Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Iraq signs lucrative oil contracts
BAGHDAD, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- International oil majors are gobbling up formal contracts with the Iraqi government to develop some of the country's largest oil fields.
Are Engines the Future of Solar Power?
Nearly 200 years after their invention, and decades after first being proposed as a method of harnessing solar energy, 60 sun-powered Stirling engines are about to begin generating electricity outside Phoenix, Ariz., for...
Lithium-air batteries could displace gasoline in future cars
In excess of seven million barrels of gasoline are consumed by vehicles in the United States every day. As scientists race to find environmentally sound solutions to fuel the world's...
Perfectly Proportioned: Evenly Distributed Powder Density For Manufacturing Parts
The manufacture of parts by compaction and sintering involves filling a die with metal powder. Research scientists have simulated this process for the first time to achieve an evenly distributed...
Heme channel found: shuttles vital but vulnerable heme molecule across biological membranes
Heme, a crucial component of the biomachinery that squeezes energy out of food and stores it for later use, must be transported across membranes but without exposing its central iron...
Eugene van Tamelen, 84, Dies; Chemist Inspired by Nature
Dr. van Tamelen, a professor of chemistry at Stanford University, turned to nature for inspiration in synthesizing molecules.
Bright future for lighting technology with glowing OLED wallpaper
OLEDs may soon replace lightbulbs in homes and offices with panels of energy-efficient light built into wallsWallpaper that can glow with light and bendable flat-panel screens are a step closer thanks to research...
Steroid slowed retinopathy
BALTIMORE, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Injecting a corticosteroid directly into the eye may slow the progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, researchers in Maryland said.
Fuel change for MIT reactor delayed
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The nuclear reactor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology won't be converted to a safer fuel for at least five years, authorities said.
Gazprom signs gas deals with CNPC
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Russian energy giant Gazprom reached agreements on the terms of natural gas supplies for China with a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corp.
Vermont airport goes green
BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Heritage Aviation announced it installed its first wind turbine and solar power system at Burlington International Airport in Vermont.
Saudi oil GDP down 6.4 percent
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The gross domestic product tied to oil production in Saudi Arabia dropped more than 6 percent in 2009 because of price and...
Lighting can influence how wine tastes
Researchers demonstrate that the color of ambient lighting can have an effect on how a wine is judged.
A Conversation With Frank A. Wilczek: Discovering the Mathematical Laws of Nature
The Nobel-prize winning physicist, whose work confirmed some of Einstein’s ideas, is now writing a mystery novel.
Choo-Chooing Along to Aid in Measure of Neutrons
A toy carrying californium-252, a radioactive element that spews neutrons as it falls apart, was used to ensure accurate measurements in a physics experiment.
Findings on How Plants Breathe May Save Water
By identifying the sensors in plants that detect carbon dioxide and prompt pores to breathe, biologists may be able to engineer plants that need less water.
Essay: The Joy of Physics Isn’t in the Results, but in the Search Itself
The search for the meaning of the universe may lead to inventions whose purpose is often ambiguous.
Observatory: A Simple Paper Test May Detect Pesticides
Scientists in Canada have reported the development of a sensor strip that, when dipped into a sample, turns blue — or shades thereof.
Material World: Down on the Farm, an Endless Cycle of Waste
The proper handling of manure is among the most important tasks faced by a dairy operator and other farmers with large numbers of livestock.
Superatoms mimic elements: Research gives new perspective on periodic table
Researchers have shown that certain combinations of elemental atoms have electronic signatures that mimic the electronic signatures of other elements. The findings could lead to much cheaper materials for widespread...
Single-molecule transistor created
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The first transistor from a single molecule has been created by attaching a benzene molecule to gold contacts, scientists from Connecticut said.
China amendment to boost renewable energy
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- China adopted an amendment to its renewable energy law Saturday that requires utilities to buy all the power produced by generators of renewable energy...
Sofia wants gas deal apart from pipelines
SOFIA, Bulgaria, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Bulgarian contracts for natural gas supplies from Russia should not be tied to deals with regional pipeline networks, the Bulgarian energy minister said.
Vietnam entering Iranian energy sector
HANOI, Vietnam, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Vietnamese officials called for an increase in the volume of trade with Iran as part of a bilateral trade agreement focusing on oil...
High-Tech Glitter to Create Flexible Solar Panels
Scientists have created highly efficient, glitter-sized solar cells that could fit virtually any object and be woven into clothing.
Seoul seeks to boost nuclear activities
By LEE JONG-HEONUPI CorrespondentSEOUL, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- South Korea has won a landmark deal to build nuclear reactors for the United Arab Emirates, boosting calls for the lifting...
PETN - hard to detect and just 100g can destroy a car
The science behind the explosive pentaerythritol trinitrate, used on Northwest Airlines flight 253 and by the 'shoe bomber'The explosive that nearly brought down Northwest Airlines flight 253 is extremely powerful, allowing terrorists to...
Emerald BioStructures announces discovery of small molecule modulators of PDE4
Emerald BioStructures (formerly deCODE biostructures) announced a publication in the December 27, 2009 advance online issue of Nature Biotechnology, detailing the application of structure-based drug design (SBDD) to engineer new...