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Can yeast survive on Mars?

Researchers found yeast cells can withstand shock waves and toxic perchlorate salts, simulating Martian conditions. The yeast's ability to produce ribonucleoprotein condensates helps protect against stress, making it a model for astrobiology research and potential life support systems in space.

SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateOct 24, 2025

Direct discharge electrical pulses for carbon fiber recycling

Researchers developed a novel method for carbon fiber recycling that leverages Joule heat generation, thermal stress, and expansion forces to separate fibers without chemicals. The technique is more effective than traditional methods, preserving longer fibers with higher strength and reducing environmental impact.

SourceWaseda University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 14, 2025

New study unveils breakthrough in understanding cosmic particle accelerators

Scientists have come closer to understanding the acceleration of electrons in collisionless shock environments. A new study using satellite observations from NASA's MMS and THEMIS/ARTEMIS missions found that electrons can be accelerated to high energies through the interaction of multiple processes across different scales.

SourceNorthumbria University·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 13, 2025

Scientists trigger mini-earthquakes in the lab

Researchers at the Universiteit van Amsterdam triggered mini-earthquakes in a lab by applying a small seismic wave to a granular material. The study shows that these events can be understood using laboratory-scale frictional experiments, and its findings are relevant for understanding remote earthquake triggering in larger faults.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 19, 2024

The Future of Touch

A new study reveals that holographic haptic displays create diffuse and faint tactile sensations due to widespread vibration patterns in the skin. The researchers discovered a phenomenon known as constructive interference that amplifies shock waves, leading to reduced spatial precision and clarity.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 1, 2023

The roar and crackle of Artemis 1

Researchers measured noise levels at locations around the launch pad, finding maximum sound levels exceeded predicted values by nearly 20 decibels. The study's findings will help validate and improve existing noise prediction models to protect equipment and surrounding environments.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJASA Express Letters·DateFeb 14, 2023

How do you create buildings that can withstand the most extreme stress loads?

PhD candidate Benjamin Stavnar Elveli's research investigates how different types of steel plates behave under combined ballistic impacts. His work aims to establish guidelines for lightweight, resistant structures. The study shows that simplified approaches can have weaknesses, highlighting the need for accurate computer simulations.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalEngineering Failure Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 2, 2023

Exotic water ice contributes to understanding of magnetic anomalies on Neptune and Uranus

Researchers used density functional theory to investigate the mechanical properties of superionic ice XVIII, which is thought to make up a large part of Neptune and Uranus. The study found that dislocations in the crystal lattice produce shear, leading to macroscopic deformations and potentially influencing the planets' magnetic fields.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2023

New spectroscopy technique improves trace element detection in liquid

Researchers have developed a new spectroscopy technique called filament- and plasma-grating-induced breakdown spectroscopy (F-GIBS), which improves the sensitivity of trace metal detection in liquid samples. The technique uses fluid jets to analyze aqueous solutions and achieves high precision by avoiding detrimental influences of liqu...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateJan 4, 2023

The impacts of impacts

KAUST researchers have found that even low-speed solid-liquid impacts can cause cavitation and generate damaging shock waves. This challenges previous assumptions about the effects of such impacts. The team used high-speed cameras to study the impact of a flat-bottomed cylinder on a pool of liquid, observing that pressures below a cert...

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2022

Volcanic ash sparks a new discovery

Researchers used plasma physics to study how volcanic ash modifies standing shock wave height, width, and lifetime. This discovery enables the tracking of standing shock waves in laboratory experiments, potentially leading to improved ash estimates and early predictions of hazardous plumes.

Shocking heat waves stabilize single atoms

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory successfully stabilized single atoms using record-high temperatures of up to 2000 K. The method enables the creation of stable single atom catalysts, which can remain in their place for unprecedented periods of time, maximizing atom-use efficiency and improving catalytic performance.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 26, 2019

Researchers develop unified sensor to better control effects of shock waves

A new unified shock sensor developed by researchers at Yokohama National University can quickly and accurately detect and dissipate shock waves. The sensor combines imaging processing with compressible flow theory to predict the behavior of shock waves, offering improved efficiency and precision in computational fluid dynamics.

SourceYokohama National University·JournalJournal of Computational Physics·DateSep 19, 2019

Clean and effective electronic waste recycling

Researchers at Kumamoto University have developed a novel e-waste recycling method using pulsed power, which successfully separates metal from plastic in CD-ROMs. The technique uses high-voltage electrical discharges to break down materials, resulting in efficient separation and minimal environmental impact.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalWaste Management·DateMay 15, 2019

The view from inside supersonic combustion

Researchers used numerical modeling to study the dynamics of supersonic flow, revealing two induced combustion modes and a local quasi detonation mode due to incident shock waves. The simulations provide valuable insights for scramjet engine design, enabling the optimization of mixing and combustion processes.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateMar 15, 2018

Lunar sonic booms

Scientists studying lunar sonic booms hope to answer whether mini shock waves on the moon are being generated by protons in the solar wind colliding with pockets of magnetic fields. The findings come from NASA's ARTEMIS mission, which has gathered high-fidelity measurements of the shock waves.

Injured muscles 'shocked' back to health

A recent study in rats suggests that acoustic shock waves can accelerate muscle healing by increasing chemical signaling factors and waking up satellite progenitor cells. This technique, called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), has promising potential as a non-invasive therapy complementing existing recovery regimes.

Scientists film shock waves in diamond

Researchers have used ultra-short pulses of X-rays to create a film of shock waves in diamonds, providing new insights into the structure of these hard materials. The study reveals that intense shock waves can compress diamond by almost ten percent, opening up new perspectives on its dynamic behavior under high pressure.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 18, 2015