Computers

Multi-disciplinary researchers at The University of Manchester have helped develop a powerful physics-based tool to map the pace of language development and human innovation over thousands of years -- even stretching into pre-history before records were kept. Tobias Galla, a professor in theoretical physics, and Dr Ricardo Bermúdez-Otero, a specialist in historical linguistics, … [Read more...] about Pace of prehistoric human innovation could be revealed by ‘linguistic thermometer’: Physics expert joins forces with linguists to better model the past

Massive earthquakes are, fortunately, rare events. But that scarcity of information blinds us in some ways to their risks, especially when it comes to determining the risk for a specific location or structure. "We haven't observed most of the possible events that could cause large damage," explained Kevin Milner, a computer scientist and seismology researcher at the Southern … [Read more...] about Simulating 800,000 years of California earthquake history to pinpoint risks: Supercomputer-powered framework developed by SCEC provides new view of seismic hazard

In the next years, increasing use of electronic devices in consumables and new technologies for the internet of things will increase the amount of electronic scrap. To save resources and minimize waste volumes, an eco-friendlier production and more sustainable lifecycle will be needed. Scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now been the first to produce … [Read more...] about Biodegradable displays for sustainable electronics: Researchers develop biodegradable printed display

Toddlers with high daily touchscreen use are quicker to look at objects when they appear and are less able to resist distraction compared to toddlers with no or low touchscreen use -- according to new research from Birkbeck, University of London, King's College London and University of Bath. The research team say the findings are important for the growing debate around the role … [Read more...] about Toddlers who use touchscreens may be more distractible

Greater sports participation among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is linked with better academic performance, according to new research from the University of South Australia. Conducted in partnership with the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney, the world-first study found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who played … [Read more...] about Sport may fast-track numeracy skills for Indigenous children

Researchers perform experiments that can add or subtract a single quantum of sound -- with surprising results when applied to noisy sound fields. Quantum mechanics tells us that physical objects can have both wave and particle properties. For instance, a single particle -- or quantum -- of light is known as a photon, and, in a similar fashion, a single quantum of sound is known … [Read more...] about Adding or subtracting single quanta of sound

Epilepsy, a neurological disease that causes recurring seizures with a wide array of effects, impacts approximately 50 million people across the world. This condition has been recognized for a long time -- written records of epileptic symptoms date all the way back to 4000 B.C.E. But despite this long history of knowledge and treatment, the exact processes that occur in the … [Read more...] about Domino effects and synchrony in seizure initiation

Although electric vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions attract many drivers, the lack of confidence in charging services deters others. Building a reliable network of charging stations is difficult in part because it's challenging to aggregate data from independent station operators. But now, researchers reporting January 22 in the journal Patterns have developed an AI … [Read more...] about AI trained to read electric vehicle charging station reviews to find infrastructure gaps

Real-world materials are usually messier than the idealized scenarios found in textbooks. Imperfections can add complications and even limit a material's usefulness. To get around this, scientists routinely strive to remove defects and dirt entirely, pushing materials closer to perfection. Now, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have turned this … [Read more...] about Defects may help scientists understand the exotic physics of topology

A team of researchers from the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences at the University of Tsukuba filmed the ultrafast motion of electrons with sub-nanoscale spatial resolution. This work provides a powerful tool for studying the operation of semiconductor devices, which can lead to more efficient electronic devices. The ability to construct ever smaller and faster smartphones … [Read more...] about Electrons caught in the act