Sharma was taking part in an Instagram Live session with Australian opener David Warner recently, where he was questioned about his hat-trick.

Arti Singh remembered her first letter to mother on the occasion of Mothers' Day

A simple approach exploits quantum properties to justify the dependence on γ4 of the total synchrotron emitted power. It also clarifies some apparent puzzles and brings to light the underlying, multiple relativistic phenomena.

The transmission of the optical components of the Bernina branch of the Aramis beamline at SwissFEL has been measured with an X-ray gas monitor from DESY and compared with a PSI gas detector upstream of the optical components. The transmission efficiencies of the Mo, Si and SiC mirror coatings of the Aramis beamline and the various other in-beam components were evaluated and compared with theoretical calculations, showing an agreement of 6% or better in all cases. The experiment has also shown the efficacy of the high-harmonic rejection mirrors at the Bernina branch of the Aramis beamline at SwissFEL, and characterized the transmission efficiency of the on-line spectrometer in the Aramis beamline. The theoretical transmission of the mirror coatings match the experimental data to within 7%. The accuracy of these measurements was checked against a radiative bolometer from a Japanese collaboration and found to agree to a level of 4% or better. Further comparisons with a diamond detector from a US-based inter-institute collaboration demonstrated a good agreement for the attenuator settings of the beamline.

Multilayer monochromator devices are commonly used at (imaging) beamlines of synchrotron facilities to shape the X-ray beam to relatively small bandwidth and high intensity. However, stripe artefacts are often observed and can deteriorate the image quality. Although the intensity distribution of these artefacts has been described in the literature, their spectral distribution is currently unknown. To assess the spatio-spectral properties of the monochromated X-ray beam, the direct beam has been measured for the first time using a hyperspectral X-ray detector. The results show a large number of spectral features with different spatial distributions for a [Ru, B4C] strip monochromator, associated primarily with the higher-order harmonics of the undulator and monochromator. It is found that their relative contributions are sufficiently low to avoid an influence on the imaging data. The [V, B4C] strip suppresses these high-order harmonics even more than the former, yet at the cost of reduced efficiency.

The X-ray diffraction/X-ray fluorescence instrument CheMin on the Curiosity rover is a shoebox-sized device using transmission geometry and an energy-discriminating CCD detector. The instrument has returned the first X-ray diffraction data for soil and drilled samples from Mars outcrops, revealing a suite of primary basaltic minerals, amorphous components and varied hydrous alteration products including phyllosilicates.

Biggest tremor on record at Little Plumpton site forces halt to fracking in Lancashire  Lancashire Evening Post

UK's only active fracking site near Blackpool records largest ever earth tremor as homeowners complain of windows shaking  iNews

Did the quake shake you? Earth tremor felt in Shropshire  shropshirestar.com

Largest tremor yet detected at Lancashire fracking site  ITV News

Somerset earthquake: Homes shaken by 3.2 magnitude tremor  BBC News

Did the earth move for you? British Geological Survey has asked if Cumbrians felt an earth tremor last week  News & Star

The title pull–push chromophores, 2-[4-(di­methyl­amino)­benzyl­idene]-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione, C18H15NO2 (ID[1]) and (E)-2-{3-[4-(di­methyl­amino)­phen­yl]allyl­idene}-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione, C20H17NO2 (ID[2]), have donor–π-bridge–acceptor structures. The mol­ecule with the short π-bridge, ID[1], is almost planar while for the mol­ecule with a longer bridge, ID[2], is less planar. The benzene ring is inclined to the mean plane of the 2,3-di­hydro-1H-indene unit by 3.19 (4)° in ID[1] and 13.06 (8)° in ID[2]. The structures of three polymorphs of compound ID[1] have been reported: the α-polymorph [space group P21/c; Magomedova & Zvonkova (1978). Kristallografiya, 23, 281–288], the β-polymorph [space group P21/c; Magomedova & Zvonkova (1980). Kristallografiya, 25 1183–1187] and the γ-polymorph [space group Pna21; Magomedova, Neigauz, Zvonkova & Novakovskaya (1980). Kristallografiya, 25, 400–402]. The mol­ecular packing in ID[1] studied here is centrosymmetric (space group P21/c) and corresponds to the β-polymorph structure. The mol­ecular packing in ID[2] is non-centrosymmetric (space group P21), which suggests potential NLO properties for this crystalline material. In both compounds, there is short intra­molecular C—H⋯O contact present, enclosing an S(7) ring motif. In the crystal of ID[1], mol­ecules are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π inter­actions, forming layers parallel to the bc plane. In the crystal of ID[2], mol­ecules are liked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form 21 helices propagating along the b-axis direction. The mol­ecules in the helix are linked by offset π–π inter­actions with, for example, a centroid–centroid distance of 3.9664 (13) Å (= b axis) separating the indene rings, and an offset of 1.869 Å. Spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements show the ability of these compounds to easily transfer electrons through the π-conjugated chain.

Temperature is a ubiquitous environmental variable used to explore materials structure, properties and reactivity. This article reports a new paradigm for variable-temperature measurements that varies the temperature continuously across a sample such that temperature is measured as a function of sample position and not time. The gradient approach offers advantages over conventional variable-temperature studies, in which temperature is scanned during a series measurement, in that it improves the efficiency with which a series of temperatures can be probed and it allows the sample evolution at multiple temperatures to be measured in parallel to resolve kinetic and thermodynamic effects. Applied to treat samples at a continuum of temperatures prior to measurements at ambient temperature, the gradient approach enables parametric studies of recovered systems, eliminating temperature-dependent structural and chemical variations to simplify interpretation of the data. The implementation of spatially resolved variable-temperature measurements presented here is based on a gradient-heater design that uses a 3D-printed ceramic template to guide the variable pitch of the wire in a resistively heated wire-wound heater element. The configuration of the gradient heater was refined on the basis of thermal modelling. Applications of the gradient heater to quantify thermal-expansion behaviour, to map metastable polymorphs recovered to ambient temperature, and to monitor the time- and temperature-dependent phase evolution in a complex solid-state reaction are demonstrated.

Instrumentation for time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering measurements with sub-millisecond time resolution, based on Gähler's TISANE (time-involved small-angle neutron experiments) concept, is in operation at NIST's Center for Neutron Research. This implementation of the technique includes novel electronics for synchronizing the neutron pulses from high-speed counter-rotating choppers with a periodic stimulus applied to a sample. Instrumentation details are described along with measurements demonstrating the utility of the technique for elucidating the reorientation dynamics of anisometric magnetic particles.

A tandem-double-slit optical system was constructed to evaluate the practical beam emittance of undulator radiation. The optical system was a combination of an upstream slit (S1) and downstream slit (S2) aligned on the optical axis with an appropriate separation. The intensity distribution after the double slits, I(x1, x2), was measured by scanning S1 and S2 in the horizontal direction. Coordinates having 1/sqrt e intensity were extracted from I(x1, x2), whose contour provided the standard deviation ellipse in the x1–x2 space. I(x1, x2) was converted to the corresponding distribution in the phase space, I(x1, x1'). The horizontal beam emittance was evaluated to be 3.1 nm rad, which was larger than the value of 2.4 nm rad estimated by using ray-tracing. It was found that the increase was mainly due to an increase in beam divergence rather than size.

Strain tensor measurements are important for understanding elastic and plastic deformation, but full bulk strain tensor measurement techniques are still lacking, in particular for dynamic loading. Here, such a methodology is reported, combining imaging-based strain field mapping and simultaneous X-ray diffraction for four typical loading modes: one-dimensional strain/stress compression/tension. Strain field mapping resolves two in-plane principal strains, and X-ray diffraction analysis yields volumetric strain, and thus the out-of-plane principal strain. This methodology is validated against direct molecular dynamics simulations on nanocrystalline tantalum. This methodology can be implemented with simultaneous X-ray diffraction and digital image correlation in synchrotron radiation or free-electron laser experiments.

A gas- and vapour-pressure control system synchronized with the continuous data acquisition of millisecond high-resolution powder diffraction measurements was developed to study structural change processes in gas storage and reaction materials such as metal organic framework compounds, zeolite and layered double hydroxide. The apparatus, which can be set up on beamline BL02B2 at SPring-8, mainly comprises a pressure control system of gases and vapour, a gas cell for a capillary sample, and six one-dimensional solid-state (MYTHEN) detectors. The pressure control system can be remotely controlled via developed software connected to a diffraction measurement system and can be operated in the closed gas and vapour line system. By using the temperature-control system on the sample, high-resolution powder diffraction data can be obtained under gas and vapour pressures ranging from 1 Pa to 130 kPa in temperatures ranging from 30 to 1473 K. This system enables one to perform automatic and high-throughput in situ X-ray powder diffraction experiments even at extremely low pressures. Furthermore, this developed system is useful for studying crystal structures during the adsorption/desorption processes, as acquired by millisecond and continuous powder diffraction measurements. The acquisition of diffraction data can be synchronized with the control of the pressure with a high frame rate of up to 100 Hz. In situ and time-resolved powder diffraction measurements are demonstrated for nanoporous Cu coordination polymer in various gas and vapour atmospheres.

Double-sided Fresnel zone plates are diffractive lenses used for high-resolution hard X-ray microscopy. The double-sided structures have significantly higher aspect ratios compared with single-sided components and hence enable more efficient imaging. The zone plates discussed in this paper are fabricated on each side of a thin support membrane, and the alignment of the zone plates with respect to each other is critical. Here, a simple and reliable way of quantifying misalignments by recording efficiency maps and measuring the absolute diffraction efficiency of the zone plates as a function of tilting angle in two directions is presented. The measurements are performed in a setup based on a tungsten-anode microfocus X-ray tube, providing an X-ray energy of 8.4 keV through differential measurements with a Cu and an Ni filter. This study investigates the sources of the misalignments and concludes that they can be avoided by decreasing the structure heights on both sides of the membrane and by pre-programming size differences between the front- and back-side zone plates.

This article describes a high-efficiency experimental configuration for a self-referenced lattice comparator with a `brush beam' of synchrotron radiation from a bending magnet and two linear position-sensitive photon-counting-type X-ray detectors. The efficiency is more than ten times greater compared with the `pencil-beam' configuration and a pair of zero-dimensional detectors. A solution for correcting the systematic deviation of d-spacing measurements caused by the horizontal non-uniformity of the brush beam is provided. Also, the use of photon-counting-type one-dimensional detectors not only improves the spatial resolution of the measurements remarkably but can also adjust the sample's attitude angles easily.

Errors in the article by Opara, Martiel, Arnold, Braun, Stahlberg, Makita, David & Padeste [J. Appl. Cryst. (2017), 50, 909–918] are corrected.

The residual strain distribution has been measured as a function of depth in both top coat and bond coat in as-received and heat-treated air plasma sprayed thermal barrier coating samples. High-energy synchrotron X-ray beams were used in transmission to produce full Debye–Scherrer rings whose non-circular aspect ratio gave the in-plane and out-of-plane strains far more efficiently than the sin2ψ method. The residual strain in the bond coat is found to be tensile and the strain in the β phase of the as-received sample was measured. The residual strains observed in the top coat were generally compressive (increasing towards the interface), with two kinds of nonlinear trend. These was a `jump' feature near the interface, and in some cases there was another `jump' feature near the surface. It is shown how these trend differences can be correlated to cracks in the coating.

A historical tool for crystallographic analysis is provided by the Hilton net, which can be used for manually surveying the crystal lattice as it is manifested by the Kikuchi bands in a gnomonic projection. For a quantitative analysis using the Hilton net, the projection centre as the relative position of the signal source with respect to the detector plane needs to be known. Interplanar angles are accessible with a precision and accuracy which is estimated to be ≤0.3°. Angles between any directions, e.g. zone axes, are directly readable. Finally, for the rare case of an unknown projection-centre position, its determination is demonstrated by adapting an old approach developed for photogrammetric applications. It requires the indexing of four zone axes [uvw]i in a backscattered Kikuchi diffraction pattern of a known phase collected under comparable geometric conditions.

In order to improve the instrumental accessibility of neutron diffraction techniques, many emerging compact neutron sources and in-house neutron diffractometers are being developed, even though the precision level of neutron diffraction experiments performed on such instruments was thought to be incomparable with that of large-scale neutron facilities. As a challenging project, the RIKEN accelerator-driven compact neutron source (RANS) was employed here to establish the technical environment for texture measurements, and the recalculated pole figures and orientation distribution functions of an interstitial-free steel sheet obtained from RANS were compared with the results from another two neutron diffractometers well established for texture measurement. These quantitative comparisons revealed that the precise neutron diffraction texture measurement at RANS has been realized successfully, and the fine region division of the neutron detector panel is invaluable for improving the stereographic resolution of texture measurements. Moreover, through selectively using the parts of the obtained neutron diffraction patterns that exhibit good statistics, the Rietveld texture analysis improves the reliability of the texture measurement to a certain extent. These technical research results may accelerate the development of other easily accessible techniques for evaluation of engineering materials using compact neutron sources, and also help to improve the data-collection efficiency for various time-resolved scattering experiments at large-scale neutron facilities.

An energy resolution of <10 µeV for the measurement of phonon energy change is achieved with the inelastic neutron spin echo technique on a conventional neutron triple-axis spectrometer.

The sin2ψ and cosα methods are compared via diffracting-grain identification from electron backscatter diffraction maps. Artificial textures created by the X-ray diffraction measurements are plotted and X-ray elastic constants of the diffracting-grain sets are computed.

This paper reports on the two-scale fractal structure of chromatin organization in the nucleus of the HeLa cell.

A new approach to variable-temperature measurements is presented, where the sample temperature changes continuously as a function of position.

Instrumentation for sub-millisecond time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering measurements at NIST is described and applied to the reorientation dynamics of elongated hematite nanoparticles.

The diffraction response of a single crystal to electric field measured by X-ray diffraction by angles close to π. Such schemes allow one to determine with high (~ 10–5–10–6) accuracy the relative changes in the lattice constant.

White, who was a student at Columbian College from Accomack County, Va., died of pneumonia and complications from a mitral heart defect. When his coffin was unearthed, his identity was a deep mystery.

The post Remains of William Taylor White (1837-1852) donated to Smithsonian with his coffin and clothing appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The results show mergers of two dense stellar remnants are the likely cause of many of the supernovae that have been used to measure the accelerated expansion of the universe.

The post Mergers of dense stellar remnants are likely trigger for many supernovae appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Astronomers are piecing together the reasons for these huge energy outputs, while sorting out why our own galaxy is so modest. The two primary suspects are bursts of star formation that produce many hot young stars, and processes associated with accretion of material onto a supermassive black hole at a galaxy's nucleus.

The post Luminosity of extreme galaxy most likely driven by star formation appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Recent work has added dozens of new measurements to star-forming regions in the Milky Way. These measurements have changed the map of the Milky Way, indicating our galaxy has four spiral arms, not two, as previously thought.

The post Very Large Baseline Array telescope is helping Smithsonian astronomers remap Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

In 1987, light from an exploding star in a neighboring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, reached Earth. Named Supernova 1987A, it was the closest supernova explosion witnessed in almost 400 years, allowing astronomers to study it in unprecedented detail as it evolves.

The post New supernova remnant lights up! appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

A baby boom is underway at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Two Guam rail (Gallirallus owstoni) chicks hatched March 3 and 4; they join six others in the Zoo’s collection—three of which live at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va.

The post Extremely rare Guam rails hatch at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

A new X-ray study of the remains of an exploded star indicates that the supernova that disrupted the massive star may have turned it inside out in the process.

The post Remains of exploded star indicate supernova turned it inside out appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The only explanation for such symmetry across these vast distances, explains Smithsonian anthropologist Dennis Stanford, is that the method of creating the points was handed down from person to person.

The post 3-D imaging adds remarkable new understanding of North America’s mysterious Clovis people appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have detected X-rays emitted by the debris from the explosion of supernova 1957D.

The post Astronomers discover X-rays from a young supernova remnant appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

The remora's sucker disc is "one of the most remarkable and most highly modified skeletal structures among vertebrates."

The post New study proves the remora’s sucker disc is in fact a highly modified dorsal fin / Q&A with taxonomist David Johnson appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Chris Crowe, keeper of the National Zoo’s 15 white-naped cranes, is well acquainted with the strong attachments these graceful Asian birds form with their mates.

The post With no credit to Cupid, white-naped crane couples remain faithful for life appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

New data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory suggest a highly distorted supernova remnant (shown here) may contain the most recent black hole formed in the Milky Way galaxy.

The post Highly distorted supernova remnant seen by Chandra X-ray Observatory appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Douglas Owsley, the division head for physical anthropology at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, presented today a forensic analysis of 17th-century human remains […]

The post Forensic analysis of 17th-century human remains at Jamestown, Va., reveals evidence of survival cannibalism appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Rooting through the garbage for a late-night snack or stealing food from the cat’s bowl, the suburban raccoon is a nocturnal, intelligent animal. Yet life […]

The post Suburban raccoons more social yet dominance behavior remains that of a solitary animal appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Scientists from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have just named and described the Spectacular Guyane False-form beetle, or Guyanemorpha spectabilis, from Guyane (French Guiana). […]

The post Remarkably large and colorful new beetle discovered in French Guiana appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

A newly released study focusing on an extinct species, the Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis), has revealed just how evolutionarily unique its only two living […]

The post Too valuable to lose: Extinct relative reveals rarity of last two remaining monk seal species appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

A new study of microorganisms living on the skin and in the intestines of North America vultures (black and turkey vultures) has turned up a […]

The post Vultures remarkably tolerant to deadly bacteria, study reveals appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Cassiopeia A, or Cas A for short, is one of the most well studied supernova remnants in our galaxy. But it still holds major surprises.  […]

The post 3-D Map of Supernova Remnant Reveals Frothy Interior appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Studies show that on average, the weight of cremated remains for men is about 7.13 pounds (plus or minus 1.2 pounds) and for women, 4.9 […]

The post Hi-Tech Analysis Cracks Curious Case of Contaminated Cremains appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

Tiny Anolis lizards preserved since the Miocene in amber are giving scientists a true appreciation of the meaning of community stability. Dating back some 15 […]

The post Trapped in Amber: Ancient fossils reveal remarkable stability of Caribbean lizard communities appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.