Size matters when it comes to atomic properties

A study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has yielded new answers to fundamental questions about the relationship between the size of an atom and its other properties, such as electronegativity and energy. The results pave the way for advances in future material development. For the first time, it is possible under certain conditions to devise exact equations for such relationships.

Researchers identify chemical processes as key to understanding landslides

Mass movements such as landslides and hill-slope debris flows cause billions of euros in economic damage around the world every year. Between 20 and 80 million euros are spent annually from the disaster fund to repair disaster damage in Austria, 15 to 50 percent of which is attributable to mud flows and landslides.

Engineers improve the technology of high-performance concrete casting in winter

At low temperatures, concrete tends to set unevenly, which can lead to a collapse. A team of engineers from RUDN University suggested using infrared light and adding silicon and ash to concrete to solve this issue. The technology can be used for cast-in-situ construction. The results of the study were published in the Fibers journal.

Perseverance rover captures the sounds of driving on Mars

NASA's newest rover recorded audio of itself crunching over the surface of the Red Planet, adding a whole new dimension to Mars exploration.

Key questions as EU watchdog rules on AstraZeneca

The EU's drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency, finds itself in the hot seat on Thursday when it will decide what to do about blood clot fears over the AstraZeneca coronavirus jab.

EU health agency to rule on troubled AstraZeneca jab

Europe's medical regulator is set to give its verdict on the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Thursday, following a chaotic few weeks that has seen nations suspend its use over blood clot fears.

AstraZeneca's Pascal Soriot: the man behind the vaccine

Pascal Soriot has led the charge to make AstraZeneca one of the first pharmaceutical companies in the world to produce a vaccine against COVID-19.

Japan to end virus emergency in Tokyo despite rebound fears

Japan on Thursday will approve ending a monthslong state of emergency in Tokyo set up to curb the spread of the coronavirus, despite concerns of a resurgence ahead of the spring party season and next week's Olympic torch relay.

Australia sees first population drop since World War I

Australia's population has declined for the first time in more than a century as pandemic-induced border closures stemmed the flow of overseas migrants, according to figures released Thursday.

For Madrid's trees, record snowfall leaves deep wounds

High among the treetops the sound of a chainsaw rings out and a huge branch comes crashing down as Madrid's forestry engineers move from tree to tree, repairing the damage from the record snowfall seen in January.

From poaching to avocados, Kenya's elephants face new threat

Just after dawn, Tolstoy lumbers into view. A wandering giant, with tusks almost scraping the earth, this great elephant has roamed beneath Mount Kilimanjaro for nearly 50 years.

US moves toward banning more Chinese telecoms carriers: FCC

Regulators have begun legal proceedings that could strip three Chinese state-owned telecommunications companies of their right to operate in the United States, officials said Wednesday, citing national security concerns.

US sends investigators to probe another Michigan Tesla crash

For the second time this week, the U.S. government's road safety agency is sending a team to investigate a Tesla crash in Michigan.

Survivor: Woman with COVID-19 gives birth, gets new lungs

A suburban Detroit woman infected with COVID-19 gave birth then underwent a double lung transplant just weeks later to save her life, doctors said Wednesday.

I got the COVID-19 vaccine. What can I safely do?

I got the COVID-19 vaccine. What can I safely do?

China summons tech giants over 'deep fakes', internet security

Chinese authorities on Thursday said they had summoned 11 tech companies including Tencent, Alibaba and TikTok owner ByteDance for talks on "deep fakes" and internet security, as regulators try to reel in the country's runaway digital sector.

Management researcher studies key predictors for college retention

The current outbreak of COVID-19 has raised many questions about the value of consideration of standardized testing through the admissions process. One of the many Coronavirus cancellations included a growing number of universities to waive SAT and ACT scores as an admissions requirement for 2022 applicants.

How to get customers to talk about you

Researchers from Arizona State University, New York University, and Northwestern University published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines how marketers can fuel positive WOM without using explicit incentives.

Women in cities less likely to have children

A new study in Behavioral Ecology finds that women are less likely to procreate in urban areas that have a higher percentage of females than males in the population.