A new composition of germanosilicate glass created by adding zinc oxide has properties good for lens applications, according to Penn State researchers. This marks the discovery of a novel glass family. The researchers invented a new family of zinc germanosilicate glass that has a high refractive index comparable to that of pure germania glass. The samples also showed high transparency, good…
LIGO Supercomputer Upgrade Will Speed Up Groundbreaking Astrophysics Research
In 2016, an international team of scientists found definitive evidence—tiny ripples in space known as gravitational waves—to support one of the last remaining untested predictions of Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The team used the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), which has since made several gravitational wave discoveries. Each discovery was possible in part because…
To Catch a Poacher: GIS, Drones Can Improve Elephant Conservation
Applying a suite of geographical information system (GIS) tools can improve monitoring for elephant poaching, according to Penn State researchers. Investigating Tsavo, a region in southwest Kenya that is home to that country’s largest elephant population, the researchers tried to identify methods that local conservation groups could use to reduce poaching. They sought to understand…
In a Connected World, Privacy Becomes a Group Effort
As the world grows more social and connects more online, privacy management is becoming more collaborative, according to Penn State researchers. “This is a paradigm shift, in a lot of ways, because most people think of privacy as being individualistic, but privacy is no longer just about the individual, it’s also a collaborative and coordinated process,” said…
NASA selects Penn State to Lead Next-Generation Planet Finder
A Penn State-led research group has been selected by NASA’s Astrophysics Division to build a $10-million, cutting-edge instrument to detect planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. The team, led by Suvrath Mahadevan, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State University, was selected after an intense national competition. When completed in 2019, the…
Record-Breaking Ultraviolet Winds Discovered Near Black Hole
The fastest winds ever seen at ultraviolet wavelengths have been discovered near a supermassive black hole by a research team that includes a Penn State University astronomer. “This new ultrafast wind surprised us when it appeared at ultraviolet wavelengths, indicating it is racing away from the ravenous black hole at unprecedented speeds — almost like…
Some Assembly Required to Boost Robot Ratings
Robot makers may want to follow Ikea’s strategy for customer satisfaction and give people a chance to partially assemble their new robots to ease acceptance of the devices, according to Penn State researchers. Just like the way fans of the Swedish furniture manufacturer derive a sense of fulfillment when they help assemble their own furnishings,…
Mysterious Radio Signals From Space Discovered To Be A Much Better Test Of Einstein’s General Relativity Theory
A new way to test one of the basic principles underlying Einstein’s theory of General Relativity using brief blasts of rare radio signals from space called Fast Radio Bursts is ten times, to one-hundred times better than previous testing methods that used gamma-ray bursts, according to a paper just published in the journal Physical Review Letters.…