Physics

  1. Physics

    Tiptoe acrobats get it just right

    Physicists have found that a water-skating insect leaps off the water surface by applying just the right amount of force. With video.

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  2. Physics

    Airy theory, but true

    Physicists have created a beam of light that bends in a curve.

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  3. Physics

    Light Swell: Optical rogue waves resemble oceanic ones

    Signals in optical fibers can combine into rare, short-lived spikes that resemble oceanic rogue waves.

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  4. Physics

    15 = 3 × 5: Photons do their first quantum math

    Physicists have performed the first calculation involving manipulation of the quantum states of photons, another step on the road to optical quantum computers.

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  5. Physics

    Sharper than expected

    A new technique beats the resolution limits of ordinary microscopes in a way that seems to defy conventional optical theory.

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  6. Physics

    Einstein Unruffled: Relativity passes stringent new tests

    The moon's orbit and the dilated time of speeding atoms give new meaning to 'Einstein was right.'

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  7. Materials Science

    Snappy Transition: Venus flytrap inspires new materials

    Inspired by the quick-shut action of the Venus flytrap, researchers have designed a patterned surface with microscale hills that can rapidly flip to form valleys.

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  8. Physics

    Shadow World

    Physicists have found new evidence for a 10-year-old conjecture that bridges the gap between the many-dimensional space of string theory and more familiar theorizing.

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  9. Physics

    Rock, paper, toxins

    A computer model simulates a kind of rock-paper-scissors competition among three species of virtual bacteria.

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  10. Materials Science

    Printing scheme could yield 3-D photonic crystals

    An innovative printing scheme makes three-dimensional crystal structures that could be used to control the flow of light.

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  11. Physics

    Let There Be Aluminum-42: Experiment creates surprise isotope

    In experiments that created the heaviest isotope yet of magnesium, an unexpected isotope of aluminum also showed up.

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  12. Materials Science

    Polymer could improve natural gas purification

    A new polymer membrane that efficiently separates carbon dioxide from methane could greatly ease the processing of natural gas.

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