Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Way, shape and form: Synthesis conditions define the nanostructure of manganese dioxide
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology explore a novel and simplistic method to synthesize manganese dioxide with a specific crystalline structure called β-MnO2. Their study sheds light on how different...
Eco-friendly solar watches to power ahead
Have fun in the sun and still be on time. (Collin Hardy via Unsplash/)Why settle for the limited battery life of a mechanical watch when you can make an affordable, worthwhile investment...
By scooping up refundable bottles and cans, 'binners' are helping the environment
In this week's issue of our environment newsletter, we look at the role 'binners' play in diverting plastic from landfills and how offshore wind power could soon save energy consumers...
Watch: Soccer freestyler breaks world record for ball touches on treadmill
A soccer freestyler broke a Guinness World Record when she managed 170 soccer ball touches in one minute -- while running on a treadmill.
A new synthesis method for three-dimensional nanocarbons
A team of scientists led by Kenichiro Itami, Professor and Director of the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), has developed a new method for the synthesis of three-dimensional nanocarbons with...
Sharing a secret... the quantum way
Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, have demonstrated a record setting quantum protocol for sharing a secret amongst many parties. The team created an 11-dimensional...
Faster LEDs for wireless communications from invisible light
Researchers have solved a major problem for optical wireless communications - the process by which light carries information between cell phones and other devices. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) pulse their light...
Nanoparticles tailored for special applications synthesized
'Core-shell' clusters pave the way for new efficient nanomaterials that make catalysts, magnetic and laser sensors or measuring devices for detecting electromagnetic radiation more efficient.
Spin, spin, spin: researchers enhance electron spin longevity
The electron is an elementary particle, a building block on which other systems evolve. With specific properties such as spin, or angular momentum, that can be manipulated to carry information,...
Nanoparticle meta-grid for enhanced light extraction from light-emitting devices
A tailored layer of plasmonic nanoparticles can be introduced into the epoxy casing of a light-emitting diode (LED) to improve the device's light output, to benefit energy savings and boost...
Ultra-fast laser-based writing of data to storage devices
Modern life revolves around data, which means that we need new, fast, and energy-efficient methods to read and write data on our storage devices. Optical-based approaches, which use laser pulses...
Physicists find misaligned carbon sheets yield unparalleled properties
A material composed of two one-atom-thick layers of carbon has grabbed the attention of physicists worldwide for its intriguing—and potentially exploitable—conductive properties.
Nanoreactor strategy generates superior supported bimetallic catalysts
Supported bimetallic catalysts are an important class of catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis. They can be applied in various fields, such as electrocatalysis, biomass conversion, and hydrogen production.
Researchers find crystals of indium selenide have exceptional flexibility
A team of researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in China and one in the U.S. has found that semiconducting crystals of indium selenide (InSe) have exceptional flexibility. In their paper...
Analyzing pros and cons of two composite manufacturing methods
Airplane wings, wind turbine blades, and other large parts are typically created using bulk polymerization in composite manufacturing facilities. They are heated and cured in enormous autoclaves and heated molds...
Shock waves might offer the jolt needed to reach Mars
Applying shockwaves can improve conditions for fluid mixing in supersonic combustion engines, paving the way for flights at speeds five times faster than the speed of sound.
Harnessing wind data to help meet energy needs in Florida
A new study shows how upcoming technological advances could make wind energy a hot commodity in the Sunshine State.
Atlanta Falcons to sign ex-Cincinnati Bengals CB Darqueze Dennard
The Atlanta Falcons are signing former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard to beef up their secondary.
US Chemical Safety Board praises Airgas for its response to 2016 fatality
Agency also provides details on oil field deaths of husband and wife
Perovskite solar cells score highly on life-cycle analysis
Tandem cells with metallo-organic layers outperform benchmark commercial silicon devices in terms of carbon footprint and environmental impact
Challenging a central dogma of chemistry: Energy flow in chemical reactions
Researchers have discovered that common chemical reactions accelerate Brownian diffusion by sending long-range ripples into the surrounding solvent.
Keep cool in the pool: Novel chip sensor makes swimming pools safer
A new microchip that enables continuous monitoring of pH and chlorine levels in swimming pools will vastly improve water safety as new research shows it can deliver consistent and accurate...
Origami microbots: Centuries-old artform guides cutting-edge advances in tiny machines
Origami principles can unlock the potential of the smallest robots, enhancing speed, agility and control in machines no more than a centimeter in size.
Astrophysicists observe long-theorized quantum phenomena
At the heart of every white dwarf star—the dense stellar object that remains after a star has burned away its fuel reserve of gases as it nears the end of...
'Drawn-on-skin' electronics offer breakthrough in wearable monitors
Researchers have reported a new form of electronics known as 'drawn-on-skin electronics,' allowing multifunctional sensors and circuits to be drawn on the skin with an ink pen.
Rational synthesis of atomically precise graphene nanoribbons directly on metal oxide surfaces
Atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) attract great interest because of their highly tunable electronic, optical, and transport properties. However, on-surface synthesis of GNRs is typically based on metal surface–assisted chemical...
DNA capture by a CRISPR-Cas9-guided adenine base editor
CRISPR-Cas–guided base editors convert A•T to G•C, or C•G to T•A, in cellular DNA for precision genome editing. To understand the molecular basis for DNA adenosine deamination by adenine base...
Direct reversible decarboxylation from stable organic acids in dimethylformamide solution
Many classical and emerging methodologies in organic chemistry rely on carbon dioxide (CO2) extrusion to generate reactive intermediates for bond-forming events. Synthetic reactions that involve the microscopic reverse—the carboxylation of...