Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Kiev optimistic about Russian gas deal
KIEV, Ukraine, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Kiev is optimistic that it can broker a revision to its existing natural gas contract with Russian gas company Gazprom, the Ukrainian prime...
Current loss tracked down by magnetic fingerprint
Scientists have been working on organic solar cells for about a decade. Their manufacture is environmentally friendly and they can be applied to all kinds of materials, such as plastic...
Water could hold answer to graphene nanoelectronics
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a new method for using water to tune the band gap of the nanomaterial graphene, opening the door to new graphene-based transistors and nanoelectronics...
Uranium in groundwater? 'Fracking' mobilizes uranium in marcellus shale
Researchers have found that hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" -- causes uranium that is naturally trapped inside Marcellus shale to be released, raising additional environmental concerns.
Iran starts fueling first nuclear reactor
TEHRAN, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Iran has begun the process of loading fuel into the core of its first nuclear reaction, the country's state television says.
Six new isotopes of the superheavy elements discovered
Scientists have created six new isotopes of the superheavy elements, reaching in an unbroken chain of decays from element 114 down to rutherfordium. The discovery is a major step toward...
Yellowknife geothermal proposal heats up
Geothermal heat from a former Yellowknife gold mine could soon heat dozens of buildings in the downtown, if city council goes ahead with a $60-million renewable energy plan.
Optical surface states in magnetophotonic crystals
Using state of the art microfabrication technology to create periodic structures with high accuracy, Dr Baryshev and colleagues at the Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan, report the existence of so-called...
The next carbon capture tool could be new, improved grass
(PhysOrg.com) -- A blade of grass destined to be converted into biofuel may join energy efficiency and other big-ticket strategies in the effort to reduce atmospheric carbon -- but not...
Harnessing tidal energy more efficiently than ever before
Researchers are developing a tidal turbine which has the potential to harness tidal energy more efficiently and cheaply, using a device which is simpler, more robust and more scaleable than...
Plastic from Plants: Is It an Environmental Boon or Bane?
More than 2.5 billion plastic bottles--partially made from plants--are already in use around the world in a bid to replace petroleum as the fundamental building block of everyday plastics. The...
Self-assembly and chains of rotating magnetic particles
Dr. Park and colleagues report on a new biosensing protocol based on monitoring changes in optical transmittance of a solution containing self-assembled chains of functionalized magnetic beads being rotated by...
Video: X-ray machines – a 20th century icon
Katie Maggs of the Science Museum in London talks to Liz Parvin of the Open University about the accidental discovery of X-rays and the extraordinary benefits that have followed
X-ray visions – from diagnosing disease to detecting forgeries
Alok Jha introduces a short film about the momentous discovery of X-rays and the huge range of applications that have followedA while back, the Science Museum in London held a public vote...
Clever use of smart meters saves energy
New smart meters - which were introduced in Ontario last year - are expected to change consumer habits and help savvy consumers save money.
Cameron sets aside $94 million for wind
LONDON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The British government is committed to setting aside more than $94 million to help boost manufacturing of wind turbines, the prime minister said.
Iran hits back at British airliners
LONDON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Tehran's airport stopped providing fuel to British airplanes arriving at Iranian terminals, a spokeswoman for a British airliner said.
Researchers find a stable way to store the sun's heat
Researchers at MIT have revealed exactly how a molecule called fulvalene diruthenium, which was discovered in 1996, works to store and release heat on demand. This understanding, reported in a...
Toward a better understanding of bilayer graphene
(PhysOrg.com) -- "Graphene is a very exciting material with a number of interesting possibilities, including for use in electronic devices," Pablo Jarillo-Herrero tells PhysOrg.com. "However, all graphene systems are electronically...
A cheap solar system
The newly built solar-thermal tower, apart from generating electricity from just the air and sun, is claimed to be efficient and cheap.
Wi-Fi Direct allows P2P connections without Wi-Fi hot spots (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Wi-Fi Alliance has begun certifying laptop components incorporating the new Wi-Fi Direct technology, which provides peer-to-peer (P2P) Wi-Fi connections between devices such as cameras and smart phones...
Catching the sun’s heat
Broadly speaking, there have been two approaches to capturing the sun’s energy: photovoltaics, which turn the sunlight into electricity, or solar-thermal systems, which concentrate the sun’s heat and use it to boil water...
Fighting wrinkles with lasers scientifically unraveled
Laser pulses enable skin rejuvenation, as research in the Netherlands has shown. Laser treatment introduces heat into the skin. Under the influence of heat shocks of 45°C, skin cells produce...
Crocodile Gets Loose on Plane, Crash Kills 20
Hollywood has not conjured a more frightening plot. Man smuggles crocodile on plane. Crocodile gets loose. Chaos ensues.
Dot Earth: Real-World Steps on Energy and CO2
Clarifying which steps could lead to a world with sufficient energy and a decent climate.
GM partners with Envision Solar for Chevy Volt recharging
"Every electric vehicle is the equivalent of one or two single-family residences in terms of impact on the electric grid," said Desmond Wheatley, president of Envision Solar in San Diego.
The rise of rare earth elements
Demand for REEs can only increase as cars, computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment become more advancedThe "rare earth elements" are a group of 17 naturally occurring metallic elements used in small...
The Improvisational Remedies of an Art Healer
Because of unusual materials and unconventional techniques, modern works of art can present conservation difficulties.