Articles tagged with Energetics
Researchers at the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics have developed a system to precisely measure the duration of energetic electron pulses using laser fields. This allows for the investigation of ultrafast processes in atoms and molecules, providing insights into nature's smallest scales.
Researchers found hummingbirds can switch between burning glucose and fructose equally well, unlike humans who struggle with fructose metabolism. This efficient sugar-burning strategy enables hummingbirds to maintain hovering flight while minimizing unnecessary weight gain.
Gamma-ray burst GRB 130427A was observed by NASA satellites and ground-based telescopes, revealing a spike in high-energy gamma-rays that defies expectations. The event challenged current theoretical understanding of internal and external shock waves producing these bursts.
Dr. Scott Tinker receives AGI award for his documentary Switch, which has reached an estimated 3 million people globally and screened at over 350 universities. He is also a prominent figure in building bridges between academia, industry, and government.
A new study by MIT economists Christopher Knittel and Aaron Smith challenges the notion that increasing ethanol content in gasoline reduces its price. The study found no causal link between ethanol and lower gas prices, contradicting previous claims of a $0.89 to $1.09 per gallon reduction.
Researchers at National Ignition Facility have made significant progress in creating a self-sustained fusion reaction, but still face challenges to overcome before achieving the highly stable and precisely directed implosion required for ignition.
A study by Stanford University researchers found that grid-scale batteries make sense for storing surplus solar energy, but not for wind. This is because the energetic cost of storing wind-generated electricity is lower than curtailment, making it more energetically efficient to shut down wind turbines.
Scientists have discovered a massive particle accelerator in the Van Allen radiation belts, revealing that particles are sped up by a local energy source. This discovery answers a longstanding question and will help make predictions of space weather conditions.
A team of international researchers discovered four fast radio bursts from cosmological distances, suggesting they originate from extreme events involving relativistic objects. The findings provide a way to study space between galaxies and understand the properties of missing matter in the Universe.
Researchers develop equations to estimate parasite and host metabolic rates, providing a new way to understand the energetics of parasites. The model reveals that there is a limit to how many worms can be accommodated in a host, with energy being the key limiting factor.
Scientists from the University of New Hampshire and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explain how energetic particles create molecular hydrogen from water ice on the moon. They used data gathered by the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation to show that up to 100% of the H2 can be formed via charged particles.
AFOSR-funded research has led to the development of a new, environmentally benign propellant that is twice as powerful as hydrazine. This 'green' propellant reduces toxicity and offers improved safety properties.
Researchers at Stanford University have found that the majority of grid-scale battery technologies have high embodied-energy costs compared to pumped hydroelectric storage. Improved cycle life can reduce long-term energetic costs for batteries, making them a more practical option.
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission, led by the University of New Hampshire, has discovered a transient third radiation belt formed in the wake of a powerful solar event. The new belt was detected using the Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope and is located at an inner edge of the outer electron belt.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) had a significant impact on Colorado's economy in FY 2012, with a total economic benefit of $814.8 million. The laboratory supported approximately 2,300 jobs and invested heavily in construction, including a new parking garage and energy-efficient building.
A new type of nanoscale engine uses quantum dots to convert waste heat into electrical power, potentially making microcircuits more efficient. The system exploits resonant tunneling and can generate a significant amount of power depending on the temperature difference across the energy harvester.
A new study from the University of Otago found that consuming seven to eight servings of fruits and vegetables per day can improve mood and overall wellbeing in young adults. The research suggests a strong relationship between positive emotions and higher fruit and vegetable consumption, with no significant impact on other foods.
The Mercyhurst University study assesses the current and future impacts of climate change on the overwintering energetics and microenvironmental conditions of the goldenrod gall fly. The research reveals a significant increase in energy use by larvae during winter, projected to decline with rising temperatures.
A team of astronomers has discovered an excess of X-ray radiation in the first few minutes of collapsing massive stars, potentially revealing the signature of the supernova shock wave. This breakthrough could enable the detection of new supernovae earlier than current methods, allowing for more precise monitoring and analysis.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a quasar with the most energetic outflow ever recorded, exceeding the Milky Way galaxy's total power output by 100 times. The massive material ejected has a rate equivalent to two trillion times the sun's power output.
A new study from Indiana University found that excessive soda consumption and screen time contribute to overweight and weight gain in students. In contrast, a regular meal pattern with at least three meals a day appears to be an effective strategy for achieving healthy weight.
Human pregnancy length is limited by a mother's metabolism, not birth canal size, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The EGG hypothesis suggests that babies are born when their mother cannot put any more energy into gestation and fetal growth.
A recent study published in European Physical Journal B found that imposing minimum capital levels for banks may trigger a widespread banking system collapse. The researchers' model showed that the effect of a single insolvency can trigger an avalanche in the banking system, leading to larger crises.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that hunter-gatherers, such as the Hadza tribe, expend a similar amount of energy daily as Western adults, contradicting the long-held assumption that their ancestors burned more calories. This similarity suggests that habitual metabolic rates are relatively constant among human populations.
Researchers found that southern dumpling squid's prolonged mating rituals result in temporary muscle fatigue, affecting their swimming ability for up to 30 minutes. This discovery provides new insight into the evolution of reproductive strategies and behaviours.
The University of Minnesota has developed an innovative isothermal compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology, licensed to SustainX. This solution can stabilize renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, making them more predictable and reliable.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that UK's discarded wrapping paper and Christmas cards can be turned into high-grade biofuel, powering vehicles with lower greenhouse gas emissions. The study suggests that using this technology could provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) is measuring radiation levels on NASA's next rover mission to Mars. RAD characterizes the radiation environment astronauts would experience during a future human mission to Mars.
Researchers find that mammals with relatively large brains tend to have a somewhat bigger digestive tract. The storage of fat plays a key role in brain size evolution, with more fat an animal species can store leading to a smaller brain.
A study by Harvard researchers found that cooked meat delivers more energy than raw meat, contradicting current food labeling. This discovery supports the idea that cooking allowed early humans to extract more energy from their diet, contributing to evolutionary adaptations such as increased brain size and long-distance running ability.
Researchers confirmed that converting cow manure to electricity on farms is technically possible. However, the economic viability of such projects heavily depends on factors like government grants, subsidies, and premium paid for converted energy.
Researchers have discovered how living organisms, including humans, protect themselves from carbon monoxide poisoning by altering the structure of haemproteins. This mechanism allows for safe levels of internal carbon monoxide production without impairing cellular functions.
A new University of Melbourne study reveals that mother Eastern Grey Kangaroos double their food intake and significantly reduce resting time to meet the nutritional needs of their baby. This altered behavior increases their risk of parasite infection, which may be a significant additional cost for reproducing females.
Researchers use molecular imaging to gauge heart efficiency in subjects with a pathogenic mutation linked to HCM. They find carriers of the mutation already have less efficient hearts despite the absence of any symptoms. Alcohol septal ablation is shown to be an effective treatment for symptomatic patients who remain symptomatic despit...
Giant hummingbirds use more energy for their body size than smaller hummingbirds do, but still below the upper metabolic limit. Asexual fish hybrids have lower physiological performance, possibly due to increased reproductive advantage over sexual dace. Small sea birds hold heat rather than increasing metabolism
Harvard researchers develop rigorous mathematical theory to predict surface stability or instability under irradiation over time. The theory reveals that the cumulative effect of atoms knocked around, not blasted away, determines surface stability.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory developed a new alloy that converts heat into electrical energy with improved efficiency, paving the way for applications in vehicles, power generation, and recycling waste heat. The breakthrough uses rare-earth elements cerium or ytterbium to enhance thermoelectric properties.
Astronomers using data from NASA's Swift satellite have found a largely unseen population of black-hole-powered galaxies, accounting for at least one-fifth of all active galaxies. The discoveries were made by analyzing X-ray emissions and finding that these heavily shrouded black holes are extremely faint and difficult to detect.
A study published in BioScience finds strong correlations between energy consumption per person and gross domestic product per person across countries and over time. Researchers conclude that increasing energy supply is necessary to meet projected world population growth without compromising living standards.
The discovery of gamma-ray flares in the Crab Nebula, powered by a rapidly spinning neutron star, challenges current theories on cosmic particle acceleration. The flares were caused by super-charged electrons of up to 10 peta-electron volts, 1,000 times more energetic than any man-made accelerator.
Researchers discovered that blue whales can consume up to 2,000,000 kJ in a single mouthful of krill, providing 240 times more energy than used during a dive. This efficiency is due to the massive size of their mouths, which allow them to engulf large volumes of food.
A decade-long decline in the nation's energy supply quality may be the root cause of the current economic recession. The Energy Intensity Ratio (EIR) measures how much profit consumers get from their energy, and its decline is correlated with economic downturns.
Scientists have found a miniaturized galaxy with a single massive black hole, which produces radio jets that are much more efficient than previously thought. The discovery was made using CSIRO's Compact Array radio telescope and reveals that black holes can be both more powerful and more efficient.
Researchers found that taller people use less energy per stride when walking, making short people less economical walkers due to taking more steps. A new equation can now be used to calculate the energetic cost of walking based on these factors.
The Solar Probe Plus mission will measure energetic particles in the Sun's corona, providing critical data on acceleration mechanisms and space weather. SwRI-led instruments will help determine the structure and dynamics of the Sun's magnetic field and forecast hazardous space weather.
Research suggests that ostriches' wing-use and hindlimb function may help reconstruct locomotor techniques in bipedal dinosaurs. The study found that ostriches efficiently channel aerodynamic forces during rapid breaking, turning, and zigzag manoeuvres.
Two studies by Indiana University researchers found little influence of compression garments on running mechanics and economy in highly trained distance runners. While some subjects experienced improvement in their oxygen consumption, it was largely attributed to a psychological component rather than the garment itself.
A series of studies found that spending time in nature significantly increases feelings of vitality and energy, even in indoor settings. The research, led by Richard Ryan, suggests that nature is fuel for the soul and can provide a natural connection to living things, promoting physical and mental health.
This study uses accelerometry to measure the energy expenditure of cane toads, revealing a higher metabolic rate than previously thought. The research provides valuable data for predictive models to optimize control efficiency in invasive species management.
The entry of oil companies into renewable energy could hinder a sustainable economy based on carbon resources. A democratic and equitable transition is necessary to avoid a centralized structure that contradicts the nature of renewable energy sources.
The University of Chicago has established a new center for chemical innovation to pursue research on non-equilibrium chemistry, materials growth, and reactions in liquids. The center aims to develop new ways to convert methane into synthesis gas, producing liquid fuels and hydrogen.
Zhi-Xun Shen, director of SIMES, received the E.O. Lawrence Award for his groundbreaking discoveries and pioneering use of high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission to advance understanding of strongly correlated electron systems.
A University of Utah scientist argues that energy conservation doesn't save energy, but instead spurs economic growth and accelerated energy consumption. The study finds a constant link between global energy use and accumulated economic productivity, tied to a physical constant of 9.7 milliwatts per inflation-adjusted dollar.
Researchers found that observers can accurately judge some major personality traits from full-body photographs, especially with naturally expressive behavior. Altering one's appearance can influence how others perceive their personality, according to the study's findings.
A new generation of high-energy lasers has been developed to study fast ignition and high energy density physics. Using the OMEGA EP laser, researchers have demonstrated strong laser-matter coupling with intense 2.1kJ, 15ps laser pulses, enabling significant laser powers to be produced.
The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite has revealed an unexpected landmark at the outer edge of the solar wind bubble, forming a giant ribbon of energetic neutral atoms. The structure is associated with enhanced production of energetic neutral atoms due to interstellar magnetic forces.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University present a new view of the region of the sun's influence, suggesting that the heliosphere may not have a comet-like shape. The Cassini spacecraft's images reveal that particle pressure and magnetic field energy density control the shape of the heliosphere.
The IBEX spacecraft has created a new comprehensive sky map of our solar system, showcasing its location within the Milky Way galaxy. The map highlights the region that separates our heliosphere from interstellar space, with bright emissions not previously detected by Voyager spacecraft.
Research suggests that triathletes who undertake high levels of cycling training have worse sperm morphology and quality. The study found a statistically adverse correlation between sperm morphology and the volume of cycling training undertaken per week.
Researchers found that Republicans generally value financial success over helping others, while Democrats tend to prioritize intrinsic values. Notable exceptions included non-religious Republicans and religious Democrats who did not differ from each other.