The Life Technology™ News Blog: 10/13/21

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of biomethane and hydrogen pathways in the European Union

A new life-cycle analysis of potentially low-greenhouse-gas options for producing hydrogen in Europe finds that only hydrogen produced using renewable electricity can be effectively zero-emission, and that hydrogen pathways involving fossil fuels, even with carbon capture and storage, have greenhouse-gas (GHG) intensity high enough to make it unlikely they can contribute to meeting the European Union's climate targets. The study, from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), also found that waste-based biomethane production pathways generally have negative GHG intensity, but are subject to significant uncertainties.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-life-cycle-greenhouse-gas-emissions-biomethane.html

Study asserts that assessments of parolees' risk should consider recidivism-free time

As efforts to reverse mass incarceration rise, so does the need to supervise more individuals in the community. Faced with heightened demand, corrections agencies increasingly use risk assessment to allocate supervision and treatment resources efficiently and improve public safety. A new study examined the time individuals have spent without being arrested or returning to prison, looking at the relation between recidivism-free time in a community and recidivism among individuals on parole supervision in Pennsylvania. The study concludes that those assessing parolees' risk should incorporate information about recidivism-free time.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-asserts-parolees-recidivism-free.html

Surface chemistry reveals corrosive secrets

One can easily see with the naked eye that leaving an old nail out in the rain causes rust. What does require the keen eyes and sensitive nose of microscopy and spectroscopy is observing how iron corrodes and forms new minerals, especially in water with a pinch of sodium and calcium.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-surface-chemistry-reveals-corrosive-secrets.html

Chemists' dye method holds promise for long-term data storage

In the digital age, every byte of data needs to go somewhere—and preferably stay there a long time. That last part is a major problem when it comes to data-storage systems, which typically last less than 20 years. A group of Harvard chemists is trying to solve the issue with an innovation that resembles tiny drops of ink.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-chemists-dye-method-long-term-storage.html

Improved fluorescent amino acids for cellular imaging

New research conducted by researchers in the lab of Penn's E. James Petersson in collaboration with Oregon State University and the University of Washington describes how proteins in living cells can be engineered to include synthetic fluorescent amino acids that are bright, long-lasting, and have properties that sense their environment. This work can help biologists study proteins more easily, with implications for understanding the mechanisms of complex neurological diseases. The results were published in Chemical Science with two associated studies published in eLife and Scientific Reports.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-fluorescent-amino-acids-cellular-imaging.html

Improved fluorescent amino acids for cellular imaging

Did a black hole eating a star generate a neutrino? Unlikely, new study shows

In October 2019, a high-energy neutrino slammed into Antarctica. The neutrino, which was remarkably hard to detect, peaked astronomers' interest: what could generate such a powerful particle?

Widely used chemical linked to 100,000 US deaths per year: study

Daily exposure to phthalates, a group of chemicals used in everything from plastic containers to makeup, may lead to approximately 100,000 deaths in older Americans annually, a study from New York University warned Tuesday.

Did a black hole eating a star generate a neutrino? Unlikely, new study shows

In October 2019, a high-energy neutrino slammed into Antarctica. The neutrino, which was remarkably hard to detect, peaked astronomers' interest: what could generate such a powerful particle?

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-black-hole-star-neutrino.html

Widely used chemical linked to 100,000 US deaths per year: study

Under-pressure New Zealand sets out carbon-zero plan

New Zealand put forward a raft of carbon-cutting plans Wednesday, ranging from reduced car usage to making ebikes more accessible to meet its target of becoming carbon-zero by 2050.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-under-pressure-zealand-carbon-zero.html

'Squid Game' becomes Netflix's biggest-ever launch hit

Dystopian South Korean drama "Squid Game" has become Netflix's most popular series launch ever, drawing 111 million fans since its debut less than four weeks ago, the streaming service said Tuesday.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-squid-game-netflix-biggest-ever.html

World's clean energy transition 'too slow': IEA

The global transition to clean energy is still far too slow to meet climate pledges and risks fuelling even greater price volatility, the International Energy Agency warned on Wednesday.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-world-energy-transition-iea.html

Apple cuts iPhone 13 output forecast on chip shortage: report

Apple is unlikely to meet production goals for its new iPhone before the holidays because of a global electronic chip shortage, a report said Tuesday.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-apple-iphone-output-chip-shortage.html

Climate change: England must 'adapt or die,' agency warns

England will be hit hard by floods like those that devastated Germany this summer if the country does not improve its defense against more extreme weather brought by climate change, a governmental agency said Wednesday.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-climate-england-die-agency.html

Court rejects fired physicist's intellectual freedom claim

Australia's highest court Wednesday dismissed an intellectual freedom claim by a university physicist who was fired in part over his public statements that scientists exaggerated damage to the Great Barrier Reef caused by climate change.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-court-physicist-intellectual-freedom.html

To oldly go: Shatner, 90, inspires with real-life space trip

As William Shatner prepares to be beamed up Wednesday for his first real-life spaceflight, and to become at 90 the oldest person ever to enter the final frontier, he's bringing out the awe in the small handful of people around a rural Texas spaceport.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-oldly-shatner-real-life-space.html

A widely accepted theory of Native American origins coming from Japan has been attacked in a new scientific study, which shows that the genetics and skeletal biology "simply does not match-up".

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-popular-theory-native-american-debunked.html

Popular theory of Native American origins debunked by genetics and skeletal biology

A widely accepted theory of Native American origins coming from Japan has been attacked in a new scientific study, which shows that the genetics and skeletal biology "simply does not match-up".