Astrophysicists are closing in on the Hubble constant. The collision of two neutron stars (GW170817) flung out an extraordinary fireball of material and energy that is allowing a a team of astrophysicists to calculate a more precise value for the Hubble constant, the speed of the universe’s expansion. Previous estimates put the value between 66 and 90 km/s/Mpc, which this team refined to between 65.3 and 75.6 km/s/Mpc.

Exactly how fast is the universe e...

Cosmochemists have found that interstellar iron and carbon form a kind of linked molecule that cloaks the iron – and helps stabilize large carbon molecules. Astrophysicists know that iron is one of the most abundant elements in the universe, after lightweight elements such as hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Iron is most commonly found in gaseous form in stars such as the Sun, and in more condensed form in planets such as Earth.

Iron in interstellar environments should also be common...

Team identifies dark trions as the next carrier of quantum information. Move aside, electrons; it’s time to make way for the trion. A research team led by physicists at the University of California, Riverside, has observed, characterized, and controlled dark trions in a semiconductor – ultraclean single-layer tungsten diselenide (WSe2) – a feat that could increase the capacity and alter the form of information transmission.

In a semiconductor, such as WSe2, a trion is a quantum bound state of three charged particles. A negative trion contains two electrons and one hole; a positive trion contains two holes and one electron...

Using the ‘elevated plus maze’ test with mice, researchers have shown that Matcha green tea can reduce anxiety. Their experiments revealed that Matcha’s anxiolytic effects are due to the activation of dopamine D1 receptors and certain serotonin receptors. The researchers suggest that adding a little Matcha tea to your diet may improve your health.

Many different countries have a tea culture, and Japanese Matcha tea is growing in popularity around the world. In Japan, Matcha has a long history of being used for various medicinal purposes...