Vise Squad: Putting The Squeeze On A Crystal Leads To Novel Electronics

A clever materials science technique that uses a silicon crystal as a sort of nanoscale vise to squeeze another crystal into a more useful shape may launch a new class...

Terahertz waves are effective probes for IC heat barriers

By modifying a commonly used commercial infrared spectrometer to allow operation at long-wave terahertz frequencies, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) discovered an efficient new approach...

Fuel for deep space exploration running on empty

(AP) -- NASA is running out of nuclear fuel needed for its deep space exploration.

Whitesides Receives Inaugural Dreyfus Prize

Foundation honors chemist for his contributions to materials chemistry

New nanotube coating enables novel laser power meter

The U.S. military can now calibrate high-power laser systems, such as those intended to defuse unexploded mines, more quickly and easily thanks to a novel nanotube-coated power measurement device developed...

See the force: Mechanical stress leads to self-sensing in solid polymers

Parachute cords, climbing ropes, and smart coatings for bridges that change colour when overstressed are several possible uses for force-sensitive polymers being developed by researchers at the University of Illinois...

Xerox looks to make color printing more affordable

(AP) -- The economics of color printing in big offices are simple: A page of black and white costs about 2 cents per page, while color runs about 8...

71 universities get nuclear project awards

WASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu Wednesday announced the selection of 71 university nuclear energy research and development projects.

Low-cost process produces natural gas from algae

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new method for converting algae into renewable natural gas for use in pipelines and power generation has been transferred from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National...

U.S. Air Force eyes way to help space industry

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force is exploring ways to shore up a declining U.S. space industrial base, including working with other government agencies to aggregate orders for space-related...

Story Tips from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory - May 2009

The SNS has added another instrument to its eventual suite of 25. Wide tires on tractor-trailers can reduce the weight of a rig. In one of the largest experiments of...

Molecule turns red at breaking point

Materials hosting unique chemical may offer a colorful signal of stress

Superior entrepreneurial performance is not driven by technical knowledge

Durham, N.C.--May 6, 2009--Entrepreneurs in high-technology industries often have significant prior industry experience. A new study in Strategic Management Journal reveals that this experience is critical to their success.

Physicists Detect Single-Electron Tunneling with Quantum Dots

(PhysOrg.com) -- Detecting the coherent motion of a single electron is a challenge, for the simple reason of scale: the timescale of the coherent motion of a single-electron wave function...

Device keeps divers safe

Divers will soon be safer underwater, thanks to a small safety device that helps them easily locate their boat or dive buddy.

Anaconda wave-power generator snakes into next stage of production

Developing world advances nanotech for clean water

Developing countries are making good progress on nanotech for clean water, say Paulo Sergio de Paula Herrmann Jr. and José Antônio Brum.

Community ownership is key to nanotech water projects

Nanotechnology must be effectively shared with stakeholders if it's to deliver clean water, say Thembela Hillie and Mbhuti Hlophe.

Nanoscale water treatment needs innovative engineering

Engineering a useable product is the key to making nanotechnology work for water treatment, says Ashok Raichur.

Nanophysicists Find Unexpected Magnetic Effect: Kondo Effect Noted In Single-atom Contacts Of Pure Ferromagnets

Physicists have found that single-atom contacts made of ferromagnetic metals like iron, cobalt and nickel exhibit behavior consistent with the Kondo effect. The unexpected behavior appears to arise due to...

Iron-arsenic Superconductors In Class Of Their Own

Scientists have found that the iron-arsenide superconductors discovered last year exhibit a superconducting mechanism unique compared to all other known classes of superconductors. Combine that with its ability to carry...

Electricity in a Bottle

Engineers store electricity in a thin piece of glass sandwiched between metal plates.

Tiny particles make LED light more pleasing

(AP) -- Light-emitting diodes are prime candidates for replacing inefficient incandescent bulbs, but have a few things working against them. They can provide a pleasing warm light or they...

Bendable Concrete Heals Itself -- Just Add Water

Rather than crumbling under pressure, the flexible material forms hairline cracks that can then auto-seal after a few days of light rain, researchers say.

A collaboration with a long lifetime

It was a crisp, classic fall day in Cambridge, but little of the golden afternoon sunlight trickled down to Cynthia Friend’s laboratory in the basement of the Harvard chemistry building.Yet sunlight and...

Engineer to Develop Models for "Self-Healing" Materials

UIC materials engineer Eduard Karpov has received a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant to help develop methods to create models that can be used to make so-called "self-healing" materials that...

Storing a Lightning Bolt in Glass for Portable Power

(PhysOrg.com) -- Materials researchers at Penn State University have reported the highest known breakdown strength for a bulk glass ever measured. Breakdown strength, along with dielectric constant, determines how...

Scientists unveil chocolate-fueled race car

(AP) -- Scientists unveiled on Tuesday what they hope will be one of the world's fastest biofuel vehicles, powered by waste from chocolate factories and made partly from plant...