Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Valuable, rare, raw earth materials extracted from industrial waste stream
Fierce competition over raw materials for new green technologies could become a thing of the past, thanks to a discovery by scientists in the UK.
Keeping an Eye on Home
A Computer Scientist and Electrical Engineer can always keep an eye on his home. That's because he's rigged his home with sensors he invented and now all he needs...
Iran links capitalism to climate change
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Western capitalism is responsible for blocking the development of green energy technology, including nuclear power, the Iranian president said in Denmark.
New MRI safety risk for patients with pacemakers identified
Researchers have found that certain cardiac pacemakers may inadequately stimulate a patient's heart while undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan due to the magnetic pulses mixing with the electronic...
Pollution alters isolated thunderstorms: Wind shear strength determines whether pollution swells or saps storms
New research reveals how wind shear -- the same atmospheric conditions that cause bumpy airplane rides -- affects how pollution contributes to isolated thunderstorm clouds. The work improves scientists' understanding...
Argonne scientists use bacteria to power simple machines
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University, Evanston, have discovered that common bacteria can turn microgears when suspended in a solution, providing insights...
Thermochemical nanolithography now allows multiple chemicals on a chip
Scientists have developed a nanolithographic technique that can produce high-resolution patterns of at least three different chemicals on a single chip at writing speeds of up to one millimeter per...
Cuts mark 'sad day for British science'
Researchers criticise government u-turn as major projects are closed down and studentships slashedBritain's physics community is reeling from a "disastrous" day of funding cuts that will force scientists to withdraw from major resarch...
Gazprom, Vietnam join forces
MOSCOW, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Russian gas monopoly Gazprom signed an agreement in Moscow to establish a joint venture in Vietnam to exploit offshore reserves and handle other developments.
Electric cars rolling out
(PhysOrg.com) -- Electric vehicles are far from new, but we are still a long way from electric cars being the norm. Now two new electric cars may bring that goal...
LHC produces first physics results
The first paper on proton collisions in the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) - designed to provide the highest energy ever explored with particle accelerators - is published online this...
Rare earth metal enhances phosphate glass
Adding cerium oxide to phosphate glass rather than the commonly used silicate glass may make glasses that block ultraviolet light and have increased radiation damage resistance while remaining colourless, according...
MIT’s big wheel in Copenhagen
It looks like an ordinary bicycle wheel with an oversized center. But packed inside that unassuming hub is a veritable Swiss army knife’s worth of electronic gadgets and novel functions.The new wheel, developed...
Device connected to tongue designed to help blind perceive images
An experimental device that uses the tongue instead of the eyes to "see" could be on the market next year, and a blind Fresno, Calif., teen hopes to be among...
Micromachined piezoelectric harvester drives fully autonomous wireless sensor
For the first time, a piezoelectric harvesting device fabricated by MEMS technology generates a record of 85μW electrical power from vibrations. A wafer level packaging method was developed for robustness....
Seagate Unveils World's Thinnest 2.5-Inch Hard Drive For Slim Laptop Computers
Seagate Technology today announced the Momentus Thin drive, the world's thinnest 2.5-inch hard disk drive for ultra-portable and entry-level laptops, high-end netbooks, backup devices and consumer electronics. At a wafer-thin...
Climate conference emits its share of carbon
COPENHAGEN (AP) -- If they fail to reach a climate deal in Copenhagen, world leaders flying in their private jets and huddling in five-star hotels will...
Bad wine makes for good energy
Using widely available microbes, scientists in the United States and India are turning the unused sugar and unwanted vinegar resulting from improper fermentation into electricity and hydrogen. ...
Two Companies Eye Renewable Polymers
Green Chemistry: Braskem and Novomer have big plans for polymers based on renewable resources.
How to Make Plastic with Less Petroleum--Just Add CO2
Plastic may be fantastic, but it takes an awful lot of petroleum to make it. As such, efforts to cut oil use in the U.S. have produced, among...
Iran eyes Iraq for gas export market
TEHRAN, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Iraq could utilize Iranian natural gas for an electricity sector damaged in the wake of the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, the Iranian oil minister...
World's Smallest Ultrasound Device Fits In Doc's Coat Pocket
Three minutes. That’s how long it will take your doctor to use the world’s smallest ultrasound device to find out if your chest pain is caused by fluid buildup around your heart—an...
Home heating efficiencies offer 'hat trick' of savings: study
Improving the energy efficiency of Maryland homes heated by natural gas would generate a "hat trick" of economic and environmental benefits over the next 10 years, including more than 80,000...
Mass-produced electric car unveiled in Vancouver
Automaker Nissan gave reporters in Vancouver a sneak preview Monday of the Leaf - a zero-emissions vehicle powered entirely by electricity that it hopes will revolutionize the drive to work.
While shepherds watched their flocks on 'Ilkely Moor'
'While shepherds watched' was the first carol to cross over to the Church of England from the secular, folk tradition and carol singers might be surprised to hear that it...
Plastics component affects intestine: study
The chemical Bisphenol A used in plastic containers and drinks cans has been shown for the first time to affect the functioning of the intestines, according to a French study...
Queen Mary scientists shed light on a mysterious particle
(PhysOrg.com) -- Physicists at Queen Mary, University of London have begun looking deep into the Earth to study some of nature's weirdest particles; neutrinos.
NEC Integrates NanoBridge in the Cu Interconnects of Si LSI
NEC Corporation, in collaboration with the National Institute of Materials Science, today announced the successful integration of NanoBridge, a solid electrolyte non-volatile crossbar switch, in Cu interconnects placed on CMOS...