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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 31, 2020:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Physics news
 | New evidence for quantum fluctuations near a quantum critical point in a superconductorAmong all the curious states of matter that can coexist in a quantum material, jostling for preeminence as temperature, electron density and other factors change, some scientists think a particularly weird juxtaposition exists at a single intersection of factors, called the quantum critical point or QCP. |
 | Slippery superfluids push jets to breaking pointA unique type of helium that can flow without being affected by friction has helped a KAUST team better understand the transformation of rapidly moving liquids into tiny droplets. |
 | Tiny circuits, long distances: Smaller light processing devices for fiber-optic communicationResearchers at Michigan Tech have mapped a noise-reducing magneto-optical response that occurs in fiber-optic communications, opening the door for new materials technologies. |
 | New theory hints at more efficient way to develop quantum algorithmsIn 2019, Google claimed it was the first to demonstrate a quantum computer performing a calculation beyond the abilities of today's most powerful supercomputers. |
 | True holographic movies are within graspHolographic movies, like the one R2D2 projected of Princess Leia in "Star Wars: A New Hope," have long been the province of science fiction, but for most of us, the extent of our experience with holograms may be the dime-sized stamps on our passports and credit cards. By using 'metasurface' materials that can manipulate light in ways that natural materials cannot, researchers reckon they have finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel for creating true holographic movies. |
 | Demonstrating the dynamics of electron-light interaction originating from first principleWith the highest possible spatial resolution of less than a millionth of a millimeter, electron microscopes make it possible to study the properties of materials at the atomic level and thus demonstrate the realm of quantum mechanics. Quantum-physical fundamentals can be studied particularly well by the interactions between electrons and photons. Excited with laser light, for example, the energy, mass or velocity of the electrons changes. |
Astronomy and Space news
 | Molecular outflow identified in the galaxy NGC 1482Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers from Japan have probed a nearby starburst galaxy known as NGC 1482. They detected a molecular gas outflow that could be essential to improving the understanding of the galactic wind in NGC 1482. The finding is detailed in a paper published August 20 on arXiv.org. |
 | Scientists reveal complete physical scenario of sympathetic eruption of two solar filamentsSolar filaments are large magnetic structures confining cool and dense plasma suspended in the hot and tenuous corona. |
 | Microlensing measurement of a quasar's accretion diskAn active galactic nucleus (AGN) is a supermassive black hole residing at the core of a galaxy that is accreting material. The accretion occurs in the vicinity of the hot torus around the nucleus, and it can generate rapidly moving jets of charged particles that emit bright, variable radiation as material ccelertes as it falls inward. Quasars are perhaps the best-known luminous AGN, and their nuclei are relatively unobscured by dust. Quasar nuclear regions and disks are too far away and much too small to be resolved with telescopes and astronomers trying to understand the behavior of quasars, AGN, and accretion disks are forced to infer the physics from indirect measurements. Flux variability measurements offer one such avenue. |
 | Does a black hole fire up cold heart of the Phoenix?Radio astronomers have detected jets of hot gas blasted out by a black hole in the galaxy at the heart of the Phoenix Galaxy Cluster, located 5.9 billion light-years away in the constellation Phoenix. This is an important result for understanding the coevolution of galaxies, gas, and black holes in galaxy clusters. |
 | Researchers develop dustbuster for the moonA team led by the University of Colorado Boulder is pioneering a new solution to the problem of spring cleaning on the moon: Why not zap away the grime using a beam of electrons? |
 | Image: Hubble views edge of stellar blastWhile appearing as a delicate and light veil draped across the sky, this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope actually depicts a small section of the Cygnus supernova blast wave, located around 2,400 light-years away. The name of the supernova remnant comes from its position in the northern constellation of Cygnus (the Swan), where it covers an area 36 times larger than the full moon. |
 | NASA selects proposals for new space environment missionsNASA has selected five proposals for concept studies of missions to help improve understanding of the dynamics of the sun and the constantly changing space environment with which it interacts around Earth. The information will improve understanding about the universe as well as offer key information to help protect astronauts, satellites, and communications signals—such as GPS—in space. |
 | Researchers design continuous-scanning sky brightness monitor in 2.5- to 5-μm bandA research group led by Prof. Wang Jian from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed a continuous-scanning near-infrared sky brightness monitor (CNISBM). It can measure 2.5 to 5 μm infrared sky brightness based on an InSb detector and a linear variable filter. |
Technology news
 | Elon Musk wants YOU to build a brain-computer interfaceElon Musk isn't content with electric cars, shooting people into orbit, populating Mars and building underground tunnels to solve traffic problems. He also wants to get inside your brain. |
 | New AI approach investigates multiple gene regulatory mechanismsA research team from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has developed a new Gene Expression Embedding frameworK (GEEK), which uses artificial intelligence technologies in machine learning and natural language processing to study the regulation of gene expression. In contrast to previous works that focused on one or a few regulatory mechanisms at a time, this new framework can study the joint effects of many mechanisms simultaneously. A research article describing this new study has been published in the renowned international science journal Nature Machine Intelligence. The framework may help study the causes of cancers and treatment methods. |
 | Team's flexible micro-LEDs may reshape future of wearable technologyUniversity of Texas at Dallas researchers and their international colleagues have developed a method to create micro LEDs that can be folded, twisted, cut and stuck to different surfaces. |
 | Scientists create batteries that could make it easier to explore MarsElectrifying research by Clemson University scientists could lead to the creation of lighter, faster-charging batteries suitable for powering a spacesuit, or even a Mars rover. The research, which was funded by NASA, was recently reported in an article titled "Three-Dimensional Si Anodes with Fast Diffusion, High Capacity, High Rate Capability, and Long Cycle Life" that appeared in the American Chemical Society journal Applied Materials and Interfaces. Its authors include Shailendra Chiluwal, Nawraj Sapkota, Apparao M. Rao and Ramakrishna Podila, all of whom are part of the Clemson Nanomaterials Institute (CNI). |
 | New Zealand startup eyes global wireless electrical gridA startup energy company in New Zealand believes it can power the world with a wireless electric transmission system that can bring power to hard-to-reach areas and do so at lower cost than with traditional power lines. |
 | Tesla targeted in failed ransomware extortion schemeIn a tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk solved a mystery involving a 27-year-old Russian, an insider at an unnamed corporation and an alleged million-dollar payment offered to help trigger a ransomware extortion attack on the firm. |
 | Apple blocks Fortnite maker from game developer toolsApple said Friday it has followed through on its decision to block the maker of Fortnite from developer tools needed to update games on its mobile devices. |
 | Virus lockdowns give major boost to e-commerceWhile large traditional retailers announce big lay-offs because of the pandemic, sometimes shedding thousands of staff, coronavirus lockdowns have in contrast given e-commerce a major boost. |
 | What does Walmart see in TikTok? Millions of young shoppersWalmart may be the world's largest retailer but it has mostly failed in its efforts to break Amazon's online dominance. |
 | Problem at US telecoms giant causes global internet outagesA bug involving US-based telecoms giant CenturyLink briefly interrupted internet service in several global markets Sunday, affecting popular streaming services, gaming platforms and webcasts of European soccer, the company and specialized media reported. |
 | Robot takes contact-free measurements of patients' vital signsDuring the current coronavirus pandemic, one of the riskiest parts of a health care worker's job is assessing people who have symptoms of COVID-19. Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital hope to reduce that risk by using robots to remotely measure patients' vital signs. |
 | Scientists develop low-temperature resisting aqueous zinc-based batteriesAqueous zinc-based batteries (ZBBs) are widely used for portable and grid-scale applications due to their high safety, low cost and high energy density. |
 | Amazon gets US approval to fly delivery dronesAmazon on Monday said a freshly-issued Federal Aviation Administration certificate has cleared the launch pad for drone deliveries in the US. |
 | Google finds a new way to serve ads to kids on upcoming Lenovo tabletsGoogle announced a new kids initiative with videos, books and apps on upcoming Lenovo tablets, but parents beware—the content will be full of ads. |
 | Chinese airlines' losses mitigated by domestic travelChina's biggest airline on Saturday reported less severe losses in the second quarter as domestic travel picks up with the coronavirus outbreak brought largely under control. |
 | Zoom alternatives: More suggestions for videoconferencing appsThis was the week when millions of people all screamed in horror: "I can't connect to Zoom." |
 | United says it will drop widely scorned ticket-change feesUnited Airlines says it listened to customers and is dropping an unpopular $200 fee for most people who change a ticket for travel within the United States. |
 | Forget $1,000 smartphones—here's three great ones for under $400 from Apple, Google and SamsungThe most recent top of the line smartphone release from Samsung has an opening list price of $1,300 and most reviews, mine included, could be summed up in a few words. Great phone, but so expensive? Now, during a pandemic, when millions have been thrown out of work? |
 | Chinese govt complicates TikTok sale ordered by US govtThe Chinese government is complicating the U.S.-government-ordered sale of U.S. TikTok assets. |
 | With many federal employees working from home, cybersecurity experts look to beef up defensesIn the age of social distancing, many employees have found their workplace shift from an office cubicle to a living room couch. |
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