Physics

  1. Physics

    New equation fits nitrogen to a T

    An elaborate, new equation that yields more accurate values for nitrogen's properties might have a multimillion-dollar impact in the cryogenic fluids industry.

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  2. Physics

    Gecko toes tap intermolecular bonds

    For scurrying upside down on smooth ceilings and other gravity-defying feats, lizards known as geckos may exploit intermolecular forces between the surface and billions of tiny stalks under their toes.

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  3. Physics

    Electronic Acrobats: Tidily tweaking electrons’ twirls

    The first demonstration of three-dimensional, electrical control of a quantum property of electrons known as spin marks an important step toward a new type of spin-based electronics and, possibly, quantum computers.

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  4. Materials Science

    Ancient seal technology shows its age

    Modern technologies reveal than an ancient method of engraving tough quartz in Mesopotamia was adopted some 1,500 years later than scholars had thought.

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  5. Materials Science

    Natural Healing: Nanothread mesh could lead to novel bandages

    A new material made from clot-promoting protein fibers may serve as a wound covering that speeds healing and never needs removing.

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  6. Physics

    Streams plus nanostrands equals electricity

    A dense bundle of carbon nanotubes develops a voltage difference along its length when immersed in a slow-flowing liquid.

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  7. Materials Science

    Microscopic glass ribbons provide molecular labels

    A new type of barcode too small to see with the naked eye holds promise for biomedical research, law enforcement, and everyday life.

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  8. Physics

    Powers of Ten

    Florida State University’s “Molecular Expressions” Web site offers a fascinating sequence of images, each one 10 times bigger or smaller in scale than the one preceding or following it. The journey ranges from a view of the universe 10 million light years away from the Milky Way to an impressionistic glimpse of a diminutive sea […]

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  9. Physics

    Quantum computers to keep an eye on

    A primitive ion-based computer exploiting the weirdness of quantum mechanics has taken an important step forward in problem solving.

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  10. Physics

    Clocking gravity

    The first attempt to measure the speed of gravity finds it roughly equal to that of light, as expected, though not everyone agrees that the method used can actually measure gravity's speed.

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  11. Materials Science

    Conch yields clues for future materials

    A conch's tough, calcium carbonate shell resists fractures because a protein surrounds the mineral crystals throughout the shell.

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  12. Materials Science

    Quick-Change Surface: Material repels water on command

    Researchers have modified a gold surface so that it switches from a water-attracting mode to a water-repelling one on command.

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