Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Tuning electrode surfaces to optimize solar fuel production

Researchers found that modifying the surface of electrodes with bismuth can significantly increase electrical current, driving the reactions that split water into oxygen and hydrogen. This process could lead to a clean and sustainable energy future.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Energy·DateFeb 18, 2021
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Energetic costs of human-induced risk in pumas

Pumas in California experienced significant energetic costs when navigating physically difficult terrain or high-risk human disturbance areas, resulting in reduced space use. This study found that male pumas were particularly affected, with a 68% decrease in daily distance traveled and total area traversed over two months.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2021

Energy transition at the crossroads: New topical issue inRussian Journal of Economics

The Russian Journal of Economics' new issue explores the complexities of energy transition amid global crises, including health, economic, environmental, political, and humanitarian crises. Researchers examine emerging trends in global energy markets, renewable energy sources, and geopolitical implications of energy policy changes.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalRussian Journal of Economics·DateDec 16, 2020

Minimal waste production is a fundamental law for animal locomotion

A thermodynamic analysis by Skoltech professor Henni Ouerdane and his collaborators shows that waste minimization prevails over efficiency or power maximization in animal locomotion. The study recovered trends with experimental data for walk, trot, and gallop gaits.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 25, 2020

Detection of a short, intense radio burst in Milky Way

A team of Canadian astronomers detected an intense radio burst from a nearby magnetar, lending weight to the theory that magnetars are behind at least some fast radio bursts. The findings suggest that magnetars could be responsible for some FRBs, but further research is needed to confirm this.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature·DateNov 4, 2020
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

New theory predicts movement of different animals using sensing to search

A Northwestern University research team developed a new theory that can predict the movement of an animal's sensory organs while searching for vital information. The theory, called energy-constrained proportional betting, provides insight into how animals gamble on energy expenditure to get useful information.

SourceNorthwestern University·DateSep 22, 2020

Our energy hunger is tethered to our economic past

Researchers found that current energy consumption is tied to unchangeable past economic production, which led to an increase in carbon emissions. The study suggests that improving efficiency may actually accelerate civilization growth and consumption, making it harder to reduce CO2 emissions.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 27, 2020

How efficient are solar power storage systems?

The 'Testbench' project enhances the quality of efficiency measurements for solar power storage systems, facilitating comparison and standardization. The goal is to improve reproducibility and confirm the results, ultimately benefiting operators and manufacturers in the growing market.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·DateJun 4, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

New high-energy-density physics research provides insights about the universe

Researchers have discovered two new phenomena - interspecies radiative transition and breakdown of dipole selection rule - in the transport of radiation in atoms and molecules under high-energy-density physics conditions. This finding enhances understanding of HEDP and could lead to insights into how stars evolve in the universe.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2020

Scientists discover supernova that outshines all others

Astronomers have identified a supernova at least twice as bright and energetic as any recorded, with calculations suggesting it may be an extremely rare 'pulsational pair-instability' supernova. The explosion was powered by a collision between the supernova and a massive shell of gas.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Astronomy·DateApr 13, 2020

New laser technique will allow more powerful -- and smaller -- particle accelerators

Researchers at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics developed a novel method to shape intense laser light, accelerating electrons to record energies in very short distances. This technology could allow scientists to perform tabletop experiments to probe the Higgs boson and explore extra dimensions.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 3, 2020
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

How to break new records in the 200 metres?

Researchers Amandine Aftalion and Emmanuel Trélat found that shorter straights and larger radii can improve running performance. Their mathematical model predicts that these track designs could potentially break long-standing records, with improvements of up to 4 hundredth of a second.

SourceCNRS·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateMar 25, 2020

Bumblebees carry heavy loads in economy mode

Researchers discovered bumblebees use two modes of flight to optimize energy usage, including the 'economy mode' that allows heavier loads with minimal extra flapping frequency. This behavioral choice reveals flexibility in bee behavior and challenges previous assumptions about insect physiology.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 5, 2020

UNH researchers find clues to how hazardous space radiation begins

Researchers observed solar energetic particle events and found that pre-accelerated particles build up in front of coronal mass ejections, creating a new phase of the energization process critical for radiation hazards. The study highlights the complex interplay between flares, particle populations and CMEs.

SourceUniversity of New Hampshire·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateFeb 3, 2020
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Going with the flow: New insights into mysterious fluid motions

Researchers develop a new approach for studying transitional flows, finding that the energy spectrum of small eddies conforms to Kolmogorov's universal theory. This breakthrough has practical applications in engineering, particularly in predicting friction between flow and pipe.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 24, 2020

Lin Chen receives Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry

Lin X. Chen, a senior chemist at Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University professor, has received the 2020 Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry for her fundamental contributions to elucidating excited state structures, dynamics, and energetics of light harvesting systems.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·DateJan 24, 2020

Finding a killer electron hot spot in Earth's Van Allen radiation belts

Researchers discovered a hotspot in Earth's radiation belt where killer electrons form, which can cause serious anomalies in satellites. The finding improves the accuracy of forecasting when these high-speed electrons will form, potentially impacting space weather science.

SourceNagoya University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 13, 2019
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Why whales are so big, but not bigger

Larger whales consume more prey and have higher energy efficiency due to their size. Filter-feeding whales, however, exhibit rapid increases in energy from food, potentially driving evolutionary pathways to gigantism.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateDec 12, 2019

Sun's close-up reveals atmosphere hopping with highly energetic particles

New data from NASA's Parker Solar Probe reveals that energetic particles hurtling out of the sun are more varied and numerous than previously thought, according to results from the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun instrument suite. This discovery could provide early warnings for solar storms and improve space weather forecasts.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·DateDec 4, 2019

When laser beams meet plasma: New data addresses gap in fusion research

Researchers at the University of Rochester have directly demonstrated how laser beams modify plasma conditions, affecting energy transfer in fusion experiments. This breakthrough validates a longstanding theory and improves predictive capability for integrated implosion simulations.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Physics·DateDec 2, 2019
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

First detection of gamma-ray burst afterglow in very-high-energy gamma light

An international team of researchers has successfully detected a gamma-ray burst in very-high-energy gamma light, challenging current understanding of these phenomena. The detection was made using the H.E.S.S. telescope and reveals the presence of extremely accelerated particles that exist long after the explosion.

SourceKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe·JournalNature·DateNov 20, 2019

New assessment finds EU electricity decarbonization discourse in need of overhaul

A new study challenges the EU's approach to decarbonizing its economy, arguing that it overlooks the importance of functional societal change. The researchers propose a new methodological approach to analyze complex issues like electricity decarbonization, highlighting the need for policies that motivate use changes.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalEnergy Research & Social Science·DateNov 18, 2019
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Taking a new tangent to control pesky waves in fusion plasmas

Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory developed new mathematical tools to forecast when waves will cool plasma and quench fusion reactions. A second beam injected at a different angle can suppress the effect of waves, providing new methods for maintaining plasma confinement.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateOct 21, 2019

Creating a single phonon in ambient conditions

Physicists at EPFL's Institute of Physics have successfully created a single phonon in ambient conditions, allowing them to study quantum phenomena in naturally occurring materials. The breakthrough enables the creation of room-temperature ultrafast quantum technologies with potential applications in various fields.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalPhysical Review X·DateOct 8, 2019

Giant balloon-like structures discovered at center of Milky Way

An international team of astronomers has detected radio bubbles with South Africa's MeerKAT telescope, revealing a massive hourglass-shaped structure hundreds of light-years tall. The discovery is believed to be the result of an energetic burst near the supermassive black hole, providing insights into the Milky Way's central region.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateSep 11, 2019

Physicists create world's smallest engine

Researchers have built the world's smallest engine, a single calcium ion, which uses random fluctuations to generate vibrations and store energy in discrete units. This tiny motor has potential applications in recycling waste heat and improving energy efficiency in future technologies.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 21, 2019
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Mapping the energetic landscape of solar cells

Heidelberg University physicists develop a novel spectroscopic method to map the energetic landscape inside solar cells based on organic materials. This technique enables scientists to study physical principles and better understand processes such as energetic losses with extreme precision.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalJoule·DateAug 13, 2019

Tuning the energy levels of organic semiconductors

Researchers found that adjusting a single molecular parameter, the molecular quadrupole moment, can tune the energetics in organic films. This effect enhances long-range Coulomb interactions in organic materials.

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 8, 2019

Brain energetics and obesity risk

Childhood brain energy expenditure inversely related to body weight gain; variation may explain obesity timing and lifetime risk. Researchers hypothesize that brain energy demand could help predict obesity risk.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 17, 2019
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Hubble sets sights on an explosive galaxy

The Hubble Space Telescope has observed multiple supernovae in the spiral galaxy NGC 4051, revealing Type Ic supernovae produced by massive star core collapse. These events are scattered throughout the center and spiral arms of the galaxy.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJun 14, 2019

NASA launches two rockets studying auroras

NASA has launched the AZURE mission, carrying instruments to measure atmospheric density and temperature in auroral regions. The mission will release colorful gas tracers to track particle flow and provide valuable data on ionosphere dynamics.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 9, 2019

Digitalization of electricity grids

Researchers aim to boost efficiency and avoid grid extension measures by increasing automation of grid operations. They are developing expert systems for real-time fault detection and co-simulation.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·DateApr 2, 2019

Researchers improve description of defective oxides with first principles calculation

The researchers developed site-dependent +U correction parameters using self-consistent first principles calculations, which improves the structure of stoichiometric SrMnO3 and provides a more accurate description of defective systems. This approach can lead to lower computational cost and more precise predictions of defect energetics.

SourceNational Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) MARVEL·JournalPhysical Review B·DateMar 12, 2019
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Increasing frailty may lead to death

A new study found that frail patients of all ages are more likely to die than non-frail patients. Frailty is associated with poorer patient outcomes, including significantly longer hospital stays and higher readmission rates.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalAge and Ageing·DateFeb 19, 2019

Hot great white sharks could motor but prefer to swim slow

A team of researchers found that hot great white sharks can swim at high speeds when commuting between islands, but prefer slower speeds when hunting for fat seal snacks. The study suggests that the warm-blooded lifestyle of these sharks allows them to conserve energy by using a 'sit-and-wait' strategy.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateFeb 18, 2019

For gait transitions, stability often trumps energy savings

A team of researchers found that animals switch to more stable gaits during speed-related transitions to minimize unstable dynamic states and reduce the risk of tripping or falling. The study, which examined nine animal models across various species, suggests that gait transitions prioritize stability over energy savings.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·DateDec 20, 2018

Discovery could lead to munitions that go further, much faster

Researchers from the U.S. Army and top universities discovered a new way to enhance energetic performance of metal powders in battlefield systems by igniting aluminum micron powders coated with graphene oxide. The discovery, published in ACS Nano, could lead to improved range and lethality of existing weapons systems.

SourceU.S. Army Research Laboratory·JournalACS Nano·DateDec 20, 2018
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Flying focus: Controlling lasers through time and space

Researchers have created a method to move intense laser focal points at any speed, including faster than the speed of light. This technique combines a lens that focuses specific colors of light at different locations with chirped-pulse amplification technology.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 5, 2018

Modelling a future fuelled by sustainable energy

Researchers at the University of Adelaide modelled the transition to a sustainable energy future, examining the relative productivity of fossil fuels and renewables. The study shows that fuel productivity determines the viability of renewable energy and how economies will transition from fossil fuels to sustainable sources.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalEconomic Modelling·DateOct 29, 2018

Researchers detect high-energy rays from powerful star system

Researchers have detected extremely high-energy gamma rays from the microquasar SS 433, which is located 18,000 light years from Earth. This discovery sheds light on astrophysical processes and may offer insights into star systems in distant galaxies.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature·DateOct 4, 2018
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Army scientists have a blast with aluminum nanoparticles

Researchers from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Texas Tech University demonstrated a 30-percent enhancement in TNT detonation velocity by adding novel aluminum nanoparticles. The AIH-coated nanoparticles showed improved reactivity due to their unique morphological feature, leading to enhanced explosive performance.

SourceU.S. Army Research Laboratory·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 11, 2018
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Monkeys eat fats and carbs to keep warm

Researchers found that golden snub-nosed monkeys increase their energy intake from fats and carbs in winter to counteract elevated thermoregulatory costs. This adjustment enables the monkeys to balance their macronutrient content and meet specific nutritional needs, suggesting a key adaptation for survival in cold environments.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalFunctional Ecology·DateJun 7, 2018

As solar wind blows, our heliosphere balloons

The solar wind pressure increase in 2014 led to a change in the shape of our heliosphere. The boundaries of the heliosphere expanded outward as particles rebounded off their edges. This expansion can be seen in the increased density of energetic neutral atoms detected by IBEX, which have been traveling through space and returned to Earth.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJun 6, 2018

Four Argonne researchers earn international honors

Argonne researchers Lawrence Harding, Albert Wagner, Stephen Klippenstein, and James Miller have been inducted as fellows of The Combustion Institute. Their pioneering work has led to significant advances in understanding the chemistry of combustion. The recognition highlights the importance of U.S. Department of Energy Basic Energy Sc...

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·DateApr 27, 2018
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Understanding Mercury's magnetic tail

Researchers found that plasmoid reconnection in Mercury's magnetotail could accelerate energetic electrons, solving a puzzle left by previous space missions. The study also revealed that turbulence enhances reconnection, leading to improved predictions for future missions like Bepi-Colombo.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateApr 17, 2018