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A faster, more accurate way to monitor drought

A new monitoring method uses thermal stress measurements to identify drought conditions sooner, enabling conservation measures and reducing damage. The method, developed by Duke University researchers, combines surface and air temperature data from thousands of weather stations and satellite images.

SourceDuke University·JournalAgricultural and Forest Meteorology·DateMar 4, 2019

How hot are atoms in the shock wave of an exploding star?

Researchers measured temperatures of slow-moving gas atoms surrounding a star after an exploding star's shock wave, answering a long-standing question about their physical processes. The results confirm the relationship between atomic weight and temperature, settling an important issue in astrophysics.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 22, 2019

How hot is Schrödinger's coffee?

A new uncertainty relation has been discovered, linking the precision of temperature measurements to quantum mechanics. This discovery establishes a connection between quantum uncertainty and the accuracy of nanoscale thermometers.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 14, 2018

Dry casks take the heat

Sandia National Laboratories has built a scaled test assembly to mimic a dry cask storage container for spent nuclear fuel. The team is providing new data on how fuel temperatures change during storage and affect the integrity of the metal cladding surrounding the spent fuel.

Tiny probe can see and take body temperatures

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a tiny fibre-optic probe that can measure temperature and see deep inside the body. The probe has potential to help study drug-induced hyperthermia and provide insights into other diseases, such as optimising thermal treatment for cancers.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalOptics Letters·DateApr 12, 2018

Smart Thermometer improves flu forecasting

Researchers found that de-identified smart thermometer data was highly correlated with traditional public health surveillance systems, improving flu forecasting by up to four weeks. The data also revealed age-group specific incidence and estimated the duration of fevers during flu season.

SourceUniversity of Iowa Health Care·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateFeb 8, 2018

Reflective surfaces alleviate heatwaves

Researchers developed a practical approach combining clever land use and urban radiation management to cool extreme summer temperatures locally. The measures can lower temperatures in agricultural regions and densely populated areas by up to two degrees Celsius.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJan 30, 2018

The coldest chip in the world

Physicists successfully cool a nanoelectronic chip to a temperature lower than 3 millikelvin using magnetic cooling. They also maintain these extremely low temperatures for seven hours, enabling various experiments close to absolute zero.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 20, 2017

The hidden inferno inside your laser pointer

Researchers have developed a method to measure temperature and voltage in systems far from equilibrium, which could lead to the creation of more efficient microelectronic devices. This breakthrough has significant implications for advancing technology, particularly in the development of smaller, faster electronic components.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPhysical Review B·DateDec 22, 2016

Climate change skepticism may hinge on personal experience

A study by Boston University professor Robert Kaufmann found that experiencing record high or low temperatures affects people's belief in climate change. Local high and low temperatures can influence whether individuals in the US believe in global warming, with recent record lows promoting skepticism.

SourceBoston University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 20, 2016

Let's roll: Material for polymer solar cells may lend itself to large-area processing

Researchers from NIST discovered a 'sweet spot' for mass-producing polymer solar cells, exceeding 9.5% power conversion efficiency, without sacrificing performance. The findings suggest that high-volume production methods can yield efficient photovoltaic devices with greater structural variability.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateAug 12, 2016

Heat release of later-age concrete and the concrete strength development

Researchers investigate relationship between hydration heat and concrete strength, establishing a preliminary hydration heat model to predict heat release in later-age concrete. The study finds that increasing concrete strength reduces hydration heat, improving pipe cooling effects and controlling temperature peaks.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Construction and Building Technology Journal·DateAug 9, 2016

Climate change may reduce vulnerable salmon populations

Rising temperatures in Northern Mongolia are causing salmon metabolism to increase exponentially, putting some species near their limits of tolerance for warm water. This could push these species out of one of their last refuges as the climate continues to warm.

SourceWiley·JournalEcology Of Freshwater Fish·DateApr 7, 2016