Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Colourful future for nanowires
Fine tuning the crystal structures of nanowires could boost the efficiency of LEDs and other electronic components
Nanotechnology: Quantum Computer May Be Closer With Extended Quantum Lifetime Of Electrons
Physicists have found a way to extend the quantum lifetime of electrons by more than 5,000 per cent. Electrons exhibit a property called 'spin' and work like tiny magnets which...
Four treadmills that go the distance
Somewhere between the $70,000 anti-gravity treadmill that uses an air vacuum to lower your body weight by 50% or more and the $369 department-store rattletrap with a tread belt about...
ETH Zurich researchers and industry break world record
In future it can be expected that the drill used in material processing will become even faster and the compressor used for vehicles and airplanes even more compact. In order...
Surface plasmon resonances of nanoparticles in array can have narrower spectral widths
Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have demonstrated experimentally and theoretically that the surface plasmon resonances of metal nanoparticles in a periodic array can have...
Power company offers nuke-heavy power plan
BERLIN, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- German power company RWE is offering consumers a zero-carbon energy plan fueled mostly by nuclear power plants.
Bacteria, fungus problems? Try copper socks
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Copper socks? Copper towels? How about copper subway poles? These are only a few of the uses Chile, the world's biggest copper producer, is applying to the...
Nanoparticles in the home: More and smaller than previously detected
Extremely small nanoscale particles are released by common kitchen appliances in abundant amounts, greatly outnumbering the previously detected, larger-size nanoparticles emitted by these appliances, according to new findings by researchers...
New research expected to improve laser devices and make photovoltaics more efficient
University of Chicago scientists have induced electrons in the nanocrystals of semiconductors to cool more slowly by forcing them into a smaller volume. This has the potential to improve satellite...
Misplaced muons either mundane or monumental
Puzzling results signify either overlooked ordinary physics or something truly novel
Cold atoms could replace hot gallium in focused ion beams
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a radical new method of focusing a stream of ions into a point as small as one nanometre...
Can alkaline earth metals be used in quantum computing?
(PhysOrg.com) -- "There are a number of different proposals for quantum computing," Andrew Daley tells PhysOrg.com. "These include solid state or semiconductor as well as atomic and molecular systems. We...
American Offers Mobile Boarding Passes
Passengers on American Airlines will be able to get boarding passes electronically on their mobile phones or PDAs at some airports beginning Thursday, avoiding the need for printed passes.
OK Space: opening new horizons
Space exploration - the big scientific missions, manned flights, technology which grows ever more complex - in short, a great adventure. But that's not all, space has given rise to...
Lab Tests Show Wind Turbine’s Air Flow
Smoke and lasers are used in wind tunnel to unravel airflow mysteries of wind turbines.
Centrica says reviewing new wind farm economics
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Centrica is reviewing the economic viability of planned wind farms due to soaring costs and the credit crunch, the owner of British Gas said.
Reactions studied by stop motion
Ultra-fast spectroscopy tracks changes during polyatomic reactions
Improved Measurements Could Mean Safer, More Reliable Electroshock Weapons
Electroshock weapons, such as stun guns and other similar devices that temporarily incapacitate a person by delivering a high-voltage, low-current electric shock, have helped law enforcement officers safely subdue dangerous...
Iron-Based Material May Unlock Supercondcutivity's Big Secret
Researchers at NIST are decoding the mysterious mechanisms behind the high-temperature superconductors that industry hopes will find wide use in next-generation systems for storing, distributing and using electricity.
Physicists steer electrons with laser pulses: Method could be used to create custom-made chemical compounds
Theoretical physicist Uwe Thumm and his colleagues Feng He and Andreas Becker not only work with some of the smallest molecules in the universe, but they now have found a...
'Femtomolar Optical Tweezers' May Enable Sensitive Blood Tests
NIST has licensed a patented 'optical tweezers' technique for detecting and measuring very small concentrations of a biological substance, such as a virus on a surface.
Compact Research Freezers to Debut in Space
A pair of Endeavour-carried cryogenic freezers will boost the biological research capacity of the shuttle and the International Space Station. Capable of minus 160 degrees Celsius, the small, portable GLACIER...
Adaptive Materials and Michigan Students Set Record Fuel-Cell-Powered, Radio-Controlled Airplane Flight
The longest fuel-cell-powered flight of a radio-controlled aerial vehicle has been achieved by students at the University of Michigan and engineers at Ann Arbor-based fuel-cell manufacturer Adaptive Materials Inc.
Southampton to sail with Solar Splash
An academic in conjunction with the Student Branch of the IEEE at the University of Southampton plans to enter a solar-powered boat in the world championship of intercollegiate solar/electric boating...
Acrylic glass made of sugar
In future, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) - better known as acrylic glass - could be made from natural raw materials such as sugars, alcohols or fatty acids. PMMA is manufactured by...
Technology transfer is key to reaping nanotech benefits
Technology transfer is central to translating nanotechnology research into benefits for society, says Bai Chunli.
Slide show: Small world!
Winning images from the Nikon International Small World Competition reveal microscopic wonders.
Con Edison Joins As Newest Lighting Research Center Partner
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center (LRC) welcomes Con Edison as the newest member of the LRC Partners Program, which is designed to coordinate the efforts of public and private...