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Researchers from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, have developed a high-resolution daily atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) dataset covering China from 2016 to 2020. The dataset offers new insights into the spatiotemporal variations of column-averaged dry-air CO2 mole fraction (XCO2). The work is published in the journal Scientific Data.

Rice tiller angle is an important trait affecting population structure, light utilization, planting density, and yield potential. Although several genes affecting tiller angle have been reported, the upstream regulatory networks connecting gravity sensing and hormone distribution have remained largely unknown. Researchers from the Hefei Institute of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have identified a key molecular module that regulates rice plant architecture. Their study is published in Plant Communications.

Parents looking to support their children's learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will find no shortage of branded STEM sets, subscription science boxes, private coding programs or educational toys for kids.

Named for the Malaysian village where it was first identified, the Nipah virus is an infectious disease transmitted primarily by bats.

A University of Houston professor has taken on the global challenge of reducing the staggering amount of heat generated in artificial intelligence data centers. Hadi Ghasemi, J. Willard Gibbs Distinguished Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, has found that thin films designed into tree-like, or branched shapes release heat at least three times better than today's best methods.

The new "Clinical Practice Guideline for the Appropriate Use of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)" has been approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The Guideline is the world's first related to MDMA-AP to be developed using the gold standard Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

The most effective conservation strategies for protecting vertebrates on a global scale are those aimed at mitigating the effects of overexploitation, habitat loss and climate change, which are the most widespread threats with the greatest impact across the planet. This is one of the main conclusions of an article led by researchers Pol Capdevila, from the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) at the University of Barcelona, and Duncan O'Brien, from the University of Bristol (United Kingdom).

British company Skyrora, which designs and builds rockets to carry small satellites into space, announced Thursday it could acquire "select" assets from its stricken rival Orbex, including its spaceport in Scotland.

Ammonia (NH3)—the second-most-produced chemical globally—has proven to be highly important in furthering human civilization over the centuries, both in terms of technological capabilities and innovation potential. It is widely utilized in fertilizers, refrigerants, biomarkers, and next-generation fuel. Unfortunately, NH3 is highly toxic, resulting in complications such as respiratory irritation, chest pain, pulmonary edema, and even death. This makes effective and rapid NH3 sensing and detection capabilities indispensable in industries or environments prone to NH3 leaks.

After nearly 40 years of research on how Listeria bacteria manipulate our cells and battle our immune system to cause listeriosis, Daniel Portnoy and his colleagues have discovered a way to turn the bacteria into a potent booster of the immune system—and a potential weapon against cancer.

How well we pay attention while learning is influenced not only by external distractions like background noise but also by internal factors such as how interesting we find the material, according to a study recently published by researchers at Bar-Ilan University. The research recorded brain activity (EEG) and physiological arousal (skin conductance) from 32 participants as they watched a 35-minute educational video lecture. Segments were presented either in quiet or with background construction sounds, either continuous drilling or intermittent air-hammers. Participants repeatedly rated how interesting they found the content and answered comprehension questions to assess their understanding.

As the world is moving toward more sustainable energy solutions, the emergence of next-generation batteries is a crucial and indispensable milestone. One such next-generation battery is the lithium-ion battery (LIB), which is currently dominating the energy solutions sector.

People with brain disorders, including Parkinson's disease and dementia, are often misdiagnosed as having depression, when in fact what they're experiencing is apathy. This can delay an accurate diagnosis, which has negative outcomes for patients as well as for their families and caregivers.

A research team led by Prof. Kenward Vong, Assistant Professor from the Department of Chemistry at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has recently achieved a significant breakthrough by bioengineering a new type of glycan-targeting system known as "lectin-directed protein aggregation therapy (LPAT)." Using this technology, they developed a therapy capable of preventing the onset and growth of metastatic breast cancers in mouse models.

Centuries after they were wiped out, the reintroduction of beavers to the UK is gathering pace. Following a government announcement allowing beavers to be released in the wild, a flurry of reintroductions are planned for 2026 and beyond. Beavers could soon be coming to a river near you.

VIB and Ghent University researchers have identified and characterized a previously unknown cellular barrier in the brain, which sheds new light on how the brain is protected from the rest of the body. In a study published in Nature Neuroscience, the scientists also reveal a new pathway by which the immune system can impact the brain.

The rain hasn't stopped for hours. Wind rattles the shelter's windows as the storm outside swells, flooding the streets they used to call home. In a crowded gym, a family of four sit huddled together on makeshift beds pushed side by side each other. The parents wrap donated blankets around their shoulders; the teenagers lean against each other. Someone suggests a movie: something light, something old. They settle on a childhood favorite, a worn-out Pixar film, its colors flickering softly on the phone screen. Familiar voices, the opening music, the brand logo before the title… For a few minutes, it feels like the flood damage caused to their home no longer matters because they are together.

Medical gas plasma can render adenoviruses harmless within a short period of time. This has been demonstrated by a recent laboratory study conducted by the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP). The key factor here is that the plasma primarily attacks the outer protein shell of the viruses. No significant changes were found in the genetic material of the viruses. The results, now published in Small, help to better understand the effect of plasma and to further develop possible applications in hygiene and medicine.

Physicists have long recognized the value of photonic graph states in quantum information processing. However, the difficulty of making these graph states has left this value largely untapped. In a step forward for the field, researchers from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have proposed a new scheme they term "emit-then-add" for producing highly entangled states of many photons that can work with current hardware. Published in npj Quantum Information, their strategy lays the groundwork for a wide range of quantum enhanced operations including measurement-based quantum computing.

Researchers from the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have conducted a new study on the temporal evolution of the afterglow from gamma-ray burst GRB 240825A. The study offers new evidence to better understand the physical environment surrounding gamma-ray bursts and provides insights into the mechanisms that govern their afterglow emission. The findings were recently published in The Astrophysical Journal.

Diabetic foot ulcers are slow-healing and increase the risk of infections and amputation. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified a circular RNA in mitochondria, circMTRNR2, that plays an important role in the healing of chronic wounds. The RNA was found to be reduced in tissue from patients with long-standing diabetic foot ulcers. The molecule appears to support the skin's reparative capacity by protecting the cells' energy metabolism against harmful stress. The study is published in Advanced Science.

Although modern science has only been around for a few centuries, we've become quite adept at training students in the scientific method. But learning how to translate research insights into practical actions often isn't part of a budding scientist's curriculum.

A new study conducted by clinician-scientists at a dozen neonatal intensive care units, or NICUs, across North America found that enhanced infection prevention measures were highly effective in reducing viral spread among patients. Researchers say the study, published in JAMA Network Open, underscores the importance of infection control efforts within hospitals, especially during times of high viral activity.

Recently, a research team from the Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a fast, multi-platform compatible detection network that can "see" gas leaks in three dimensions.

A newly developed ceramic material shows record-high proton conductivity at intermediate temperatures while remaining chemically stable, report researchers from Japan. Efficient hydrogen-to-electricity conversion is critical for hydrogen-based clean energy technologies, but few materials combine chemical stability with efficient proton conductivity. Thanks to an innovative donor co-doping strategy, the proposed ceramic material features increased proton concentration and mobility, realizing exceptional conductivity and stability under CO2, O2, and H2 environments.

An international research team has identified a novel HIV antibody that targets the virus at a particularly vulnerable site and overcomes previous limitations of known antibodies. This study, led by Professor Dr. Florian Klein and published in the journal Nature Immunology, opens up new avenues for the development of vaccines and therapeutics against HIV-1.

New findings from Karolinska Institutet reveal how the gene HNRNPU coordinates several fundamental molecular processes during the earliest stages of human brain development. The study is published in Nucleic Acids Research and helps explain why children with pathogenic variants in HNRNPU often develop severe neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability, autism, and epilepsy.

Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has developed a new technology that makes pH measurements significantly more robust, simple, and reliable. Instead of the traditional, often error-prone reference electrodes, a durable chip is now used. This chip can be stored dry, is pressure-resistant, and easily integrated into compact devices. Initial test kits are already available for rapid use in medical, biological, agricultural, and environmental applications.

A new microscale gas chromatography system integrates all fluidic components into a single chip for the first time. The design leverages three Knudsen pumps that move gas molecules using heat differentials to eliminate the need for valves, according to a new University of Michigan Engineering study published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering. The monolithic gas sampling and analysis system, or monoGSA system for short, could offer reliable, low-cost monitoring for industrial chemical or pharmaceutical synthesis, natural gas pipelines, or even at-home air quality.

For the first time ever, NTNU researchers have identified new characteristics of aggressive prostate cancer. The research lays a foundation for the possibility that aggressive prostate cancer can probably be detected through a few drops of semen or blood in the long term.

More than 15 years ago, Yale's Gail D'Onofrio started studying the effectiveness of sublingual (under-the-tongue) buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the emergency department. At the time, buprenorphine was already being used in primary care populations at Yale by David Fiellin, so D'Onofrio and Fiellin decided to test if and how it could work for patients in the ED.

Concordia researchers have developed a new 3D-printing technique that uses sound waves to directly print tiny structures onto soft polymers like silicone with far greater precision than before. The approach, called proximal sound printing, opens new possibilities for manufacturing microscale devices used in health care, environmental monitoring and advanced sensors. It is described in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering.

Building a port on land takes time. On water, the job can be done quickly. Hagbart Skage Alsos and his research colleagues at SINTEF are investigating how to build floating ports. Ports in Northern Europe are full. Offshore wind and other projects need a port for everything that requires transport to those construction sites. Such as when a landslide obliterates and closes a road or railway for a long time. A solution has to be found—and SINTEF researchers think running test scenarios in the fjord is the place to start.

The compound eyes of the humble fruit fly are a marvel of nature. They are wide-angle and can process visual information several times faster than the human eye. Inspired by this biological masterpiece, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an insect-scale compound eye that can both see and smell, potentially improving how drones and robots navigate complex environments and avoid obstacles.

France's government on Thursday presented an energy plan to use less imported fossil fuels, including by ramping up nuclear-fueled power production over the next decade.

EPFL roboticists have shown that when a modular robot shares power, sensing, and communication resources among its individual units, it is significantly more resistant to failure than traditional robotic systems, where the breakdown of one element often means a loss of functionality.

Measuring human movement with tracking devices on looser clothing is more accurate than on tight body suits or straps. This discovery by scientists at King's College London could mark a potential breakthrough for a range of technologies, including improving accuracy of personal health devices, such as Fitbits and smart watches, and enhancing motion capture for CGI movie characters. It could also support health and medical research by making it easier to gather data on conditions affecting mobility such as Parkinson's.

Ocean waves are one of the most abundant and predictable renewable energy sources on the planet, yet efficiently harnessing their power remains a major challenge. Traditional devices typically operate efficiently only within a narrow range of wave conditions, highlighting the need for more novel, constructive converters.

Drawing on an extensive survey of emerging battery chemistries and design innovations, researchers at the University of Sharjah are pointing to transformative technologies poised to meet the escalating energy demands of an increasingly electrified world.

It's often the worst part of many people's day—bottlenecked, rush-hour traffic. When the daily commute backs up, drivers lose time, burn fuel and waste energy. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Transportation Research Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are tackling this problem with cooperative driving automation (CDA), an emerging technology that allows vehicles and traffic infrastructure to communicate, keeping traffic flowing efficiently and safely.

As artificial intelligence chatbots become better at mimicking human conversations, the potential for damage has grown, particularly for people who turn to them for mental health advice and to discuss plans to harm themselves.

In a long-running collaboration with GE Aerospace, researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia have been steadily working to improve the performance of high-pressure turbine (HPT) engines through computer simulations on leadership-class computing systems. These turbines are the heart of jet engines used in many commercial and military aircraft.

Samsung Electronics announced Thursday it had started mass production of next-generation memory chips to power artificial intelligence, touting an "industry-leading" breakthrough.

To ensure energy security and achieve its climate protection goals, Germany will import large quantities of hydrogen in the future. Dimethyl ether (DME) is an environmentally friendly, non-toxic, efficient, and economically attractive gas that shows great promise as an energy source for hydrogen and its derivatives. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has developed a new, particularly energy-efficient synthesis process for its production, which could become a game changer for DME production and thus for the hydrogen economy.

Rail commuters in cold climates like Sweden's are all too familiar with winter train delays and cancellations. The culprit is usually rail switches that freeze up or clog with snow even though they're heated. A new study offers a more affordable and sustainable solution to keep these crucial, track-moving components in working order.

Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) have developed a new methodology for a robot to learn how to move its arms autonomously by combining a type of observational learning with intercommunication between its limbs. This work represents a further step toward achieving more natural and easily teachable service robots capable of performing assistive tasks in domestic environments, such as setting and clearing the table, ironing, or tidying up the kitchen.

Whether chasing skiers as they fly down the mountain or tracking the luge as it tears around bends, new drone-mounted cameras are offering Winter Olympics viewers a wild ride.

Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have developed an artificial intelligence approach that addresses a key bottleneck in analog semiconductor layout design, a process that has traditionally depended heavily on engineers' experience. The work was recently published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers.

Researchers have developed a new machine-learning-assisted approach to optimize micro-electro-discharge machining (µ-EDM) of a next-generation biocompatible titanium alloy, potentially improving the manufacturing of advanced medical and aerospace components.

As demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) continues to grow, batteries in various configurations are entering the market to achieve desired voltage and capacity characteristics. However, current battery health assessment tools often require collecting new data and retraining models for each specific configuration, leading to significant inefficiencies.

A research team has developed a novel bond coat material that significantly improves the oxidation resistance of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) at 1,200°C, a critical advancement for next-generation ultra-high-thrust aero-engines. The study was published in Advanced Science on February 6.

Many countries worldwide are increasingly investing in new infrastructure that enables the production of electricity from renewable energy sources, particularly wind and sunlight. To make the best of these energy solutions, one should also be able to reliably store the excess energy created during periods of intense sunlight or wind, so that it can be used later in times of need.