Friday 16 February 2018

Why we have yet to find extraterrestrial life

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Are we alone in the universe? Few questions have captured the public imagination more than this. Yet to date we know of just one sample of life, that which exists here on Earth.
via Science Daily
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Precision experiments reveal gaps in van der Waals theory

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Scientists have used single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements to establish the electron density of TiS2. Given the broad range of applications for 2-D materials, this fundamental understanding is expected to have a wide-reaching influence on their uses, such as in topological insulators, electrode materials, catalysts, and charge-density-wave materials.
via Science Daily

Novel exciton interactions in carbon nanotubes

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Nanotechnology researchers studying small bundles of carbon nanotubes have discovered an optical signature showing excitons bound to a single nanotube are accompanied by excitons tunneling across closely interacting nanotubes.
via Science Daily

Hidden talents: Converting heat into electricity with pencil and paper

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Thermoelectric materials can use thermal differences to generate electricity. Now there is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way of producing them with the simplest of components: a normal pencil, photocopy paper, and conductive paint are sufficient to convert a temperature difference into electricity via the thermoelectric effect.
via Science Daily

Soft tissue fossil clues could help search for ancient life on Earth and other planets

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Fossils that preserve entire organisms (including both hard and soft body parts) are critical to our understanding of evolution and ancient life on Earth. However, these exceptional deposits are extremely rare. New research suggests that the mineralogy of the surrounding earth is key to conserving soft parts of organisms, and finding more exceptional fossils. The work could potentially support the Mars Rover Curiosity in its sample analysis, and speed up the search for traces of life on other planets.
via Science Daily
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