Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Nanotechnology: Putting a nanomachine to work
A team of chemists has successfully coupled the directed motion of a light-activated molecular motor to a different chemical unit -- thus taking an important step toward the realization of...
Coupling racemic alkyl mix gives one stereoisomer out of 4 potential compounds
Chiral Ni catalyst recognizes R groups to to drive stereoselectivity
A Quantum of Solid
Researchers in Austria use lasers to levitate and cool a glass nanoparticle into the quantum regime. Although it is trapped in a room temperature environment, the particle's motion is solely...
Bats inspire detectors to help prevent oil and gas pipe leaks
Engineers have developed a new scanning technique inspired by the natural world that can detect corroding metals in oil and gas pipelines. By mimicking how bats use differing wavelengths of...
Crystal symmetry determination in electron diffraction using machine learning
Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is one of the primary tools for crystal structure determination. However, this method requires human input to select potential phases for Hough-based or dictionary pattern matching...
Catalyst-controlled doubly enantioconvergent coupling of racemic alkyl nucleophiles and electrophiles
Stereochemical control in the construction of carbon-carbon bonds between an alkyl electrophile and an alkyl nucleophile is a persistent challenge in organic synthesis. Classical substitution reactions via SN1 and SN2...
Ultrahigh thermal conductivity in isotope-enriched cubic boron nitride
Materials with high thermal conductivity () are of technological importance and fundamental interest. We grew cubic boron nitride (cBN) crystals with controlled abundance of boron isotopes and measured greater...
Highly active cationic cobalt(II) hydroformylation catalysts
The cobalt complexes HCo(CO)4 and HCo(CO)3(PR3) were the original industrial catalysts used for the hydroformylation of alkenes through reaction with hydrogen and carbon monoxide to produce aldehydes. More recent and...
One-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures
We present the experimental synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals heterostructures, a class of materials where different atomic layers are coaxially stacked. We demonstrate the growth of single-crystal layers...
Julie Zimmerman named editor-in-chief of Environmental Science & Technology
Yale professor aims for the journal to become a catalyst for integrated systems thinking
Scientists cooled a nanoparticle to the quantum limit
A tiny nanoparticle has been chilled to the max. Physicists cooled a nanoparticle to the lowest temperature allowed by quantum mechanics. The particle’s motion reached what’s known as the ground state, or lowest...
Machine learning technique speeds up crystal structure determination
Nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a computer-based method that could make it less labor-intensive to determine the crystal structures of various materials and molecules, including...
Wearable health tech gets efficiency upgrade
Engineers have demonstrated a flexible device that harvests the heat energy from the human body to monitor health. The device is more efficient than other flexible harvesters that use body...
Physics of giant bubbles bursts secret of fluid mechanics
A study inspired by street performers making gigantic soap bubbles led to a discovery in fluid mechanics: Mixing different molecular sizes of polymers within a solution increases the ability of...
Near caves and mines, corrugated pipes may interfere with bat echolocation
When entrances to caves and mines—essential roosting places for bats—are blocked to prevent people from going inside, the gates often include a pipe to allow bats to access their roosts....
New research could aid cleaner energy technologies
New research led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York, could aid cleaner energy technologies.
Bats inspire new technique to find corroding metal in oil, gas pipelines
Using the unique ultrasound system deployed by bats as inspiration, engineers have developed a new way to locate corroding metal in oil and gas pipelines.
Citizen science discovers a new form of the northern lights
Working together with space researchers, amateur photographers have discovered a new auroral form. Named 'dunes' by the hobbyists, the phenomenon is believed to be caused by waves of oxygen atoms...
Sustainable 3D-printed super magnets
Magnetic materials play important roles in electrical products. These materials are usually manufactured by means of established production techniques and use of rare earth metals. Several research teams are working...
Self-learning heating control system saves energy
Can buildings learn to save all by themselves? Empa researchers think so. In their experiments, they fed a new self-learning heating control system with temperature data from the previous year...
New research could aid cleaner energy technologies
New research led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York, could aid cleaner energy technologies.
Materials Research Society Partners with Springer Nature
The Materials Research Society (MRS) and Springer Nature have signed a strategic new publishing agreement that will come into effect starting on January 1, 2021. At that time, the two...
Dua Lipa to release 'Future Nostalgia' album in April
Dua Lipa shared a release date for her album "Future Nostalgia" and a trailer for her new single "Physical."
Researchers combine X-rays and laser light to image sprays
Researchers have developed a new laser-based method that provides an unprecedented view of sprays such as the ones used for liquid fuel combustion in vehicle, ship and plane engines. The...
Proposed nuclear waste storage materials may have a corrosion problem
Current safety assessment models don't take into account the synergistic reactions between different materials used in these storage systems
Researchers discover a new way to control infrared light
In the 1950s, the field of electronics began to change when the transistor replaced vacuum tubes in computers. The change, which entailed replacing large and slow components with small and...
Researchers find evidence for metallic hydrogen at 425 gigapascals
A team of researchers, two with the French Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and a third with the Soleil synchrotron, have found evidence of a phase change for hydrogen at a...
Researchers combine X-rays and laser light to image sprays
Researchers have developed a new laser-based method that provides an unprecedented view of sprays such as the ones used for liquid fuel combustion in vehicle, ship and plane engines. The...