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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 4, 2021:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Physics news
 | First glimpse of polarons forming in a promising next-gen energy materialPolarons are fleeting distortions in a material's atomic lattice that form around a moving electron in a few trillionths of a second, then quickly disappear. As ephemeral as they are, they affect a material's behavior, and may even be the reason that solar cells made with lead hybrid perovskites achieve extraordinarily high efficiencies in the lab. |
 | New microscopy technique images live cells with 7 times greater sensitivityExperts in optical physics have developed a new way to see inside living cells in greater detail using existing microscopy technology and without needing to add stains or fluorescent dyes. |
 | Comb of a lifetime: A new method for fluorescence microscopyFluorescence microscopy is widely used in biochemistry and life sciences because it allows scientists to directly observe cells and certain compounds in and around them. Fluorescent molecules absorb light within a specific wavelength range and then re-emit it at the longer wavelength range. However, the major limitation of conventional fluorescence microscopy techniques is that the results are very difficult to evaluate quantitatively; fluorescence intensity is significantly affected by both experimental conditions and the concentration of the fluorescent substance. Now, a new study by scientists from Japan is set to revolutionize the field of fluorescence lifetime microscopy. |
 | Novel approach shows promise for overcoming the bottleneck of blue emission in displays using OLEDsUsing a new combination of emitter molecules, researchers in Japan have demonstrated the promise of a novel approach to overcome a major challenge facing displays using organic light-emitting diodes: a blue light source matching the excellent performance of red and green ones. |
 | Scrambled supersolids: Researchers discover a soft form of a solidSupersolids are materials that are fluid and solid at the same time. Physicists from Innsbruck and Geneva have for the first time investigated what happens when such a state is brought out of balance. They discovered a soft form of a solid of great interest for science. As the researchers led by Francesca Ferlaino and Thierry Giamarchi report in Nature Physics, they were also able to reverse the process and restore supersolidity. |
 | Trapping light without back reflectionsResearchers demonstrate a new technique for suppressing back reflections of light—better signal quality for sensing and information technology. |
 | Convex to concave: More metasurface moiré results in wide-range lensThe odd, wavy pattern that results from viewing certain phone or computer screens through polarized glasses has led researchers to take a step toward thinner, lighter-weight lenses. Called moiré, the pattern is made by laying one material with opaque and translucent parts at an angle over another material of similar contrast. |
 | Scientists discover how mother-of-pearl self-assembles into a perfect structureIn a new study published in Nature Physics, researchers from the B CUBE—Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TU Dresden and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble describe, for the first time, that structural defects in self-assembling nacre attract and cancel each other out, eventually leading to a perfect periodic structure. |
 | Experiment to precisely measure electrons moves forwardA new probe of the humble electron may provide insight into the forces at work inside the heart of matter. Now, the MOLLER experiment at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is one step closer to carrying out an experiment to gain that new insight. The experiment has just received a designation of Critical Decision 1, or CD-1, from the DOE, which is a greenlight to move forward in design and prototyping of equipment. |
Astronomy and Space news
 | BISTRO explores complex magnetic field structure of Cat's Paw NebulaAn international team of astronomers has investigated a nearby emission nebula and star-forming region dubbed the Cat's Paw Nebula as part of the B-field In STar-forming Region Observations (BISTRO) survey. Results of this study, presented in a paper published December 24 on arXiv.org, provide essential information about the structure of the object's complex magnetic field. |
 | 3-D simulation helps revealing accretion process in progenitor of tycho's supernovaDr. JIAO Chengliang from Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, collaborating with Prof. XUE Li's group from Xiamen University, performed three-dimensional (3-D) simulations of the accretion flow in the progenitor of Tycho's supernova, which helps identifying the physical properties of the accretion process. |
 | Researchers reveal effects of magnetic activity on mass transfer of binaryAlgol-type binary systems consist of a B-A-F type main-sequence primary component and an F-G-K type giant or subgiant secondary component. According to the explanation of the Algol paradox, the initially more massive component evolves to fill the Roche lobes first and transfer material to another component, which results in the inversion of mass ratio and the formation of the Algol-type systems. Hence, mass transfer plays an important role in the evolution of this kind of binary system. |
 | The uncertainties in measuring cosmic expansionNinety years after Edwin Hubble discovered the systematic motions of galaxies and George Lemaitre explained them as cosmic expansion from a point using Einstein's equations of relativity, observational cosmology today is facing a challenge. Values deduced from the two primary methodologies—the properties of galaxies and the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR)—disagree with each other at roughly the ten percent level, yet each one is precise at the level of a few percent. Uncorrected observational errors are possible, but estimates suggest they are too small to account for the differences. As a result, no consistent and precise value of the expansion—Hubble's constant—has been found. The problem is not so much the value itself—the age of the universe will not change by much either way—rather, it is that something unexplained is clearly going on connected with the fact that the CMBR data arise from a vastly different epoch of cosmic time than do the galaxy data. Perhaps new physics is needed. |
 | Astronomers agree: Universe is nearly 14 billion years oldFrom an observatory high above Chile's Atacama Desert, astronomers have taken a new look at the oldest light in the universe. |
 | Layers upon layers of rock in Candor Chasma on MarsIn many ways, Mars is the planet that is most similar to the Earth. The red world has polar ice caps, a nearly 24-hour rotation period (about 24 hours and 37 minutes), mountains, plains, dust storms, volcanoes, a population of robots, many of which are old and no longer work, and even a Grand Canyon of sorts. The "Grand Canyon" on Mars is actually far grander than any Arizonan gorge. Valles Marineris dwarfs the Grand Canyon of the southwestern U.S., spanning 4,000 km in length (the distance between L.A. and New York City), and dives 7 kilometers into the Martian crust (compared to a measly 2 km of depth seen in the Grand Canyon). Newly released photos from the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) reveal a stunning look at eroding cliff faces in Candor Chasma, a gigantic canyon that comprises a portion of the Valles Marineris system. |
 | Six space missions to look forward to in 2021Space exploration achieved several notable firsts in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, including commercial human spaceflight and returning samples of an asteroid to Earth. |
Technology news
 | Researchers isolate single artificial atoms in siliconSilicon has proved to be a highly valuable and reliable material for fabricating a variety of technologies, including quantum devices. In recent years, researchers have also been investigating the possible advantages of using individual artificial atoms to enhance the performance of silicon-based integrated quantum circuits. So far, however, single qubits with an optical interface have proved difficult to isolate in silicon. |
 | Using artificial intelligence to find new uses for existing medicationsScientists have developed a machine-learning method that crunches massive amounts of data to help determine which existing medications could improve outcomes in diseases for which they are not prescribed. |
 | A way to make zinc batteries rechargeableA team of researchers from China, Germany and the U.S. has developed a way to make zinc batteries rechargeable. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes how, by using a non-alkaline electrolyte, they created a battery that could operate using a two-electron zinc-oxygen-zinc peroxide process that is far more reversible than conventional designs. |
 | Tesla appears to have plenty of momentum after meteoric 2020After shares rocketed higher in 2020 on surging auto deliveries, Tesla enters 2021 with plenty of momentum even as its vision of taking electric cars mainstream remains a ways off. |
 | PSA and Fiat Chrysler close in on mega-mergerShareholders of carmakers PSA and Fiat Chrysler gave their blessing Monday to a merger that catapults the new company, "Stellantis," into fourth place globally as the auto industry races to make the transition to cleaner cars. |
 | DUAL takes AI to the next levelScientists at DGIST in Korea, and UC Irvine and UC San Diego in the US, have developed a computer architecture that processes unsupervised machine learning algorithms faster, while consuming significantly less energy than state-of-the-art graphics processing units. The key is processing data where it is stored in computer memory and in an all-digital format. The researchers presented the new architecture, called DUAL, at the 2020 53rd Annual IEEE/ACM International Symposium on Microarchitecture. |
 | Microscanner mirrors replace human visionIn autonomous vehicles, advanced technology takes the wheel, allowing passengers to sit back and enjoy the ride. Yet such systems have to meet stringent safety standards. For example, an autonomous vehicle must be able to recognize obstacles and other hazards—and apply the brakes in an emergency. Such a vehicle could be equipped with a new microscanner mirror from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS. This performs a 3-D scan of the vehicle surroundings to a range of over 200 meters. When integrated within a LiDAR system, it can obviate the need for human vision and thereby make a key contribution to the safety of autonomous driving. |
 | Visualization adds transparency to digital product developmentProduct development is becoming increasingly demanding. Quality requirements are rising; additionally, designers need to consider criteria such as sustainability and energy efficiency. Visualization software offers the potential to reveal the complex interaction between all the different parameters and features of the planned product. For this purpose, Fraunhofer researchers have developed an interactive tool that provides a reliable basis for making informed decisions about the design alternatives of a product. |
 | Are you willing to pay for email? How about podcasts? Here are our tech predictions for 2021It's that time of year where we make predictions about what to see from technology in 2021. |
 | Charging ahead for electric vehiclesRoads installed with wireless charging technology could become an integral feature of our cities in an electric vehicle future. |
 | Union at Google parent Alphabet seeks bigger role for workersEmployees at Google and other units of parent firm Alphabet announced the creation Monday of a union, aiming for a bigger role in company decisions in a move which steps up the activism brewing in Silicon Valley giants. |
 | A polarization-driven guide to making high-performance, versatile solar cellsImproving solar cell design is integral for improving energy consumption. Scientists have lately focused on making solar cells more efficient, flexible, and portable to enable their integration into everyday applications. Consequently, novel lightweight and flexible thin film solar cells have been developed. It is, however, not easy to combine efficiency with flexibility. For a material (usually a semiconductor) to be efficient, it must have a small 'band gap'—the energy required to excite charge carriers for electrical conduction—and should absorb and convert a large portion of sunlight into electricity. Till date, no such efficient absorber suitable for thin film solar cells has been developed. |
 | SolarWinds breach could reshape cybersecurity practicesAs investigations continued into the massive data breach linked to Austin-based software company SolarWinds, experts say the attack could lead to long-term changes in cybersecurity policies and procedures for government entities and private companies alike. |
 | Slack kicks off 2021 with a global outageSlack, the messaging service used by millions of people for work and school, suffered a global outage on Monday, the first day back for most people returning from the New Year's holiday. |
 | Samsung expected to unveil new Galaxy S21 smartphone on Jan. 14Ready to kick off 2021 with new Samsung smartphones? |
 | China telecom firms slide after New York delisting as oil giants fretShares in China's big three state-owned telecom companies slid in Hong Kong Monday during the first day of trading since the New York Stock Exchange announced it was delisting the firms. |
 | UK watchdog investigates Ryanair's 'jab & go' adBritain's advertising watchdog has launched an investigation into budget carrier Ryanair, after receiving 1,600 complaints about an ad that suggested consumers should "jab & go.'' |
 | Amazon's Bezos tops list of richest charitable gifts in 2020The world's richest person made the single-largest charitable contribution in 2020, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual list of top donations, a $10 billion gift that is intended to help fight climate change. |
 | Amazon surpasses Boeing as Washington state's biggest employerMove over, Boeing. Washington state is now Amazonia. |
 | Discovery+ streaming service goes live with new '90 Day' series, and shows from Chip and Joanna GainesAlong with the coming of a new year, there's another streaming service for your consideration: Discovery+. |
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