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Science snapshots from Berkeley Lab

Berkeley Lab researchers have developed a machine learning model that can design structures with desired optical properties, speeding up the process by at least two to three orders of magnitude. The CUORE experiment has collected a record-breaking dataset for a 'neutrinoless' experiment, surpassing previous experiments by about 10 times.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateDec 2, 2020

Eat or be eaten

A new study reveals that biodiversity increases the efficiency of energy use in grasslands by storing more energy, having greater flow of energy and using energy more efficiently across all trophic levels. Ecosystems with higher plant diversity contain twice as much standing biomass compared to monocultures

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 26, 2020

Leadership and assertiveness

A recent study by Jackson Lu, Richard Nisbett, and Michael Morris found that East Asians are disproportionately underrepresented in US leadership positions due to relatively lower assertiveness. The research suggests that diverse leadership styles are valuable for organizations and highlights the need for recognition of these differences.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 17, 2020

Practice makes perfect

The Argonne team applied Bayesian methods to quantify uncertainties in the thermodynamic properties of hafnium, a key component in computer electronics. They found that traditional models often lacked error bars or uncertainties, leading to inaccurate predictions.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalInternational Journal of Engineering Science·DateJun 26, 2019

Biophysicists use machine learning to understand, predict dynamics of worm behavior

Researchers used an algorithm to model the decision-making of C. elegans in response to a sensory stimulus, achieving predictions that matched experimental results. The Sir Isaac platform demonstrated improved accuracy compared to prior models, offering insights into the potential of artificial intelligence in scientific discovery.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 27, 2019

Artificial intelligence learns to predict elementary particle signals

Researchers from HSE and Yandex developed a method to speed up LHC simulation using Generative Adversarial Networks. The approach accurately predicts the behavior of charged elementary particles, enabling faster analysis of experimental data.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment·DateMar 14, 2019

Mapping past solar system dynamics

Scientists have recovered accurate values for precession frequencies of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter using lake sediment data from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic epochs. The findings provide insights into climate variations driven by Solar System chaos and could constrain models of Solar System evolution.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 4, 2019

In search of dark matter

A team of scientists, including a UC Riverside physicist, has imposed conditions on how dark matter interacts with ordinary matter. The study sets constraints that can aid in detecting the elusive dark matter particle and better understand its fundamental properties.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 12, 2018

Blast from the past

Researchers analyzed data from the MiniBooNE experiment and found thousands of neutrino-nucleus collisions with the same energy, shedding light on neutrino interactions with matter. The discovery could help solve long-standing problems in experimental design and potentially reveal new physics processes.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 5, 2018

Men take shortcuts, while women follow well-known routes

A study published in Springer's journal Memory & Cognition found that men tend to take shortcuts and navigate more efficiently than women in known environments. Women, on the other hand, follow learned routes and are more likely to wander, leading to slower navigation times.

SourceSpringer·JournalMemory & Cognition·DateMay 23, 2018

Prenatal exposure to BPA at low levels can affect gene expression in developing rat brain

Research from NC State University reveals that prenatal BPA exposure at levels below the current FDA safety threshold alters hormone receptor expression, synaptic transmission, and neurodevelopment in the developing rat brain. The study found sex-specific differences in sensitivity to BPA exposure, with females appearing more sensitive.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNeuroToxicology·DateOct 31, 2017