A Reusable Chip for Particulate Matter Sensing | Newswise
[ad_1] Newswise — Fine airborne particles are especially challenging to monitor because particle size affects both how long they remain suspended in air and how deeply they can penetrate into the respiratory system. PM2.5 is of particular concern because of its association with adverse health effects. Existing techniques, including beta-ray absorption, gravimetric methods, and light-scattering […]
Teaching Neural Networks Where Errors Matter | Newswise
[ad_1] Newswise — This study introduces volume weighting physics-informed neural networks (VW-PINNs), a new framework that changes how residual errors are evaluated during training. By weighting the PDE residual according to the volume occupied by collocation points in the computational domain, the method avoids over-learning in regions where collocation points are densely sampled. A sufficient […]
Accessing Dynamic Electrochemical Interfaces
[ad_1] The Science Newswise — Electrodes’ surfaces drive reactions that are critical to energy conversion. In batteries, electrodes accept and release electrons. This process charges and discharges the battery. However, scientists know little about the chemistry of these surfaces during this process. Techniques that are sensitive to these surfaces require a vacuum or conditions that are […]
Recycling Plants’ Plastic-Cleaning Process May Pose Water Contamination Risks | Newswise
[ad_1] Newswise — AMES, Iowa – Potentially harmful chemicals can contaminate untreated water used in recycling plants to clean plastics before they’re processed into new products, according to a new study by an Iowa State University research group. Researchers from Iowa State’s Polymer and Food Protection Consortium tested common industrial plastic-washing practices and found that […]
New ORNL Electrolyte Lets the Ions Flow
[ad_1] BYLINE: Greg Cunningham Newswise — Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have uncovered a path to design superionic polymer electrolytes for solid-state batteries and other energy applications that could help ensure a future of abundant and reliable energy for the United States. The scientists demonstrated that by carefully controlling the […]
Molten Salt Chemistry Converts Consumer Polymer Into Fuel
[ad_1] BYLINE: Dawn Levy Newswise — Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a method to convert a commonly discarded hydrocarbon polymer into gasoline- and diesel-like fuels. The team has applied for a patent for the discovery, which treats polyethylene — the stuff of white cutting boards and shopping bags — […]
“Plastic-Eating” Fusion Enzyme Improves Polyester Textile Recycling | Newswise
[ad_1] Newswise — In a study published in Bioresource Technology Journal, scientists from the universities of Portsmouth and Manchester report that a specially engineered enzyme can significantly speed up the breakdown of PET – the plastic used in water bottles, food packaging and polyester clothing – when it is processed at high concentrations similar to those used in industry. PET, short for poly (ethylene terephthalate), […]
Can Practical Superconductors Work Without Extreme Cooling?
[ad_1] Newswise — Scientists discovered how tiny changes in superhydride structure enable superconductivity at near room temperatures but extreme pressure — offering clues for designing more practical superconductors. Superconductors allow electricity to flow without resistance, meaning no energy is lost as heat. This property makes them useful for technologies such as MRI scanners, particle accelerators, magnetic-levitation trains […]
New Nanofluidic Holder Lets Scientists Heat, Cool, Electrify, and Watch Reactions in Real Time | Newswise
[ad_1] Newswise — Micro- and nanofluidic systems are increasingly important in biology, medicine, chemistry, and materials science because they allow researchers to study reactions, transport, and molecular behavior in spaces that approach the dimensions of living capillaries or engineered nanosystems. Yet as chips become more integrated and more powerful, a bottleneck has emerged: the surrounding […]
When Neutron Stars Collide, Neutrinos Change Flavors
[ad_1] The Science Newswise — Neutron stars are among the densest objects in the universe. They are packed so tightly that a spoonful of their matter weighs more than a mountain. When two neutron stars collide, they release huge numbers of tiny particles called neutrinos. Neutrinos are fundamental particles that come in three types, or “flavors.” These […]