3,596 articles from NOVEMBER 2019
Black Friday in Britain: where it all went wrong
This year has been challenging for retailers, to put it mildly. According to the British Retail Consortium, sales were down 1.3% year on year in September, the most recent month available, and the worst since the consortium's records began in 1995. The summer wasn't much better, with sales down 0.5% in August and up only 0.3% in July – itself a record low. The Centre for Retail Research says it...
New algorithms to determine eigenstates and thermal states on quantum computers
Determining the quantum mechanical behavior of many interacting particles is essential to solving important problems in a variety of scientific fields, including physics, chemistry and mathematics. For instance, in order to describe the electronic structure of materials and molecules, researchers first need to find the ground, excited and thermal states of the Born-Oppenheimer Hamiltonian...
Indian authorities may have exaggerated claims of rising tiger numbers
The Indian government claims that the national tiger population has more than doubled since 2006, but independent scientists have found this highly unlikely. It is almost impossible for the tiger population to grow with such speed in such an inexplicable manner, according to the scientists.
Amazon Alexa now boasts medication management features
Regular medication reminders from Alexa could go a long way toward solving millennials' issues with...
Compound controls biological clock with light
Researchers at Japan's Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) of Nagoya University, the Netherlands' University of Groningen, and colleagues have found a new way to regulate the biological clocks of cells. Further studies on their approach, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could lead to treatments for a variety of conditions, including sleep disorder.
The plot thickens for a hypothetical X17 particle
Fresh evidence of an unknown particle that could carry a fifth force of nature gives the NA64 collaboration at CERN a new incentive to continue searches.
Are 'dog years' for real? An explanation of calculating canine age
If your dog has been alive and kicking its paws about for a decade, the widely held belief is that it has aged as much as a human would have done by the grand old age of 70. This conversion factor—each year of a dog's life accounting for seven human years—comes from dividing human life expectancy of around 77 by the canine life expectancy of around 11.
Ultraluminous X-ray source UGC 6456 ULX investigated in detail
Russian astronomers have performed a detailed study of one of the ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) in the galaxy UGC 6456. Results of the research, presented in a paper published November 20 on arXiv.org, suggest that this source, designated UGC 6456 ULX, is one of the brightest known ULXs in the optical range.
Black Hole or Newborn Stars? SOFIA Finds Galactic Puzzle
Portal origin URL: Black Hole or Newborn Stars? SOFIA Finds Galactic PuzzlePortal origin nid: 455848Published: Friday, November 29, 2019 - 11:00Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: Scientists on SOFIA found a black hole that seems to be changing its galactic surroundings in a way that is usually associated with newborn stars.Portal...
The week in wildlife – in pictures
The pick of the best flora and fauna photos from around the world, including a giant tortoise and a painted stork Continue reading...
Researchers find potential solution to overheating mobile phones
Modern computer memory encodes information by switching magnetic bits within devices. Now, a ground-breaking study conducted by researchers from NUS Electrical and Computer Engineering has found a new efficient way of using 'spin waves' to switch magnetization at room temperature for more energy-efficient spin memory and logic devices.
Our place in the universe will change dramatically in the next 50 years – here's how
In 1900, so the story goes, prominent physicist Lord Kelvin addressed the British Association for the Advancement of Science with these words: "There is nothing new to be discovered in physics now."
Samsung researchers: More efficient quantum dots without heavy metals
A team at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology has announced that they have improved quantum dot (QD) technology for use in large displays by developing QDs that are both more efficient and have no heavy metals. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes their work and their plans for the future. Alexander Efros, with the Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington D.C....
Virtual reality won't make cows happier, but it might help us see them differently
Earlier this week, Russian farmers announced they are testing virtual reality (VR) for dairy cows.
Biologists examine sperm quality on the basis of their metabolism
Every tenth couple worldwide is affected by infertility. The reasons for this are manifold, but mostly well researched. Nevertheless, about fifteen percent of cases remain unexplained. A team of biologists at TU Dresden has now gained new insights into the metabolic properties that make up a good sperm cell.
Adiabatic shortcuts: Short and sweet in the quantum world
Completing a task slowly and carefully may provide us with a high-quality product. It can be summed up by the popular adage "easy does it." But what if a high price has to be paid for slowness? Time is a scarce resource and, what is more, a good result is not guaranteed, since we may be easily disturbed or interrupted by various matters and events if we take too long. So it is clear that we are...
DJ Mark Radcliffe gets commemorative bench after cancer recovery
Bench in Manchester celebrates BBC DJ’s cancer treatment and is part of Re-Write Cancer campaignIt is an established way to commemorate the dead: dedicating a bench to a loved one’s memory and placing it in one of their favourite locations.But the BBC DJ Mark Radcliffe has been bestowed the honour in life after a bench bearing his name was installed in the grounds of Manchester University,...
The case of the pirated blueberries: courts flex new muscle to protect plant breeders' intellectual property
A few weeks ago, the Federal Court of Australia ordered a farmer in New South Wales to pay A$290,000 to a blueberry-producing company because he had grown and sold a proprietary variety of the fruit without permission.
Shell shock: Giant invasive mussels eradicated from US ponds
Most Americans know mussels as thumb-sized shellfish that occasionally adorn restaurant dinner plates.
Scientists scour past for future climate clues
As the pace of global warming outstrips our ability to adapt to it, scientists are delving deep into the distant past, hoping that eons-old Antarctic ice, sediments and trees chart a path to navigate our climate future.
Model: Possible simultaneous impact of global warming on agriculture and marine fisheries
An international team of researchers has built a model that shows the possible simultaneous impact of global warming on agriculture and marine fisheries. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes what their model showed developing over the rest of this century.
Functionalized surfaces: Cylindrical micellar brushes with controlled length tailored chemical options
A team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in China has developed a way to functionalize surfaces with cylindrical micelle brushes with controlled length and tailored chemical options. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group outlines their method, give specific examples, and discuss possible uses for it. Alejandro Presa Soto with the University of Oviedo has...
Tinder is a waste of time for most people
Dating apps won't help you much if your goal is to have more relationships. You would probably succeed just as well—or poorly—without it.
Popular fish in China would increase in value if caught with larger meshes
Fish that are highly valued by Chinese consumers, such as largehead hairtail, would grow in value and in the amounts that are caught if industrial fisheries increased the mesh size of their nets.