Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Sea level rise will harm coastal wetlands in the Chesapeake—A bad sign for people and property

A new study assesses the impacts of sea level rise and wetland change on storm surge flooding in the Chesapeake Bay region. The results show that even relatively weak storms in 2100 could have a greater impact than high-intensity storms today, with significant property damage and effects on people.

SourceResources for the Future (RFF)·JournalNatural Hazards Review·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 25, 2021

Researchers developing new cancer treatments with high-intensity focused ultrasound

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technology is being explored for its potential to destroy cancerous tumours while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Researchers at the University of Waterloo have made significant progress in understanding how HIFU works on a cellular level, paving the way for future clinical trials.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalBulletin of Mathematical Biology·DateAug 24, 2021

The Hobbit’s bite gets a stress test

A study on Homo floresiensis found its bite could exert around 1300 Newtons of force, comparable to modern humans and some extinct cousins. This suggests that the Hobbit might have been at greater risk of facial bone strain or dislocation when biting hard foods.

SourceDuke University·JournalInterface Focus·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 23, 2021

MTU engineers clean up water pollution with sunlight

Michigan Tech researchers developed a model to calculate how particular chemicals break down in surface water using singlet oxygen, which degrades contaminants and helps protect our waterways. The study's findings can aid environmental engineers and scientists in estimating half-lives of chemicals and predicting their degradation rates.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 10, 2021

Far out: Why political parties go to extremes

A recent study modelled social, economic, and personal factors influencing voters and parties to identify four key levers that tip the balance towards political extremes. Social contagion and macro-economic factors such as employment and economic growth play a significant role in driving polarization.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 5, 2021

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.