Articles tagged with Isotopes
Researchers analyzed helium isotopes in super-deep diamonds to find evidence of pristine reservoirs of primordial rock material beneath the upper mantle. The study suggests that these reservoirs occasionally infiltrate the transition zone and mix with subducting material, creating diverse isotopic compositions.
Researchers found that competition for prey among carnivores wasn't a cause of megafaunal extinction. Instead, climate change and human arrival led to the demise of giant predators like saber-toothed cats. Today's apex predators in North America are smaller animals that took advantage of the extinction.
Researchers studying lionfish ear-bones found that these fish are more mobile than previously believed, moving at least once throughout their life. This discovery has implications for managing the invasive species, as understanding habitat choice can inform effective removal and conservation efforts.
A Columbia University study reveals radiation levels on some Marshall Islands are above legal limits, citing widespread contamination from US nuclear tests. Residents of affected islands face potential harm from radiation exposure, highlighting the need for thorough environmental remediation.
A global analysis of cave drip waters reveals vital clues for understanding past rainfall patterns. In warmer climates, oxygen isotopes in stalagmites display the balance between wet weather events and prolonged drying periods.
A new study suggests that increased reactivity of land surfaces led to a decrease in CO2 in the atmosphere, resulting in cooling. The researchers used isotope analysis and computer modeling to show that constant rock weathering was not the primary cause of the temperature drop before the last ice age.
An increase in elite Maya's preference for a maize-based diet made the population more vulnerable to drought, contributing to its societal collapse. The study found that a less flexible and less resilient system resulted from population expansion, agricultural intensification, and socially conditioned food preferences.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that human activities contribute significantly to iron pollution in the North Atlantic Ocean. The research used isotope ratios of iron to 'fingerprint' its source and revealed that human-derived iron was present in dust samples, contradicting previous assumptions.
Researchers create a new approach to analyze crude oil composition by dissolving it in water under high temperature and pressure. The method is compliant with green chemistry principles, avoiding hazardous solvents.
A study reveals that pastoralists in ancient Eurasia adopted agricultural products through trade and social networks, driving changes in dietary dynamics. The shift occurred around the transition to the Iron Age, coinciding with the expansion of trans-regional networks and complex political structures.
A research team from the University of Liverpool has discovered that radon atoms provide less favorable conditions for measuring electric dipole moments than radium. The study, published in Nature Communications, used the ISOLDE facility at CERN to accelerate beams of radioactive radon ions and measure their properties.
Berkeley Lab scientists develop faster technique to purify elements, opening door to faster discovery of new elements and easier nuclear fuel reprocessing. The method achieves separation factors many orders of magnitude higher than current state-of-the-art methods, reducing contaminants and increasing efficiency.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory determined the nuclear charge radius difference between boron-10 and boron-11 isotopes. This discovery could aid in precise calculations of other nucleus structures, experimentally validated by laser spectroscopy.
Researchers used heavy ion accelerator to demonstrate nickel 78's stability, finding it maintains spherical shape like doubly magic isotope, but with a surprise: lighter isotones may lose magic nature due to deformation.
Scientists confirm Alaska lake seals, a distinct population from ocean-dwelling cousins, rely on freshwater food sources throughout their lives. The study provides critical baseline information for developing conservation strategies, particularly as the region faces proposed industrial developments and climate change.
A study of pig remains around Stonehenge henge complexes reveals large-scale human movement across Britain during the Late Neolithic period. The findings suggest that feasts at these sites drew people and animals from throughout the country.
Researchers found that agricultural lime alters the strontium isotopic composition of surface waters and plants in non-calcareous soils. This can result in incorrect interpretations of prehistoric people's origins and movement, affecting studies on provenance and mobility.
Phoenicians sourced silver from Anatolia, Sardinia, and Iberian Peninsula regions between the 10th-9th centuries BCE. The silver production process and its lead impurities provided insight into their expansion into Europe and Asia.
Researchers analyzed stable isotopes in Louisiana roadkill to understand ancient wetland ecosystems. They found that the method was effective but not always precise, as modern animals have diverse diets that don't segregate neatly into boxes.
New research using compound-specific isotope analysis reveals that Neandertals had a predominantly carnivorous diet, primarily consisting of large herbivores. The study also sheds light on the possibility of late weaning and cannibalism in Neandertal populations.
Michigan State University researchers have measured the nuclei of three protein-rich calcium isotopes, revealing unique patterns in their charge radii. The findings, which challenge existing theories, are attributed to a better understanding of proton interactions at large distances outside the nucleus.
A Northwestern University team found that southern Greenland's climate was relatively warm when the Norse lived there between 985 and 1450 C.E., about 1.5-degrees Celsius warmer than surrounding cooling centuries.
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a new model to predict nuclear fission reaction products, resolving a long-standing mystery. The 4D Langevin equations model successfully accounts for the effects of fragment shapes on fission products and kinetic energy.
Researchers have revised the history of big, climate-altering volcanic eruptions using a new method that accurately identifies airborne particles in Antarctic ice cores. The study confirms many events and corrects misidentifications, revealing new information on large stratospheric eruptions over the past 2,600 years.
Scientists developed an electron microscopy technique to directly identify isotopes in amino acids at the nanoscale without damaging the samples. This allows for real-space observation of dynamic chemistry and creates a foundation for scientific discoveries.
New evidence from stable isotopes in ancient panda bones indicates they likely had a varied diet, similar to that of other mammalian species. The researchers found that ancient pandas were isotopically distinct from modern giant pandas, suggesting differences in their dietary habits and a wider niche than previously thought.
A recent study from Arizona State University uses breath and hair analysis to understand metabolism and calories burned during exercise. The results show that people burn fat in the morning and switch to burning carbohydrates during moderate exercise, regardless of their diet.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered that fish ear bones can serve as a fingerprint for identifying and tracking coal ash contamination in aquatic ecosystems. The study used strontium isotope ratios in otoliths to connect high levels of toxic elements back to the contamination source.
A study found a significant increase in dust in northern Iran around 4,200 years ago, suggesting a period of drying and relatively arid climate conditions. This event coincided with the decline of the Akkadian Empire and the abandonment of North Mesopotamian settlements.
Researchers investigate pion condensation in neutron-rich tin isotope, finding critical density of around two times normal nuclear density. The discovery provides new insights into rapid cooling process of neutron star cores.
Researchers analyzed magnesium stable isotopes in lunar rock samples, finding they match the Inner Solar System's bulk composition before fractionation occurred. The results suggest the initial Moon impact did not separate isotopes and instead indicate a lunar magma ocean that re-melted and affected later basalt formations.
Researchers discovered two early hominin species coexisted in southern East African Rift system, displaying dietary generalism and adaptability to paleoenvironmental conditions. The results suggest a high degree of versatility in their ability to thrive in various environments.
FIONA's first results confirm predictions for the mass numbers of moscovium and nihonium, two superheavy elements. The tool provides a reliable way to measure these numbers with experiments, addressing potential issues with nuclear mass models.
Physicists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have successfully measured parity violation in ytterbium atoms with different numbers of neutrons, confirming the predictions of the Standard Model of particle physics. The results show that the effect increases with the number of neutrons in the nucleus.
A 9,000-year-old child's tooth has revealed insights into Alaska's ancient people, their genetic makeup and diets. The tooth, linked to the Ancient Beringian lineage, indicates that these groups remained in Alaska for thousands of years after migrating across the Bering Land Bridge.
Researchers at UC are using isotopic analysis to identify the habitats of migratory hawk species. By analyzing the strontium and hydrogen isotopes in feathers, they can determine the geographic origin of individual birds, providing valuable insights for conservation efforts.
Researchers analyzed 23 popular hard ciders and found that 60% of domestic brands contained added sugars from cane or corn syrup. The study's findings suggest that labels are not a reliable way to determine whether a cider has added sugar, due to discrepancies between expected and observed isotopic ratios.
Researchers used chromium isotopes to investigate the conditions under which the Moon's volatile elements evaporated. They found that the temperature of evaporation was around 1600-1800 K, significantly lower than previously thought if evaporation occurred during the giant Moon-forming impact.
Recent research suggests that anthropogenic nitrogen inputs to the North Atlantic may be lower than previously thought. Coral skeletons show minimal changes in nitrogen isotope ratio over the past 130 years, contradicting model simulations predicting a significant decline.
The binding energy of near proton-drip line Z = 22-28 isotopes has been determined from measured isotopic cross section distributions. The predicted binding energies were verified through the scaling phenomenon of mirror nuclei, confirming the reliability of the method.
Researchers analyzed silicon and oxygen isotopes in zircon crystals to infer the presence of sedimentary rocks, such as cherts or banded iron formations, on early Earth. The findings suggest that these rocks may have existed over 4 billion years ago, providing a window into the planet's primordial chemistry.
Researchers reconstructed a drastic climate change event in southern France using tree-ring width measurements and chemical analyses. They found that the region experienced increased air mass transport from the North Atlantic and regional variability in precipitation, leading to extreme weather conditions.
Scientists have found significant concentrations of fission products, including barium isotopes, within ruthenium metal and sulfide aggregates at the Oklo reactor site. The discovery suggests that these aggregates formed approximately five years after reactor shutdown, with potential implications for nuclear waste storage.
Researchers analyzed animal fat residues to link a 8,200-year-old climate shift in Greenland with changes in a human settlement. The study found correlations between the climate event and shifts from cattle herding to goat herding and changes in dwelling structures, ultimately leading to settlement abandonment.
A new study reveals that chimpanzees in the savannah consume tougher and less digestible food than those in the rainforest. The researchers found that the outer casing of certain fruits had higher toughness values, suggesting that the chimps' teeth evolved to handle these more challenging foods.
A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals a previously unknown sulfur isotope effect that helps identify sources of air pollution in China. The researchers used sulfur isotopes to analyze coal and air samples, finding a connection between biomass burning and aerosol formation.
A new study suggests that organic materials found in ancient meteorites formed through basic chemical reactions during the Solar System's infancy. The research provides insights into the potential habitability of other planetary systems.
A University of Oxford study suggests that some people buried at Stonehenge had moved with and transported bluestones from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The research combined radiocarbon-dating with new developments in archaeological analysis to investigate the lives of those buried at the iconic monument.
Researchers measured isotopes of water trapped in gypsum to determine changes in rainfall and relative humidity during the Maya downfall. Annual precipitation decreased by 41-54% and relative humidity declined by 2-7%. These findings support theories that drought contributed to the Maya civilization's collapse.
A new study analyzed speleothems in Brazilian caves to reconstruct rainfall distribution during the Middle Ages. The research found that southwestern Brazil was wetter than now, while the Northeast region was drier. This analysis provides insights into the climate changes that occurred during the Little Ice Age.
Researchers successfully measured the optical excitation of atomic levels in nobelium isotopes using laser spectroscopy. The results confirm that nobelium nuclei are deformed like an American football, with a lower charge density in their center than at their surface.
A new study challenges the long-held assumption that plant-eating mammals' diets can be determined by analyzing carbon isotopes in fossil teeth. The researchers found that the value of these isotope analyses changes with body size, leading to a more accurate understanding of extinct species and ecosystems.
A MSU chemistry professor has been awarded a $356,598 grant to develop new methods for gathering rare medical isotopes. The goal is to enable targeted alpha therapy for metastatic cancer and advance research in fields like astrophysics and biochemistry.
Researchers analyzed a 200-year sediment core from a Himalayan lake, finding increased sulfate concentrations starting at the end of the Second Industrial Revolution. The findings suggest that atmospheric sulfur isotope ratios in the region were influenced by pre-industrial biomass burning and post-1930 anthropogenic dust emissions.
Researchers have overturned centuries-old thought on the source of ancient turquoise used by Aztec and Mixtec civilizations in Mesoamerica. Geochemical analyses reveal that true geologic source lies within Mesoamerica, not the American Southwest.
Researchers confirm painted lady butterflies recolonize Mediterranean region from Afrotropics each spring, traveling 12,000 km across Sahara Desert. The species' annual distance traveled may reach up to 24,000 km, closing the loop for its migratory system.
Researchers probe Periodic Table's limits as new elements are added, challenging traditional understanding of atoms. The search for element 119 continues, with potential implications for the definition and structure of atoms.
Chemical analysis of rat remains from Polynesian islands shows changes humans made to local ecosystems, including native species extinctions and alterations to food webs. The study advances a new method for detecting human transformations of local ecosystems in the past.
Researchers found evidence that the Earth's continental crust could have formed hundreds of millions of years earlier than previously thought, suggesting a habitable environment for life. The study used unique instruments to count strontium atoms in ancient rocks and found silica presence, altering the classic view of early Earth.
A study of ancient rat remains from Polynesia finds that isotopic trends reflect resource depression and reshaping of nutrient flows by early human settlers. The declines may be due to changes in food sources, such as a shift from slash-and-burn agriculture to agroforestry and nearshore fishing.