The study of radioactive decay is fundamental to understanding the properties of atomic nuclei. When these unstable nuclei lose energy through radiation, they undergo various decay modes. Researching nuclear decay patterns provides crucial insights into the structure of nuclei located beyond the stability valley – an area containing stable nuclei on the nuclear chart.

Physicists from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with their collaborators, have published a groundbreaking study in Physical Review Letters. On July 10th, they reported the first observation and spectroscopy of aluminium-20, an unprecedentedly unstable isotope that decays via the rare three-proton emission process.

According to Associate Professor Xiaodong Xu from IMP, who led the research team, “Aluminium-20 holds the distinction as the lightest aluminium isotope discovered thus far. Situated beyond the proton drip line, it boasts seven fewer neutrons than its stable counterpart.” The researchers employed an in-flight decay technique at the Fragment Separator of the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany to measure angular correlations between aluminium-20’s decay products and uncover this previously unknown nucleus.

By conducting a detailed analysis of these angular correlations, the researchers discovered that the aluminium-20 ground state initially undergoes proton emission to reach an intermediate magnesium-19 state. Subsequently, magnesium-19 decays via simultaneous two-proton emission. This scenario presents a unique case where the one-proton decay daughter nucleus (magnesium-19) itself is a radioactive nucleus capable of emitting two protons.

The study also revealed that aluminium-20’s ground-state decay energy significantly differs from predictions based on isospin symmetry, hinting at possible isospin symmetry breaking in aluminium-20 and its mirror partner neon-20. Theoretical calculations support this finding by predicting spin-parity discrepancies between aluminium-20 and neon-20 ground states.

This research contributes to our understanding of proton-emission phenomena, shedding light on the structure and decay processes involved in nuclei located beyond the stability valley. To date, scientists have identified over 3,300 nuclides; however, only around 300 are stable and occur naturally, with the remainder being unstable and undergoing radioactive decay.

The discovery of exotic decay modes, such as single-proton radioactivity (observed in the 1970s), two-proton radioactivity (identified after entering the 21st century), and even rarer phenomena like three-, four-, and five-proton emission, has greatly expanded our knowledge of nuclear physics. This research was made possible through a collaborative effort involving institutions such as IMP, GSI, Fudan University, and more than a dozen others.

The work received support from the National Key R&D Program of China, the CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, among other funders.

A team of scientists at Linköping University in Sweden has made a groundbreaking discovery in the production of green hydrogen, a promising renewable energy source. By developing a new triple-layer material, they have supercharged the energy yield by an impressive 800%.

Hydrogen produced from water is becoming increasingly important as the world shifts away from fossil fuels. The EU plans to ban new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035, making electric motors more common in vehicles. However, heavy trucks, ships, and aircraft require alternative energy sources, where hydrogen comes into play.

The researchers have previously shown that cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) has beneficial properties for facilitating the reaction where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen. Now, they’ve further developed a combined material consisting of three layers: a layer of 3C-SiC, a layer of cobalt oxide, and a catalyst material that helps to split water.

The new material, known as Ni(OH)2/Co3O4/3C-SiC, has demonstrated eight times better performance than pure cubic silicon carbide for splitting water into hydrogen. When sunlight hits the material, electric charges are generated, which are then used to split water. By combining the three layers, the researchers have improved the ability to separate positive and negative charges, making the splitting of water more effective.

The distinction between “grey” and “green” hydrogen is crucial in this context. Almost all hydrogen present on the market is “grey” hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, with significant environmental consequences. In contrast, “green” hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity as a source of energy.

Linköping University researchers aim to utilize only solar energy to drive the photochemical reaction to produce “green” hydrogen. Currently, materials under development have an efficiency of between 1 and 3 per cent, but for commercialization, the target is 10% efficiency. The research team estimates that it may take around five to ten years to develop materials that reach this coveted limit.

The study has been funded by several organizations, including the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), the Olle Engkvists Stiftelse, the ÅForsk Foundation, the Carl Tryggers Stiftelse, and through the Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Advanced Functional Materials (AFM) at Linköping University.

This breakthrough has the potential to significantly impact the renewable energy landscape, making green hydrogen production more efficient and cost-effective. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of this technology, we can expect even more exciting developments in the future.

Rewritten Article:

In a breakthrough that’s straight out of science fiction, a team of engineers at Caltech has developed a real-life Transformer that can morph in mid-air, allowing it to smoothly transition from flying to rolling on the ground. This innovative technology has far-reaching implications for commercial delivery systems and robotic explorers, making it an exciting development in the field of robotics.

The new robot, dubbed ATMO (aerially transforming morphobot), uses four thrusters to fly but can transform into a ground-rolling configuration using a single motor that lifts its thrusters up or down. This unique design allows ATMO to change its shape and function seamlessly, enabling it to adapt to various environments and situations.

According to Ioannis Mandralis, the lead author of the research paper published in Communications Engineering, “We designed and built a new robotic system inspired by nature – by the way that animals can use their bodies in different ways to achieve different types of locomotion.” For example, birds fly and then change their body morphology to slow themselves down and avoid obstacles. Mandralis adds, “Having the ability to transform in the air unlocks a lot of possibilities for improved autonomy and robustness.”

However, mid-air transformation also poses challenges due to complex aerodynamic forces that come into play both because the robot is close to the ground and because it is changing its shape as it morphs. Mory Gharib, the Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Medical Engineering, notes that “Even though it seems simple when you watch a bird land and then run, in reality this is a problem that the aerospace industry has been struggling to deal with for probably more than 50 years.”

To better understand these complex aerodynamic forces, the researchers ran tests in Caltech’s drone lab using load cell experiments and smoke visualization. They fed those insights into the algorithm behind a new control system they created for ATMO, which uses advanced model predictive control to continuously predict how the system will behave in the near future and adjust its actions accordingly.

“The control algorithm is the biggest innovation in this paper,” Mandralis says. “Quadrotors use particular controllers because of how their thrusters are placed and how they fly. Here we introduce a dynamic system that hasn’t been studied before. As soon as the robot starts morphing, you get different dynamic couplings – different forces interacting with one another. And the control system has to be able to respond quickly to all of that.”

The potential applications of ATMO are vast and exciting, from commercial delivery systems to robotic explorers. With its unique ability to transform in mid-air and adapt to various environments, this technology has the potential to revolutionize the field of robotics and beyond.