Articles tagged with Measuring Instruments
Researchers from Hebrew University developed a microscope-integrated ellipsometer that enables fast and precise measurements of thin-film thicknesses in small areas. The Spectroscopic Micro-Ellipsometer successfully maps the thicknesses of diverse 2D material flakes, determining their number of atomic layers.
A new study found that the 2022 snow season had the highest snowpack dust concentrations of any year since observations began in 2009, accelerating snowmelt by 17 days. The dry lakebed of the Great Salt Lake contributed the highest dust emissions per surface area, threatening Utah's water supply.
Researchers found rock-forming elements in the atmosphere of WASP-76 b, which suggests it might have accreted a smaller Mercury-like planet. The discovery provides unprecedented insight into the presence and abundance of rock-forming elements in giant planets.
Researchers at Aalto University create a new bolometer that can accurately measure microwave power down to the femtowatt level at ultra-low temperatures. This breakthrough device has the potential to significantly advance quantum computing and technology, enabling more precise control over qubits and improving overall performance.
A study by UMC Utrecht shows that corona patients can measure their blood oxygen levels at home using a pulse oximeter, feeling safe and experiencing more control. This method does not increase GP visits or hospitalization but contributes to relieving caregivers and keeping healthcare affordable.
Researchers develop innovative data compression scheme to facilitate multispeckle diffuse correlation spectroscopy with high pixel resolutions, enabling non-invasive measurement of brain blood flow. The scheme uses field-programmable gate array compression to alleviate computational burdens and expand the use of SPAD cameras in biomedi...
A new camera design allows for cheaper and more efficient long-term volcano monitoring, enabling researchers to track gas emissions and predict eruptions. The camera's affordability and user-friendliness make it accessible to more volcanologists, facilitating new research opportunities.
A new field campaign will provide crucial details on cloud and precipitation properties in the Southern Ocean. Scientists aim to improve climate models' accuracy with data from this region.
A team of Clemson researchers has developed a new method to evaluate the efficiency of thermoelectric materials, called the figure-of-merit (zT), which considers temperature, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. The new method uses Peltier cooling to measure zT with higher resolution and accuracy.
A team of quantum engineers at UNSW Sydney has developed a method to reset a quantum computer using a fast digital voltmeter to watch the temperature of an electron, reducing preparation errors from 20% to 1%. This innovation represents a modern twist on Maxwell's demon, a thought experiment that dates back to 1867.
A new lidar ceilometer can accurately measure cloud phase, providing crucial data for climate models. Researchers tested the device in northern Japan, comparing its results to those of a cloud particle sensor sonde, and found promising results.
Scientists have successfully tracked CO2 emissions from the Bełchatów power plant in Poland using existing satellites. The study demonstrates that tracking-at-the-source is already possible for 'super-emitters' like this facility, and its success is an important achievement. The results indicate that the EU's planned CO2M mission will ...
A new method for wind profiling using small drones has been tested and validated, enabling reliable wind speed measurements. The approach uses thermal anemometers, which are ideal for sUAVs due to their lightweight and inexpensive nature.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin used Auger photo-electron coincidence spectroscopy to study the occupation of outer d-orbital shells in copper, nickel, and cobalt. The results confirm known findings for copper and nickel, but reveal highly delocalized d electrons in cobalt.
A study by Colorado State University found that indoor air contains more known human toxins than outdoor air, particularly when cooking or cleaning. The research, called HOMEChem, identified compounds like benzene, formaldehyde, and acrolein as potential health risks.
Researchers at Nanoscope developed functional retinal organoids with photoreceptors and RPE cell layers, a key model for age-related macular degeneration. They also created an organoid model that is highly reproducible for high-throughput drug screening.
The study reveals that noise sources in the micro resonator can cause the lines to be narrower than previously thought, enabling more precise measurements. By understanding this phenomenon, researchers can develop even more accurate devices, such as instruments measuring signals at light-years distances.
Researchers developed a method combining musical tests with EEG measurement to detect cognitive decline in old age. The study tested 50 elderly people who scored low on the mini-mental test, showing promising results in detecting mental deterioration.
Researchers developed a new tool to measure moral distress in pandemic nursing care, capturing COVID-19-specific sources of nurses' moral distress. The COVID-MDS has promise to address urgent questions and advance efforts to prevent or mitigate moral distress.
A Colorado State University study found that brass instruments produce 191% more aerosols than woodwinds during play. Male performers and louder playing of brass instruments were associated with higher emissions. Bell covers can reduce particle spread, but not achieve N95 level protection.
The MedSENS instrument measures body temperature, heart rate, and oxygen saturation from the ear canal using innovative sensors. It has been tested in harsh environments and proven to be easy to use, with its data transmitted wirelessly to other devices.
A collaborative initiative aims to establish common protocols for assessing and comparing diffuse optics systems used in medical diagnosis. The study presents the results of a multi-laboratory comparison of 12 institutions and 28 systems, proposing simple numeric values for easy comparison across instruments.
The Flinders-designed QOL-ACC tool assesses six key quality of life dimensions and has been implemented with over 1000 older Australians, delivering improved standards and transparency in aged care. The results show that the tool performed strongly in a pilot trial, with lower scores for those with poorer self-reported health status.
Researchers developed a time-efficient single item measure to assess self-control, confirming its interchangeability with 'will-power' and 'self-discipline'. People with lower self-control also report boredom and lower socioeconomic status.
A WVU researcher has developed new statistical methods for assessing airborne exposure to oil spill workers, allowing for more accurate estimates and consideration of undetectable levels. This research has significant implications for understanding the health effects of oil spills on workers.
Researchers have discovered that sand dunes in deserts can 'breathe' humid air, allowing microbes to persist deep inside hyper-arid sand dunes. This finding has significant applications in fields such as agriculture, food processing, and pharmaceutical research.
A new device made from silicone and liquid metal, with knotted cords, measures pressure in the digestive tract similar to high-resolution manometry. The invention brings down cost and makes it easier to produce and deploy, offering a cheaper alternative for diagnosing dysmotility disorders.
A team of Canadian scientists developed a scalable serology assay to track COVID-19 antibodies, informing public health decisions and vaccine timing. The assay has been used in over 30 studies across Canada, capturing natural infection and vaccination responses with high accuracy.
Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated a new attack strategy that can deceive industry-standard autonomous vehicle sensors into believing nearby objects are closer or further than they appear. This vulnerability highlights the need for additional redundancy and data sharing between vehicles to protect against such attacks.
A new study from the University of Gothenburg detects SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus particles in microscopically small fluid droplets exhaled by patients with COVID-19. The findings show that a few breaths are sufficient to detect viral RNA, offering potential for easy and convenient breath tests.
A novel detector technology has been developed for sensitive nitrogen dioxide detection, enabling fast and accurate measurements. The new instrument achieves precisions of 35 pptv in 1 s and 8 pptv in 30 s data acquisition time, surpassing previous methods.
A small study found statistically significant improvements in various symptoms, including fatigue and chest discomfort, after EECP therapy in long COVID patients. Researchers believe this is the most plausible explanation for the benefits derived from EECP and its link to long COVID.
Researchers at NIST developed an instrument to image acoustic waves over a wide range of frequencies with unprecedented detail. The new instrument captures these waves by relying on an optical interferometer, allowing for the creation of three-dimensional movies of microresonators' vibrational modes.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich have developed a new neutron-based method to detect clogs in underwater pipelines non-destructively. This approach uses prompt gamma neutron activation analysis to measure hydrogen concentration, allowing for the detection of blockages and hydrate formation.
Researchers developed autohaem devices to automate blood smears, increasing accuracy and efficiency in malaria diagnosis. The devices can produce high-quality smears equivalent to those created by human experts, reducing errors and improving patient outcomes.
Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated that measuring the physics of just a small portion of a coral reef can reveal insights about the entire reef system. This new approach provides low-cost methods for scaling up monitoring efforts, which are crucial for understanding the impact of climate change on these ecosystems.
Researchers propose a method using optical cavities to enhance atom interferometers, enabling extreme momentum transfer for detecting dark matter and gravitational waves. This could facilitate breakthroughs in fundamental physics and future applications.
A new imaging method measures individual photons, greatly reducing interference and improving spatial resolution by three times. The technology could also reduce radiation exposure during x-ray imaging, making it ideal for medical applications.
Scientists use squeezed light to improve the sensitivity of a magnetometer, overcoming shot noise limitations. By evading measurement back-action, they enhance the magnetometer's performance and detect smaller changes in magnetic fields.
A recent survey reveals a new method using cloud-cleared radiances improves forecasting of high-impact weather events like hurricanes and typhoons. The technique is now being applied to numerical models for enhanced daily forecasts.
The university will acquire an optical tweezer to study colloidal copolymer chains, protein binding strength and other phenomena. The instrument will be made available to Rice researchers and collaborators.
Researchers at NIST demonstrate a faster and more accurate way to calibrate microphones using lasers. The new technique surpasses the current industry standard, offering potential for commercial applications in industries like factories and power plants.
A new instrument measures atmospheric ammonia with high sensitivity and fast response, allowing for accurate quantification of NH3 emissions from agricultural ecosystems. The open-path design overcomes challenges faced by close-path instruments, enabling long-term and automated measurements.
Researchers developed a low-cost, accurate gas sensing device that can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air samples within 10 minutes. The device has potential applications in monitoring indoor air quality and non-invasive medical screenings.
Researchers developed a result-diversified automatic design method for freeform optics, generating various three-mirror systems with high imaging qualities. The method provides a brand new thought for fully automatic optical design, enabling exploration of solution spaces and changing the working mode in engineering applications.
The study reveals that the Flensburg meteorite contains carbonates dating back over three million years, making them the oldest in the solar system. The findings also suggest that liquid water existed on a minor planet early in the solar system's formation.
Researchers at the University of Bern have developed a new mass spectrometer, ORIGIN, capable of detecting and identifying the smallest amounts of extraterrestrial life traces. The instrument outperforms previous space instruments in terms of measurement sensitivity.
Researchers developed a new instrument to measure tiny light-evoked deformations in individual rods and cones, offering potential for earlier detection of retinal diseases. The system combines high-speed OCT imaging with adaptive optics technology to capture photoreceptor responses, paving the way for improved diagnosis and treatment.
The SAMURAI system measures signals across a wide frequency range, providing a detailed portrait of 5G device and channel performance. The system helps resolve unanswered questions surrounding 5G's use of active antennas, improving theory, hardware, and analysis techniques for accurate channel models and efficient networks.
A team of geophysicists used the ROMY ring laser to measure the Earth's rotational velocity and axis orientation, achieving the most precise ground-based measurements yet. The instrument detected minute alterations in the Earth's rotation caused by ocean currents, ice mass shifts, and seismic events.
Scientists at NIST have developed a novel instrument that can make three kinds of atom-scale measurements simultaneously, helping researchers uncover new knowledge about special materials crucial for developing the next generation of quantum computers and communications. The instrument combines an atomic force microscope, scanning tunn...
Researchers have detected magnetic monopoles in a metal for the first time, using a two-dimensional Kagome spin-ice system consisting of holmium, silver, and germanium. The team's findings suggest that this system behaves as if magnetic monopoles were present.
Xiaoji Xu named a 2020 Sloan Research Fellow, recognized for his innovative nanoscale imaging methods that empower researchers to study previously inaccessible objects. He plans to investigate the formation and transformation of aerosols and chemical properties of organic/inorganic photovoltaics.
Researchers used atmospheric methane measurements to detect and quantify methane emissions from a gas well blowout in Ohio. The estimated emission rate was 120 metric tons per hour, exceeding the peak emission rate from the Aliso Canyon blowout in California in 2015.
Researchers propose an alternative view of classical physics, suggesting that the future of an object is genuinely random after a certain number of interactions. This challenges the traditional view of determinism in classical physics and opens up new insights on the relationship between classical and quantum physics.
A new algorithm combines the capabilities of two spacecraft instruments, enabling lower-cost and higher-efficiency space missions. The virtual super instrument uses deep learning to analyze ultraviolet images and synthesize useful scientific data.
A NASA team has built a miniaturized aerosol-detecting instrument called MASTAR to measure airborne particles comprehensively. The instrument will be flown on a high-altitude balloon and later on a constellation of small CubeSats, providing global measurements that can help mitigate climate change and improve human health.
ROZE, a NASA instrument discovered by accident, measures ambient levels of ozone with high precision, 100 times better than commercial instruments. This discovery is crucial for municipalities and states to understand the ozone budget and accurately model ozone movement.
Researchers have found evidence of a strong solar storm around 660 BC in two Greenland ice cores, with concentrations of beryllium-10 and chlorine-36 consistent with an extreme event. The estimated strength of the storm is an order of magnitude higher than any instrumentally recorded solar event.
GEDI, a NASA instrument, is collecting data on forests using its waveform-based measurement technique to analyze the shape of returned light signals. This allows scientists to obtain three-dimensional structure information, useful for mapping wildlife habitats and biodiversity.