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Just Add Water – Stanford Researchers Have Discovered a Simple and Eco-Friendly Way To Make Ammonia

Lead Image: Ammonia is a colorless, pungent gas with the chemical formula NH3. It is a naturally occurring compound that plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle and is used as a building block in the production of fertilizers, plastics, and other chemicals. It is also used as a refrigerant and cleaning agent. Stanford researchers have found an environmentally friendly method of producing ammonia using small droplets of water and nitrogen sourced from the air. Ammonia (NH3) serves as the foundation for the creation of chemical fertilizers used for agricultural crops. For over 100 years, the global production of…

NASA’s OPERA: Revolutionizing Earth Observation Through Satellite Synergy

A drought-stricken Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in the U.S., is captured here in 2014 by the Landsat 8 satellite. Bleached rock along the edges shows the reservoir’s shoreline when at capacity. NASA’s OPERA project brings together multiple space missions to track such water and land changes. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory image by Robert Simmon using Landsat data from USGS Merging data from multiple satellites, OPERA can help government agencies, disaster responders, and the public access data about natural and human impacts to the land. The OPERA (Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis) project, managed by NASA’s…

Capturing the Meaning of Moments: The Science of Selfies and Why People Include Themselves in Photos

Lead Image: A recent study provides insights into people’s motivations for including themselves in photos. Published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, the research discovered that first-person photos, offering the scene from the individual’s viewpoint, best represent the physical experience of an event. However, third-person images, such as selfies, more effectively convey the deeper significance of the event. The study, which included six experiments involving 2,113 participants, challenged the notion that people primarily post selfies on platforms like Instagram for self-promotion. It suggested that the perspective of the photo aligns with the individuals’ intent, whether to capture the…

Appetite-Control Capsule: Ingestible Electroceutical Tames Hunger Hormones

Lead Image: Researchers have developed an ingestible capsule called FLASH (Fluid-wicking Active Stimulation and Hormone modulation) that can electronically stimulate the hunger-regulating hormone ghrelin in pigs. Inspired by the fluid-wicking skin of the Australian thorny devil lizard, the capsule emits electronic signals and moves through the body, eventually being excreted. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of ingestible electroceuticals for treating gastrointestinal, neuropsychiatric, and metabolic disorders. The team plans to continue researching for human application and explore treatment options for eating disorders and metabolic diseases. Credit: Giancarlo Traverso (GT Reel Productions) The non-invasive FLASH system, inspired by lizard skin, electronically…

Energy, Emissions, and Electric Vehicle Battery Range Savings – The Power of Recycled Aluminium

The microstructure within an aluminum trapezoid shows highly refined and uniform grain size, key to achieving a strong and reliable product. Credit: Image courtesy of Nicole Overman; enhancement by Cortland Johnson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory The new manufacturing process results in the creation of high-strength aluminium vehicle components that are both cost-effective and more eco-friendly. The automotive industry, specifically for electric vehicles, is pioneering an innovative process for collecting and transforming scrap aluminium into new vehicle parts. The DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, in partnership with top mobility technology firm Magna, has just revealed a new manufacturing method that…