Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Growing metallic crystals in liquid metal
Imagine an alien world with oceans of liquid metal.
Shining a light on disordered and fractal systems
A University of Tsukuba research team uses terahertz-frequency light to probe the unusual behavior of disordered systems to discover that the anonymously large vibrations in lysozyme can be explained by...
New neutron source in Canada would spur innovation, medical treatments
Technological progress owes much to our scientific understanding of the materials we use to build the world around us, from longer-lasting cell-phone batteries to new medicines.
Researchers reveal guest-reaction-driven cage to conjoined twin-cage, mitosis-like host transformation
Guided by the induced-fit mechanism, guest-templated synthesis offers an important route toward otherwise inaccessible complicated host-guest complexes. In this case, guest molecules with specific sizes, shapes and electrostatic interactions are...
Tandem catalyst to enhance carbon dioxide electroreduction to methane
Carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) uses renewable electricity to convert carbon dioxide and water into fuels and chemicals, which is considered as an effective way to simultaneously realize carbon recycling...
Researchers develop non-precious alloy catalyst for cinnamaldehyde
Recently, scientists at the Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science developed a non-precious alloy catalyst with excellent catalytic activity, selectivity and stability for selective hydrogenation (SH)...
Q&A: The multiple benefits of a world without air conditioning
When most people think of cooling, they automatically imagine air conditioning, or cooling the air in a room. But there is a much more efficient way to cool people, using...
Physicists create a model to predict the properties of any molecule
A group of physicists led by Rashid Valiev, associate professor at TSU's Faculty of Physics, has created a model for calculating the photophysical characteristics of molecules—one that is applicable for...
Canada needs to build pipelines for oil and gas — but for hydrogen, too, clean energy advocates say
As the federal government puts the finishing touches on a national hydrogen strategy designed to kickstart the budding sector, some experts say one of the vital ingredients for the industry...
The future of biofuels in the dark
Algae could compete with petroleum as the fuel of the future if only the process of growing it was more efficient. Thanks to a fellowship from the Link Foundation, it...
Fantasy football: Hines, Mack among best Week 2 add/drops
Indianapolis Colts running backs Nyheim Hines and Marlon Mack are among UPI senior sports writer Alex Butler's top fantasy football players to add and drop, respectively, entering Week 2 of...
Predicting the slow death of lithium-ion batteries
A new model offers a way to predict the condition of a battery's internal systems in real-time with far more accuracy than existing tools. In electric cars, the technology could...
Rare molecule in Venus' atmosphere could be sign of life
Scientists have confirmed the presence of phosphine molecules, featuring hydrogen and phosphorus, inside Venusian clouds -- a possible signature of airborne, extra-terrestrial life.
These solar-powered smartwatches have seriously long battery lives
These Garmin and G-Shock timepieces will track your workouts and get a boost from the sun, too. (Garmin / G-Shock / Stan Horaczek /)Battery life is a crucial metric for smartwatches. The...
Physicists 'trick' photons into behaving like electrons using a 'synthetic' magnetic field
Scientists have discovered an elegant way of manipulating light using a 'synthetic' Lorentz force -- which in nature is responsible for many fascinating phenomena including the Aurora Borealis.
New method to design diamond lattices and other crystals from microscopic building blocks
Researchers describe a technique for using LEGO®-like elements at the scale of a few billionths of a meter. Further, they are able to cajole these design elements to self-assemble, with...
Researchers create morphing crystals powered by water evaporation
New study details the design of materials that enable clean and sustainable water evaporation energy that can be harvested and efficiently converted into motion with the potential to power future...
USAF Secretary Barbara Barrett unveils 'e' class of digitally- produced planes, weapons
Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett announced the "e" series designation of digitally engineered planes and satellites on Monday.
A magnetic field with an edge
A team of Indian and Japanese physicists have overturned the six-decade old notion that the giant magnetic field in a high intensity laser produced plasma evolves from the small, nanometre...
Reducing nitrogen with boron and beer
The industrial conversion of nitrogen to ammonium provides fertilizer for agriculture. Chemists have now achieved this conversion at room temperature and low pressure using only light elements.
Infinite chains of hydrogen atoms have surprising properties, including a metallic phase
An infinite chain of hydrogen atoms is just about the simplest bulk material imaginable -- a never-ending single-file line of protons surrounded by electrons. Yet a new computational study combining...
Infinite chains of hydrogen atoms have surprising properties, including a metallic phase
An infinite chain of hydrogen atoms is just about the simplest bulk material imaginable—a never-ending single-file line of protons surrounded by electrons. Yet a new computational study combining four cutting-edge...
On the road to conductors of the future
Superconducting wires can transport electricity without loss. This would allow for less power production, reducing both costs and greenhouse gasses. Unfortunately, extensive cooling stands in the way, because existing superconductors...
Physicists discover new magnetoelectric effect
A special material was found, which shows a surprising new effect: Its electrical properties can be controlled with a magnetic field. This effect works completely differently than usual. It can...
Physicists 'trick' photons into behaving like electrons using a 'synthetic' magnetic field
Scientists have discovered an elegant way of manipulating light using a 'synthetic' Lorentz force—which in nature is responsible for many fascinating phenomena including the Aurora Borealis.
New method to design diamond lattices and other crystals from microscopic building blocks
An impressive array of architectural forms can be produced from the popular interlocking building blocks known as LEGOS. All that is needed is a child's imagination to construct a virtually...
First fiber-optic nanotip electron gun enables easier nanoscale research
Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Nebraska have developed an easier way to generate electrons for nanoscale imaging and sensing, providing a...
On the road to conductors of the future
Superconducting wires can transport electricity without loss. This would allow for less power production, reducing both costs and greenhouse gasses. Unfortunately, extensive cooling stands in the way, because existing superconductors...