Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Below Absolute Zero - Boltzmann Distribution In Gas Gets Inverted
On the Kelvin Scale, the absolute temperature used by physicists, it is not possible to get colder than zero degrees kelvin. The physical meaning of the temperature of a gas is...
Jumping droplets help heat transfer
Scalable nanopatterned surfaces could make for more efficient power generation and desalination.
VIDEO: Inquiry call after rig runs aground
Senior members of the US Congress are demanding an inquiry after a Shell oil drilling ship ran aground off Alaska.
Hot chocolate tastes best in orange mugs, study finds
According to new -- and presumably delicious -- study, the color of cups can affect the taste of liquids inside
Deal on 'fiscal cliff' gives wind industry a lifeline
The wind industry spent most of 2012 begging Congress to extend the production tax credit for utility-scale wind turbines.
Magnetic shell provides unprecedented control of magnetic fields
(Phys.org)—A general property of magnetic fields is that they decay with the distance from their magnetic source. But in a new study, physicists have shown that surrounding a magnetic source...
Bonobos Share With Strangers Before Acquaintances
You’re standing in line somewhere and you decide to open a pack of gum. Do you share a piece with [...]
Building a better machine: Students use creativity to improve the heat engine
When Roman Berens signed up for the "Physics and Applied Physics Research Freshman" Seminar, he wasn't sure what to expect.
Scientists reveal new 2D material for next generation high-speed electronics
(Phys.org)—Scientists at CSIRO and RMIT University have produced a new two-dimensional material that could revolutionise the electronics market, making "nano" more than just a marketing term.
German minister says 'never again' to nuclear power
German Environment Minister Peter Altmaier said Friday his country would never again return to nuclear energy, hitting back at a top EU official who doubted Berlin's commitment to phase out...
Health and Safety gone mad
According to an article in Nature, scientists can't be trusted to look after themselves. But maybe the problem lies elsewhere.What's the most dangerous thing in a standard molecular biology lab? Is it the...
Well: Living With Cancer: Chemo-Feet
Prickly, frozen, cramped, numb: my feet ache as if they were tightly bound in plastic wrap or affixed on cardboard, or I don't feel them at all. Several years ago...
Ubuntu operating system coming to phones
LONDON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Ubuntu, the open source Linux-based operating system, has been adapted to run on smartphones as a replacement for Android, its makers say.
Synthetic chemistry: Steroids that only nature could make on a large scale, until now
Scientists have achieved a feat in synthetic chemistry by inventing a scalable method to make complex natural compounds known as "polyhydroxylated steroids." These compounds, used in heart-failure medications and other...
Liquid jets and bouncing balls combine for surprising results
The physics of a bouncing ball is well understood, but a liquid-filled ball can still surprise scientists.
Nanoparticles reach new peaks: Researchers show short laser pulses selectively heat gold nanoparticles
Researchers have found a way to selectively heat diverse nanoparticles in a batch that could advance their medical and industrial use.
Quantum gas goes below absolute zero
Ultracold atoms pave way for negative-Kelvin materials.Nature News doi: 10.1038/nature.2013.12146
The Earth is nearly flat, and other scientific truths | Jon Butterworth | Life & Physics
If the Large Hadron Collider finds another new particle, the "Standard Model" of particle physics is wrong. But, as Isaac Asimov has it, not as wrong as what went before.On Tuesday, an...
Bazinga! New bee name inspired by TV's Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory's geeky physicist Sheldon Cooper has received a real-life honour: a species of bee named after his catchphrase 'Bazinga!'
How computers push on the molecules they simulate
Because modern computers have to depict the real world with digital representations of numbers instead of physical analogues, to simulate the continuous passage of time they have to digitize time...
Nanogenerator's output triples previous record
(Phys.org)—Taking an important step forward for self-powered systems, researchers have built a nanogenerator with an ultrahigh output voltage of 209 V, which is 3.6 times higher than the previous record...
Two Peaks, Three Bets
I am glad to see that the Higgs signal we have discovered last July continues to raise the interest of well-learned laypersons around the world. The confirmation this time comes...
Professor discusses innovation for the environment
David Keith is Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. The award-winning scientist, who...
A pathway for protons: Efficient delivery to material's center turns oxygen cleanly into water
(Phys.org)—Pushing protons around may sound like a small task, but it is a big part of energy independence for the United States. Moving four relatively large protons to where they...
Researchers demonstrate record-setting p-type transistor
Almost all computer chips use two types of transistors: one called p-type, for positive, and one called n-type, for negative. Improving the performance of the chip as a whole requires parallel improvements in...
Review: Samsung fuses tablet, camera
In the few weeks I've been testing the Samsung Galaxy Camera, I've been trying to figure out which market Samsung is out to capture.
3-D printing gives businesses a low-cost option for odd jobs
What does a business do if the vintage aircraft part a customer needs hasn't been made in decades? For a solution, Airflow Systems of Capistrano Beach, Calif., turned to Rapid...
Researchers show new level of control over liquid crystals
(Phys.org)—Directed assembly is a growing field of research in nanotechnology in which scientists and engineers aim to manufacture structures on the smallest scales without having to individually manipulate each component....