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 Newsletter Science X

 

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À :olivier hartmanshenn

lun. 17 févr. à 05:34

Dear olivier hartmanshenn,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for week 07:

	Physicists uncover evidence of two arrows of time emerging from the quantum realm What if time is not as fixed as we thought? Imagine that instead of flowing in one direction—from past to future—time could flow forward or backwards due to processes taking place at the quantum level. This is the thought-provoking discovery made by researchers at the University of Surrey, as a new study reveals that opposing arrows of time can theoretically emerge from certain quantum systems.
	Transparent aluminum: Tiny acid droplets turn metal into glass-like material Transparent aluminum oxide (TAlOx), a real material despite its sci-fi name, is incredibly hard and resistant to scratches, making it perfect for protective coatings on electronics, optical sensors, and solar panels. On the sci-fi show Star Trek, it is even used for starship windows and spacefaring aquariums.
	Greetings from the fourth dimension: Scientists glimpse 4D crystal structure using surface wave patterns In April 1982, Prof. Dan Shechtman of the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology made the discovery that would later earn him the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: the quasiperiodic crystal. According to diffraction measurements made with an electron microscope, the new material appeared "disorganized" at smaller scales, yet with a distinct order and symmetry apparent at a larger scale.
	Altered consciousness: Studies reveal hypnosis alters brain activity and neurochemistry Three studies at the University of Zurich demonstrate that hypnosis alters activity in the large-scale functional networks of the brain. It also affects the neurochemical milieu of specific brain areas.
	Divorce can be predicted by interactions between cultural and personal values, study finds Divorce, the legal dissolution of marriage, can be driven by a variety of factors, ranging from changes in the economic status or health conditions of spouses to contrasting values. The end of a marriage can often be challenging to process. Thus, it can have adverse effects on the well-being and mental health of ex-spouses.
	Gut bacteria can alter brain proteins: New glycosylation method uncovers link Our guts are home to trillions of bacteria, and research over the last few decades has established how essential they are to our physiology—in health and disease. A new study from EMBL Heidelberg researchers shows that gut bacteria can bring about profound molecular changes in one of our most critical organs—the brain.
	Eliminating singularities: Physicists describe the creation of black holes through pure gravity Traditional black holes, as predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity, contain what are known as singularities, i.e., points where the laws of physics break down. Identifying how singularities are resolved in the context of quantum gravity is one of the fundamental problems in theoretical physics.
	Carbon capture more costly than switching to renewables, researchers find For most countries around the world, sourcing energy entirely from wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower by 2050 would reduce their energy needs and costs, improve air quality, and help slow climate change, according to a study in Environmental Science & Technology.
	Restoring wildlife habitats in wealthy nations could drive extinctions in species-rich regions Some efforts to preserve or rewild natural habitats are shifting harmful land use to other parts of the world—and this could drive an even steeper decline in the planet's species, according to a team of conservation scientists and economists led by the University of Cambridge.
	History of the Fulani, one of the largest pastoral populations in Africa, unraveled in study Researchers have uncovered the origins and genetic diversity of the Fulani, one of Africa's largest pastoral populations. The study reveals a complex genetic ancestry with influences from both North and West Africa, shaped by historical migrations that have left a lasting impact on their genetic landscape.
	Satellite data analysis reveals warning signs that foreshadowed a volcanic eruption and tsunami In 2018, the side of the Anak Krakatau volcano collapsed in a powerful eruption and produced a tsunami that killed hundreds and injured thousands on nearby Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. A new analysis of satellite data showed the mountainside was slipping for years and accelerated before the eruption—information that could have potentially offered a warning of the collapse.
	Birds have developed complex brains independently from mammals, studies reveal Two studies published in the latest issue of Science have revealed that birds, reptiles, and mammals have developed complex brain circuits independently, despite sharing a common ancestor. These findings challenge the traditional view of brain evolution and demonstrate that, while comparable brain functions exist among these groups, embryonic formation mechanisms and cell types have followed divergent evolutionary trajectories.
	Curiosity rover captures colorful clouds drifting over Mars Red-and-green-tinted clouds drift through the Martian sky in a new set of images captured by NASA's Curiosity rover using its Mastcam—its main set of "eyes." Taken over 16 minutes on Jan. 17 (the 4,426th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's mission), the images show the latest observations of what are called noctilucent (Latin for "night shining"), or twilight clouds, tinged with color by scattering light from the setting sun.
	Study reveals direct gut-brain communication via vagus nerve A recent study in an animal model provides direct evidence for the role of the vagus nerve in gut microbiome-brain communication, addressing a critical gap in the field.
	Simulation shows wolves had time to self-domesticate and evolve into dogs A team of mathematicians and statisticians from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the University of Tennessee and Valparaiso University, all in the U.S., has found new evidence that wolves had ample time to self-domesticate and evolve into modern dogs. In their study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group developed a computer simulation showing the evolution process.
	Greenland ice sheet could fully melt after reaching specific tipping point, study finds Greenland's ice sheet currently spans over 1.7 million square kilometers and is the largest freshwater reservoir in the northern hemisphere. The ice sheet has already lost over a trillion tonnes of its total mass since the 1980s, with melting rates six times higher in the last decade. Indeed, a recent study found that an average of 30 million tonnes of ice is now being lost every hour.
	Does planetary evolution favor human-like life? Study ups odds we're not alone Humanity may not be extraordinary but rather the natural evolutionary outcome for our planet and likely others, according to a new model for how intelligent life developed on Earth.
	Sex as a formality: Study shows male stick insects have lost their reproductive function While most animals reproduce sexually, some species rely solely on females for parthenogenetic reproduction. Even in these species, rare males occasionally appear. Whether these males retain reproductive functions is a key question in understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies.
	Quantum-inspired advancement turns crystal gaps into terabyte storage for classical memory From punch card-operated looms in the 1800s to modern cellphones, if an object has an "on" and an "off" state, it can be used to store information.
	Underwater fossil bed discovered by collectors preserves rare slice of Florida's past About half a million years ago, several horses, sloths and armadillos fell into a sinkhole in Florida's Big Bend region and died. The sinkhole filled in with sediment over time, preserving the animals where they lay until fossil collectors Robert Sinibaldi and Joseph Branin discovered them in 2022.