Matter and energy from Science Daily Feed

A new prototype device demonstrates an innovative approach to producing ammonia -- a key component of fertilizer -- that could transform an industry responsible for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.

We might all be able to breathe a bit easier thanks to copper nanoclusters that can help us reduce carbon emissions through an electrochemical reaction.

A new screening method that combines laser analysis with a type of AI is the first of its kind to identify patients in the earliest stage of breast cancer, a study suggests.

For experiments that require ultra-precise measurements and control over atoms -- think two-photon atomic clocks, cold-atom interferometer sensors and quantum gates -- lasers are the technology of choice, the more spectrally pure (emitting a single color/frequency), the better. Conventional lab-scale laser technology currently achieves this ultra low-noise, stable light via bulky, costly tabletop systems designed to generate, harness and emit photons within a narrow spectral range.

Solid phase manufacturing can create new custom metal alloys through an innovative process called solid phase alloying, researchers report.

Household plumbing is alive with microbes; environmental engineers are working to study those ecosystems to ensure clean water flows in homes.

An international research team has controlled hybrid electron-photon quantum states in helium atoms. Control of these special quantum states was enabled by the pulse formation of very intense, extreme ultraviolet radiation. This method introduces the possibility not only of studying quantum mechanical effects in atoms and molecules, but also of controlling chemical reactions.

The study, conducted in the US, found that mothers take on seven in ten (71%) of all household mental load tasks.

Researchers have synthesized new molecules able to quickly capture significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, an important tactic in climate change mitigation.

A research team has developed an ultra-thin, flexible film that could power next-generation wearable devices using body heat, eliminating the need for batteries.

A team of researchers unlock heat flow principles in ultra-thin metals, paving the way for faster, smaller, more efficient computer chips.

Detection of nitric oxide (NO) is important for monitoring air quality because the NO released in the combustion of fossil fuels contributes to acid rain and smog. In medicine, NO is an important messenger molecule and serves as a biomarker for asthma. A research team reports a material that can detect NO reversibly, with low power, and with high sensitivity and selectivity: a copper-containing, electrically conducting, two-dimensional metal--organic framework.

Diverse and inclusive teams are not merely a moral imperative but also a catalyst for scientific excellence in robotics, scientists point out in a study. The team has outlined how a scientific community can benefit if its leadership fosters an environment of diversity and inclusion, and propose a leadership guide for roboticists to help reap these benefits.

Copper-oxide (CuO2) superconductors, such as Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+ (Bi2212), have unusually high critical temperatures. Optical reflectivity measurements of Bi2212 have shown that it exhibits strong optical anisotropy. However, this has not been studied through optical transmittance measurements, which can offer more direct insights into bulk properties. Now, researchers have elucidated the origin of this optical anisotropy through ultraviolet and visible light transmittance measurements of lead-doped Bi2212 single crystals, enabling a more precise investigation into its superconductivity mechanisms.

Ferrocene is a key molecule for developing molecular machines. However, it readily decomposes on the surface of flat noble metal substrates, marking a significant challenge. Now researchers have stabilized ferrocene by linking it with ammonium salts and trapping them in a molecular film made up of cyclic crown ether molecules. The ammonium-linked molecule performs reversible lateral sliding motion upon the application of electrical voltage, representing the smallest molecular machine.

A researcher has developed a new technique to detect long wave infrared (LWIR) photons of different wavelengths or 'colors.' The new detection and imaging technique will have applications in analyzing materials by their spectral properties, or spectroscopic imaging, as well as thermal imaging applications.

Non-reciprocal interactions can increase the order in an active system. The researchers created a model to describe the emerging patterns depending on the amount of non-reciprocity in an active system.

Researchers have developed a 3D-printed device that generates twisting light beams with orbital angular momentum (OAM), a form of rotational energy that can carry more data than regular beams.

Researchers have unlocked a new method for producing one class of 2D material and for supercharging its magnetic properties.

The future of breast cancer screening and risk-reducing strategies is being shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), according to a recent review article.