Physics and Matter News - November 2007 Archives
A technique for controlling the magnetic properties of a commonly used blue dye could revolutionise computer processing power, according to research published recently in Advanced Materials.
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In a paper published recently in the journal Nature Physics, an international team of space scientists led by researchers from the University of New Hampshire present findings on the first experimental evidence that points in a new direction toward the solution of a longstanding, central problem of plasma astrophysics and space physics.
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Einstein's self-proclaimed "biggest blunder" - his postulation of a cosmological constant (a force that opposes gravity and keeps the universe from collapsing) - may not be such a blunder after all, according to the research of an international team of scientists that includes two Texas A&M University researchers.
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Findings of international test have implications for pharmaceutical development.
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Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have used a uniquely constructed perforated diamond cell to investigate oxide glass structures at high pressures in unprecedented detail.
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 | Breathing new life into an old idea, MIT Institute Professor Mildred S. Dresselhaus and co-workers are developing innovative materials for controlling temperatures that could lead to substantial energy savings by allowing more efficient car engines, photovoltaic cells and electronic devices. ...> Full Article |
A theoretical analysis of polymer behavior suggests that large molecules should behave very differently when they are in a vacuum than when in solution. The finding suggests that with better understanding of the physics involved, analysis techniques that operate in vacuums--such as mass spectrometry and studies of organic molecules in space--could yield far more information than they do now.
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 | The sale of opals contributes $500 million to the Australian economy each year, yet up until now, finding the buried treasures has largely been a question of luck and perseverance for miners. A new technique capitalizes on natural radiation emitted by the opals to dramatically improve the detection process. ...> Full Article |
Chemists have prepared the first uranium methylidyne molecule ever reported, despite the reactivity of uranium atoms with other molecules. This new molecule is a hydrocarbon containing a uranium-carbon triple-bond.
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 | The big world of classical physics mostly seems sensible: waves are waves and particles are particles, and the moon rises whether anyone watches or not. The tiny quantum world is different: particles are waves (and vice versa), and quantum systems remain in a state of multiple possibilities until they are measured â€" which amounts to an intrusion by an observer from the big world â€" and forced to choose: the exact position or momentum of an electron, say. ...> Full Article |
According to the authors the research could prove to be of great importance for the future development of quantum computation. The experiment illustrates the transition between the quantum and the macroscopic worlds. Conclusions appear in the latest issue of Science.
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The University of St. Andrews is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Séamus Davis of Cornell University to a SUPA Distinguished Research Professorship.
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 | Streams of granular particles bouncing off a target in a simple tabletop experiment produce liquid-like behavior also witnessed in a massive research apparatus that simulates the birth of the universe. ...> Full Article |
Work continues on repairs to the pool at Penn State's Breazeale Reactor where contractors last week inspected the walls of the south end of the pool and made repairs to the divider wall that separates the two portions of the pool.
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 | Scientists may be one step closer to understanding the atomic forces that cause friction, thanks to a recently published study by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Houston and the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. ...> Full Article |
 | Engineers at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University have successfully tested a groundbreaking new magnet design that could literally shed new light on nanoscience and semiconductor research. ...> Full Article |
Rensselaer researcher will lead $3 million DoE study to improve safety of tomorrow’s reactors
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 | Computer Simulations May Provide Clues to Understanding Superconductivity and Fabricating New Superconducting Materials ...> Full Article |
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New species of ancient crocodile discovered
Kitchen gadget inspires scientist to make more effective plastic electronics
Making memories last
Ferroelectric switching discovered for first time in soft biological tissue
Forensic research extends detection of cyanide poisoning
The wild early lives of today's most massive galaxies
What really happened prior to 'Snowball Earth'?
Shakespeare's skill 'more in grammar than in words'
Detailed picture of how myoV 'walks' along actin tracks
Need muscle for a tough spot? Turn to fat stem cells
Earth's energy budget remained out of balance despite unusually low solar activity
Pictures of food create feelings of hunger
Mighty mesh
Sweeten up your profits with the right hybrid
Patterns of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in Galapagos reptiles
Bilayer graphene works as an insulator
Patterns of chromosome abnormality: The key to cancer?
Advantages of living in the dark: The multiple evolution events of 'blind' cavefish
Snakes improve search-and-rescue robots
Enhancing cognition in older adults also changes personality
Magnetic actuation enables nanoscale thermal analysis
A new artificial intelligence technique to speed the planning of tasks when resources are limited
'Tiger mothers' should tame parenting approach
Film coatings made from whey
Growing US violent extremism by the numbers
If a fat tax is coming, here's how to make it efficient, effective
Bobsled runs -- fast and yet safe
Fruit fly intestine may hold secret to the fountain of youth
Bright lights of purity
How seawater could corrode nuclear fuel
Does antimatter weigh more, less or the same as matter?
Scientists create first atomic X-ray laser
Jupiter's 'Trojans' on an atomic scale
World's longest superconductor cable