Physics
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Physics
Hot and heavy matter runs a 4 trillion degree fever
Protons and neutrons melted in collisions of gold atoms have created the hottest matter ever made in a lab
- Materials Science
A charge for freezing water at different temperatures
Experiments use positive and negative forces to control ice formation at temperatures well below the normal freezing point.
- Physics
Algae use quantum trick to harvest light
A new study finds that proteins used in photosynthesis take advantage of electrons’ wavelike properties
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- Physics
Quantum computer simulates hydrogen molecule just right
Team builds device that uses two photons to calculate electron energies.
- Earth
Tsunamis could telegraph their imminent arrival
Telecommunication cables could give early warnings of giant waves.
- Materials Science
Breakup doesn’t keep hydrogel down
Scientists create a new material that is strong, soft and self-healing.
- Physics
Just a stone’s throw forms a supersonic jet
Objects hitting water can move air at the speed of sound.
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- Physics
Symmetry found hidden in supercold atoms
Scientists have detected an elusive, complex symmetry in the frequencies of resonating particles
- Physics
2009 Science News of the Year: Matter & Energy
First programmable quantum computer Ultracold beryllium ions are at the heart of the first programmable quantum computer, an advance that brings scientists closer to harnessing the power of quantum systems for general computing. The new system, researchers report in Nature Physics, flexed its versatility by performing 160 randomly chosen processing routines (SN: 12/19/09, p. 13). […]
- Physics
Frozen light stays fresh longer
Researchers have trapped light in an ultracold cloud of atoms for 1.5 seconds.
