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Farm-centric research focuses on yield variability in Nepal’s smallholder cereal systems

Researchers developed a 'site-specific' strategy to improve cereal yields in Nepalese smallholder farms, outperforming traditional generalized approaches. The Nutrient Expert system uses machine learning to identify crop-specific nutrient requirements, optimizing yield and resource efficiency.

SourceAfrican Plant Nutrition Institute·JournalAgricultural Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 30, 2021

Simulating evolution to understand a hidden switch

Researchers used computer simulations to study evolution and phenotypic switching in organisms, finding that a 'hidden' switch mechanism is used for stability, and can be activated in response to environmental changes. The study suggests that this mechanism helps organisms maintain gene expression levels under stable conditions.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Computational Science·DateJan 15, 2021

Surprises in 'active' aging

Physicists from the University of Göttingen used computer simulations to investigate aging in living glassy systems, finding that persistent particle activity drives aging. This discovery has potential consequences for biological processes such as wound-healing and cancer metastasis.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 18, 2020

How human social structures emerge

Researchers developed mathematical models to understand what conditions produced traditional community structures and conventions around the world. Simulated family groups with shared traits naturally grouped together into distinct cultural groups, leading to the emergence of incest taboos and direct or generalized exchange kinship str...

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

A new view for glasses

Researchers at The University of Tokyo introduced a new physical model that predicts the dynamics of glassy materials based solely on their local degree of atomic structural order. This theory greatly improves our understanding of how glassy liquids become more viscous on cooling, with potential applications in manufacturing.

Optimizing structures within complex arrangements of bubbles

Researchers at Aberystwyth University used computer simulations to find optimal bubble arrangements within circular discs that minimize perimeter length. The study reveals that the number of possible structures increases as the number of bubbles grows, leading to a narrower range of area ratios for the smallest perimeter.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateJul 31, 2019

More CO2 than ever before in 3 million years, shows unprecedented computer simulation

A team of scientists successfully conducted the first computer simulation that matches ocean floor sediment data on climate evolution over 3 million years. The study reveals that changes in CO2 levels were a main driver of ice ages, and current greenhouse gas emissions are now triggering unprecedented climate change.

Variations in seafloor create freak ocean waves

Researchers at Florida State University have found that abrupt variations in the seafloor can cause massive destruction from rogue or freak waves. The study, published in Physical Review Fluids, reveals that these extreme events follow a gamma distribution, a mathematics function that defies traditional bell curve patterns.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·DateFeb 1, 2019

What atoms do when liquids and gases meet

Researchers from UC3M and Imperial College London have developed a new theory that explains the behavior of liquids and gases at the microscopic scale. The study reveals that the arrangement of atoms exhibits certain mathematical properties called resonances, which provide a consistent description of liquid-gas fluctuations.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 24, 2019

The ultrafast dance of liquid water

Researchers at Stockholm University have discovered correlated motion in water dynamics on a sub-100 femtosecond timescale, indicating a complex network of hydrogen bonds that play a role even on ultrafast timescales. The study reveals the coordinated dance of water molecules due to the formation of tetrahedral structures.

SourceStockholm University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 17, 2018

How fluids flow through shale

Researchers used a coarse-grain approach to model the behavior of fluids in tiny pores within shale rock. The simulations incorporated high-resolution imagery of shale samples, allowing for better probing of the underlying physics. This new understanding could lead to more efficient oil and gas extraction methods.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateMay 2, 2017

New research reveals hundreds of undiscovered black holes

Researchers at the University of Surrey have discovered hundreds of undetectable black holes within a globular cluster, overturning old theories on their formation. The study uses advanced simulations to map the cluster and its behavior, revealing the effects of these massive objects on the surrounding stars.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 7, 2016

Electronic counterpart to ecological models revealed

Researchers developed an electronic version of a logistic map that can interact with multiple maps, making it scalable. The model allows for the comparison of previous computer simulations with experimental results using state-of-the-art technology.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateMar 24, 2016

Experimentation and largest-ever quantum simulation of a disordered system explain quantum many-particle problem

Physicists have successfully simulated a disordered quantum system on the largest supercomputers, providing new insights into the many-particle problem. The researchers used controlled experiments and computer simulations to study the behavior of materials such as high-temperature superconductors.

Did grandmas make people pair up?

A recent study suggests that grandmothering played a crucial role in the development of human pair bonds, which distinguish us from other primates. With increasing human longevity, grandmothers helped feed their weaned children, allowing their daughters to have more kids and passing on genes.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 7, 2015

In search of memory storage

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum recreated memory formation in the hippocampus using computer simulations, challenging the existing model. They found that the CA1 region plays a key role in completing memories, while the CA3 region is not as crucial as previously thought.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 3, 2015