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Science snapshots from Berkeley Lab

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have successfully engineered microbes to produce novel chemicals and developed a new technique for studying enzyme reactions in real-time. This breakthrough could lead to the production of sustainable fuels, pharmaceuticals, and renewable plastics.

How ‘ice needles’ weave patterns of stones in frozen landscapes

Researchers discovered that ice needles growing on frozen ground can push up rocks into regular patterns through a combination of experiments and computer modeling. Over time, stones cluster together, leaving bare patches stone-free, as the size of the stones, soil moisture, and ice needle growth interact.

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.

What kind of sea ice is that? Ask Knut!

A new app under development uses AI to identify various kinds of sea ice in the Arctic, helping ship captains navigate icy waters and researchers better understand climate change. The app's accuracy improves with each user-submitted photo, making it a valuable tool for remote sensing of ice.

Study seeks to understand, prevent ice recrystalization

Scientists at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are working on developing biobased peptides to restrict ice crystal growth in freezing temperatures. Successful methods could improve frozen food quality, increase crop resistance to freezing temperatures, and enhance biomedical research.

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.

Solving the puzzle of polymers binding to ice for Cryopreservation

A team of researchers from the University of Warwick has discovered that even short chains of poly(vinyl alcohol) bind to ice and inhibit recrystallization. This finding sheds new light on the fundamental principles of ice recrystallization, enabling the design of more effective cryoprotectants.

Preserving stem cells and tissue without the freezer burn

Researchers developed ice recrystallization inhibitors to halt ice growth in frozen samples, improving cell recovery and function. The technology prevents cellular damage caused by ice crystals, allowing for more efficient storage and transport of biological materials.

Getting to the bottom of Arctic landslides

Scientists from CNRS and Melnikov Permafrost Institute conduct cold room simulation to demonstrate permafrost's role in soil collapse. Heterogeneous frozen soils with vertical ice wedges undergo major deformation during thawing, accelerating subsidence and greenhouse gas release.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A close look at thin ice

Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism of ice growth in two dimensions, shedding light on the atomic structure of low-dimensional water. This finding may lead to the development of new materials for efficient ice removal, particularly for wind turbines and other applications.

Explaining the tiger stripes of enceladus

Scientists have discovered that the unique tiger stripes on Enceladus are caused by tidal forces from Saturn's gravity, which release pressure and prevent the cracks from freezing shut. This allows water to erupt from the fissures, creating a regular spacing pattern.

Scientists probe the limits of ice

Researchers found that the transition between ice and water breaks down at the nanoscale, with clusters oscillating between solid and liquid states. The study provides new insights into the conditions necessary for ice formation and has implications for understanding climate regulation and life viability.

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.

Greenland's growing 'ice slabs' intensify meltwater runoff into ocean

A CU Boulder-led study finds that thick ice slabs in Greenland are sending meltwater spilling into the ocean, contributing to sea-level rise. The runoff zone could expand by the size of Colorado or Texas under different climate scenarios, raising seas by an extra quarter inch to nearly three inches.

Circulation of water in deep Earth's interior

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the deep Earth's interior, determining the phase boundary for the transportation of water. The new phase H MgSiO4H2 has been identified and its decomposition process explained, shedding light on the complex geodynamics at play.

Turning water into ice in the quantum realm

Scientists create dynamic phases of matter by nudging quantum materials to jump between two states, allowing for new window into materials research. The discovery could lead to breakthroughs in quantum technologies and communication systems.

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.

High-pressure methane hydrate phase

Researchers report the discovery of a methane hydrate phase in which water molecules surround and trap methane, remaining stable at pressures up to 150 gigapascals. This phase is similar to those found in the mantles of Uranus and Neptune.

Freezing bubbles viral video inspired research published

Virginia Tech researchers uncovered how soap films and bubbles freeze, revealing a previously unknown phenomenon called Marangoni Flow. The study found that temperature gradients cause the flow of ice crystals within the bubble, hastening its complete freezing.

Insects in freezing regions have a protein that acts like antifreeze

Scientists have discovered a unique biomolecule that can alter the structure of water and prevent ice crystals from forming. This antifreeze characteristic could be used to develop synthetic versions for de-icing airplanes, preserving organs, and preventing freezer burn on ice cream.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Thousands of tiny quakes shake Antarctic ice at night

Researchers discovered thousands of tiny 'ice quakes' on the McMurdo Ice Shelf that appear to be caused by pools of partially melted ice expanding and freezing at night. This phenomenon may help track glacier melting and explain the breakup of large ice shelves.

Questioning conventional understanding of antifreeze proteins

Scientists have discovered an ice-binding protein that attaches to both basal and prism faces of ice crystals, affecting their growth and defying conventional classification. This finding could lead to a broader application of antifreeze proteins in food and medical industries.

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.

How antifreeze proteins stop ice cold

Researchers at the University of Utah and University of California, San Diego discovered how antifreeze proteins function, providing a direction for future research. The study found that AFPs prevent water from freezing by surrounding and binding to small ice crystals, preventing their spread.

The shapes of water

Researchers at Arizona State University have observed a previously unseen property of water, where it changes from one liquid to another under super-cooling and specific conditions. This phenomenon, known as a liquid-liquid phase transition, was only seen in computer simulations until now.

Rapid decompression key to making low-density liquid water

Scientists from Carnegie Institution for Science have observed evidence of the long-theorized, difficult-to-see low-density liquid phase of water. The team used a rapid-decompression technique to create this phase, which only lasted for half a second at extremely cold temperatures.

Sequential model chips away at mysteries of aircraft

Researchers developed a new model to characterize ice accumulation on aircraft wings, including mixed ice forms and their effects on adhesion characteristics. The study aims to improve understanding of thermally active nanocoatings to combat ice formation.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

How ice in clouds is born

Scientists have found that water droplets in clouds can turn to ice more rapidly than previously predicted, with a disordered ice structure forming under certain cloud conditions. This discovery reconciles theoretical models of clouds with observations of freezing rates, helping cloud modelers understand better their observational data.

Probing exotic ices

Researchers analyzed how water molecules interact with one another in three types of ice, finding that interactions depend strongly on molecule orientation and ice structure. Insights from this analysis will help understand liquid water and its behavior surrounding biomolecules.

Aeroices: Newly discovered ultralow-density ice

A team from Okayama University in Japan has discovered a new family of ice phases called aeroices, which have the lowest density of all known ice crystals. These ices can be more stable than zeolitic ice at certain thermodynamic conditions under negative pressure.

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.

Alien ice on Earth

Researchers at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences have captured the freezing of water into a strange, dense form called ice VII, which can be found naturally in otherworldly environments. This discovery could reveal how water and other substances undergo transitions from liquids to solids.

Scientists make 'squarest' ice crystals ever

Researchers at Ohio State University have created ice crystals with near-perfect cubic arrangement of water molecules, a form of ice that may exist in high-altitude clouds. The ability to study cubic ice in the lab could improve computer models of climate change and enhance our understanding of water.

Water exists as two different liquids

Researchers at Stockholm University have found that water can exist as two different liquids at low temperatures, with large differences in structure and density. The discovery was made possible through experimental studies using X-rays, which revealed the existence of these two liquid phases.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Uncovering the secrets of water and ice as materials

A team of researchers has made a breakthrough in understanding the structure of ice XV, revealing new insights into its formation from ice VI. Their work uses neutron diffraction and computer simulations to shed light on the hydrogen ordering phase transition.

Inside tiny tubes, water turns solid when it should be boiling

Researchers at MIT discovered that water can freeze solid even at high temperatures in carbon nanotubes, raising the freezing point by tens of degrees. This unexpected finding may lead to new applications such as ice-filled wires with unique electrical and thermal properties.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Why planes freeze

A new model developed by researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University provides a fuller understanding of supercooled large droplet icing mechanisms. The model identifies a different icing mechanism than previously identified and incorporates heat generated from impact thermodynamics.

Research bolsters case for a present-day subsurface ocean on Pluto

A new study led by Brown University Ph.D. student Noah Hammond suggests that Pluto likely has a subsurface ocean today, contrary to previous theories. The research uses thermal evolution models updated with data from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which revealed signs of tectonic features and expansion on Pluto's surface.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Pluto: A cosmic lava lamp

New Horizons team members used computer models to determine the depth and rate of Pluto's convective cells, which are 10-30 miles across and less than a million years old. These cells help support Pluto's atmosphere by refreshing its surface.

Five papers provide new data from flyby of Pluto

Five studies on New Horizons' flyby of Pluto uncover a wide variety of geological features, including tectonics, glacial flow, and cryovolcanoes. The dwarf planet's interaction with the solar wind and icy surfaces also provides insights into its space environment.

What makes penguin feathers ice-proof

Researchers found that Humboldt penguins' unique feather structure is anti-adhesive and hydrophobic, preventing ice from accumulating. The discovery led to the creation of a nanofiber membrane with similar properties, which could be used in applications like electrical insulation.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

A new theory describes ice's slippery behavior

A new theory explains how ice becomes slippery when a hard material slides across it, improving ski design and understanding glacier movement. The study uses experimental data to connect temperature and sliding speed to friction on ice.

Scientists predict cool new phase of superionic ice

Researchers at Princeton University have predicted a new phase of superionic ice with unusual conductivity properties. The P21/c-SI phase occurs at high pressures beyond giant ice planets, offering insights into the material's behavior.

New surfaces delay ice formation

Researchers create biphilic surface that repels water in some areas and attracts it in others, delaying frost formation even at 6 degrees below freezing. The unique condensation dynamics on the surface cause small droplets to merge and release energy, delaying freezing for over 3 hours.

Is salt the key to unlocking the interiors of Neptune and Uranus?

A team of researchers has discovered that the presence of salty impurities in ice can push the formation of electrically conducting ice to occur at higher pressures, potentially explaining the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune. This finding challenges current assumptions about the physics of icy planetary bodies.

How supercooled water is prevented from turning into ice

A recent study reveals that supercooled water does not become completely unstable before turning into ice crystals, thanks to an energy barrier for crystal formation. As temperature drops, liquid water becomes easier to compress, unlike other substances.

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.

2010 Chilean earthquake causes icequakes in Antarctica

A 2010 Chilean earthquake caused icequakes in Antarctica due to the continent's sensitive response to seismic waves. Researchers detected high-frequency signals at 30% of seismic stations, indicating repeated failure and fracturing of ice near the surface.

NASA satellite sees great freeze over Great Lakes

The NASA satellite captured a record-breaking freeze on the Great Lakes, with 80.3% of the lake's surface covered in ice. This is the most extensive ice cover since 1994, and scientists attribute it to persistently low temperatures across the region.

JoVE expands scientific video publication into chemistry

JoVE's new Chemistry section publishes a novel experimental approach to study antifreeze proteins, showcasing the potential for these proteins in cryopreservation and tissue preservation. By visualizing dynamic processes, JoVE aims to facilitate reproducible chemistry research.

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.