Embroidery of electrons by an ion. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Embroidery of electrons by ion

26.03.2010

The process of autoionization became known not yesterday. Its essence is that if an electron is knocked out of a molecule using X-rays, then after a few femtoseconds another electron will be released.

Clarity in the details of this process was made by German physicists from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics and the Fritz Haber Institute. They irradiated small pieces of ice with soft x-rays from a synchrotron source and received electron pairs.

It turned out that the second electron does not fly out from the same water molecule that was excited by the absorption of an X-ray photon. Having emitted the first electron, it removes the remaining excitation in a very specific way - passing it on to another molecule, and that one loses its electron. The transfer of excitation occurs in a non-contact way. This phenomenon is called "intermolecular Coulomb decay".

“The appearance of a cascade of slow electrons during irradiation makes it possible to better understand why high-energy rays are detrimental to living beings. After all, as it was established several years ago, once in an organic molecule, such an electron is able to cut it like scissors,” says Uwe Hergenhan, a participant in the work.

<< Back: A hungry microbe will not touch 27.03.2010

>> Forward: MusicDNA - successor to MP3 25.03.2010

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Artificial leather for touch emulation 15.04.2024

In a modern technology world where distance is becoming increasingly commonplace, maintaining connection and a sense of closeness is important. Recent developments in artificial skin by German scientists from Saarland University represent a new era in virtual interactions. German researchers from Saarland University have developed ultra-thin films that can transmit the sensation of touch over a distance. This cutting-edge technology provides new opportunities for virtual communication, especially for those who find themselves far from their loved ones. The ultra-thin films developed by the researchers, just 50 micrometers thick, can be integrated into textiles and worn like a second skin. These films act as sensors that recognize tactile signals from mom or dad, and as actuators that transmit these movements to the baby. Parents' touch to the fabric activates sensors that react to pressure and deform the ultra-thin film. This ... >>

Petgugu Global cat litter 15.04.2024

Taking care of pets can often be a challenge, especially when it comes to keeping your home clean. A new interesting solution from the Petgugu Global startup has been presented, which will make life easier for cat owners and help them keep their home perfectly clean and tidy. Startup Petgugu Global has unveiled a unique cat toilet that can automatically flush feces, keeping your home clean and fresh. This innovative device is equipped with various smart sensors that monitor your pet's toilet activity and activate to automatically clean after use. The device connects to the sewer system and ensures efficient waste removal without the need for intervention from the owner. Additionally, the toilet has a large flushable storage capacity, making it ideal for multi-cat households. The Petgugu cat litter bowl is designed for use with water-soluble litters and offers a range of additional ... >>

The attractiveness of caring men 14.04.2024

The stereotype that women prefer "bad boys" has long been widespread. However, recent research conducted by British scientists from Monash University offers a new perspective on this issue. They looked at how women responded to men's emotional responsibility and willingness to help others. The study's findings could change our understanding of what makes men attractive to women. A study conducted by scientists from Monash University leads to new findings about men's attractiveness to women. In the experiment, women were shown photographs of men with brief stories about their behavior in various situations, including their reaction to an encounter with a homeless person. Some of the men ignored the homeless man, while others helped him, such as buying him food. A study found that men who showed empathy and kindness were more attractive to women compared to men who showed empathy and kindness. ... >>

Electronic helmet for truck drivers 14.04.2024

Road safety, especially for drivers of heavy construction equipment, is a top priority for engineers and scientists. In light of this, the German Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Strength and System Reliability has introduced a new product - an electronic helmet, which is designed to protect drivers from serious injury when driving construction vehicles. A new electronic helmet developed by a team of engineers from the Fraunhofer Institute opens up new perspectives for the safety of truck and construction equipment drivers. The device is capable of monitoring the level of shaking in the car cabin and warning the driver of possible danger. The basis of the helmet's operation is a built-in piezoelectric sensor, which generates electricity during physical deformation. This mechanism allows the device to respond to intense vibrations typical of construction equipment. When the level of deformation exceeds safe values, an alarm system is activated on the helmet, ... >>

Antivitamins instead of antibiotics 13.04.2024

The problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is becoming increasingly serious, posing a threat to the effective treatment of infections. In light of this, researchers are looking for new ways to combat superbugs. One of the promising directions is the use of antivitamins that can have an antibacterial effect. Antivitamins, although known as the opposite of vitamins, have proven to be a promising tool in the fight against bacterial antibiotic resistance. A study conducted by scientists from the University of Göttingen in Germany confirmed their potential in creating new drugs to combat dangerous infections. With the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, there is a need to find alternative treatments. Antivitamins are molecules similar to vitamins, but capable of inhibiting bacterial activity without harm to the human body. At the moment, science knows only three antivitamins: rose ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Loneliness damages the brain 19.11.2018

It is known that prolonged loneliness has a bad effect on the psyche: anxiety worsens in a person, depression develops (which can lead to psychosis), memory and other cognitive skills deteriorate. It would be quite logical to assume that such strong changes in the psyche are accompanied by changes in the neural circuits of the brain.

To find out what happens in a lonely brain, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Pittsburgh first raised lab mice in large shared cages where they could communicate with each other, play with toys together, run through mazes, etc., and then, when rodents became adults, they were transplanted into single cages. A month later, according to a report at the annual conference of the Neuroscience Society, neurons in mice decreased in volume - by an average of 20% - and remained in this form for another three months, while the mice were kept separately from each other.

On the other hand, during a month of solitary confinement on neurons, there were more so-called dendritic spines - special protrusions on the cell membrane, where the neural process-dendrite is ready to form a connection-synapse with another neuron. Usually, an increase in dendritic spines is a positive sign: it means that the brain is adapting to new information and is ready to build new neural circuits. However, in this case, the increase in the number of spines should apparently be understood in the sense that the brain tries to maintain the status quo in the absence of social stimuli.

However, after a month of loneliness in mouse neurons, the number of spines dropped. What's more, the levels of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, were reduced in the brain. This protein stimulates the growth of neurons, which means that since there is less of it, conductive processes grow poorly in neurons alone, therefore, there are fewer opportunities for the emergence of new neural circuits. Finally, compared to the mice that still lived in company, the solitary mice had more damage to the DNA of nerve cells.

In the future, the authors of the work want to test how all these changes affect behavior. Again, we once wrote that social isolation stimulates the activity of a gene in mice that increases aggressiveness and anxiety, but here we need more details linking shades of behavior with changes in neurons. In addition, neuronal contraction has only been observed in the sensory cortex, which processes signals from the sense organs, and in the motor cortex, which controls movement, and it would be interesting to see what happens in other areas of the brain. Finally, further experiments may give us some therapeutic agent with which to treat the brain damaged by loneliness.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews