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The trouble with thaw

A recent study reveals that thawing Alaskan permafrost is releasing about twelve times higher amounts of nitrous oxide than previously assumed, making it a significant contributor to global warming. The potent greenhouse gas can stay in the atmosphere for up to 114 years, posing an additional threat to the ozone layer.

SourceHarvard University·JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics·DateApr 12, 2019
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

New family of glass good for lenses

Penn State researchers develop a novel zinc germanosilicate glass with high transparency, UV shielding, and favorable forming properties, making it an ideal material for lens applications. The new glass composition overcomes roadblocks associated with achieving high refractive index, such as crystallization and toxicity.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Non-Crystalline Solids·DateApr 3, 2019

Cleaning up oil using magnets

Functionalised iron oxide particles can attract hydrocarbons, including crude oil and petrol, allowing for easy removal by magnet. The process is environmentally-friendly and can be reused, reducing the impact of contamination on the environment.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateApr 1, 2019

ORNL investigates complex uranium oxides with help from CADES resources

Scientists at ORNL used computational methods to evaluate 4,600 potential crystal structures of uranium oxide compositions, identifying a potentially stable crystalline phase for U2O7. Their findings could lead to a better understanding of how crystalline and amorphous uranium materials form in the nuclear fuel cycle.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalOptical Materials·DateMar 28, 2019

Tracing the process of nitrous oxide formation in the ocean

Researchers at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel have directly detected oceanic nitrification process by measuring hydroxylamine, a short-lived compound. The new method allows for quick and simple analysis of nitrous oxide formation in the ocean.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 26, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Air quality agencies can breathe easier about current emissions regulations

A University of Washington-led study reveals that declining nitrogen oxides due to tightened standards can lead to cleaner air, but the process may take longer. The research found that NOx affects the formation of PM2.5 by changing the chemistry of hydrocarbon vapors.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 26, 2019

Nitrogen oxides and particulate matter

Reduced NOx emissions lower particulate matter production through decreased oxidant abundance. Atmospheric autoxidation of plant compounds decreases with NOx reductions, consistent with US observations from 1990 to 2010.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 18, 2019

Microbes can grow on nitric oxide

Scientists have discovered anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria that directly use nitric oxide to grow, producing harmless dinitrogen gas instead of potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. This finding has significant implications for our climate and the earth's nitrogen cycle.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 18, 2019
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.

BFU scientists developed tungsten-based hydrogen detectors

Researchers from BFU and NRNU MEPhI created a tungsten oxide-based detector for hydrogen gas mixes, showing a significant increase in sensitivity. The new detector has the potential to improve the detection of hydrogen leakages, a critical issue in industries using hydrogen.

SourceImmanuel Kant Baltic Federal University·JournalThin Solid Films·DateFeb 11, 2019
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Theories describe dynamically disordered solid materials

Theoretical physicists at Linköping University developed a computational method to calculate the transition from one phase to another in dynamically disordered solid materials. This enables the development of eco-friendly materials for solar cells, batteries and fuel cells.

SourceLinköping University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 11, 2019

'GO dough' makes graphene easy to shape and mold

Researchers have developed a soft and moldable graphene oxide material called GO dough that solves several challenges in the graphene manufacturing industry. This innovative material can be shaped and reshaped into free-standing structures without combustion risks or heavy packaging issues.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 25, 2019
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Researchers find new ways to harness wasted methane

Researchers have developed a high-performance catalyst for converting methane to formaldehyde using nanomaterials and a core-shell structure. The catalyst has a stable structure and high reactivity at high temperatures, increasing efficiency by more than twice as much as before.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalJournal of Catalysis·DateJan 18, 2019

Using bacteria to create a water filter that kills bacteria

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a novel membrane technology that purifies water while preventing biofouling using bacterial nanocellulose and reduced graphene oxide. The new membrane can filter water twice as fast as commercially available ultrafiltration membranes and is environmentally friendly.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJan 18, 2019

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

Disordered crystals are promising for future battery technology

Researchers at University College London and the University of Illinois at Chicago have developed a new method for making magnesium chromium oxide materials that can reversibly store magnesium ions, a crucial feature for magnesium battery technology. This discovery could lead to more efficient and safer batteries with increased capacity.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNanoscale·DateDec 19, 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.

Assessing the promise of gallium oxide as an ultrawide bandgap semiconductor

Researchers assess the promise of gallium oxide as an ultrawide bandgap semiconductor, offering improved thermal management and gate dielectrics. Ga2O3's potential applications include high-voltage rectifiers in power conditioning and distribution systems, such as electric cars and photovoltaic solar systems.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateDec 18, 2018

Silica paradox

Researchers have synthesized and described metastable phases of high-pressure silica, coesite-IV and coesite-V, with crystal structures drastically different from earlier models. These new materials exist at extreme pressures and challenge Pauling's rules on bonding in inorganic materials.

SourceNational University of Science and Technology MISIS·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 11, 2018

Custom-made artificial mother-of-pearl

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a method to produce artificial mother-of-pearl with tailored properties, similar to natural mussels. The material's structure is composed of tiny plates stacked on top of each other and interconnected with mineral bridges, which can be adjusted to achieve desired physical properties.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 11, 2018
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.

Artificial synapses made from nanowires

Scientists have created a memristive element made from nanowires that functions similarly to biological nerve cells, storing and processing information in parallel. The discovery offers promising advantages for bioinspired computers, which can work decentralised with multiple processors connected by networks.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 5, 2018

Full of energy

Engineers are working on a $1.88 million grant to study the fundamental properties of gallium oxide for use in high-voltage power systems. The goal is to minimize energy losses and enhance performance in devices such as surveillance drones, all-electric airplanes, and electric vehicles.

SourceUniversity of Utah·DateDec 4, 2018

Searching for the sources of particulate matter

The formation of secondary particulate matter in the atmosphere is still not fully understood. Alexander Vogel's research aims to identify its sources and improve air quality by analyzing molecular fingerprints from atmospheric samples.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·DateNov 29, 2018
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.

Diabetic foot ulcers heal quickly with nitric oxide technology

Researchers at Michigan Technological University are developing nitric oxide-laden bandages that adjust chemical release depending on cell conditions. The goal is to create a more nuanced way to recover wound function and reduce the healing time of diabetic foot ulcers.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalMedical Sciences·DateNov 13, 2018

Penn engineers develop ultrathin, ultralight 'nanocardboard'

A team of Penn Engineers has developed a new material called nanocardboard, an ultrathin equivalent of corrugated paper cardboard. It is made of aluminum oxide film with a thickness of tens of nanometers and can spring back into shape after being bent in half.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 6, 2018

Study reveals how soil bacteria are primed to consume greenhouse gas

Researchers discovered that soil bacteria hedge their bets by maintaining systems for nitrous oxide destruction in low oxygen environments. This 'bet-hedging strategy' may be widespread and can help control nitrous oxide emissions, a potent climate-active gas.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 29, 2018

Nanosized ferroelectrics become a reality

Researchers at the University of Groningen have successfully created nanosized ferroelectric materials using hafnium oxide, which can store information like magnetic bits. The discovery could lead to more efficient and compact computer memory by leveraging the unique properties of these materials.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 22, 2018
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.

Metal leads to the desired configuration

Researchers found a way to change the spatial arrangement of bipyridine molecules on surfaces using metals, which can improve dye-sensitized solar cells. The cis configuration is formed through the addition of iron atoms and increased temperature, altering the chemical conformation.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalACS Omega·DateOct 9, 2018
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.

New, highly stable catalyst may help turn water into fuel

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new, porous electrocatalyst that can split water molecules at a higher rate than current industry standards. The material, made from a mixture of metal compounds and perchloric acid, has shown improved stability in acidic environments.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 28, 2018

Chemists produce and test novel solid oxide electrolysis cell

Chemists at Ural Federal University have created electrochemical cells for water electrolysis in the presence of carbon dioxide, demonstrating enhanced performance under 'hard' conditions. The study reveals that these cells can produce synthesis gas, a semi-finished fuel, with high efficiency and stability.

SourceUral Federal University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·DateSep 19, 2018

Nano-sandwiching improves heat transfer, prevents overheating in nanoelectronics

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago developed a nano-sandwich technique to improve heat transfer between two-dimensional materials and silicon bases, reducing component failure due to overheating. By adding an ultra-thin layer of aluminum oxide, they were able to double energy transfer between the materials.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateSep 12, 2018
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Laughing gas may have helped warm early Earth and given breath to life

A new study suggests that nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas, played a significant role in keeping early Earth warm. The research found that nitrous oxide could have reached ten times today's levels, providing an extra boost of global warming under the Faint Young Sun Paradox.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalGeobiology·DateAug 20, 2018

Back to the future of climate change

Researchers at Syracuse University use nitrogen isotopic composition of sediments to understand changes in marine conditions during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a brief period of rapid global warming approximately 56 million years ago. The study provides a benchmark for present and future climate and ocean models.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 9, 2018
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.

New class of materials could be used to make batteries that charge faster

New class of materials has been identified that can be used to make batteries that charge faster. Lithium ions move through the materials at rates that exceed typical electrode materials, resulting in a much faster-charging battery. The researchers found that these materials, known as niobium tungsten oxides, do not result in higher en...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature·DateJul 25, 2018

Giant neurons in the brain may play similarly giant role in awareness and cognition

Research from Rockefeller University reveals that giant neurons in the brainstem, called nucleus gigantocellularis, express genes linked to nitric oxide production and blood vessel relaxation. This discovery supports their role in initiating behavior and potentially understanding psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder and ADHD.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 23, 2018

Two faces offer limitless possibilities

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new way to chemically deposit a second face on Janus membranes, resulting in more robust and precisely structured membranes. This breakthrough could help optimize or enable various industrial processes, including wastewater treatment and biofuel production.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces·DateJul 19, 2018
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.

Nitric oxide tells roundworms to avoid bad bacteria

A new study published in eLife reveals that roundworms, specifically Caenorhabditis elegans, use nitric oxide gas as a sensory cue to avoid the pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The protein thioredoxin plays a crucial role in regulating the temporal dynamics of the worm's response to the gas.

SourceeLife·DateJul 17, 2018

Stormwater ponds not a major source of greenhouse gas emissions

A new study by Duke University found that urban stormwater ponds do not release significant amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. The research, which analyzed sediment samples from 64 ponds in eight cities, concluded that these ponds are unlikely to be important sources of climate change emissions.

SourceDuke University·JournalEcosphere·DateJul 9, 2018

UV narrow-band photodetector based on indium oxide nanocrystals

Researchers from Russia and India have developed a narrow-band UV photodetector based on indium oxide nanocrystals embedded in aluminum oxide. The device shows record values of responsivity and external quantum efficiency, making it suitable for applications such as fluorescence detection and UV phototherapy.

SourceLobachevsky University·JournalNanotechnology·DateJul 5, 2018

Climate protection: Less nitrous oxide from agriculture

A new research group at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will study the global impacts of agriculture on climate change and focus on reducing nitrous oxide emissions. The team, led by Dr. Clemens Scheer, aims to develop joint standards for measurement and modeling.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·DateJul 2, 2018
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.

Inhaled nitric oxide may reduce kidney complications from heart surgery

A randomized, controlled trial found that administration of nitric oxide gas during and for 24 hours following heart surgery decreased the risk of acute and chronic kidney problems. Nitric oxide reduced the risk of acute kidney injury by 50% and chronic kidney disease by 21%.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJun 22, 2018

Ground-breaking discoveries could create superior alloys with many applications

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have made significant breakthroughs in understanding how alloys behave at high temperatures. The new findings provide a better understanding of the role of reactive elements and water vapour in promoting the growth of an aluminium oxide scale, leading to faster-growing, nanocrystalline o...

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 19, 2018

An unlikely marriage among oxides

Empa researcher Sebastian Siol develops new phase of manganese selenide and telluride alloy, displaying useful piezoelectric properties. The material combination is promising for various applications such as smart windows, gas sensors and semiconductor coatings.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 19, 2018

Tobacco aside, e-cigarette flavorings may harm blood vessels

Researchers found that e-cigarette flavorings impaired nitric oxide production in endothelial cells, leading to increased inflammation and oxidative stress. The study suggests that flavoring additives may have serious health consequences, particularly for youth tobacco users.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·DateJun 14, 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.

Soaking up the water and the sweat -- a new super desiccant

Researchers have developed a new carbon-based material that significantly outperforms current drying agents, with twice the absorbent capacity of industry standard silica gel. The super desiccant can discharge moisture at energy-saving low temperatures, making it suitable for frequent reuse and reducing costs.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalChemical Science·DateMay 31, 2018