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SciencePhysics & Chemistry‘Extremely Brilliant’ X-Ray Beams Are About to Revolutionize How We See Into Matter
A new way of producing powerful X-ray beams—the brightest on Earth—is now making it possible to create 3D images of matter at astounding resolutions. This “Extremely Brilliant Source” officially opened last month at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France, and scientists are already using it to study the coronavirus behind covid-19. These X-ray beams … Continued
By Rose Pastore -
Tech NewsGadgetsNo, the OnePlus 8 Pro Does Not Have X-Ray Vision
Back when I reviewed the OnePlus 8 Pro, I said the phone’s built-in color filter camera felt gimmicky considering it only offered four different filter effects. But as it turns out, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s color filter camera is way more gimmicky that I had thought now that people are claiming it has X-Ray vision. … Continued
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SciencePhysics & ChemistryThe Fate of a Dark Matter Theory Hinges on These Unidentified X-Rays
Despite decades of searching, no one has yet cracked the mystery of dark matter. One hypothesis to explain it relies on strange x-rays emanating from distant galaxies and galaxy clusters, but a new paper appears to rule out dark matter as producing these mysterious x-rays. The way distant objects in the universe interact implies that … Continued
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ScienceSpace & SpaceflightOur Favorite Images From Chandra X-Ray Telescope’s 20 Years in Space
If the Hubble Space Telescope set the standard for what a jaw-dropping space picture should look like, then the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, launched 20 years ago this week, perfected it. The Chandra X-Ray Observatory went to orbit onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999. Unlike Hubble, which measures ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared radiation … Continued
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ScienceHealthThe World’s First Full-Color, 3D X-rays Are Freaking Me Out
A high-contrast, black-and-white image of your bones is an effective tool for spotting fractures or breaks. But after 120+ years, x-ray imaging is getting a remarkable update with 3D, full-color images that reveal far more than just the bones inside you. These images will improve what a doctor can diagnose without cutting you open. The … Continued
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ScienceHealth
Don’t Ride Through X-Ray Machines
X-ray radiation can mutate cells and cause cancer, but that was a small risk for a commuter who didn’t want to part with her handbag at a southern China train station during the Lunar New Year. An online video showing horrifying images of a skeleton wearing high heels on all fours riding a conveyer belt … Continued
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Tech News
Radio Brightening Around Monumental Neutron Star Collision Tells a Confusing Story
August’s landmark observation of two colliding neutron stars was incredible for its immediate impact on astronomy. It answered questions, like “where did the universe’s gold come from” and “how fast is the universe expanding?” But it left behind mysteries, too. Like, “what the hell is going on with those gamma rays?” Even with the first … Continued
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Tech News
Let’s Break Down What That Monumental Neutron Star Collision Actually Told Us
Astronomy has entered a new era, one where light and gravity both play a role in understanding the Universe’s craziest phenomena. On August 17, 2017, over 70 observatories around (and above) the world, including ones like LIGO and the Hubble Space Telescope, all spotted a flash of energy. This light came in many different flavors, … Continued
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ScienceBiologyRobotic X-Rays Make Racehorses’ Lives Much Easier
In order to CT scan a horse, the 1,000-pound animal has to be anesthetized and carefully maneuvered into a machine. The procedure is even more difficult than it sounds. A newly developed technique uses a pair of precisely-controlled robots to perform the scan, so that the animal can be awake and standing up while it’s … Continued
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Tech News
Scientists Think They’ve Figured Out Why Van Gogh’s Sunflowers Are Fading
The vibrant colors of many of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous paintings—including his Sunflower series—have been fading over the last 100 years. Now a team of Italian scientists has come up with an explanation as to why the lead chromate dyes favored by the artist when mixing his pigments degrade so much under light. They … Continued
