Articles tagged with Thermodynamics
Bielefeld University's four Consolidator Grant recipients will explore health effects of passive commuting, social environment influence on health and mortality, and universe phase transitions. The grants total more than 8 million euros, with projects starting in 2024.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a passive radiative cooling material that achieves high-performance optical properties. The cooling ceramic reduces thermal load, provides stable cooling performance, and can be used in various building applications.
A team of researchers has devised a novel micro heat engine that can produce both high efficiency and high power at maximum efficiency, overcoming the Carnot limit. The study used a tiny gel-like colloidal bead and a laser beam to direct its motion, achieving an efficiency close to 95%.
Göttingen University researchers develop mathematical model that shows small imbalances in mixture composition can amplify and control phase separation. This discovery offers a potential mechanism for regulating structure formation in living cells, with applications in fields such as market economies and ecological networks.
A novel inequality defines the limit of heat current flowing into a quantum system as its size increases, showing a cubic relationship with particle count. The study identifies superradiance as the most efficient mechanism for achieving this fundamental limit.
Core-shell nanostructured Mg-based hydrogen storage materials show excellent kinetics and long-term cycling performances. They can absorb and desorb hydrogen at relatively low temperatures, reducing energy consumption in hydrogen storage and release. The materials have potential to improve Mg-based hydrogen storage systems for various ...
UVA professor Patrick Hopkins is developing a 'freeze ray' technology to cool electronics in spacecraft and high-altitude jets, which can't be cooled by nature due to the vacuum of space. The technology uses heat-generating plasma to create localized cooling, and has been granted $750,000 by the Air Force.
Luis Cuello, a professor at TTUHSC, has developed a method to express human potassium channels in bacteria, allowing for large-scale biophysical studies. This technology will be used to target several channels relevant to diseases such as epilepsy, arrhythmia, and diabetes.
Researchers at TU Wien develop a quantum version of the third law of thermodynamics, finding that absolute zero is theoretically attainable but requires infinite energy, time, or complexity. This breakthrough reconciles quantum physics with thermodynamics, paving the way for the development of practical quantum computers.
Researchers reconstructed thermodynamics of double helix formation and breaking using simulated DNA unzipping speed. The technique can be applied to other molecular systems, including molecular motors.
Researchers at GIST developed a novel thermoelectric generator inspired by zebra skin, creating a high in-plane temperature gradient for generating electricity. The design uses a pattern resembling black-and-white zebra stripes to increase its applicability while reducing environmental impact.
The researchers aim to create a set of tools to help other chemists select and produce the right crystal structures for new drugs, potentially saving time and cost. By understanding how molecules crystallize, they hope to speed up the development process and lower costs.
Computer simulations demonstrate that chaos plays a crucial role in the emergence of thermodynamic behavior from quantum theory. A quantum system with indistinguishable particles and a thermometer-like particle shows a temperature distribution consistent with Boltzmann's rules only when the system exhibits chaos.
A team of researchers from Korea investigated the dynamics of the p-Laplacian AC equation, finding that solutions maintain three criteria: phase separation, boundedness, and energy decay properties. They also identified an advantage of p-AC equation over classical Laplacian in adjusting interface sharpness.
A Cornell research team synthesized 16 types of rock surfaces that may form on exoplanets, providing a tool to decipher their composition. The study's findings offer clues to early planetary evolution and the chemical makeup of distant planets.
Scientists at The University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science have developed a novel theory for describing nonlinear dissipative phenomena in a dual geometric space. This work enables the extension of thermodynamics to complex chemical reaction networks, including those involved in living organisms' metabolism and growth.
Researchers from The University of Tokyo created a geometric technique to characterize self-replication processes, shedding light on living systems' environmental conditions. This work aims to improve our understanding of biological reproduction and the theoretical limits governing chemistry and biology.
The study found that colloidal membranes transition from flat disc-like shapes to saddle-like shapes as the fraction of short rods increases. The saddles then merge into more complex structures like catenoids and four-noids, exhibiting properties similar to biological membranes.
The Replica Exchange Grand Canonical (REGC) method describes how surfaces change in contact with reactive gas phases under different temperature and pressure conditions. The approach identifies 25 thermodynamically stable surface phases and predicts stability phase diagrams for real systems.
A new theory developed by researchers at the University of Chicago proves the existence of local equilibrium at interfaces, which are regions where materials interact and connect. This finding has significant implications for understanding and engineering systems with multiple components.
Researchers have designed a lightweight wood-based foam that reflects sunlight, emits absorbed heat, and is thermally insulating. The material could reduce buildings' cooling energy needs by an average of 35.4% depending on weather conditions, making it a promising solution for hot climates.
The study reveals significant information on the thermal properties of electric double-layer capacitors, which can help create safer and more reliable energy storage devices. The research team found that charging and discharging alter the heat capacity of EDLCs, leading to a decrease in capacitance.
A study by Sibani Lisa Biswal and Kedar Joshi shows that magnetically driven colloidal suspensions exhibit behavior consistent with the principles of classical thermodynamics, including vapor pressure, viscosity, and surface tension. The researchers' findings have implications for designing materials with reconfigurable properties.
A new project aims to determine the role of sea ice fragmentation in accelerating Arctic ice-cap retreat. By combining observations, theory, and process modeling, researchers hope to improve climate model accuracy.
Researchers demonstrate a two-terminal tandem solar cell with enhanced efficiency through spectrum splitting, achieving a 5-6% gain in absolute efficiency. The design uses planar and Lambertian spectral splitters to effectively distribute sunlight among the top and bottom cells.
Researchers at Nagoya City University developed a novel approach for surface disinfection using harmless visible light, inactivating bacteria and viruses. The study's findings suggest that photothermal effects caused by pulsed laser irradiation can instantly destroy pathogenic microorganisms.
The study found that applying an electrical potential can stabilize high-temperature superconducting superhydrides at much lower pressures than previously thought. This new method could lead to the creation of new materials with broad applications in consumer and industrial sectors.
Rice University researchers have developed a method to control the growth of tetrahedron-shaped nanoparticles, which can be used as building blocks for unique metamaterials. The team discovered that balancing thermodynamic and kinetic forces during crystallization allows for symmetry breaking, forming pyramid-shaped nanocrystals.
Researchers from The University of Electro-Communications and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology found that sintering porous media inside heat transfer tubes increases the area available for heat exchange, reducing thermal resistance and enhancing heat transfer performance. Heat transfer in these tubes is five times greater...
Researchers at the University of Göttingen have discovered a novel type of ordering effect generated and sustained by steady shear deformation. They found that under sufficient driving force, an interesting ordering effect emerges, revealing a hidden order in the force directions.
Researchers developed kirigami-processed cellulose nanofiber films that dramatically improve cooling functionality, reducing thermal resistance by about one-fifth. These films can be used to create new cooling devices for wearable electronics, addressing bulkiness and inflexibility issues.
Researchers at Aalto University created unexpected droplet shapes, including squares and hexagons, by disrupting thermodynamic equilibrium with electric fields. The liquids formed into interconnected lattices and torus shapes, stable for a controlled duration.
Professor Yuri Mishin at George Mason University is advancing understanding of interface thermodynamics and kinetics through atomic modeling. He aims to investigate grain boundary segregation, phase transformations, and solute drag effects in alloys.
Researchers established an explicit scaling form for the free energy density, including a Gaussian fixed point and multiplicative logarithmic corrections. Monte Carlo simulations supported the conjectured scaling forms for various macroscopic quantities.
Researcher Erin Lavik found that incorporating theater improvisation activities in a graduate-level thermodynamics course led to higher rates of engagement and participation. Students reported feeling more alert, engaged, and ready to participate during improv exercises.
Insufficient knowledge of thermodynamic and kinetic factors governing lead release led to the Flint Water Crisis. Understanding these factors can help anticipate and prevent lead contamination.
Santa Fe Institute researchers Artemy Kolchinsky and David Wolpert present a new framework for understanding the relationship between energy and computation in Turing machines. They derive relationships between algorithmic information and energy, showing that computations with more compressible outputs require more energy.
Researchers developed a machine learning model that analyzes molecular structure to predict enthalpy of formation with better accuracy than traditional approaches. The model's accuracy improves with more data, enabling the development of fully automated algorithms for predicting complex chemical phenomena.
Researchers at Kazan Federal University discovered that water molecules, not manganese derivatives, form covalent C-O bonds in graphene oxide. The study also found that the C-O bonds can be easily cleaved and remigrated along the graphene plane.
A new thermodynamic model predicts the minimum energy requirements for microbial communities to live, providing evidence that experimental data can be used to estimate energy requirements of microbial pathways. The study also introduces a generalisable platform for modelling biochemical conversions mediated by microbes.
A new mathematical model, ETFL, accurately models enzyme expression and its associated metabolic cost in living cells. The model integrates biochemistry, thermodynamics, and multi-omics data to predict enzyme activity and metabolism.
A new thermodynamic formula reveals bifacial cells can generate 15-20% more sunlight to electricity than monofacial cells, taking into consideration different terrain and surfaces. The formula helps companies design more efficient next-generation solar cells.
Researchers from RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science have found that optimal binding energies can deviate from traditional calculations at high reaction rates. This discovery may lead to the development of novel catalysts using less expensive and environmentally friendly materials.
Researchers have developed a novel castor oil-based inhibitor to slow down gas hydrate plug growth, reducing the risk of accidents and financial burdens. The new compound has shown high efficiency as a kinetic hydrate inhibitor, offering improved biodegradability and environmental safety.
Scientists found that kinetic factors play a crucial role in calcium carbonate formation, especially in saline environments. The researchers' study suggests that considering both thermodynamics and kinetics can lead to more accurate predictions of mineral formation rates.
Researchers successfully reversed the state of a quantum computer a fraction of a second into the past and calculated the probability of an electron in empty interstellar space spontaneously traveling back into its recent past. The phenomenon occurs due to a random fluctuation in the cosmic microwave background, with the reverse evolut...
Guilherme Gualda and his students studied magma storage-depth evolution in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. They found that magma moved closer to the surface with each successive eruption, likely preventing supereruptions. The dynamic nature of the crust allowed for frequent, smaller eruptions to occur, preventing a massive eruption.
Researchers studied thermodynamics of small nanomachines and found that synchronizing their movements triggers significant synergy effects, leading to greater overall energy output. The findings could potentially be used to improve efficiency of any machine.
Physicists Sebastian Deffner and Anthony Bartolotta developed techniques for describing the thermodynamics of very small systems with high energy, which could lead to a better understanding of the birth of the universe. They found that in their model system, the system was more likely to return multiple particles upon sending in just one.
Researchers have found that chaperones actively maintain proteins in a non-equilibrium but transiently stable state, even when thermodynamically unstable. This discovery challenges the long-held view that evolution has optimized protein function for thermodynamic stability.
An international research team has successfully brought Maxwell's Demon to life using superconducting circuits. The team observed the demon gain useful energy from a thermodynamic system, bypassing the second law of thermodynamics, and tracked how information is stored in its memory.
Researchers have discovered significant deviations in dynamic phase transitions that occur when dynamics is slow, unlike conventional thermodynamic phase transitions. These findings suggest a distinct difference between DPTs and TPTs, highlighting the importance of studying non-equilibrium dynamic phenomena.
Researchers use simulation tools to analyze and optimize soft robotic systems, increasing their utility through predictive approaches and thermodynamic perspectives. The study highlights the importance of considering machine design and performance in achieving widespread adoption.
Researchers have published a new study that explicitly quantifies the thermodynamic scale of metastability for almost 30,000 known materials. This understanding paves the way for designing and making promising next-generation materials with superior properties.
Researchers develop a solution to Hans Selye's hypothesis on adaptation energy, which has puzzled scientists for almost 80 years. The new theory predicts phenomena such as oscillating death and remission without exogenous reasons, providing an instrument for early crisis anticipation.
University of Oregon scientists have developed a new method to simulate multiscale systems, accurately reproducing structure and thermodynamic quantities. This breakthrough enables more reliable and efficient simulations, potentially revolutionizing fields like biology and material engineering.
Scientists at the University of Georgia have created a two-step computer simulation using the Wang-Landau algorithm to study how glycophorin A folds into its functional shape. The research reveals that the process is driven by a subtle interplay between multiple types of interactions, providing insights into membrane protein folding.
The algorithm introduces a new method for predicting RNA pseudoknots using heuristic modeling with mapping and sequential folding. It identifies information about flexibility and suggests that many biological RNA molecules are optimized by natural selection to fold correctly.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute in Potsdam have discovered an oscillating pattern in nanoparticle crystallization and self-organization. The study shows that these systems can form complex patterns, including concentric circles, through a combination of chemical reactions and diffusion.
Professor Sandra C. Greer was recognized for her dedication to encouraging women in chemistry, with over half of her Ph.D. students being female. She has supervised 14 Ph.D. dissertations and chaired the University of Maryland Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.