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    Semiconductors reach the Quantum World

    December 23, 2021, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics

    The “map” of the electrons: This graph, obtained with the SX-ARPES method, shows bright bands representing the states that electrons occupy in energy/momentum space. The band in the semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) is clearly separated from the superconducting states (encircled in light blue dashes) in the niobium nitride (NbN). This means that the decisive electrons in the two materials do not interfere with each other. Credit: Paul Scherrer Institute/Tianlun Yu

    Quantum effects in superconductors could give semiconductor technology a new twist...

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    Engineers Test an Idea for a New Hovering Rover

    December 23, 2021, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    MIT aerospace engineers are testing a concept for a hovering rover that levitates by harnessing the moon’s natural charge. This illustration shows a concept image of rover.

    A levitating vehicle might someday explore the moon, asteroids, and other airless planetary surfaces. Aerospace engineers at MIT are testing a new concept for a hovering rover that levitates by harnessing the moon’s natural charge.

    Because they lack an atmosphere, the moon and other airless bodies such as asteroid’s can build up an electric field through direct exposure to the sun and surrounding plasma. On the moon, this surface charge is strong enough to levitate dust more than 1 meter above the ground, much the way static electricity can cause a person’s hair to stand on end.

    Engineers at NASA and elsewhe...

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    How Regular Exercise can Protect Against Fatty Liver Asociated Diseases

    December 22, 2021, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

     Training downregulates acetyl-CoA-generating pathways in the liver of high-energy diet-fed mice. Abundance of transcripts (gray/blue filled bars) and proteins (blank bars) related to glucose/fructose degradation, mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism, acetyl-CoA conversion and fatty acid synthesis. The mean Â± SD values for n = 6–8 are shown. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001 for diet, training or interaction by two-way ANOVA as indicated. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001 for diet, #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 for training by Tukey HSD multiple comparisons test. CON = control diet, HED = high-energy diet, SED = sedentary, TRAIN = treadmill training.

    Exercise not only trains the muscles but can also prevent the develop...

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    Solar Power: ‘Wonder material’ Phosphorene Nanoribbons live up to hype in first demonstration

    December 22, 2021, Categories  Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Researchers have incorporated phosphorene nanoribbons into new types of solar cells, dramatically improving their efficiency.

    Phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs) are ribbon-like strands of the 2D material phosphorus, which, similar to graphene, are made of single-atom-thick layers of atoms. PNRs were first produced in 2019, and hundreds of theoretical studies have predicted how their properties could enhance all kinds of devices, including batteries, biomedical sensors, and quantum computers.

    However, none of these predicted exciting properties have so far been demonstrated in actual devices...

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