Zurich have decoded details of how cyclic peptides cross cell membranes, providing a new understanding of their mechanism. This knowledge can help speed up drug discovery by identifying ideal side chains for these molecules.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 14, 2023

Non-drug interventions for patients with Alzheimer’s are both effective and cost-effective, study shows

A Brown-led research team found that four dementia-care interventions saved between $2,800 and $13,000 in societal costs and reduced nursing home admissions while improving quality of life. Non-drug interventions have been shown to be effective in clinical trials and can help people with dementia stay safely at home longer.

SourceBrown University·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 6, 2023

Advanced electrode to help remediation of stubborn new 'forever chemicals'

University of Illinois researchers create an electrode that attracts and captures short-chain PFAS, a type of 'forever chemical,' using electrosorption. The design allows for selective fluorophilic interactions, enabling the capture of these persistent contaminants from environment.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2023

Study finds sinking tundra surface unlikely to trigger runaway permafrost thaw

Researchers used a high-performance computer simulation to study the impact of soil subsidence on permafrost thawing in the Arctic tundra. They found that uneven land subsidence leads to a drier landscape, which limits the process's acceleration through the end of the century.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 21, 2023

Space dust as Earth’s sun shield

A University of Utah-led study explores using space dust as a shield to reduce solar radiation and slow global warming. Launching lunar dust from the moon instead of Earth's way station at L1 could be an effective and cheap solution.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 8, 2023

Coal exit can happen only with stronger policies – and with China

A new study suggests that current coal exit efforts are unlikely to succeed without stronger policies, including carbon pricing and phase-out of coal mining. China plays a critical role in achieving this goal, as it produces and consumes over half of global coal, and its swift action can help propel Paris-aligned momentum.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 6, 2023

Amazon heat drives Tibet temperatures: climate tipping elements connected half around the globe

Scientists have discovered a connection between Amazon rainforest temperature changes and Tibetan Plateau climate patterns, highlighting the global impact of Earth system tipping elements. The study found a pronounced propagation pathway from South America to Tibet via Southern Africa and the Middle East.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 26, 2023

Study explores effects of resistance training in older adults at the cellular level

A new study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University explored the effects of resistance training on older adults' cellular level. The study found that resistance training did not significantly affect inflammatory proteins or redox balance markers, but showed a significant reduction in a specific protein ratio. This may support the...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalAntioxidants·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2023

Nanoantennas directing a bright future

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed nanoantennas that significantly increase the efficiency and photoluminescence of white LEDs by replacing aluminum with titanium dioxide. This breakthrough enables the creation of intensely bright yet energy-saving solid-state lighting solutions.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2022

Finding simplicity within complexity

A University of Houston researcher has developed a method to describe complex systems using the least number of variables possible, reducing complexity from millions to just one. This advancement speeds up science with efficiency and ability to understand and predict natural system behavior.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateDec 8, 2022

A nanoscale view of bubble formation

A German-Chinese research team has created a more precise understanding of the behavior of tiny droplets and vapor bubbles using computer simulation. The findings have the potential to improve cooling systems for microprocessors and enhance the efficiency of green hydrogen production, as well as aid in the development of new materials.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 23, 2022

Magma floods erupt from deeper sources than earlier believed

A new study by University of Helsinki researchers finds that magma floods can form in thick tectonic plates, contradicting the long-held assumption. The research uses geochemical modelling to demonstrate that high-temperature mantle sources can produce magmas with similar trace element compositions as low-pressure conditions.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalJournal of Petrology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 11, 2022

Sex role flexibility is key to the evolution of homosexual partnerships in termites

A new study published in PNAS found that female and male Japanese termites can flip sex roles to form stable same-sex pairs. The researchers discovered that this 'sex role flexibility' allows same-sex pairings to evolve, enabling termites to survive and thrive.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 9, 2022

The theory of micro-hairs

Researchers have developed a continuum theory of micro-hairs, allowing for the study of collective movements and fluid flows. The theory reveals that even random movement is unstable and leads to synchronisation, while perfect unison is also unstable, resulting in specific patterns of movement.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

Early planetary migration can explain missing planets

A new model accounts for the interplay of forces acting on newborn planets, explaining two puzzling observations: the radius valley and peas in a pod. The research suggests that giant impacts, like the one that formed our moon, are probably a generic outcome of planet formation.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 7, 2022

Economic losses from hurricanes become too big to be offset by the US if warming continues

A new study suggests that the US economy's supply chains cannot compensate for local production losses from hurricanes if climate change continues. The researchers found that even under moderate warming scenarios, hurricane damages will exceed the economy's coping capacities, leading to indirect economic effects and price increases for...

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateOct 17, 2022

Optimizing wind flow simulations

Researchers at the University of Oldenburg and Fraunhofer IWES collaborate on a new project to develop more accurate wind flow simulations using artificial intelligence. The goal is to reduce computing times and enhance precision, ultimately accelerating innovation in wind turbine design.

A new, faster way to browse physics-based animations

Researchers at Stanford University have developed Unified Many-Worlds Browsing, a new approach to refine the search process for physics-based animations. By allowing animators to create queries to narrow down options, this framework can potentially reduce thousands of possible outcomes to a handful that are interesting to the user.

SourceStanford University·JournalACM Transactions on Graphics·DateAug 4, 2022

How much spring nitrogen to apply? Pre-planting weather may provide a clue

Researchers found that wetter pre-growing seasons reduced soil nitrogen through leaching, but applying more fertilizer can mitigate this effect. The model also showed that cold pre-growing season temperatures limited early growth in ways that affected yield potential, making extra fertilizer less effective.

Yoyo stars responsible for off-center bubbles

Researchers used a new simulation code to study the formation of star clusters and found that massive stars can eject off-center bubbles in the Orion Nebula. The simulations matched observations, showing that ejected stars can initiate ionized bubbles before falling back into the cluster.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 7, 2022

Never too odd to learn how to swim

Researchers have developed a new formula for swimming based on their study of odd elasticity, allowing microswimmers to exhibit autonomously directional and deterministic motion. The team used Purcell's swimmer model to demonstrate that any odd elastic micromaterial can spontaneously generate locomotion in a fluid.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhysical Review E·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 6, 2022

Further insights into SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycan shield

A recent study published in Frontiers in Microbiology reveals the correlation between sugar identity and flexibility in SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. The researchers used high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy and computer simulation to understand the impact of glycans on antibody recognition and protein shielding.

SourceCIC bioGUNE·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 23, 2022