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Simulations predict flat liquid

Researchers have predicted a liquid phase in atomically thin golden islands that patch small pores of graphene, where gold atoms flow and change places in the plane. The liquid state is possible when the edge of graphene pore stretches the metallic membrane.

SourceAcademy of Finland·JournalNanoscale·DateMay 21, 2015

Wrinkle predictions

A team of MIT mathematicians developed a theory predicting wrinkled patterns on curved surfaces, confirmed through experiments. The theory states that curvature is the main parameter determining pattern formation, with thicker shells forming hexagonal patterns and thinner shells resulting in labyrinthine configurations.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 2, 2015

Computer simulations visualize ion flux

A team of researchers used computer simulations to study how ion flux works in voltage gated sodium ion channels. The results revealed that a specific amino acid, glutamic acid, plays a crucial role in regulating channel flux and enabling selective sodium influx.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateSep 1, 2014

19th century math tactic gets a makeover -- and yields answers up to 200 times faster

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have made a rarely used math strategy called the Jacobi method work significantly faster, potentially speeding up computer simulations in aerospace design, shipbuilding, and other engineering tasks. The updated method could solve problems that previously took 200 days to solve in just one day.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalJournal of Computational Physics·DateJun 30, 2014

What makes flying snakes such gifted gliders?

A team of researchers used computer simulations to study the aerodynamics of flying snakes, discovering that whirls of wind surrounding the snake's body provide an extra boost of lift. This unique shape helps the snake glide efficiently through the air, making it a fascinating example of nature's efficient design.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateMar 4, 2014

Birth of Earth's continents

Scientists found that continent nuclei formed as a byproduct of mountain-building processes, stacking up slabs of cold oceanic crust to create thick 'keels' in the mantle. This process supported the overlying crust and enabled continents to form.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 16, 2013

Air quality worsened by paved surfaces

A new study suggests that widespread urban development can lead to reduced nighttime winds and increased air pollution in coastal cities. Researchers found that paved surfaces absorb heat, reducing the temperature contrast between land and sea, and causing stagnation. This can result in a buildup of pollutants during warm summer weather.

First stars in universe were not alone

Astrophysicists used computer simulations to find that the first stars could have formed alongside multiple companions. The simulations suggest that these companion stars were born when the gas disks surrounding the first star broke up, giving rise to sibling stars in fragments.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalScience·DateFeb 4, 2011

Robotic ghost knifefish is born

Researchers created a robotic fish that can swim vertically and horizontally with unprecedented agility. The robot uses a sophisticated fin to generate inward counterpropagating waves, allowing it to move in unexpected directions. Its potential applications include underwater recovery operations and long-term monitoring of coral reefs.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateJan 18, 2011

New NSF grant for interactive community computer simulation to restore watersheds

Researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis are developing an interactive computer simulation framework to improve watershed management practices. The new $410,000 grant will enable community members to participate in restoring ecological balance and make informed decisions about water management alternatives.

Defectors take the car, cooperators go by bus

A computer simulation suggests that large buses running on separate traffic lanes can achieve a comfortable level of crowding without gridlock. The study's findings support mass transportation as the preferred option for most commuters, even with a few individuals choosing to drive by car.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Internet and Enterprise Management·DateFeb 3, 2009

Putting an end to turbulence

Researchers from Max Planck Institute and Technical University discover that turbulent flows in pipes will inevitably become laminar, with the transition taking many years. This finding could help save energy in applications like oil pipelines.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 21, 2008

Scientists simulate pandemic influenza outbreak in Chicago

Researchers used computer simulation models to examine the impact of various intervention strategies on a pandemic influenza outbreak in a population similar to Chicago. The study found that providing preemptive household antiviral treatments and minimizing contact could play a major role in reducing the spread of illness.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 10, 2008

How molecular muscles help cells divide

Researchers at Yale University discovered how molecular muscles assemble a 'contractile ring' to divide cells, using a 'search, capture, pull and release' mechanism. The mechanism involves protein clusters on the inside of the cell membrane that grow and connect, forming a condensed ring.

SourceYale University·JournalScience·DateDec 14, 2007

$3.5 million for computer simulation of molecules

The University of Utah has received a $3.5 million grant from the Department of Defense's Office of Naval Research to develop cutting-edge computer simulation methods for describing chemical reactions in complicated molecular systems. This advancement will greatly expand the application of molecular simulation techniques to new scienti...

Small is different

Computer simulations have revealed that gold is an effective catalyst when it's in clusters of eight to two dozen atoms, and electrical charging plays a crucial role. This breakthrough has opened up new avenues for exploring environmental effects on catalysis.