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Saving sunshine for a rainy day: New catalyst offers efficient storage of green energy

Researchers at the University of Toronto have designed the world's most efficient catalyst for storing energy in chemical form. The new catalyst enables the efficient conversion of sunlight into hydrogen, which can be converted back into energy using hydrogen fuel cells. The study demonstrates a more efficient and highly scalable means...

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalScience·DateMar 24, 2016

Oxygen was present in the atmosphere much earlier than previously assumed

Researchers have found evidence of small oxygen concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere 3.8 billion years ago, contrary to previous thought that oxygenation occurred later. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of life on our planet and has significant implications for understanding the pace of life's emergence.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 16, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Switchable material could enable new memory chips

Two MIT researchers have developed a thin-film material that can be switched between metallic and semiconducting properties by applying a small voltage. The discovery could lead to new types of computer memory chips and energy conversion devices.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNano Letters·DateJan 20, 2016

Backswimmers use buoyancy aid like a gill

Researchers discovered that backswimmers can extract oxygen from the surrounding water using their air bubbles, extending dives by up to 20%. The insects adjust the buoyancy of their bubble by replacing nitrogen with gases like helium and sulphur hexafluoride.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateNov 4, 2015
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.

Researcher develops material to create sustainable energy source

A Florida State University researcher has discovered an artificial material that efficiently captures sunlight and breaks it down into oxygen and hydrogen. This process could be used to forge new energy sources in a carbon-neutral way.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry·DateNov 2, 2015

Chemistry in mold reveals important clue for pharmaceuticals

Researchers have detected how nature produces key chemicals similar to those in drugs that fight malaria, bacterial infections and cancer. The discovery sheds light on a complicated chemical process in nature that synthetic biologists can now borrow to engineer a whole new class of synthetic medicines.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature·DateNov 2, 2015

Unveiling distribution of defects in proton conductors

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new idea to improve proton mobility in rare-earth doped BaZrO3 perovskite-type proton conductors. By creating pairs of oxygen vacancies and rare-earth elements, the team found that this inhibits proton trapping, leading to higher proton concentration around Zr

SourceTohoku University·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateOct 19, 2015
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Pneumothorax treatment gets less painful

Researchers have developed a less painful treatment approach for Pneumothorax by analyzing gas pressure in the thoracic cavity. The new diagnostic strategy allows physicians to update treatment strategies accordingly, often switching from chest tube drainage to more conservative or needle aspiration methods.

SourceWorld Scientific·JournalTECHNOLOGY·DateOct 2, 2015

Oxygen oasis in Antarctic lake reflects Earth in the distant past

Researchers found a thin layer of oxygen in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica, which could be a modern replica of ancient oxygen oases. This discovery sheds light on the Great Oxidation Event, a major turning point in Earth's history when oxygen became more prevalent.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalGeology·DateSep 1, 2015

Small oxygen jump helped enable early animals take first breaths

A multi-institutional research team discovered that early animals took their first breaths with only a slight increase in oxygen levels, contradicting the long-held theory of dramatic oxygen changes. This finding provides new insights into the evolution of complex life forms like whales and sharks.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature·DateJul 23, 2015

Molecular fuel cell catalysts hold promise for efficient energy storage

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have introduced a new approach to molecular fuel cell catalysts, which uses nitroxyls and nitrogen oxides for more efficient energy storage. The catalyst achieves comparable efficiency to platinum while offering advantages in terms of modifiability.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalACS Central Science·DateJul 15, 2015
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.

Inanimate beads behave in lifelike ways

Scientists have created microbe-sized beads that can sense their environment and move upstream through purely physical means. The beads meet two essential requirements of life: metabolism and mobility. This discovery is an important step toward developing biomimetic microsystems that can respond to environmental changes.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 1, 2015

Water could have been abundant in the first billion years

Theoretical work suggests water vapor could have existed in pockets of space a billion years after the Big Bang, with temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit allowing for its formation. The team found equilibrium levels similar to those seen in our local universe.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 28, 2015

Study: Photosynthesis has unique isotopic signature

A new study finds that photosynthesis imparts a distinct biosignature on oxygen molecules, allowing scientists to trace biological processes. This discovery has the potential to measure productivity in the open ocean and assess the health of oceans.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateApr 23, 2015

Oxygen therapy in COPD patients is associated with burn injury

Patients with COPD receiving home oxygen face a higher risk of burn injury, with a 10-fold greater mortality rate associated with these injuries. Risk factors include male gender, multiple medical conditions, and low socioeconomic status.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateMar 30, 2015
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.

Making oxygen before life

Researchers at UC Davis have found a way to form oxygen in one step by using a high-energy vacuum ultraviolet laser to excite carbon dioxide. This process could be occurring naturally on Mars and Venus, where carbon dioxide dominates the atmosphere. The discovery adjusts models of planetary atmosphere evolution.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScience·DateOct 2, 2014

New material steals oxygen from the air

Researchers have synthesized a material that can absorb large quantities of oxygen from the air and store it, potentially revolutionizing medical devices and artificial photosynthesis. The material, containing cobalt, can be used to bind, transport, and release oxygen in various scenarios.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalChemical Science·DateSep 30, 2014

NASA research gives guideline for future alien life search

Simulations by NASA researchers found that atmospheric gases like ozone, oxygen, and methane can be produced non-biologically, challenging the detection of life. However, combinations of these gases remain strong biosignatures, suggesting their presence is likely linked to biological activity.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 11, 2014
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.

Trinity geologists re-write Earth's evolutionary history books

Researchers found evidence of chemical weathering and soil formation at least 60 million years earlier than previously thought. This discovery suggests that oxygen-producing species existed on Earth 3 billion years ago, paving the way for complex life to evolve.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalGeology·DateSep 4, 2014

Long jumpers do better with a spring in their step

Researchers found that taking off from a compliant surface like a springboard reduces the energy cost of long jumps compared to firm surfaces. This is due to a closer optimal take-off angle for maximum energy efficiency. For shorter distances, no difference was observed in energy expenditure between firm and springy surfaces.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology·DateJul 2, 2014

Syracuse University geologists confirm oxygen levels of ancient oceans

Researchers Zunli Lu and Xiaoli Zhou have confirmed the earliest appearance of dissolved oxygen in ocean surface waters, shedding light on the Great Oxidation Event. Their novel iodine geochemistry approach enables them to measure oxygen levels in ancient rocks, providing insights into marine ecology and global warming.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalGeology·DateJun 10, 2014

Earth's breathable atmosphere a result of continents taking control of the carbon cycle

A research group from the University of Exeter has discovered a possible mechanism behind Earth's rising oxygen concentration. The team suggests that as continents grew, chemical processes on land took over controlling CO2 levels, leading to increased phosphate availability in oceans and ultimately, oxygen production.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 9, 2014
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.

The color of blood: Pigment helps stage symbiosis in squid

The Hawaiian bobtail squid recruits and sustains a symbiotic association with Vibrio fischeri by utilizing the antimicrobial properties of its hemocyanin blood pigment. The protein also enables the squid to modulate oxygen levels, creating an environment conducive to the bacterium's growth.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·DateMay 15, 2014

Electronics based on a 2-D electron gas

Scientists have successfully created a stable two-dimensional electron gas in strontium titanate, allowing for the manipulation of its electronic properties. This breakthrough could lead to the development of novel magnetic effects and superconductivity.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 3, 2014

The ups and downs of early atmospheric oxygen

Oxygen production by cyanobacteria may have initiated 3 billion years ago, with dynamic concentrations rising and falling over billions of years. This new understanding sheds light on the balance between photosynthesis and consumption, impacting life on Earth.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature·DateFeb 19, 2014
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.

Fusion foe lends a helping hand

Recent experiments have found that lithium bound to carbon walls in fusion devices plays a key role in improving plasma performance. The combination of lithium, oxygen, and carbon improves deuterium retention and reduces recycling, leading to enhanced energy confinement and reduced edge plasma instabilities.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 13, 2013

Breathing underwater: Evidence of microscopic life in oceanic crust

A team of researchers has documented the removal of oxygen from seawater flowing through the deep ocean's rocky crust, suggesting that microbes are scavenging for energy. This finding provides crucial insights into the survival and thrival of life in the 'deep biosphere' beneath the sea floor.

SourceBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 27, 2013

Ancient soils reveal clues to early life on Earth

Researchers found evidence of low atmospheric oxygen concentrations in 3.8 billion-year-old soils from South Africa, challenging previous estimates that oxygen began accumulating in the atmosphere around 2.3 billion years ago. The discovery supports a longer antiquity for oxygen-producing photosynthesis and aerobic life.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalNature·DateSep 25, 2013

Unexpected interaction between ocean currents and bacteria

Scientists found that ocean currents carrying anammox bacteria produce vast amounts of nitrogen gas in the Pacific Ocean, weakening the ocean's ability to absorb CO2. This process also leads to fewer algae in the water, less food for marine microorganisms and ultimately, a decrease in fish populations.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalEnvironmental Microbiology·DateSep 13, 2013
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.

World-leading penguin experts come to Britain

Researchers from the University of California reveal that Emperor Penguins can dive to over 500m and stay underwater for up to 27 minutes. They also discover a unique heart rate response, slowing down to as low as 10 beats per minute to conserve energy.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·DateSep 1, 2013

Migrating animals add new depth to how the ocean 'breathes'

Research at Princeton University found that migrating ocean animals consume vast amounts of oxygen in the ocean's 'oxygen minimum zone'. This phenomenon, known as diel vertical migration (DVM), results in oxygen depletion and can be disrupted by climate change.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 24, 2013

When green algae run out of air

Biologists discovered that green algae require haemoglobin and nitric oxide to signal the absence of oxygen, allowing them to activate genes and produce hydrogen. In an oxygen-rich environment, this gene is idle, and its inactivation has fatal consequences for the algae.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 21, 2013
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

£1 million project to produce safer oxygen

A £1 million project aims to design and build a reactor vessel that safely uses oxygen in manufacturing processes. This would enable compounds to be oxidised effectively while producing only water as a by-product, reducing toxicity and waste.

SourceUniversity of Huddersfield·DateMay 21, 2013

New mechanism converts natural gas to energy faster, captures CO2

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new oxygen carrier that enables chemical looping combustion of natural gas up to 70 times faster. This process captures carbon dioxide while producing water vapor and energy.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateMay 7, 2013

A milestone for new carbon-dioxide capture/clean coal technology

Researchers have successfully tested a new clean coal technology that captures 99.5% of carbon dioxide emissions, paving the way for potential commercial use. The technology uses two inexpensive but polluting forms of coal and operated continuously for 200 hours without shutdown.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnergy & Fuels·DateMar 20, 2013

An oxygen-poor 'boring' ocean challenged evolution of early life

Researchers reconstructed ancient ocean conditions, finding most deep ocean was anoxic, with limited oxygen and hydrogen sulfide. This discovery challenges our understanding of eukaryote rise and animal emergence.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 18, 2013
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.

VISIONS: Seeing the aurora in a new light

The VISIONS mission aims to study the auroral wind by launching a sounding rocket into the Northern Lights. The rocket will observe oxygen atoms flowing out of the atmosphere and provide insights into how they gain energy to escape Earth's gravity.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJan 31, 2013

Great Oxidation Event: More oxygen through multicellularity

Multicellular cyanobacteria developed over 2.3 billion years ago, coinciding with the Great Oxidation Event that increased atmospheric oxygen levels. This event is considered a significant climate shift, as multicellularity allowed for more efficient metabolism and paved the way for diverse life forms.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 17, 2013

'Missing link' discovered in the defence mechanism of the tuberculosis pathogen

Researchers have discovered a unique defence mechanism of the tuberculosis pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which protects sulphur-containing proteins from oxidation. The protein mycoredoxin-1 plays a crucial role in this repair mechanism, and disabling it may offer new ways to combat the disease.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalMolecular Microbiology·DateNov 14, 2012

Oxygen's ups and downs in the early atmosphere and ocean

A team of researchers has found evidence for a dramatic rise in early oxygen levels around 2.3 billion years ago, followed by an equally impressive fall. This drop in oxygen may have ushered in low-oxygen concentrations that set the stage for the evolution of eukaryotic organisms and eventually animals.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2012
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.

UGA chemistry discovery could have major medical implications

Researchers at UGA have made a major medical breakthrough by discovering how an oxygen-sensing bacterial protein senses oxygen through reversible structural changes in an iron-sulfur cluster. This mechanism could ultimately lead to a better understanding of the aging process and new treatments for human diseases.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 10, 2012

ORNL researchers probe invisible vacancies in fuel cell materials

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a microscopy technique to map oxygen vacancies in fuel cell materials, which can affect device efficiency. The research aims to improve fuel cells with longer lifetimes and lower prices.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateAug 22, 2012

Fools' gold found to regulate oxygen

Researchers found that pyrite, also known as fools' gold, plays a significant role in regulating atmospheric oxygen levels. The formation and burial of pyrite has been more important than previously thought, accounting for over 80% of sulfur removed from the ocean.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience·DateJul 23, 2012

Injecting life-saving oxygen into a vein

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed tiny gas-filled microparticles that can be injected into the bloodstream to quickly oxygenate blood. The infusion restored blood oxygen saturation to near-normal levels within seconds, even in animals with blocked airways.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 27, 2012

Scientists measure how energy is spent in martial arts

Researchers studied judo, a complex and unpredictable sport, to understand how athletes spend their energy. They used a portable gas analyzer and mathematical formulas to determine the relative contributions of aerobic, lactic, and alactic anaerobic metabolism.

SourceThe Journal of Visualized Experiments·JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments·DateMar 20, 2012
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

A step toward better electronics

Researchers at Northwestern University have created a new method to oxidize graphene, overcoming the material's zero band-gap issue. The reversible oxidation process enables tunability of electronic properties, paving the way for high-performance applications.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateFeb 19, 2012

Earth's core deprived of oxygen

A team of scientists led by Yingwei Fei found that oxygen is not a major component of the Earth's liquid outer core, contradicting previous models. The discovery has significant implications for understanding the planet's formation through accretion of dust and clumps of matter.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·DateNov 23, 2011

A revolution in knot theory

Mathematicians develop new methods to distinguish between knots, leading to the discovery of virtual knots that defy planar representation. These virtual knots give rise to a new branch of knot theory known as generalized knot theory, which emerges as a special case of classical knot theory.

SourceAmerican Mathematical Society·JournalNotices of the American Mathematical Society·DateNov 10, 2011
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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