Articles tagged with Isotopes
Researchers developed a new method to identify microbe food sources using carbon stable isotope ratios, providing insights into microbial communities and their impact on animal and plant health. The technique uses mass spectrometry and software to link microbes with substrates, enabling the study of complex microbial relationships.
A study found that female leopards have a significantly wider diet range than males, with a greater diversity of smaller prey species. This is thought to be due to the energy constraints and limited home ranges of females.
Researchers at Osaka University have identified a carbon isotope with a magic number of six, demonstrating improved stability and understanding of spin-orbit coupling in atomic nuclei. This breakthrough provides new insights into the origin of spin-orbit force and magic numbers of nuclei.
Researchers used laser ablation and plasma mass spectrometry to analyze ancient gold items from the Carambolo treasure, discovering a local gold deposit within 2 km of the site. This breakthrough provides new insights into the origin of the metal and its possible connections to ancient trade routes.
Researchers at MIT have developed a physics-based system to verify the destruction of nuclear warheads, using cryptographic keys in physical form. The new method uses neutron detection and resonance processes to identify authentic warheads, while concealing their designs.
A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that a series of volcanic eruptions in the mid-500s CE resulted in a prolonged period of cold and darkness, making it difficult for humans to survive. The poor climate conditions significantly reduced food production and vitamin D levels, further weakening the already hungry population.
A researcher is exploring the emergence, transmission, and intensification of mobile pastoralism across the Eurasian steppe. The project will analyze human and animal bones, teeth, pottery, and other remains to understand how people relied on sheep, goats, cattle, and horses for food.
Researchers found a small but measurable difference in oxygen isotopes between lunar and terrestrial rocks, proposing that most of Earth's water was acquired during the main stage of its growth. This challenges the widely accepted theory that the Moon formed from debris left over after a giant impact.
New research analyzing oxygen isotopic compositions of lunar and terrestrial samples supports a high-energy collision model for the Moon's origin. Most of Earth's water is believed to have been delivered before the Moon-forming impact, contradicting previous proposals that it was added later.
A new study suggests that Silk Road cities had limited and monotonous diets, while nomadic communities enjoyed a diverse smorgasbord of foods. Researchers used isotopic analysis of human bones to unlock information about ancient dietary regimens.
Researchers analyzed sedimentary rocks and found light lithium isotopes in South China's seawater, potentially linking terrestrial and marine ecological crises. The findings suggest a connection between the Siberian Traps' eruptions and the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event.
Researchers analyzed ancient animal remains from Ceibal, Guatemala, revealing widespread Maya animal management earlier than thought. The findings suggest that captive animals played a significant role in the development of state society among the Maya.
Researchers analyzed animal remains from Ceibal, Guatemala, and found that dogs, turkeys, and cats were raised for ceremonial purposes, with dogs being traded across the landscape. The study sheds light on the role of animals in Maya civilization and challenges previous assumptions about their management.
Research at the Ii Hamina cemetery found that the diet of medieval residents consisted mainly of fish, with 70% of protein consumption attributed to fish-based food. This suggests a strong reliance on waterways and an underemphasis on farming and dairying in the region.
Researchers used carbon isotopes to track shark feeding habits, finding that coastal sharks forage in a range of coastal food webs, while deeper ocean sharks rely on specific areas of colder water. The findings may help conservationists design more effective protection strategies for declining shark populations.
Scientists analyzed carbon-rich dust grains extracted from meteorites to determine the timing of supernova dust formation. The study found that these grains formed at least two years after their massive parent stars exploded.
Researchers have successfully implanted protons into iron-based superconductors, inducing bulk superconductivity with Tc at 20 K. Protonation also enhances Tc in FeS, overcoming the difficulty of lacking sensitive NMR isotopes.
Researchers at NRL have developed a method to reduce optical losses in hexagonal boron nitride devices, enabling more efficient lasers and nanoscale optics. This breakthrough has significant applications for ultra-high resolution microscopes, solar energy harvesting, optical computing, and targeted medical therapies.
A team of researchers has successfully developed a novel method for separating isotopes using a flexible porous material. By exploiting the dynamic change in pore dimensions, they can selectively adsorb and desorb desired gas components, leading to improved separation efficiency and selectivity.
Researchers found high methane concentrations in groundwater near a 1965 gas well blowout site in the Netherlands, suggesting ongoing methane leakage from the reservoir. Methane oxidation reduced isotope concentrations with increasing distance from the blowout site.
Researchers suggest that our solar system formed in a wind-blown bubble structure around a Wolf-Rayet star, which produces elements like aluminium-26 but not iron-60. This theory aims to explain the unusual abundance of these elements in our solar system compared to the rest of the galaxy.
Researchers have discovered fossil evidence of early Archaea life forms in Western Australia's Apex chert formation, dated to approximately 3.5 billion years ago. The findings suggest that methane cycling between producer and consumer organisms was a significant component of the early biosphere.
The discovery of microscopic fossils in a 3.5-billion-year-old rock piece in Western Australia confirms life on Earth began before this date. The study identified 11 microbial specimens from five separate taxa, linking their morphologies to chemical signatures characteristic of life.
Researchers tracked Henst's goshawk population by analyzing strontium isotopes in leaves and animal remains, revealing the birds' hunting habits. The findings suggest that goshawks mainly inhabit lower elevations in forest areas vulnerable to human impacts, which could inform conservation efforts.
Scientists have discovered that heterogeneities in the Earth's mantle are at least a kilometer in size, enabling the survival of their chemical signature during magma transport. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of mantle convection and its impact on tectonic plate movement.
Researchers from Sweden propose a new theory on the Chernobyl disaster, suggesting a nuclear explosion preceded a steam explosion. The theory is supported by observations of debris and weather conditions.
Green turtles breed in Cyprus and forage in Lake Bardawil, a new important feeding ground discovered using stable isotope ratios and satellite tracking. The study found that 82% of female turtles show high consistency in their isotope ratios, indicating they return to the same places.
Scientists have found evidence that komatiites, three-billion-year-old volcanic rocks found within the Earth's mantle, had a different composition than modern ones. This discovery may provide new information about the first one billion years of Earth's development and early origins of life.
Researchers at UNIST have developed a novel hydrogen isotope separation system based on porous metal organic frameworks, exhibiting the highest selectivity to date. The system can efficiently separate and store deuterium, with a separation factor of 26, making it more cost-effective than cryogenic distillation methods.
A study uses isotope fingerprinting to examine alabaster trade in Europe over five centuries, revealing previously unknown sources of alabaster in the French Alps that supplied eastern France. The results suggest an important alabaster industry in the French Alps during this time period.
Researchers found that water with different isotopes exhibits complex dynamic properties when in contact with liquid water. The team's findings have significant implications for understanding ice crystallization and its applications in various industries, including agriculture and food preservation.
Laurence Yeung, a geochemist at Rice University, has been awarded a 2017 Packard Fellowship to support his research on the atmospheric system. He plans to use the grant to take risks and explore new ideas in his field, including the development of a compact device for isotopic measurements.
Researchers found significant differences in diet between those buried in dolmens and caves, suggesting possible socioeconomic differences. The study used stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes to analyze bone collagen and found a more diverse diet in cave burials.
Researchers have developed a new method to track the origin of individual batches of heroin, potentially aiding in the disruption of the opioid crisis. By analyzing the ratio of radiogenic strontium isotopes, they can differentiate samples from different geographic regions.
Scientists from the University of Bristol have discovered evidence suggesting that massive collisions during planetary accretion resulted in significant mass loss, altering a planet's composition. This process, which occurred in the Earth and Mars formation, led to their distinctive volatile poor compositions.
Isotopic analysis of human remains reveals differences in diet and socioeconomic status between cave and megalithic graves, suggesting local land use partitioning. The study proposes two explanations for these findings: socioeconomic class divisions or different populations with distinct subsistence economies.
Researchers analyzed century-old seal pelts to investigate human impacts on the Antarctic ecosystem. They found that Weddell seals' diets have not changed significantly over the past hundred years, but significant change occurred in the phytoplankton community, likely due to climatic shifts.
A new study from the University of California San Diego suggests that the moon's interior is likely very dry, contradicting recent findings of wetness. The researchers analyzed fragments of the 'Rusty Rock,' a lunar rock collected during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972.
Analysis of ancient Roman coins found that the defeat of Hannibal during the Second Punic War led to a significant increase in Spanish silver mining revenue, contributing to Rome's expansion. This finding provides tangible evidence of Rome's transition from regional power to empire.
Scientists used isotope signatures to determine where Myrtle warblers breed during the summer, finding they migrate from Vancouver's Pacific Coast to these high latitude areas. This discovery highlights adaptations for longer migrations and potentially genetic influences on migration routes.
Researchers analyzed strontium isotopes in prehistoric cattle teeth to infer herding management and mobility. The study found three distinct herding patterns, indicating local, seasonal, and year-round grazing strategies that may have contributed to social inequalities.
Researchers found that Przewalski's horses, now protected in the Gobi Desert, consume only high-quality grass throughout the year due to improved human attitudes. In contrast, Khulan wild asses also live in the same habitat but are still hunted and have a more restricted diet.
A global data set reveals that volcanic arcs mobilize carbon from crustal carbonate platforms, particularly in Italy and Indonesia. This finding requires a downward revision of past organic carbon burial estimates.
A team of researchers from Binghamton University analyzed human and faunal remains to find that around half the protein in diets came from marine sources, contradicting previous estimates. The findings suggest the Rapa Nui population had extensive knowledge to overcome poor soil fertility and create a sustainable food supply.
Scientists reconstructed annual temperature anomaly in southern China from 1850-2009 using high-resolution temperature proxies. The results show robust centennial warming and a first rapid cooling followed by significant warming intervals, with the most recent being from 1970, featuring unprecedented warmth rates.
Researchers found evidence of permanent high-elevation occupation through isotope chemistry and archaeological data. The Soro Mik' aya Patjxa population successfully adapted to the challenging environment without modern gear or food.
Researchers developed a concept to model the physical surroundings' influence on Acacia longifolia's interaction with other plants, considering factors like soil type, nutrients, light intensity, wind, and soil moisture. Isoscapes reveal the distribution of nitrogen introduced by the invasive species across the landscape.
Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory used neutron scattering analysis to examine a living cell membrane at the nanoscale, resolving a long-standing debate about lipid molecule organization. They found tiny groupings of lipid molecules that are likely key to the cell's functioning.
A new UNLV study published in Nature Geoscience has found evidence of nearly continuous warming in the Ural Mountains in central Russia over the past 11,000 years. This contradicts previous work that focused on summer temperature trends and supports computer models predicting continual warming.
Researchers have discovered that sedimentary cycles are linked to sea level changes, rather than mountain erosion. The study uses carbon isotopes to predict sedimentary rock distribution and better understand the Earth's sedimentary history.
A recent study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution reveals that rising moisture levels may have contributed to the extinction of giant herbivores approximately 10,000 years ago. Researchers analyzed carbon and nitrogen isotopes in ancient animal bones to infer climate conditions and dietary habits of the megafauna.
Researchers have developed a new scientific technique that can analyze human hair to provide clues about a person's lifestyle. The technique uses liquid chromatography in conjunction with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LC-IRMS) to identify 15 isotope ratio measurements that potentially yield crucial information about certain lifestyl...
Analysis of isotopes in bones and teeth from fifth-century cemeteries reveals hybridity among nomads and settlers, suggesting cooperation and coexistence. This challenges the traditional narrative of the Huns' violent attacks on settlements on the edge of the Roman Empire.
Analysis of Canadian Shield rock samples reveals components of Earth's original crust dated to over 4.2 billion years ago. The findings provide insight into the evolution of the oldest elements of Earth's continental hard outer layer.
Researchers have discovered a critical finding about Alexander disease, a rare and fatal neurological disorder. Using mouse models, they found that the GFAP protein behind the symptoms is broken down more rapidly than previously thought.
Researchers have developed a new method to analyze the carbon content of ancient coccolithophore shells, providing insights into past CO2 levels and climate sensitivity. The study uses mathematical modeling and laboratory experiments to understand the biology of ancient creatures and their impact on the environment.
A study by Prof. ZHANG Donghui and colleagues reveals details of the H' + CH4 substitution reaction, which proceeds through the back-side attack Walden inversion mechanism. The reaction exhibits a high threshold energy and different isotope effects for thermal rate constant and cross-sections.
A team of researchers has found that the Earth's iron composition is not linked to its core formation, sparking alternative theories on why our planet has higher levels of heavy iron isotopes. The study suggests light iron isotopes may have been vaporized into space or incorporated into rock through slow mantle churning.
Scientists studied iron isotope ratios to understand Earth's differentiation event and how it differed from other planets. Nickel played a key role in shaping the ratios, with different elements forming under various planetary formation conditions.
Researchers refuted the notion that Indian corn was cultivated hundreds of years before its widespread adoption at around 1000 A.D. in the American Bottom region. The study used accelerated mass spectrometry to directly date plant fragments, revealing that corn was not widely consumed until 900 or later.