Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Unmanned helicopter would investigate nuclear disasters
Students are perfecting an autonomous helicopter they hope will never be used for its intended purpose. Roughly six feet long and weighing 200 pounds, the re-engineered aircraft is designed to...
Catalyst could power homes on a bottle of water, produce hydrogen on-site (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- With one bottle of drinking water and four hours of sunlight, MIT chemist Dan Nocera claims that he can produce 30 KWh of electricity, which is enough to...
Nokia, T-Mobile Announce Nokia 5230 Nuron smartphone
Nokia and T-Mobile USA today announced the upcoming availability of the Nokia 5230 Nuron, a smartphone solution for the masses packed with applications, maps with turn-by-turn directions, and more.
Northeastern Researchers to Develop Tiny Antennas with Big Potential
(PhysOrg.com) -- As Northeastern University engineering professor Hossein Mosallaei sees it, antenna technology has not been keeping pace with three trends in the development of wireless communications devices: greater energy...
Measuring impact nanoparticles on health and environment by looking at blood stream of chicken embryos
Researchers are a step closer to helping solve a complex problem in nanotechnology: the impact nanoparticles have on human health and the environment. They have developed a methodology to measure...
Trapping sunlight with silicon nanowires
Researchers have found a better way to trap light in photovoltaic cells through the use of vertical arrays of silicon nanowires. This could substantially cut the costs of solar electric...
NEC Develops 'Low-Power, Low-Noise All-Digital Phase Lock Loop' for Portable Wireless Terminals
NEC Corporation today announced a development of the "Low-Power Low-Noise All-Digital Phase Lock Loop (ADPLL)" LSI. The newly developed LSI is suitable for midget wireless equipment yielding a long operation...
Oil producers wary of biofuels
CANCUN, Mexico, March 4 (UPI) -- Growing interest in the use of biofuels as an energy source could make oil producers cut back on investments, an international report from...
Nano-foundry technique yields ultra-durable probes from diamond
(PhysOrg.com) -- When a team of university and industry researchers tried a novel, foundry-style mold-filling technique to make nanoscale devices, they realized they had discovered a gem.
Osram LEDs for Mini Projectors
New, particularly high-performance light-emitting diodes (LEDs) from Osram make it possible to build mini projectors. These LEDs produce enough light to project images measuring over one meter in diagonal on...
'Tunnel anxiety' can be reduced
Many people feel insecure when they drive in tunnels. However, their anxiety can be reduced. Driving in tunnels is actually twice as safe as driving in the open air, when...
Aluminum superatoms may split water
Metal clusters could create hydrogen for fuel, simulations suggest
Small is beautiful: Japan's hand-made electric cars
While auto manufacturing giants spend millions to develop environmentally-friendly electric cars, one Japanese company has taken a more low-key approach, crafting hand-made "green" cars.
Quantifying the electron transport effects of placing metal contacts onto graphene
Using large-scale supercomputer calculations, researchers have analyzed how the placement of metallic contacts on graphene changes the electron transport properties of the material as a factor of junction length, width...
Cosmic Log: Inventors take the prize
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Four amazingly inventive students win $30,000 each for innovations ranging from a DNA puzzle-solver to a low-cost prosthetic arm to an "iShoe" that checks your...
Using Slime Mold To Build Rail Networks
I seem to have developed a reputation for hating networks, but really, it's just tough love. Complex, adaptive, self-organizing networks are fascinating (and inspired the title of this blog), and...
Mineral studies advance antibacterial alternatives
Alternative approaches to medicine are stock-in-trade in the ASU laboratory of microbiologist Shelley Haydel. So when ASU senior Jenny Koehl joined Haydel's investigative team seeking firsthand...
Study: Reducing carbon emissions: High gas taxes equal low impact
Increasing the federal gasoline tax would have only minimal effects in reducing vehicle carbon dioxide emissions, says a University of Michigan economist.
Not Just for Fuel Anymore: Hydrocarbons Can Superconduct, Too
Superconductivity is one of those nearly magical properties that seem to defy all intuition for how the physical world ought to work. In a superconductor, electric currents flow without resistance...
IBM Scientists Create Ultra-Fast Device Which Uses Light for Communication between Computer Chips
(PhysOrg.com) -- IBM scientists today unveiled a significant step towards replacing electrical signals that communicate via copper wires between computer chips with tiny silicon circuits that communicate using pulses of...
Next-Gen Scientists Honored for Evolving Medicine and Renewables [Slide Show]
The more mysteries that scientists unlock, the more opportunities emerge for the next generation of researchers to transform newfound knowledge into tomorrow's breakthroughs that serve society. The Lemelson–M.I.T. Program recognized...
Detecting proton collisions at unprecedented levels of energy
(PhysOrg.com) -- CERN has been able to take the first measurements of collisions between the highest-energy particles ever generated. These collisions were performed at CERN's new LHC accelerator and recorded...
Air Force eyes mini-thrusters for use in satellite propulsion
Mini- thrusters or miniature, electric propulsion systems are being developed, which could make it easier for the Air Force's small satellites, including the latest CubeSats, to perform space...
Cycling a virtual Tour de France on the bike of the future
Tiny beads of sweat break out on Konstantin Domorazki's brow as he races his bike through Beijing's Forbidden City pursued by a tenacious opponent he just can't shake off his...
Nuclear physics promises earlier detection of brain tumors with just 1 scan
Time taken to detect brain tumours could soon be significantly reduced thanks to an ongoing pioneering project led by the University of Liverpool with the Nuclear Physics Group and Technology...
'Distributed energy' has power to save billions
Wide-scale adoption of low-emission distributed energy could reduce the cost of transitioning to a low-carbon future by as much a $130 billion by 2050, according to a new report released...
New Sensor to Boost Quality of Cell-Phone Cameras
California-based OmniVision Technologies aims to bring high-end camera features to mainstream cell phones with new image sensor.
Japan moves ahead with pluthermal reactors
TOKYO, March 3 (UPI) -- Bolstered by a plan for low-interest loans for new nuclear reactors announced last month, Japan is forging ahead with nuclear power expansion as part...