Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
What do ants and light rays have in common when they pass through lenses?
Light and foraging ants seem totally unrelated, but they have one thing in common: They travel along time-reducing paths. According to Fermat's principle about the refraction of a ray of...
Elucidation of nanostructures in practical heterogeneous catalysts
Scientists from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and University of Torino (UNITO) have cooperatively clarified the nanostructure of the heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst by means of combined synchrotron...
Physicists measure a short-lived radioactive molecule for first time
Researchers at MIT and elsewhere have combined the power of a super collider with techniques of laser spectroscopy to precisely measure a short-lived radioactive molecule, radium monofluoride, for the first time. Precision studies...
Watch: Billie Eilish protests body shaming in short film
Billie Eilish released "Not My Responsibility," a short film that shows her undressing as she challenges body shamers and her haters.
'Nature's antifreeze' provides formula for more durable concrete
Secrets to cementing the sustainability of our future infrastructure may come from nature, such as proteins that keep plants and animals from freezing in extremely cold conditions. CU Boulder researchers...
Physicists measure a short-lived radioactive molecule for first time
Researchers at MIT and elsewhere have combined the power of a super collider with techniques of laser spectroscopy to precisely measure a short-lived radioactive molecule, radium monofluoride, for the first...
Sony tried to build the perfect camera for YouTubers
The puff on top prevents wind noise from hitting the microphones. It's typically called a "dead cat." (Sony/)There’s a decent chance your favorite vlogger or YouTuber uses a Sony camera. The company has...
Kavli Foundation announces 2020 prizes for nanoscience and neuroscience
Scientists honored for invention of corrective lenses for electron microscopy and discoveries related to sense of touch
Scientists propose novel electrode for efficient artificial synthesis of ammonia
Ammonia (NH3) is an important chemical in the industry and agriculture as well as an emerging energy carrier with large hydrogen content.
A new scheme for satellite-based quantum-secure time transfer
Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have recently introduced a new satellite-based quantum-secure time transfer (QSTT) protocol that could enable more secure communications between different satellites...
Forests have higher thermal buffer ability than non-forests
The contrasting structure and energy partitioning of different vegetation types moderate canopy surface temperature, and thus vegetation types may differ in their buffer ability toward temperature fluctuations. To better understand...
Portable car jump starters that’ll get you out of a tight spot
Backup juice for your car. (Jan Baborák via Unsplash/)There’s no sinking feeling quite like the one that comes when you return to your parked car to find the lights still on and...
Researchers trigger enzymes with light
Enzymes are the central drivers for biochemical metabolic processes in every living cell, enabling reactions to take place efficiently. It is this ability that makes them useful as catalysts in...
New type of coupled electronic-structural waves discovered in magnetite
An international team of scientists uncovered exotic quantum properties hidden in magnetite, the oldest magnetic material known to mankind. The study reveals the existence of low-energy waves that indicate the...
AI identifies change in microstructure in aging materials
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have taken a step forward in the design of future materials with improved performance by analyzing its microstructure using AI.
Simulations explain detonation properties in TATB
Two Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have discovered a new mechanism for ignition of high explosives that explains the unusual detonation properties of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB).
Quantum simulators for gauge theories
To simulate in a laboratory what happens in particle accelerators has been an ambitious goal in the study of the fundamental forces of nature pursued by high-energy physicists for many...
Christina Chang’s inventions are building a more sustainable world
This is one in a series of profiles showcasing some of Harvard’s stellar graduates. As a kid, Christina Chang was already a mini-sustainability activist. She recycled and reused. She turned lights off in...
Winds spread PFAS pollution far from a manufacturing facility
Concerns about environmental and health risks of some fluorinated carbon compounds used to make non-stick coatings and fire-fighting foams have prompted manufacturers to develop substitutes, but these replacements are increasingly...
Christina Chang’s inventions are building a more sustainable world
This is one in a series of profiles showcasing some of Harvard’s stellar graduates. As a kid, Christina Chang was already a mini-sustainability activist. She recycled and reused. She turned lights off in...
Designing a flexible material to protect buildings, military personnel
Stealth technology, the idea of reducing the ability of the enemy to detect an object, has driven advances in military research for decades. Today, aircraft, naval ships and submarines, missiles...
Return of the Blob: Surprise link found to edge turbulence in fusion plasma
Blobs can wreak havoc in plasma required for fusion reactions. This bubble-like turbulence swells up at the edge of fusion plasmas and drains heat from the edge, limiting the efficiency...
Study reveals substantial quantities of tyre particles contaminating rivers and ocean
A major UK government-funded research study suggests particles released from vehicle tyres could be a significant and previously largely unrecorded source of microplastics in the marine environment.
On This Day, May 27: Patent issued for Scotch tape
On May 27, 1930, Richard Gurley Drew received a patent for his adhesive tape, which was later manufactured by 3M as Scotch tape.
Electrical fields can throw a curveball
Researchers have discovered a phenomenon that could be harnessed to control the movement of tiny particles floating in suspension. This approach, which requires simply applying an external electric field, may...
'The pandemic has forced an end to the affair': Coronavirus secrets
Hidden shampoo, faculty meetings from the bathroom and other pandemic confessions from readers.
A new law in laser physics could make eye surgery simpler
Revisiting simple soliton lasers and their relationship to light dispersion has allowed scientists to ramp up their power. They hope these quartic-soliton lasers could have uses in eye and heart...
Controlling artificial cilia with magnetic fields and light
Researchers have made artificial cilia, or hair-like structures, that can bend into new shapes in response to a magnetic field, then return to their original shape when exposed to the...