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Liquid metals break down organic fuels into ultra-thin graphitic sheets

Researchers at UNSW Sydney synthesized ultra-thin carbon-based materials using liquid metals and organic fuels at room temperature, a first for this method. The ultra-smooth surface of the liquid metals templates atomically-thin carbon-based sheets, which can be used in various applications including battery storage and solar cells.

Cold-adapted enzymes can transform at room temperature

Cold-adapted enzymes from low-temperature organisms exhibit distinctive properties that enable them to function in freezing conditions. However, they often stop functioning at around room temperature, until they start melting. Researchers have now explained this phenomenon through extensive computer simulations.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 26, 2020

Should tomatoes go in the fridge?

A study by the University of Göttingen found that the variety of tomato is more important than storage conditions on its flavor. The research team analyzed flavour-related attributes in new tomato strains and discovered no significant differences between refrigerated and room temperature storage options.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateMay 20, 2020

Cool down fast to advance quantum nanotechnology

Physicists create Bose-Einstein condensate by rapidly cooling magnons to room temperature, eliminating the need for complex equipment and achieving a long-sought goal in quantum physics research. The discovery has significant implications for advancing quantum computing at room temperature.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateApr 21, 2020

Development of a sticker that indicates whether cold-chain food products have gone bad

A new sticker has been developed to indicate whether cold-chain food products have gone bad. The sticker changes color when exposed to room temperature, allowing users to determine if their food is spoiled. Its low manufacturing cost and flexibility make it suitable for widespread use in the fresh food delivery market.

Researchers identify breaking point of conducting material

Researchers at Penn State developed a new method to predict the temperature when plastics change from supple to brittle, which could accelerate the development of flexible electronics. The study found that a simple relationship between chemical structure and glass transition temperature can be used to predict embrittlement point.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 4, 2020

The coolest LEGO ® in the universe

Researchers at Lancaster University cooled LEGO to near-absolute zero, revealing its potential as a thermal insulator for dilution refrigerators used in quantum computing. The discovery could lead to cheaper and more efficient scientific equipment.

SourceLancaster University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 23, 2019

CCNY physicists score double hit in LED research

Researchers at City College of New York have successfully demonstrated a light-emitting diode (LED) operating at room temperature, utilizing half-light half-matter quasiparticles in atomically thin semiconductors. This breakthrough has significant implications for LiFi technology, which offers faster data transmission speeds than Wi-Fi.

SourceCity College of New York·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 27, 2019

How two water molecules dance together

A team of researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum and Emory University observed the movement between individual water molecules for the first time, revealing new insights into their interactions. The findings help to better understand the intermolecular energy landscape and the strange properties of water.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 13, 2019

Exposure to air pollution among women in Mozambique greatly intensified by the use of kerosene lamps

A study by ISGlobal found that women using kerosene lamps for lighting had significantly higher exposure to black carbon particles, leading to increased risk of tuberculosis, respiratory infections, and low birth weight. The study's findings highlight the need for alternative energy sources in rural areas.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironmental Health·DateJul 23, 2019

'Goldilocks' neurons promote REM sleep

Researchers discovered melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons in the hypothalamus play a critical role in modulating REM sleep based on room temperature. Mice with functioning MCH neurons increase REM sleep when warmed, while those lacking the receptor show no such response.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 19, 2019

Secure metropolitan quantum networks move a step closer

A joint team of Chinese scientists has demonstrated CV-QKD transmission over commercial deployed fiber links with distances of up to 50 kilometers. The system achieved higher secret key rates compared to previous laboratory tests, overcoming challenges such as environmental perturbations and equipment losses.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalQuantum Science and Technology·DateMay 29, 2019

Rice U. lab grows stable, ultrathin magnets

Rice University researchers have successfully grown a unique form of iron oxide with strong magnetic properties that is easy to stack atop other 2D materials. The material, epsilon iron(III) oxide, shows promise as a building block for exotic nanoscale structures that could be useful for spintronic devices and electronic applications.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 24, 2019