Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
China suspends coal-to-oil projects
Just two plants escape the Chinese ban on converting coal into liquid fuels
Tiny gold clusters seen as good catalysts
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S.-led scientists say they have, for the first time, achieved state-of-the-art resolution of active gold nanocrystals absorbed onto iron oxide surfaces.
New method of catalysis is discovered
PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've found a way to stimulate organic molecules that may lead to the creation of materials from new kinds...
How New Helium Ion Microscope Measures Up
Researchers are probing the newest microscope technology to further improve measurement accuracy at the nanoscale -- a critical capability for setting standards and improving production in the semiconductor and nanomanufacturing...
Catching Crooks With Salt
A new crime-fighting technique could make avoiding capture more difficult for even the most fiendish scoundrels. The technique, developed by British scientists, allows police to lift fingerprints from bullet casings,...
Daimler and power group RWE to test electric car network in Berlin
German car maker Daimler and energy group RWE unveiled on Friday a pilot project to promote electric vehicles in Berlin that was inspired by one in London.
Sony Recalls Laptops Over Wiring Flaw
Sony says it is recalling 440,000 Vaio laptop computers worldwide due to a wiring flaw that could cause overheating.
Air Mass in Atlantic Gives Speed and Power
For Hurricane Gustav the steering winds have come from a high-pressure ridge that runs from near the Bahamas and across Florida.
Observatory: If Traveling Very Fast, the Very Small Just Stick
In the world of the very, very small, things bounce differently from your basketball.
Assessing the Value of Small Wind Turbines
Interest for wind turbines small enough to mount on a roof is spreading from coast to coast, even though their installation is hardly ever recouped in electricity savings.
Michigan Integral to World's Largest Physics Experiment
After 20 years of construction, a machine that could either verify or nullify the prevailing theory of particle physics is about to begin its mission.
Particle collider no threat, safety panel says
A giant particle accelerator near Geneva, Switzerland, that is set to begin operations next week poses no threat to mankind, according to the latest report from the group in charge...
LHC switch-on fears are completely unfounded
A new report published on Friday, 5 September, provides the most comprehensive evidence available to confirm that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)'s switch-on, due on Wednesday next week, poses no...
Researchers Recognized for Top-Cited Scientific Articles
Six scientific articles by researchers in the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) and Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials at North Dakota State University (NDSU), Fargo, appear among...
Video – The Next Step in Revolutionary Electronics
Accidental discovery of the elusive “memristor” electronic component. It could soon replace both RAM and hard drives with devices 10x smaller. Cell phones might become sensors, protecting planet Earth. Credit:...
New technique makes corn ethanol process more efficient
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are proposing to borrow a process used in breweries and wastewater treatment facilities to make corn ethanol more energy efficient. They...
Solid-state drive sets speed record
Engineers and researchers at the IBM Hursley development lab in England and Almaden Research Center in California have set a record in storage speed, outperforming the current rate by more...
EPA issues new gas-powered engine standard
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued new standards for small gas-powered engines to reduce pollutants from machines including lawn mowers.
Bottoms Up: Better Organic Semiconductors for Printable Electronics
Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Seoul National University (SNU) have learned how to tweak a new class of polymer-based semiconductors, potentially enabling the design...
Drilling for Hot Rocks: Google Sinks Cash into Advanced Geothermal Technology
For $1 billion over the next 40 years, the U.S. could develop 100 gigawatts (a gigawatt equals one billion watts) of electricity generation that emits no air pollution and pumps...
Moo North: Cattle and Deer May Sense Earth's Magnetic Field
Forget cow tipping--next time you want to mess with a bovine friend, try waving a magnet in its face. [More]
Scientists Find Our Eyes Evolved for 'X-Ray' Vision
The advantage of using two eyes to see the world around us has long been associated solely with our capacity to see in three dimensions. Now, a new study has...
World-first To Predict Premature Births
Australian researchers and a pathology company have joined forces to develop a world-first computerized system which may reveal a way to predict premature birth with greater accuracy.
Butterfly wings may help scientists better understand photonic crystals
As technology moves forward, many scientists are looking to nature to find inspiration for the development of advanced materials that can have a variety of practical applications.
Research Could Spur Use of Sustainable Composite Lumber
Two University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers are developing computer models to predict the strength of structural composite lumber (SCL), which could broaden the use of the sustainable material in large...
Hydroxide argument settled
Hydroxide ions form extra hydrogen bond to speed through water
Spinning to destruction: Michael Connellan on the dangers of unreliable wind turbines
Wind power may be one of the cleaner, greener energy sources available, but turbine and blade failures point to dangers that were not anticipated, says Michael Connellan
Guy Clapperton on the exciting possibilities of ion-mask technology
The possibilities of ion mask technology, which renders materials water-repellent, are endless