Ever heard of azobenzene? These tiny molecules can switch between two states, 'cis' and 'trans', super quickly when it's freezing cold. It's like they're dancing on ice! Scientists use a tool called a Scanning-Tunneling Microscopy (STM) tip to make this happen. This tip uses an electric field to pus
Ever wondered how fires change the nutrients in the soil? This study took a deep dive into how fire ash from different environments, like forests and grasslands, affects key nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. Using special tools like X-ray absorption spectroscopy, scientists found ou
Plant diseases can be a real problem for farmers. Traditional chemicals often don't work well and can harm the environment. Scientists have been looking for better ways to protect plants. One interesting solution is using tiny light-absorbing structures called photosensitizers. These little helpers
Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) are really cool tools doctors and scientists use to study the brain. But they're not perfect. Sometimes, they give blurry pictures of the brain (low spatial resolution) and might miss some parts (partial brain coverage). Plus, some sensor
Did you know that ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) is a star player in generating oxygen from water, also known as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER)? Well, it's not always perfect. Scientists found that adding a bit of manganese (Mn) to RuO2 can make it work better and last longer. When they tested this M
In the Siberian region of Yakutia, locals made an amazing discovery in June—a perfectly preserved baby mammoth carcass. The mammoth, named Yana, was found in the Batagaika Crater after a part of it collapsed. Maksim Cheprasov, a scientist from the Mammoth Museum at the North-Eastern Federal Universi
Aging is a natural process, but it affects different creatures in unique ways. Scientists wanted to understand how the environment impacts the breeding patterns of wild blue tits as they get older. They created a special measurement called "relative environmental age" to see how past conditions infl
Scientists have long tried to explain why some places have more species than others. They've used many different explanations and theories, but these aren't always helpful on a large scale. A new idea, called the Equilibrium Theory of Biodiversity Dynamics (ETBD), is trying to fix this. ETBD sugges
Ever wondered why some bird moms have more boys or girls? It all comes down to their quality and the environment. Carolina wrens, which are loyal to one mate, face this dilemma. If a mom is in good shape, she might have bigger sons who can fight for food. But if she's really high-quality, she might
Breathing in chlorinated and oxygenated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs and OVOCs) can be dangerous. One way to get rid of these pollutants is by using catalysts that oxidize them. The challenge is keeping these catalysts working well over time. A team of researchers looked into this issue using a
