Dr Helen Greenwood Hansma | Energy: A Clue to the Origins of Life
Energy is vital for life. It allows important functions to occur in living systems, from the molecular level to the scale of the whole organism. Dr Helen Greenwood Hansma, from the University of California in Santa Barbara, believes that the types of energy used in living cells can provide clues to help us understand the origins of life. In her recent research, she explores how mechanical energy could have driven the processes that gave rise to early life in the absence of chemical energy.
Dr Santiago Septien Stringel | Transforming Human Waste into Sustainable Products
Faecal sludge, a material derived from human waste, can be difficult to dispose of and causes significant disease and pollution worldwide. However, it also shows potential as a fuel, fertiliser and even a building material, if properly treated. Dr Santiago [san-tee-ah-go] Septien [sep-tee-uhn] Stringel and his team at the WASH R&D [wash R and D] Centre of the University of KwaZulu-Natal [kwah-zoo-loo-nay-taal], in Durban, South Africa, have been investigating the process for drying faecal sludge, towards developing new ways of transforming it into sustainable products.
Understanding Astrochemistry
Over the past few decades, astronomers have learnt more and more about the planets, moons, and asteroids of our Solar System – but we still have much to learn about the materials they are made from. For hundreds of years, we have used chemistry to study such materials on Earth, but there is no guarantee that they will behave in the same way in space – where they can exist in environments ranging from harsh, airless vacuums, to strange and exotic atmospheres.
Optimising Lubricant Oils to Boost Engine Efficiency | Ken Hope
The engine of a typical passenger vehicle is made up of hundreds of mechanical parts. These parts require lubrication to prevent them from overheating and to keep them working efficiently. Ken Hope and his team at Chevron Phillips Chemical, headquartered in Texas, have analysed the extent to which different types of lubricant oils reduce friction. They then used this data to estimate how an optimised oil mixture can achieve an overall improvement in engine efficiency.
Exploring the Surface Chemistry of Interstellar Dust
Interstellar space may seem like the last place you would look when searching for the chemical origins of life. Yet on the surfaces of tiny dust grains within this vast expanse, complex chemical reactions are continually occurring, which likely played a key role in establishing the rich diversity of complex molecules we observe in the solar system today. In a new study, astrochemists in Spain and Italy, led by Albert Rimola at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, examine how advanced simulation techniques can be used to study these important processes on atomic scales.
Reinventing the Capacitor: The Topological Route of Electricity – Professor Valerii Vinokur | Professor Anna Razumnaya | Professor Igor Lukyanchuk
Modern microelectronics is currently facing a profound challenge. The demand for even smaller and more closely packed electronics has hit a stumbling block: the power emitted in these devices releases more heat than can be efficiently removed. Now, Professors Valerii Vinokur, Anna Razumnaya, and Igor Lukyanchuk propose a solution based on the seemingly counterintuitive phenomenon of ‘negative capacitance’. The effect is surprisingly linked to an intriguing topological structure, which is found time and again across a broad range of scientific fields.
Exploring the Potential of Metatorbernite in Uranium Remediation | Dr Caroline Kirk
Although nuclear power is a clean alternative to fossil fuel combustion, this industry often causes uranium pollution in the local environment. The generation of metatorbernite, a solid material containing uranium, is one promising way to remove dissolved uranium atoms from industrial wastewater. However, before this remediation technology can be widely applied, we need a deeper understanding of the properties of metatorbernite, such as its long-term stability, to ensure that uranium will not be re-released from its structure. Dr Caroline Kirk, Ms Fi MacIver-Jones and their colleagues at the University of Edinburgh have been working to establish the structure and stability of this material, so that it can be applied for uranium remediation in the near future.
Investigating Fructans to Understand How Plants Can Survive Harsh Environments | Dr José Ordaz-Ortiz
The molecules within plant tissues can tell us about how they can withstand harsh environmental conditions. The Agave tequilana plant, native to Mexico, has a high concentration of fructan molecules throughout its tissues. Alongside his colleagues, Dr José Ordaz-Ortiz at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico, combines several powerful analytical techniques to better understand the role that these fructans play in plant biology.
Revealing How Table Tennis Could Be Transformed into a Popular Spectator Sport | Professor Ralf Schneider
Rapid-fire rallies of short, fast shots are a defining feature of professional table tennis – but for many audiences, the excitement of these matches isn’t easily conveyed on the TV screen. Using a combination of computer simulations and statistical analysis, Professor Ralf Schneider and his colleagues at the Institute of Physics of the University of Greifswald, Germany, explore how slight changes to the game’s equipment could slow matches down, and make them more interesting to viewers. Karl Lüskow, Marc Marschall and Stefan Kemnitz produced and optimised the simulation code, while Lars Lewerentz performed statistical analysis of the data.
Exploring the Surface Chemistry of Interstellar Dust | Albert Rimola
Interstellar space may seem like the last place you would look when searching for the chemical origins of life. Yet on the surfaces of tiny dust grains within this vast expanse, complex chemical reactions are continually occurring, which likely played a key role in establishing the rich diversity of complex molecules we observe in the solar system today. In a new study, astrochemists in Spain and Italy, led by Albert Rimola at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, examine how advanced simulation techniques can be used to study these important processes on atomic scales.
Advancing Quantum Computing to Accelerate Scientific Research
About this episodeOver the past few years, the capabilities of quantum computers have reached the stage where they can be used to pursue research with widespread technological impact. Through their research, the Q4Q team at the University of Southern California,...
Exploring the Vast History of Chemical Space – Dr Guillermo Restrepo
SciPod · Exploring the Vast History of Chemical Space - Dr Guillermo RestrepoOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper ‘Exploration of the chemical space and its three historical regimes’, from PNAS. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1816039116About...
Studying Blazars with Multiwavelength and Multi-messenger Astronomy – Professor Markus Böttcher
SciPod · Studying Blazars with Multiwavelength and Multi-messenger Astronomy - Professor Markus BöttcherOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper ‘Progress in Multiwavelength and Multi-Messenger Observations of Blazars and Theoretical...
Engineering the Path to New Semiconductors – Dr Yasuo Koide
SciPod · Engineering the Path to New Semiconductors - Dr Yasuo KoideOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA759About this episodeAs fundamental components of our electronic and optical devices, semiconductors...
Causality: A Fundamental Necessity or Part of the Problem?
SciPod · Causality: A Fundamental Necessity or Part of the Problem?Original Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper ‘Is Causality a Necessary Tool for Understanding Our Universe, or Is It a Part of the Problem?’, from Entropy....
Understanding Reionisation In The Early Universe – Dr Nick Gnedin
SciPod · Understanding Reionisation In The Early Universe - Dr Nick GnedinOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA659About this episodeHundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang, charged, ‘ionised’...
Uncovering The Trigger For Mars’ Global Dust Storms – James H. Shirley
SciPod · Uncovering The Trigger For Mars’ Global Dust Storms - James H. ShirleyOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA635About this episodeEnshrouding the Martian surface with thick clouds of dust, the Red...
Superinsulators The Hideout Of Magnetic Monopoles
SciPod · Superinsulators The Hideout Of Magnetic MonopolesOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA652About this episodeMagnetic monopoles have long been dismissed as impossible by many physicists, but their...
Small But Mighty Game – Changing Nanopore Research – Dr Jean – Pierre Leburton, University Of Illinois At Urbana – Champaign
SciPod · Small But Mighty Game - Changing Nanopore Research - Dr Jean - Pierre LeburtonOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA654About this episodeThe far-reaching benefits of nanopore research encompass...
Simulating Flows Between Clustered Galaxies – Dr Tom Jones, University Of Minnesota
SciPod · Simulating Flows Between Clustered Galaxies - Dr Tom Jones, University Of MinnesotaOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA606 Share Episode About this episodeThe spaces in between galaxies...
Optimising Carbon – Hydrogen Bond Activation For Efficient Organic Synthesis – Dr Oscar Verho, Uppsala University
SciPod · Optimising Carbon - Hydrogen Bond Activation For Efficient Organic SynthesisOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA647 Share Episode About this episodeChoosing which drug molecule to build is...
A Statistical Approach to the Reproducibility Crisis
SciPod · A Statistical Approach to the Reproducibility CrisisOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper: ‘Factoring a 2 x 2 contingency table’, from PLOS one. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224460 Share Episode Watch to learn moreAbout...
Illuminating New Insights Into Lightning Initiation Through Interferometry -Dr Xuan – Min Shao, Los Alamos National Laboratory
SciPod · Illuminating New Insights Into Lightning Initiation Through InterferometryOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA604 Share Episode About this episodeRadio frequency inteferometric lightning...
Exploring Winds in the Polar Thermosphere – Dr Ying Zou, University of Alabama in Huntsville
SciPod · Exploring Winds In The Polar Thermosphere - Dr Ying Zou, University Of Alabama In HuntsvilleOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA624 Share Episode About this episodeBeginning 80 kilometres...
A Human-centric Approach to Near-eye Display Engineering – Dr Gordon Wetzstein, Stanford University
SciPod · A Human - Centric Approach To Near - Eye Display EngineeringOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper:https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA645 Share Episode About this episodeVirtual and augmented reality technologies are now...
Cutting-edge Technology Developing the Hardest Material on Earth – Dr Guodong Zhan, Timothy Eric Moellendick, Dr Duanwei He
SciPod · Cutting-Edge Technology Developing The Hardest Material On EarthOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA724 Share Episode About this episodeBecause of its extreme hardness, diamond is used as a cutting...
Exploring The Vibrant Dynamics Of Near – Earth Space – Dr Gerhard Haerendel, Max Planck Institute For Extraterrestrial Physics
SciPod · Exploring The Vibrant Dynamics Of Near - Earth Space - Dr Gerhard HaerendelOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary ofhttps://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA593 Share Episode About this episodeThe region of space in which Earth’s magnetic field...
Professor Masahito Oh-e – Intriguing Molecular Discoveries in Display Materials
SciPod · Intriguing Molecular Discoveries in Display MaterialsOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary ofhttps://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA690 Share Episode About this episodeIt is a widely-accepted scientific fact that the motions of...
Sounding the Right Note Integrating Music and STEM Teaching – Dr Tennille D. Presley, Winston-Salem State University
SciPod · Sounding The Right Note Integrating Music And STEM Teaching - Dr Tennille D. PresleyOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA532 Share Episode About this episodeYoung people can often be...
Integrating Modelling and Machine Learning for Autonomous Robotics – Dr Paul Robertson, Dynamic Object Language Labs
SciPod · Integrating Modelling And Machine Learning For Autonomous Robotics - Dr Paul RobertsonOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA613 Share Episode About this episodeMachine learning is rapidly...
Reducing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Through Direct Air Capture – Dr Radu Custelcean, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
SciPod · Reducing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Through Direct Air CaptureOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA613 Share Episode About this episodeClimate change is mostly the result of elevated...
New Frontiers of Sound A Quiet Revolution
SciPod · New Frontiers Of Sound A Quiet RevolutionOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of the paper: https://doi.org/10.33548/SCIENTIA513 Share Episode About this episodeSound waves are all around us. They govern vibrations from the sweetest of...