Physics

  1. Materials Science

    Mother-of-Pearl on Ice: New ceramics might serve in bones and machines

    Ceramics made by freezing water in an unusual way mimic not only the complicated microstructure of mother-of-pearl but also its extraordinary strength and toughness.

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  2. Materials Science

    Engineering membranes from cellular parts

    Chemists have for the first time spun the molecules that make up cellular membranes into fibrous networks.

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  3. Physics

    Thermonuclear Squeeze: Altered method extends bubble-fusion claim

    A technique that some scientists claim generates thermonuclear fusion in a benchtop apparatus apparently works even without its controversial neutron trigger.

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  4. Materials Science

    Making waves

    Scientists have created thin, wavy silicon ribbons that stretch along with their rubber backing.

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  5. Physics

    Quantum Chip: Device handles ions as if they were data

    A new microchip can trap and move an ion, preliminary steps toward carrying out quantum computations on a chip.

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  6. Physics

    Magnetic Overthrow

    Researchers have discovered and begun to exploit a fundamentally new way to exert magnetic influences, at least on extremely small scales.

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  7. Physics

    Peek-a-bubble

    Physicists made a stable, doughnut-shaped air bubble in water by encasing the gas ring in beads that form a stiff shell.

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  8. Physics

    Instant Nano Blocks: One-step process makes trillions of DNA pyramids

    Researchers have unveiled a three-dimensional building component that can be created from DNA in a simple procedure.

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  9. Physics

    Shadows of Reality

    If you’re curious about different ways of viewing the fourth dimension, this Web site provides some intriguing glimpses of this strange realm. The site was created by New York artist Tony Robbin in advance of the publication of his book, Shadows of Reality, on the fourth dimension in relativity, cubism, and modern thought. The site […]

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  10. Materials Science

    Atom Hauler: Molecular rig snags multi-atom loads

    Specialists in atomic-scale construction can now use a new molecule to gather small groups of atoms and drop them, as clusters, at specific locations.

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  11. Physics

    Ghostly Electrons: Particles flit through atom-thin islands

    Electrical measurements of one-atom-thick slices of carbon reveal extraordinary electronic properties, including electrons that seem massless and move at blazing speeds.

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  12. Physics

    Revisiting Einstein’s incomplete theory

    New, ultraprecise measurements of single-particle trajectories confirm that there's something missing from Einstein's mathematical model for Brownian motion.

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