Post Scientist

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have successfully demonstrated that autonomous methods can discover new materials. The artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technique led to the discovery of three new nanostructures, including a first-of-its-kind nanoscale "ladder." The research was published today in Science Advances. .  Join our whatsapp group for latest articles updates. The newly discovered structures were formed by a process called self-assembly, in which a material's molecules organize themselves into unique patterns. Scientists at Brookhaven's Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) are experts at directing the self-assembly process, creating templates for materials to form desirable arrangements for applications in microelectronics, catalysis, and more. Their discovery of the nanoscale ladder and other new structu...

When NASA docks two spacecraft in orbit, timing is critical. Their movements must be precisely synchronized with each other to prevent catastrophic failure, which means the computer networks that control their thrusters must not be disrupted for even a split second; instructions on exactly how and when to move must be delivered on time, every time. Linh Thi Xuan Phan, Associate Professor in Penn Engineering's Department of Computer and Information Science, has collaborated with a team of researchers at the University of Michigan and NASA to identify a critical security flaw in the networking approach used in these and other safety-critical systems. Known as Time-Triggered Ethernet, or TTE, this approach has been used for more than a decade in aerospace, aviation and heavy industry applications. In thos...

Have you ever been advised to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes?" Considering another person's perspective can be a challenging endeavor—but recognizing our errors and biases is key to building understanding across communities. By challenging our preconceptions, we confront prejudice, such as racism and xenophobia, and potentially develop a more inclusive perspective about others. To assist with perspective-taking, MIT researchers have developed "On the Plane"—a virtual reality role-playing game (VR RPG) that simulates discrimination. In this case, the game portrays xenophobia directed against a Malaysian America woman, but the approach can be generalized. Situated on an airplane, players can take on the role of characters from different backgrounds, engaging in dialogue with o...

The ancient Romans were masters of engineering, constructing vast networks of roads, aqueducts, ports, and massive buildings, whose remains have survived for two millennia. Many of these structures were built with concrete: Rome's famed Pantheon, which has the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome and was dedicated in A.D. 128, is still intact, and some ancient Roman aqueducts still deliver water to Rome today. Meanwhile, many modern concrete structures have crumbled after a few decades. Researchers have spent decades trying to figure out the secret of this ultradurable ancient construction material, particularly in structures that endured especially harsh conditions, such as docks, sewers, and seawalls, or those constructed in seismically active locations. Now, a team of investigators from MIT...

The human brain holds many clues about a person's long-term health—in fact, research shows that a person's brain age is a more useful and accurate predictor of health risks and future disease than their birthdate. Now, a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that analyzes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans developed by USC researchers could be used to accurately capture cognitive decline linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's much earlier than previous methods. Brain aging is considered a reliable biomarker for neurodegenerative disease risk. Such risk increases when a person's brain exhibits features that appear "older" than expected for someone of that person's age. By tapping into the deep learning capability of the team's novel ...

Is the metaverse closer than we think? It depends on who you ask at CES, where companies are showing off innovations that could immerse us deeper into virtual reality, otherwise known as VR. The metaverse—essentially a buzzword for three-dimensional virtual communities where people can meet, work and play—was a key theme during the four-day tech gathering in Las Vegas that ends Sunday. Taiwanese tech giant HTC unveiled a high-end VR headset that aims to compete with market leader Meta, and a slew of other companies and startups touted augmented reality glasses and sensory technologies that can help users feel—and even smell—in a virtual environment. Among them, Vermont-based OVR Technology showcased a headset containing a cartridge with eight primary aromas that can be combined to create different scents. It...

Plastics are ubiquitous in our society, found in packaging and bottles as well as making up more than 18% of solid waste in landfills. Many of these plastics also make their way into the oceans, where they take up to hundreds of years to break down into pieces that can harm wildlife and the aquatic ecosystem. A team of researchers, led by Young-Shin Jun, Professor of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, analyzed how light breaks down polystyrene, a nonbiodegradable plastic from which packing peanuts, DVD cases and disposable utensils are made. In addition, they found that nanoplastic particles can play active roles in environmental systems. In particular, when exposed to light, the nanoplastics derived from polystyrene unexpectedly facilitated the oxidation of aqueous mangan...

Both the European Union and Switzerland have set themselves the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050 and of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. To achieve this target, major investments in power generation from renewable energies, electricity grids, storage capacities and other climate-relevant infrastructure are required. However, it has been unclear until now just how much investment will be necessary over the next 15 years and which areas are the most important. This gap in knowledge has now been filled by a meta-study conducted by ETH professor Bjarne Steffen and Lena Klaaßen, which was recently published in Nature Climate Change . The authors conclude that reaching the net-zero target will be jeopardized if an annual 302 billion euros fail to flow into climate-relevant infrastructure in Europe over the next two years. A third more inves...

At ITER—the world's largest experimental fusion reactor, currently under construction in France through international cooperation—the abrupt termination of magnetic confinement of a high temperature plasma through a so-called "disruption" poses a major open issue. As a countermeasure, disruption mitigation techniques, which allow to forcibly cool the plasma when signs of plasma instabilities are detected, are a subject of intensive research worldwide. Now, a team of Japanese researchers from National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) of National Institute of National Sciences (NINS) found that by adding approximately 5% neon to a hydrogen ice pellet, it is possible to cool the plasma more deeply below its surface and hence more effectively than when pure hydrogen ice pellets are in...

Sights, smells and sounds of everyday life can supply the triggers that take someone with PTSD right back to the scarring scene they're trying to forget. With PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, a honking horn, a crowded coffeehouse or a sharp scent can bring back traumatic memories that can raise the heart rate, increase muscle tension and lead to anxiety and depression. These reactions occur even without the presence of danger, but they pose their own threat by causing strains on relationships at home and work, igniting the need to avoid certain situations and contributing to mood changes. PTSD can happen to anyone at any age, according to the National Institutes of Health, and treatment options include medications as well as therapy. Researchers at MUSC Health recently published a ...

A new study, published on Dec. 21 in Energy Material Advances , provides a strategy to enhance dynamic phase stability and suppress Mn dissolution at the mesoscopic scale, promoting the development of high-performance spinel LiMn 2 O 4 (LMO) electrodes. "The development of electric vehicles and electric bicycles has sparked interest in powered lithium-ion batteries," said paper author Jia Xie, professor at school of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). "It is critical to developing advanced electrode materials with excellent rate performance, cycling stability and high-energy densities." Xie explained that LMO is deemed as a promising cathode material in power lithium-ion batteries, owing to its low cost, reliable security, high oper...