Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have discovered a way to enhance the light-absorption and light-emission qualities of quantum dots: a kind of semiconductor crystal developed to convert photons, or light particles, into energy. Their research focused on optimizing…
Continue ReadingTrillionth of a Second Shutter Speed Camera Snaps Chaos in Action
To take a picture, the best digital cameras on the market open their shutter for around one four-thousandths of a second. To snapshot atomic activity, you’d need a shutter that clicks a lot faster. With that in mind, scientists unveiled…
Continue ReadingEarth’s magnetic North Pole is shifting toward Russia
The Earth’s magnetic North Pole is currently moving toward Russia in a way that British scientists have not seen before. Scientists have been tracking the magnetic North Pole for centuries, telling the British newspaper The Times that it had moved…
Continue ReadingThe Deadliest Snake on Every Continent in the World
Snakes are one of the earth’s creatures you either love or hate. Some are fascinated with their behavior and movements, while others run in fear at the sight (or sound). Regardless of your opinion on these reptiles, some species are…
Continue ReadingThere’s a Ticking Mercury Bomb in the Arctic. Scientists Are Racing to Defuse It.
Permafrost is a vital feature of the Earth’s coldest climates. While some can be found in the south, permafrost covers roughly 25 percent of exposed land surface in the Northern hemisphere. Its key feature, as its name suggests, is that it’s…
Continue ReadingNew giant pandas to arrive at Smithsonian’s National Zoo by the end of the year
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington said a new pair of giant pandas are expected to arrive by the end of the year. “We’re thrilled to announce the next chapter of our breeding and conservation partnership…
Continue ReadingA mega-raptor emerges from footprint fossils
Thanks to their reign of terror in “Jurassic Park,” Velociraptors are infamous prehistoric predators. The sickle-clawed killing machines familiar to moviegoers, though, are far removed from their scientific counterparts – and not just because the fictional ones lack feathers. In…
Continue ReadingScientists discover 50 new deep-sea species near Easter Island
Over 50 brand-new species have been discovered lurking on an ocean ridge in the Pacific. These new species were discovered alongside over 100 other species of crabs, corals, sea urchins, squid, fish, corals, mollusks, sea stars, glass sponges and squat…
Continue ReadingHow to recognize the most common form of skin cancer
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, but it can be easy to miss or mistake for another skin issue. Doctors often discover the cancer during a routine skin check, said Dr. Melissa Piliang, chair of…
Continue ReadingWhat is an atmospheric river?
An atmospheric river is poised to open the floodgates, with torrential rains and gusty winds expected to thrash the West Coast starting Wednesday. California is expected to bear the brunt of the storms as the sudden onslaught of moisture could…
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