Vly News - Professional news Platform

The graph shows the mechanism of Nepenthes gracilis. Credit: Anne-Kristin Lenzo Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered the deadly workings of carnivorous plants. In the steamy jungles of Borneo, plants have developed innumerable tricks to help them survive and beat their neighbors. The Slender Pitcher Plant, Nepenthes gracilis, is one of the most ingenious: Its cup-shaped leaves are equipped with a hanging canopy-like cap that turns into a deadly stepping stone for ants when hit by falling raindrops. His findings, published today in Biology Letters revealing for the first time how the shut-off spring works. The team was surprised to find that instead of bending the lid on its own or in the narrow constriction between the jug’s cup and the lid, the spring was located far behind the wall of the tubular jug. The off-center location on the back of the tube has two effects. The Slender Pitcher Plant catc

Scientists may have just traced the source of some of the mysterious infrared emission detected from stars and clouds of interstellar dust and gas. This Unknown Infrared Emission Band (UIE) has baffled scientists for decades; According to a new theoretical work, at least some of these bands could be produced by highly ionized buckminsterfullerene, better known as buckyballs. “I am very honored to have played a part in the extremely complex quantum chemical investigations carried out by Dr Sadjadi that have produced these very exciting results,” said astrophysicist Quentin Parker of the Space Research Laboratory of the University of Hong Kong. “First they looked at the theoretical evidence that Fullerenes – Carbon 60 – can withstand very high ionization rates, and now this work shows the infrared emission signature of the species is a perfect match for some of the most prominent Unknown Infrared Emission features known. This will help re-strengthen this area of ​​research.” Buckminste

Recent extreme weather events have underscored the need to reduce CO₂ emissions that increase global temperatures. This requires a rapid transition from an energy economy to renewable energy sources, the cheapest of which is solar photovoltaic (PV). And our recently published research shows how we can lower shift costs even further using a cheaper form of silicon for highly efficient solar panels. Australia has taken the lead with solar PV installations, but our solar energy journey has only just begun. This year, humanity reached the milestone of 1 terawatt (TW) – 1 million × 1 million watts – installed solar capacity. However, experts predict 70TW of solar PV may be needed by 2050 to power all sectors of the economy. To help drive this rapid uptake of solar PV, we need solar panels with high efficiency and low cost. Over the past ten years, several new solar cell designs have resulted in record high efficiency. The problem is that this design also requires higher quality materi

The brilliant light detected by NASA’s James Webb Telescope (JWST) three billion light years from Earth is believed to be the first $10 billion scope observation of a dying star’s explosion. Officially known as a supernova, it is the ‘last hurray’ that occurs when a star runs out of fuel. This causes the pressure to drop, where the cosmic object expands to at least five times the mass of our sun – which is about 333,000 Earths in size – and then explodes, releasing tons of debris and particles. A stellar explosion occurred in the galaxy SDSS.J141930.11+5251593, where a JWST image showed an object’s light dimming in the span of five days – a clue that fueled the supernova theory. Also of interest is the fact that JWST was not designed to find and detect new transients, Mike Engesser of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), told Inverse, which first reported the discovery. Scroll down for the video Not only did James Webb see the supernova, but astronomers were baffled by

Stochastic stress-induced birefringence in plastic spoons left in the hot sun was visualized via polarization-filtered staining. The ladle is placed between a pair of parallel polarizer sheets in an open-gate arrangement, with a parchment paper backing to act as a diffuser for sunlight illumination. Credit: Aaron Slepkov, University of Trent Light polarization supports the latest technological innovations, including 3D cinema and LCD. In LCDs, small, electronically controllable liquid crystal elements are sandwiched between the polarizers. If, on the other hand, other transparent polarization-altering films—such as plastic gift wrap and wrapping tape—are placed between a set of polarizers, a polarizing filtered color array can be observed. In American Journal of Physics Aaron Slepkov, of Trent University in Canada, explores the physics of how these colors appear, how they can be controlled, and why subtle changes in viewing angles, s

Gemini South, one of the most productive and powerful infrared-optical telescopes in the world, received a major capability upgrade with the successful installation of a new high-resolution spectrograph called GHOST built by an international consortium. This cutting-edge scientific instrument will expand our understanding of the earliest stars, the chemical fingerprints of distant planetary systems, and the formation and evolution of galaxies. Gemini South in Chile is half of the Gemini International Observatory, operated by NOIRLab NSF. The latest scientific instrument from the Gemini South telescope — GHOST, Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph — achieved its first light by making excellent observations of HD 222925, a very bright and chemically complex star located more than 1,400 light-years to the south. hemisphere of the constellation Tucana. This star is a prime example of the type of object GHOST will investigate. Gemini South is half of the Gemini International Obs

Before (top) and after 150 hours of annealing (bottom) on different length scales (left to right). It can be seen that the surface roughness measured using Atomic Force Microscopy is significantly reduced over a wide range of length scales. Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan University A team led by scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University has created an unprecedented lightweight optic for an X-ray space telescope, breaking the traditional trade-off between angular resolution and weight. They used Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technology, creating intricate patterns in silicon wafers that can direct and collect X-rays. By annealing and polishing, they realized ultra-sharp features that could rival the performance of existing telescopes for a fraction of their weight, at significantly lower launch costs. X-ray astronomy is a vital tool that helps scientists study and classify various celestial bodies that emit and interact with X-rays, i

Tokyo, Japan – A team led by scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University has created unprecedented light optics for X-ray space telescopes, breaking the traditional trade-off between angular resolution and weight. They used Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technology, creating intricate patterns into silicon wafers that can direct and collect X-rays. By annealing and polishing, they realized ultra-sharp features that could rival the performance of existing telescopes for a fraction of their weight, at significantly lower launch costs. X-ray astronomy provides a vital tool that helps scientists study and classify various celestial bodies that emit and interact with X-rays, including our planet. But there’s something interesting: most of the X-ray radiation is absorbed in our atmosphere, which means that telescopes and detectors have to be launched into space. With this comes various limitations, in particular, how heavy the device can be. One of the main features of all astr

Astronomers at MIT and elsewhere have detected a strange and persistent radio signal from a distant galaxy that appears to flicker with surprising regularity. The signal is classified as a rapid radio burst, or FRB — a very powerful burst of radio waves of unknown astrophysical origin, which usually lasts a few milliseconds at most. However, this new signal lasted up to three seconds, about 1,000 times longer than the FRB average. Within this window, the team detected bursts of radio waves that repeated every 0.2 seconds in a clear periodic pattern, similar to a heartbeat. The researchers have labeled the signal FRB 20191221A, and it is currently the most durable FRB, with the clearest periodic pattern, detected to date. The source of the signal lies in a distant galaxy, a few billion light years from Earth. Exactly what the source is remains a mystery, although astronomers suspect the signal could be from a radio pulsar or a magnetar, both types of neutron stars – the cores of gian

Astronomers at MIT and universities in Canada and the United States have detected a strange and persistent radio signal from a distant galaxy that seems to flicker with surprising regularity. The signal is classified as a rapid radio burst, or FRB — a very powerful burst of radio waves of unknown astrophysical origin, which usually lasts a few milliseconds at most. However, this new signal lasted up to three seconds, about 1,000 times longer than the FRB average. Within this window, the team detected bursts of radio waves that repeated every 0.2 seconds in a clear periodic pattern, similar to a heartbeat. The researchers have labeled the signal FRB 20191221A, and it is currently the most durable FRB, with the clearest periodic pattern, detected to date. The source of the signal lies in a distant galaxy, a few billion light years from Earth. Exactly what the source is remains a mystery, although astronomers suspect the signal could be from a radio pulsar or a magnetar, both types of

July’s full moon, the buck moon, can light up the sky on Wednesday in a very big way. The moon buck will appear full from Tuesday morning through Friday morning, according to NASA. It will peak on Wednesday at 4:48 a.m. AEST. To those at first glance, it may appear larger and brighter than the other moons of 2022 because it is a supermoon. Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >> While there is no single definition of “supermoon,” the term usually refers to a full moon that can stand out more than the others because it is within 90 percent of its closest orbit to Earth. The buck moon is the closest supermoon to Earth this year, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac . “Unlike some astronomical events, there’s no (situation where) you have to see it instantly or you’ll miss it,” said Noah Petro, head of NASA’s Laboratory of Planetary Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry. “There is no moment that you should pay attention to to maximize the enjoyment of the fu

This month, two rockets were heard to be launched from Australia, carrying out experiments to determine whether the ultraviolet light emitted by stars from the Alpha Centauri system is detrimental to potential life on planets around them. The study will also reveal how typical – or abnormal – the sun is. Alpha Centauri consists of two main stars, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B (which form a binary pair), as well as a third star, Proxima Centauri, which is only 4.3 light-years away. While no planets have been detected positively orbiting Alpha Centauri A or B, if they do exist, the ultraviolet radiation from their stars may have a significant impact on whether or not they support life. The right amount of ultraviolet light can break down simple organic molecules, such as methane, prompting molecular fragments to reshape the more complex molecules necessary for life. On the other hand, too much ultraviolet could separate out water vapor, make it escape from the planet’s atmosph

University of Chicago physicists have discovered a “quantum flute” that, like the Pied Piper, can force light particles to move together in a way never seen before. Described in two studies published in Physical Review Letters and Nature Physics, the breakthrough could point the way to the realization of quantum memory or new forms of error correction in quantum computers, and to observe quantum phenomena that cannot be seen in nature. Laboratory Association Prof. David Schuster is working on quantum bits – the quantum equivalent of computer bits – that take advantage of the peculiar properties of particles at the atomic and sub-atomic level to do things that would otherwise be impossible. In this experiment, they worked with light particles, known as photons, in the microwave spectrum. Their system consists of long cavities built into a metal block, designed to trap photons at microwave frequencies. Cavities are created by drilling offset holes — like holes in a flute. “Just like i

A new “quantum flute” experiment by University of Chicago physicists could point the way to new quantum technologies. The holes create different wavelengths, similar to the ‘notes’ on a flute, that can be used to encode quantum information. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Schuster laboratorium laboratory University of Chicago physicists have discovered a “quantum flute” that, like the Pied Piper, can force light particles to move together in a way never seen before. Described in two studies published in Physical Review Letter and Natural Physics Such breakthroughs could point the way to realizing quantum memory or new forms of error correction in quantum computers, and observing quantum phenomena that cannot be seen in nature. Laboratory Association Prof. David Schuster is working on quantum bits—the quantum equivalent of computer bits—that take advantage of the peculiar properties of particles at the atomic and sub-atomic level to do

The eye’s light-sensing retina taps different circuits depending on whether it produces image-forming vision or performs non-visual functions such as regulating pupil size or the sleep/wake cycle, according to a new mouse study from the National Eye Institute. NEI) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). These findings could have implications for understanding how our eyes help regulate mood, digestion, sleep and metabolism. NEI and NIMH are part of the National Institutes of Health. “We know a lot about the pathways involved in image-forming vision, but until now it was unknown whether and how non-image-forming visual behavior depended on these same pathways in the eye,” says Johan Pahlberg, Ph.D., head of Photoreceptor Physiology Group at NEI and senior author of the study. Vision begins when light enters the eye and hits the light-sensing photoreceptors of the retina. Photoreceptors transfer signals through several layers of retinal neurons before they are sent to th