Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
The origins of surface roughness: Atomic deformation within and on the surface of a solid
Most natural and artificial surfaces are rough: Metals and even glasses that appear smooth to the naked eye can look like jagged mountain ranges under the microscope. There is currently...
Iran's lies reach new levels of mendacity
Former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli famously said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics." The Iranian regime is past masters at all three.
New technology generates electricity ‘out of thin air’
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a device that uses a natural protein to create electricity from moisture in the air, a new technology they say could...
Fast-charging, long-running, bendy energy storage breakthrough
A new bendable supercapacitor made from graphene, which charges quickly and safely stores a record-high level of energy for use over a long period, has been developed and demonstrated by...
MoEDAL hunts for dyons
A magnetic monopole is a theoretical particle with a magnetic charge. Give it an electric charge, and you get another theoretical beast, dubbed a dyon. Many "grand unified theories" of...
How laser pulses can manipulate magnetization via ultrafast transfer of electrons
Combining experiment and theory, researchers from the Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI) and the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics have disentangled how laser...
Correcting the jitters in quantum devices
Labs around the world are racing to develop new computing and sensing devices that operate on the principles of quantum mechanics and could offer dramatic advantages over their classical counterparts....
In acoustic waves, engineers break reciprocity with 'spacetime-varying metamaterials'
Reciprocity isn't always a good thing.
Creating custom light using 2-D materials
Finding new semiconductor materials that emit light is essential for developing a wide range of electronic devices. But making artificial structures that emit light tailored to our specific needs is...
Researchers report on helical soft-X-ray beams
Controlling the properties of light is of great importance for many areas of physics, including imaging and nanolithography. But for short wavelengths, such as soft X-ray radiation, such control over...
Cool Butterfly Effect: Insect Equipment Could Inspire Heat-Radiating Tech
Butterfly wings contain complex thermodynamic structures that can teach us to make efficient—and colorful—cooling materials -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
A study of catalysts for synthesizing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
A chemist from RUDN University as a part of a team of researchers has synthesized new highly active catalysts for the production of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, which is necessary...
Correcting the “jitters” in quantum devices
Labs around the world are racing to develop new computing and sensing devices that operate on the principles of quantum mechanics and could offer dramatic advantages over their classical counterparts. But these technologies...
Utility player: How hydropower can help get more wind and solar on the grid
Argonne researcher Audun Botterud co-authored a recent paper from the International Energy Agency on hydropower's potential for integrating other renewables on the grid.
In acoustic waves, engineers break reciprocity with 'spacetime-varying metamaterials'
Working in an emerging field known to as "spacetime-varying metamaterials," University at Buffalo engineers have demonstrated the ability to break reciprocity in acoustic waves. The NSF-sponsored research could have implications...
Protein-powered device generates electricity from moisture in the air
Scientists have developed a new device powered by a naturally occurring protein that uses moisture in the air to generate electricity.
New green technology generates electricity 'out of thin air'
Electrical engineers and microbiologists have created a device they call an 'Air-gen.' or air-powered generator, with electrically conductive protein nanowires produced by the microbe Geobacter. The Air-gen connects electrodes to...
Solar wind samples suggest new physics of massive solar ejections
A new study led by the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa has helped refine understanding of the amount of hydrogen, helium and other elements present in violent outbursts from...
BAE Systems successfully tests solar-powered high-altitude plane
A solar-powered unmanned aircraft with a wingspan of 114 feet completed its high-altitude maiden flight in the stratosphere, maker BAE Systems said on Monday.
New chip brings ultra-low power Wi-Fi connectivity to IoT devices
More portable, fully wireless smart home setups. Lower power wearables. Batteryless smart devices. These could all be made possible thanks to a new ultra-low power Wi-Fi radio developed by UC...
Catalyst recycles greenhouse gases into hydrogen gas, fuel, other chemicals
Scientists have developed a new catalyst that can turn greenhouse gases into hydrogen fuel, gas and other chemicals.
New green technology generates electricity 'out of thin air'
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a device that uses a natural protein to create electricity from moisture in the air, a new technology they say could...
More efficient photocatalysts could unlock the potential of solar energy
An organic semiconductor photocatalyst that significantly enhances the generation of hydrogen gas could lead to more efficient energy storage technologies.
Perovskites reveal huge resettable single-photon response
Despite the progress in perovskite device efficiencies, these systems are not fully understood, in particular the frequency- and power-dependence of their response to light. Yu-Hwa Lo and colleagues at the...
New material to surpass traditional oxygen reduction reaction catalysts
A research group led by Prof. YANG Minghui at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) discovered that zirconium nitride (ZrN)...
Lensless on-chip microscopy platform shows slides in full view
When you look through a microscope, whatever is on the stage is magnified to a degree the naked eye can hardly imagine. While traditional microscopy techniques allow miniscule details to...
Straightforward path to linear alkylbenzenes identified
Nickel catalyst provides a route to the cleaning product chemicals with high yields and selectivity
Why chemical makers love the cleaning product industry
Innovation, fast-paced change, and products that go down the drain give the sector its enduring appeal