Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Using micro-sized cut metal wires, Japanese team forges path to new uses for terahertz waves

Researchers successfully tested a reflectionless, highly refractive index metasurface made of micro-sized cut metal wires for use in terahertz waveband applications. The metasurface has a high refractive index and low reflection at 3.0 THz, enabling potential uses in 6G wireless communications and other commercial applications.

SourceTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology·JournalOptics Express·DateMay 13, 2021

New look at a bright stellar nursery

High-resolution VLA radio images of W49A show changes in ionized gas regions, including new activity and supersonic gas motions. Astronomers plan to continue observing this region to track changes and reveal details about star formation processes.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·DateMay 4, 2021

Muscle-fiber inspired pneumatic artificial muscles for multiple-mode actuations

Researchers developed a new class of pneumatic artificial muscles (MAIPAMs) inspired by biological muscle-fiber arrays, enabling multiple-mode actuations like muscular hydrostats. The MAIPAMs have potential applications in soft robotics for tasks such as environment detection, object manipulation, and climbing.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateMay 4, 2021
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Stabilizing electrochemical interfaces using boron Lewis acids

Researchers stabilized electrochemical interfaces using boron Lewis acids, resulting in ultralow leak current and improved cyclic stability. The study demonstrates potential for designing high-performance boron-doped carbon materials towards energy storage applications.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalJournal of Energy Chemistry·DateApr 26, 2021
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Normally harmless cell molecule triggers neuron death

Researchers discovered that farnesyl pyrophosphate, an intermediate in normal cell metabolism, causes rapid and extensive cell death when present at high concentrations outside cells. Inhibition of TRPM2 channels or targeting its metabolic pathway may offer new avenues for reducing stroke damage.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 26, 2021

IN SILICO chronicles the promises and pitfalls of big neuroscience

The film IN SILICO chronicles the ambitious quest to simulate the human brain on supercomputers, exposing controversy and ego in the scientific process. It encourages critical evaluation of brain research and technology, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to neuroscience.

SourceSciComm Services·DateApr 6, 2021

Mimes help us 'see' objects that don't exist

Researchers discovered that mimes can rapidly and automatically build representations of invisible objects in the mind. Participants responded significantly faster when implied surfaces aligned with the mimed action, indicating active mental representation. This finding has implications for artificial intelligence related to vision, su...

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 1, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Scientists observe role of cavitation in glass fracturing

Researchers observed cavitation governing fracture in glasses, revealing self-organized nucleation and growth of nanocavities. Cavitation-induced nanopatterns are common in various glass types, including polymers and silicates.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 1, 2021

Video gamers skills enhanced by training 10 minutes a day

Researchers at Lero found that novice gamers benefit most from tDCS before training sessions, improving performance on complex sensory-motor actions. The study suggests that neurostimulation can accelerate motor performance improvements in novice esports participants.

SourceLero·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateMar 26, 2021

Where am I going? Just ask your subiculum

A team at Osaka City University has found that the subiculum sorts and routes spatial information from the hippocampus to specific regions of the brain, enabling smooth navigation. This discovery could shed light on disorders such as dementia and improve our understanding of brain function.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 10, 2021
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

How 'green' are environmentally friendly fireworks?

Researchers estimated emissions from environmentally friendly fireworks and found they produce a much smaller plume with 15-65% PM2.5 reduction. However, peak concentrations exceed WHO guidelines, suggesting restrictions on usage.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateMar 3, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Jumping frost crystals: Boreyko lab works toward electrostatic de-icing

A team led by Associate Professor Jonathan Boreyko at Virginia Tech has developed a potential solution for frost removal using electrostatics. By creating an electric field, the negatively-charged top of the frost sheet attracts positively charged ions in water, causing frost particles to jump towards and break away from their substrate.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 24, 2021
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Study finds real-time dialogue with a dreaming person is possible

Researchers found that individuals in REM sleep can interact with an experimenter and engage in real-time communication, comprehending questions, working-memory operations, and producing answers. This breakthrough sheds light on dreams, memory, and cognitive processes.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 18, 2021

Two NYU faculty win Sloan Foundation Research Fellowships

Elena Manresa and David Schneider, NYU faculty members, have been awarded Sloan Foundation Research Fellowships for their groundbreaking work in economics and neuroscience. The fellowships recognize their creative leadership and independent research achievements.

SourceNew York University·DateFeb 16, 2021

Cheap, potent pathway to pandemic therapeutics

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a new technique to discover tiny antibody fragments that can target different parts of a pathogen, making them effective against variants. This approach has the potential to quickly identify multiple potent nanobodies that can neutralize pathogens.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalCell Systems·DateFeb 15, 2021
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Study the boundary between bulk, nano and molecule scale of gold plasmonic physics

Researchers found three regimes in gold plasmonic evolution: classical plasmon for large clusters, quantum confinement corrected plasmon for medium-sized clusters, and molecular plasmon for small clusters. The study uses atomic precision to understand the boundary between bulk, nano and molecule scale of gold plasmonic physics.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateJan 14, 2021

Giant map of the sky sets stage for ambitious DESI survey

Astronomers have released the largest-ever map of the sky, comprising over a billion galaxies, to aid in understanding dark energy. The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys will provide new insights into this mysterious force driving the Universe's accelerating expansion.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·DateJan 13, 2021

Scrambled supersolids

Scientists discovered a way to create supersolids using ultracold quantum gases, a state that exhibits both crystalline order and particle flow. The researchers found that by draining the superfluid bath, the droplets lose communication and behave like independent systems, but can be revived by replenishing the bath.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 4, 2021

A blazar in the early universe

Astronomers observed a galaxy 12.8 billion light-years from Earth, revealing previously unseen details in its jet of material ejected at three-quarters the speed of light. The analysis supports theoretical models for blazar rarity in the early universe.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·DateDec 22, 2020
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

New sunspot cycle could be one of the strongest on record, new research predicts

Scientists predict that Sunspot Cycle 25 will be one of the strongest on record due to its predicted peak sunspot number. The new cycle is forecasted to start with a bang, and if correct, it would support the research team's theory about the Sun's internal magnetic machine.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalSolar Physics·DateDec 7, 2020
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Undocumented immigrants far less likely to commit crimes in U.S. than citizens

A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison analyzed Texas arrest data and found that undocumented immigrants were significantly less likely to be arrested for various felony offenses compared to U.S. citizens. The researchers believe that first-generation immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, tend to have lower crime...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2020

Progress in electronic structure and topology in nickelates superconductors

Scientists at Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Science analyzed parent compound NdNiO2 using first-principles calculations and Gutzwiller variational method. They found that electron Fermi pockets are contributed by Ni-3dx2-y2 orbitals and a two-band model can be constructed to reproduce all bands around Fermi level.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateNov 24, 2020

Catapult-like hydrogel actuator designed to deliver high contraction power

Researchers designed a catapult-like hydrogel that can store and release elastic energy, achieving high contractile force and ultrahigh work density. The material overcomes mechanical weakness in traditional hydrogels, enabling controllable multistable deformation and programmable elasticity.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 18, 2020

Oil droplet predators chase oil droplet prey

A team of researchers from Penn State describes a system where oil droplets exhibit 'non-reciprocal' interactions, chasing down other droplets that flee like prey. The system is controlled by chemical signaling and can be tuned to understand interactions in many-body systems.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Chemistry·DateNov 17, 2020

Farms, tables and vast impacts between and beyond

A new study by Michigan State University reveals the far-reaching effects of irrigated agriculture on the environment, including water scarcity and greenhouse gas emissions. The research highlights the importance of considering the complex connections between food production, energy use, and environmental sustainability.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 17, 2020
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Image release: Galaxies in the Perseus Cluster

Astronomers used the VLA to study how a crowded environment affects galaxies in the Perseus Cluster. The research reveals complex filamentary structures in radio lobes and bending of jets due to motion through intergalactic material, providing new insights into galaxy clusters.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 12, 2020
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Researcher making drones smarter, situationally aware and team-oriented

A researcher at Northern Arizona University is developing AI-powered drones that can monitor themselves and each other in different scenarios. The project aims to enable autonomous drones to respond to environmental and behavioral factors, improving their performance in various applications such as traffic control and surveillance.

SourceNorthern Arizona University·DateOct 29, 2020

Face mask aims to deactivate virus to protect others

Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new face mask concept that aims to deactivate viruses in respiratory droplets, making the wearer less infectious. The masks feature anti-viral chemicals like phosphoric acid and copper salt that alter escaped droplets, reducing viral spread.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalMatter·DateOct 29, 2020

Secrets of 'smasher shrimp' property ladder revealed

Mantis shrimps surveyed burrows before evicting rivals, with the ideal burrow size found to be a balance between being large enough to fit into and small enough to block entry. The species, known for their powerful strikes, compromise on burrow size when faced with occupied homes.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalAnimal Behaviour·DateOct 28, 2020

Novel method for measuring spatial dependencies turns less data into more data

A novel method for measuring spatial dependencies uses mathematical techniques normally used for time-series analysis to identify influences between geographic phenomena in small data sets. The approach allows for robust inferences of influences and interpolations to intermediate areas or distant regions, even with limited data.

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·DateOct 21, 2020
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Frank receives funding for NSF IPA Program

Associate Professor Toya Frank at George Mason University has received funding from the National Science Foundation for the IPA Program. She is responsible for long-range planning and budget development for various areas of science represented by the program.

SourceGeorge Mason University·DateOct 15, 2020

Rice's Haotian Wang wins Packard fellowship

Haotian Wang, a researcher at Rice University, has received a $875,000 five-year grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to pursue his work on converting carbon dioxide into fuels. The award supports his technology that uses renewable electricity to convert greenhouse gases into valuable chemical fuels.

SourceRice University·DateOct 15, 2020
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Syracuse U. professor receives NSF grant for Internet of Things research

Syracuse University assistant professor Fanxin Kong has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop a cross-layer framework for mission-critical IoT systems. The project aims to improve scalability, security, and intelligence in IoT infrastructures for various industries such as medical, energy, transportation, an...

SourceSyracuse University·DateOct 5, 2020
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.