Articles tagged with Ultraviolet Radiation
A new light-activated coating has been developed that successfully kills bacteria in low-intensity ambient light, including <em>Clostridioides difficile</em> and <em>Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus</em>. The coating works by producing hydrogen peroxide, a mild reagent used in contact lens cleaner solutions.
Researchers have identified a new fluorescent compound in scorpion exoskeletons that could help guard against parasitic infections. The compound, a phthalate ester, was found to have antifungal and anti-parasitic properties, suggesting a potential defense mechanism for scorpions.
Researchers at NIST have made the most sensitive measurements to date of silicon's conductivity using a novel method that allows them to test relatively thick specimens. The new technique has the potential to improve semiconductor materials and their applications, including solar cells and next-generation high-speed cellular networks.
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have created a visible-light photoelectrochemical system using cobalt-enhanced TiO2. The process enables efficient water oxidation, producing hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel. Cobalt domains on the surface enhance light absorption and catalytic sites facilitate water oxidation.
A team developed new hydrogen evolution photocatalysts (HEPs) made from two semiconducting materials, enhancing energy storage. The HEPs absorb more visible light, increasing hydrogen production rates an order of magnitude beyond current single-component inorganic HEPs.
A new study reveals wide state-by-state variation in melanoma rates attributed to ultraviolet radiation, with highest rates found on the East and West Coasts. States like Hawaii, Utah, Vermont, and Minnesota have high UV-attributable incidence rates, likely due to outdoor activities and sun protection.
Scientists using ALMA detected chemical signatures of acetonitrile and its rare isotopomer in Titan's stratosphere, indicating the presence of galactic cosmic rays. The findings suggest a universal process that could influence atmospheres on other solar system bodies.
Researchers have figured out how millipedes mate by using high-tech imaging techniques and blacklights that make the different tissues glow. The findings show that the male's gonopods insert sperm into the female's vulvae through tiny claws, while the female's vulvae seal up with a gooey secretion to trap the sperm.
Scientists at the University of Freiburg have developed a method to control electronic dynamics in real time by shaping attosecond pulses. This breakthrough allows for the study of molecular or crystal responses and has potential applications in optimizing processes like photosynthesis and charge separation.
Researchers at NAIST developed a new photo-acid generator that produces Lewis acids with a significantly higher quantum yield than existing Brønsted acids. This breakthrough enables the activation of previously inaccessible biological and photo-polymer systems, opening up new opportunities for organic synthesis.
Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology developed a new reaction system that detects X-rays at the highest sensitivity ever recorded using organic molecules. The system can detect even the faintest X-ray levels considered dangerous, making it safer for workers exposed to radiation.
Researchers developed retina-inspired carbon nitride-based photonic synapses to selectively detect UV light with low energy consumption. The smart systems can modulate exposure to UV rays, making them suitable for applications such as smart windows, glasses, and sensors.
A new study by Newcastle University scientists found that both UV and non-UV light from sunlight can damage the skin's cells, with visible and infrared rays causing greater harm at deeper levels. The research aims to improve sunscreen protection strategies against all three types of light.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a stacked nanocarbon antenna that makes europium shine brighter than previous designs, with potential to create more efficient photosensitizers. The new design uses low-energy blue light absorption, reducing energy loss and enabling photodynamic therapy applications.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a new QLED screen technology using ultra-thin nanoplatelets that emit light in one direction, increasing energy efficiency and reducing scattering losses. The technology produces high-intensity blue light with around two-fifths of the generated light reaching the observer's eye.
Researchers at Nagoya University have successfully designed a laser diode that emits deep-ultraviolet light at a record-breaking wavelength of 271.8 nanometers. This achievement overcomes previous limitations and enables new applications in healthcare, such as disinfection and treating skin conditions like psoriasis.
Researchers create a new material that can break down in response to light, offering a faster and easier way to remove gastrointestinal devices. The light-sensitive hydrogel is made from a combination of strong components linked together by a chemical bond that breaks when exposed to specific wavelengths of light.
Researchers developed a new ecological degradation process for atrazine using nanostructured materials and sunlight. The process eliminates toxic by-products, but its efficiency is limited by the presence of suspended particles and certain species in real water samples.
Researchers developed a mechanoluminescent material that can visualize pressure application locations for up to three days. The material uses defects in its structure to store energy, which is released as light when pressure is applied or infrared radiation is used.
Astronomers have spotted a distant galaxy group, EGS77, driving the cosmic makeover of reionization. The trio of galaxies is seen in near-infrared light due to its distance and age, which dates back to 680 million years old.
A study found that popular gym chains offer tanning beds in over 78% of their locations, despite public health warnings about the dangers of indoor tanning. Gyms are undermining health by marketing tanning beds to physically active people who are at increased risk for melanoma.
Researchers developed a wearable light sensor concept to measure exposure to different light spectrums, filling a gap in current technology. The Spectrace sensor aims to improve our understanding of the physiological effects of light on our bodies, particularly in relation to circadian rhythms and health.
Researchers found that bats avoid all light colors and prefer dark entrances, regardless of color. Inside caves, bats react sensitively to any light, showing a slight preference for red over amber and white lights only when dark was not an option.
Scientists at University of California, Riverside and The University of Texas at Austin demonstrate photon up-conversion using silicon nanocrystals and organic molecules. This breakthrough brings them closer to developing photodynamic treatments for cancer and advancing new technologies for solar-energy conversion and quantum information.
HRL Laboratories' microlattice impact attenuator pads demonstrate up to 48% improved absorption efficiency over vinyl nitrile foam when impacted repeatedly. The unique open-celled structure of the microlattice allows for better airflow, resulting in a cooler wearing experience.
Using stereolithography, ETH Zurich researchers have created glass objects with intricate structures and pore sizes controlled by UV light intensity. The technique allows for the production of complex glass objects, such as those with different types of glass or combined materials.
A Northwestern University study combines 3D climate modeling with chemistry to explore the habitability of planets around M dwarf stars. The research finds that only planets orbiting active stars lose significant water to vaporization, making them less likely to sustain life.
Yale researchers have discovered hyperhotspots in the human genome that are up to 170-times more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, potentially leading to a new way of predicting skin cancer risk. By analyzing these hyperhotspots, doctors could gain a better understanding of a patient's exposure history and skin cancer risk.
Anemonefish have a unique visual system that allows them to detect ultraviolet (UV) light, which may aid in finding both friends and food. This specialisation in the eye enables them to distinguish colour and see UV light, making it easier to navigate their environment.
A team of Clemson University astrophysicists has devised a new measurement of the Hubble Constant, which describes the rate of expansion of the universe. Their analysis of data from orbiting and ground-based telescopes yields a measurement of approximately 67.5 kilometers per second per megaparsec.
Researchers discovered a sustained light response in central brain neurons to blue and ultra violet light, informing internal circadian processes about the time of day. The study sheds light on non-image-forming vision and its role in regulating circadian rhythms.
A team at the University of Wyoming has successfully used the spin Seebeck effect to detect light across a broad optical range. This breakthrough technology has implications for novel spin current-based devices, which could transmit energy and information without significant loss.
A new study found that skin UVB exposure increases gut microbial diversity and favors the growth of Lachnospiraceae bacteria, which are linked to vitamin D status. The results suggest a potential link between UVB light exposure and the protective effect against inflammatory diseases like MS and IBD.
A team of researchers at Yokohama National University has developed a compound that can emit light and change color under mechanical stimuli. The dye's properties were controlled by adding another chemical, resulting in high-contrast, self-recovering characteristics.
Researchers have discovered a molecule that absorbs ultraviolet light and then disperses it in a 'flamenco-style' dance, making it ideal for use as a UV filter in sunscreens. The molecule is eco-friendly, easy to synthesize, and lasts longer than industry-standard sunscreens.
Researchers found that skin in mice expresses its own photoreceptors using neuroposin, synchronizing circadian clocks to light-dark cycles independently of eyes or brain. This discovery has implications for understanding skin physiology and potentially enhancing medical practice.
Astronomers used Hubble data to find a surplus of incoming gas in the Milky Way, with unknown sources contributing to the excess. The galaxy's balance regulates star and planet formation.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed silk materials that can form highly detailed patterns in a matter of seconds, which can be erased and reformed using vapor, enabling reversible printing and thermal regulation. The technology has potential applications in optical electronic devices, biomedical materials, and smart textiles.
Astronomers have discovered a year-long plateau in the decline of Type Ia supernova light curves, challenging previous expectations. This unexpected behavior will impact the way astronomers measure the expansion of the universe and provide new insights into these powerful explosions.
Researchers at the University of Washington have designed a 3D-printed metamaterial that can manipulate light with nanoscale precision, focusing it to discrete points in a 3D helical pattern. The device has high spatial resolution and could enable miniaturization of optical elements and creation of ultra-compact depth sensors.
A team of scientists discovered that massive galaxy filaments fuel the formation of stars and supermassive black holes, contradicting a long-held bottom-up model of galaxy formation. The study, published in Science, provides new insights into the early universe and the role of gas filaments in shaping its structure.
A team of researchers has developed a novel anti-cancer prodrug called phorbiplatin, which can be controllably activated by low-intensity red light. This unique property reduces collateral damage and kills cancer cells while minimizing harm to normal tissues.
Researchers at LMU develop first molecular motor that moves on an eight-shaped path using hemithioindigo dyes and green light. The new motor system offers improved switching properties and reduces environmental harm compared to existing motors.
Researchers have created a rewriteable paper coating that can encrypt secret information using relatively low-tech invisible ink--water. The method allows reversible secure printing for at least 30 cycles, significantly reducing the cost and being environmentally friendly.
Researchers developed a tiny nanolaser that can function inside living tissues without harming them. The nanolaser shows promise for imaging in living tissues and can operate in extremely confined spaces.
Researchers have developed a new class of flexible and transparent wearable devices that can measure multiple human vital signs, including heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pulse oxygenation. The devices are conformable to the skin, operate battery-free wirelessly, and provide continuous measurements during activity.
Scientists have successfully observed and controlled fast-paced chemical reactions using light, which could lead to new optical nanotechnology. The method uses ultrafast techniques to visualize the reaction, offering insights into molecular interactions and potential applications in materials design.
The researchers designed a nanocube that can detect liquefied petroleum gas with high sensitivity and specificity, mimicking the way proteins and DNA put themselves together in living cells. The nanocubes are as sensitive as current gas detectors but have a unique specificity to LPG.
Researchers use deep neural networks to simulate light-induced molecular reactions on long time scales, accelerating computation by up to 19 years. This method enables better understanding of biological processes like carcinogenesis and ageing, with potential applications in material ageing and photosensitive drugs.
Athletes who engage in outdoor sports and exercise are at increased risk of skin cancer, with up to eight-fold exposure limit exceeded during summer and autumn months. Sun protection is crucial for these groups, as research shows a higher incidence of malignant skin cancer among active individuals.
A team of researchers successfully synthesized organic UV filters from cashew nut shell liquid, reducing reliance on petroleum-based chemicals. The process showcases the potential of xylochemistry for sustainable chemical synthesis.
Researchers found that UV radiation damages skin by weakening cell bonds, leading to structural degradation and increased tissue fragility. The study suggests using sunscreen to protect not only against skin cancer but also to maintain skin health and prevent infections.
Researchers analyzed the reaction mechanism of PUVA therapy using time-resolved laser spectroscopy. The process involves two stages: initial binding and cyclobutane ring formation, which triggers programmed cell death and destroys diseased cells.
A team of green chemists from the University of the Witwatersrand has developed a sustainable method to produce potential sunscreens using cashew nut shells. The new aromatic compounds show good UVA and UVB absorbance, protecting humans, livestock, and polymers from harmful sun rays.
Astronomers propose a new method to detect hidden life on exoplanets, utilizing biofluorescence induced by stellar UV flares. This novel approach could reveal biomarkers on planets orbiting active M stars, making them ideal targets for future searches.
Researchers from Kaunas University of Technology have developed a novel method to produce high-yield zinc oxide nanowires, enabling the mass production of electronic components. The new method improves solar cell efficiency by 6% and enables the creation of multifunctional gas sensors.
Scientists have developed a new strategy for constructing photonic heterostructure crystals with tunable properties, which can absorb and transmit photons. These crystals, in the form of striped rods, exhibit unique fluorescence behavior and serve as a prototype for a logic gate.
The SISTINE mission aims to identify signs of life on exoplanets by analyzing the radiation from their host stars. Astronomers have found that false-positive biomarkers can be created through non-biological processes, making it essential to study the star's spectrum to distinguish between true and false positives.
Researchers at Kanazawa University have identified catalysts that facilitate the photolysis of cyclopropenones under visible-light conditions. This novel method yields highly reactive alkynes without UV light dependence, making it a valuable alternative for industrial applications.
A new study found that rising temperatures due to climate change will increase the number of days with high concentrations of ozone in the Mid-Atlantic region, posing significant health risks. The study, led by Cristina Archer, analyzed nearly 50 years' worth of data and found that near-ground ozone levels can exacerbate respiratory co...