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    Celestial Cat meets Cosmic Lobster

    February 2, 2017, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    This spectacular image from the VLT Survey Telescope shows the Cat's Paw Nebula (NGC 6334, upper right) and the Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357, lower left). These dramatic objects are regions of active star formation where the hot young stars are causing the surrounding hydrogen gas to glow red. The very rich field of view also includes dark clouds of dust. With around two billion pixels this is one of the largest images ever released by ESO. Credit: ESO

    This spectacular image from the VLT Survey Telescope shows the Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334, upper right) and the Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357, lower left). These dramatic objects are regions of active star formation where the hot young stars are causing the surrounding hydrogen gas to glow red. The very rich field of view also includes dark clouds of dust. With around two billion pixels this is one of the largest images ever released by ESO. Credit: ESO

    NGC6334 is 5500 light-years away from Earth, while NGC6357 is more remote, at 8000 light-years. Both are in the constellation of Scorpius (The Scorpion), near the tip of its stinging tail...

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    Novel Liquid Crystal could Triple Sharpness of Today’s Displays

    February 1, 2017, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics

    Researchers have developed a new technology that could triple the resolution density of displays. The new technology could allow field-sequential color displays where a single subpixel can be quickly switched among red, green or blue. By eliminating the color filters traditionally used to spatially divide one pixel into red, green or blue subpixels, field-sequential color displays allow the three subpixels to become three independent pixels and thus triples the resolution density. Credit: Yuge Huang and Ruidong Zhu, CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida

    Researchers have developed a new technology that could triple the resolution density of displays. The new technology could allow field-sequential color displays where a single subpixel can be quickly switched among red, green or blue. By eliminating the color filters traditionally used to spatially divide one pixel into red, green or blue subpixels, field-sequential color displays allow the three subpixels to become three independent pixels and thus triples the resolution density. Credit: Yuge Huang and Ruidong Zhu, CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida

    An international team of researchers has developed a new blue-phase liquid crystal that could enable televisions, computer screens and other displays that pack more pixels into the same space while also r...

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    Oil Production Releases more Methane than Previously Thought

    February 1, 2017, Categories  Chemistry/Nanotechnology, Environment/Geology

    Graph showing the sources of methane from oil production since 1980. Click to enlarge. ©Höglund-Isaksson 2017

    Graph showing the sources of methane from oil production since 1980. Click to enlarge. ©Höglund-Isaksson 2017

    Global methane and ethane emissions from oil production from 1980 to 2012 were far higher than previous estimates show, according to a new study which for the first time takes into account different production management systems and geological conditions around the world. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, which scientists rank as the second-most important contributor to climate change after CO2. Yet while methane concentrations in the atmosphere can be easily measured, it is difficult to determine the contribution of different sources, whether human or natural.

    “In an oil reservoir, there is a layer of gas above the oil which has a methane content of 50 to 85%...

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    Astronauts’ Brains Change Shape during Spaceflight

    February 1, 2017, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Blue shows areas of gray matter volume decrease, likely reflecting shifting of cerebrospinal fluid. Orange shows regions of gray matter volume increase, in the regions that control movement of the legs. This likely reflects brain plasticity associated with “learning how to move in microgravity”. This is the first image of how spaceflight changes brain structure in humans!

    Blue shows areas of gray matter volume decrease, likely reflecting shifting of cerebrospinal fluid. Orange shows regions of gray matter volume increase, in the regions that control movement of the legs. This likely reflects brain plasticity associated with “learning how to move in microgravity”. This is the first image of how spaceflight changes brain structure in humans!

    MRIs before and after space missions reveal that astronauts’ brains compress and expand during spaceflight, according to a University of Michigan study. The findings could have applications for treating other health conditions that affect brain function...

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