Phys.org news
Phys.org / Optimizing avalanche photodiode design for photodetection in the ultraviolet wavelength
Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) are highly sensitive light detectors, capable of detecting single photons. Photons of certain wavelengths, when absorbed by photodiodes, generate electron-hole pairs in a process ...
Phys.org / Tiny, overlooked ponds in the Andes may play an outsized role in climate change
Small mountain ponds high in the tropical Andes may be playing an outsized role in global climate change, according to new research led by scientists at the University of North Carolina.
Phys.org / Extremely massive stars forged oldest star clusters in the universe, model suggests
An international team led by ICREA researcher Mark Gieles, from the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), has developed a model that reveals ...
Phys.org / Lost or leading the way? Rare birds may signal shifting migration routes
On a 2009 hike in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona, a group of birders heard an otherworldly, ethereal bird song floating, flute-like, through the canyon. The hikers identified the singer as a brown-backed solitaire, ...
Phys.org / Infrared sensors gain sensitivity with ultra-thin lens for fire and threat monitoring
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive method for detecting hotspots in the environment, such as bushfires or military threats, by harnessing the focusing power of meta-optical systems.
Phys.org / Triangle weaver spider's web uses spring-loaded mechanism to move faster than muscle
Different species of spiders produce different silks that serve different purposes, from floating on air to cradling eggs. The triangle weaver spider, Hyptiotes cavatus, weaves and holds a three-sided web under tension, which ...
Phys.org / Heat wave predictions months in advance with machine learning
With heat waves among Europe's deadliest climate hazards, a team of scientists led by CMCC has developed a prediction system capable of providing helpful information four to seven weeks before summer, which gives valuable ...
Phys.org / Black Sea nitrous oxide conundrum: Why most N₂O produced by microbes never reaches the surface
Microorganisms in the Black Sea can produce large amounts of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). However, this gas never reaches the atmosphere because it is swiftly consumed by other microorganisms, which convert ...
Phys.org / Unexpectedly high concentrations of forever chemicals found in dead sea otters
A paper published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, finds high quantities of toxic "forever" chemicals in sea otters recovered off the Pacific Ocean. The paper is titled "Concentrations of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl ...
Phys.org / Most long-lived contrails found to form within natural ice clouds, not clear skies
Contrails in the blue sky remind us of daily air traffic—and its impact on the climate. However, the effect of contrails on the climate is still only partially understood. It is assumed that they have a predominantly warming ...
Phys.org / Thin-film strontium titanate sets electro-optic performance record at cryogenic temperatures
At 4 degrees Kelvin, most electro-optic materials falter. Nanoelectronics R&D center imec has now successfully engineered thin-film strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) that delivers record electro-optic performance with low optical ...
Phys.org / Rethinking the insurance industry in a warming world
As global warming intensifies and extreme weather events become more frequent, insurance systems worldwide are under pressure. In the United States, for instance, rising flood and hurricane damages have driven major reforms ...
