EurekAlert! News by Subject: Chemistry & Physics

Chemistry & Physics

21-Sep-2021

Compact amplifier could revolutionize optical communication

Chalmers University of Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, present a unique optical amplifier that is expected to revolutionise both space and fiber communication. The new amplifier offers high performance, is compact enough to integrate into a chip just millimeters in size, and – crucially – does not generate excess noise.

Journal: Science Advances
Funder: Swedish Research Council, The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network Microcomb, Swedish Research Council

21-Sep-2021

Japanese Knotweed extract could cut cancer risk of processed meat

University of Reading
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists working on the PHYTOME project have developed processed red meat that includes added natural substitutes which reduces the carcinogenic compound nitrite added to preserve meats. The range of sausages and hams had a mixture of plants and fruits added to them which included rosemary, green tea, and resveratrol – an extract taken from Japanese Knotweed.

Journal: Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
Funder: FP7 Research for the Benefit of SMEs

21-Sep-2021

A new way to solve the ‘hardest of the hard’ computer problems

Ohio State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have found a way to make what is called reservoir computing work between 33 and a million times faster, with significantly fewer computing resources and less data input needed.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: , ,

21-Sep-2021

New AI tool developed by University of Liverpool researchers accelerates discovery of truly new materials

University of Liverpool
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have created a collaborative artificial intelligence tool that reduces the time and effort required to discover truly new materials, and has already led to the discovery of four new materials.

Journal: Nature Communications

21-Sep-2021

Rates of infectious disease linked to authoritarian attitudes and governance – study

University of Cambridge
Peer-Reviewed Publication

• US states with most authoritarian laws and public attitudes had pre-Covid infectious disease rates four times higher than least authoritarian states. • Cambridge psychologists replicated findings at a national level across 47 countries, and say this may be the “behavioural immune system” in action. • Researchers argue that a desire for “conformity and obedience” as a result of Covid-19 could boost authoritarianism in the wake of the pandemic.

Journal: Journal of Social and Political Psychology

20-Sep-2021

Spring 2020 arctic “ozone hole” likely caused by record-high north pacific sea surface temperatures

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists from the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics at Peking University, led by Prof. Yongyun Hu, found that that the Arctic “ozone hole” in spring 2020 was likely caused by record-high North Pacific sea surface temperatures.

Journal: Advances in Atmospheric Sciences

20-Sep-2021

Pioneering EEG test could dramatically increase early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

University of Bath
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have developed a two-minute passive-test, ‘Fastball EEG’, that measures people’s brain waves in response to a series of images and could help expand early dementia diagnosis. New academic research led by psychologists at the University of Bath published on World Alzheimer’s Day 2021 (Tuesday 21 September 2021).

Journal: Brain
Funder