Science

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Large thermoelectric power from a combination of magnets and superconductors

Thermoelectric devices can cool materials by passing currents, or convert temperature differences into electric power. However, especially metallic structures have a very poor thermoelectric performance, and therefore most thermoelectrics are made of semiconductors. Now a group of researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, Aalto University (Finland), San Sebastian (Spain) and Oldenburg University (Germany) have shown how a proper combination of magnetic metals and superconductors could allow reaching very strong thermoelectric conversion efficiency.

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According to the newly published research, a very large thermoelectric effect can be created in a structure combining a ferromagnet (F) to a thin superconductor film (S) via an insulator (I), and where the superconductor is in the presence of a spin-splitting field due to the presence of a ferromagnetic insulator (FI) or a magnetic field (B).

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New Insight into an Emerging Genome-Editing Tool

Berkeley Researchers Show Expanded Role for Guide RNA in Cas9 Interactions with DNA

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The crystal structure of SpyCas9 features a nuclease domain lobe (red) and an alpha-helical lobe (gray) each with a nucleic acid binding cleft that becomes functionalized when Cas9 binds to guide RNA.

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Infrared Image of Saturn’s Rings

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NASA Spacecraft Take Aim At Nearby Supernova

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National Space Club Honors Kepler's Planet Hunters

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The Kepler-16 system is home to the first confirmed transiting circumbinary planet-- a planet that orbits two stars. Kepler-16b, is not unlike Luke Skywalker's home planet of 'Tatooine' in the Star Wars universe. However, Kepler-16b is cold, gaseous and not suitable for life.

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NASA Mars Orbiter Examines Dramatic New Crater

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A dramatic, fresh impact crater dominates this image taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on Nov. 19, 2013.

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Inner workings of a cellular nanomotor revealed

Our cells produce thousands of proteins, but more than one-third of these proteins can fulfill their function only after migrating to the outside of the cell. While it is known that protein migration occurs with the help of various ‘nanomotors' that push proteins out of the cell, little is known about their precise mechanical functioning. New research by Anastassios Economou (Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology - Rega Institute) and his team reveals the inner workings of one such nanomotor, called SecA, with new clarity.

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In this rendering of the SecA nanomotor, the two pistons (coloured cyan and light green) await the arrival of a protein. Cylinders, arrows and loops make up the nanomotor’s mechanical parts.

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Ballistic transport in graphene suggests new type of electronic device

Using electrons more like photons could provide the foundation for a new type of electronic device that would capitalize on the ability of graphene to carry electrons with almost no resistance even at room temperature - a property known as ballistic transport.

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This is a conceptual drawing of an electronic circuit comprised of interconnected graphene nanoribbons (black atoms) that are epitaxially grown on steps etched in silicon carbide (yellow atoms). Electrons (blue) travel ballistically along the ribbon and then from one ribbon to the next via the metal contacts. Electron flow is modulated by electrostatic gates.

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Sun Emits Mid-Level Solar Flare

The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, beginning at 11:57 p.m. EST on Feb. 3, 2014, and peaking at midnight EST. NASA released images of the flare as captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

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A mid-level solar flare erupted on the sun late on Feb. 3, 2014, peaking at midnight EST. This image, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, shows the bright flare near the center of the sun.

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New Animals on Display at Spitzer's Citizen Science Zoo

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A screen shot from the Milky Way Project illustrates how users are asked to catalog objects in our galaxy.