Physics

  1. Physics

    Matter waves: Be fruitful and multiply

    For the first time, physicists induced atoms to amplify a selected matter wave in a manner analogous to a cascade of photons amplifying the characteristic electromagnetic wave of an optical laser.

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  2. Materials Science

    Impurity clouds from all sides now

    For the first time, scientists have obtained detailed, three-dimensional images of line defects in steel.

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  3. Materials Science

    Small-scale glues stick to surfaces

    Tailored molecular glues can connect together tiny particles for nanotechnology applications.

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  4. Physics

    Time’s arrow may make U-turns in universe

    Time may run backwards for isolated chunks of matter in our universe and that reversed state could be probed gently from the forward-going realm without disturbing the time arrow.

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  5. Physics

    Computers Crunch Quantum Collisions

    Physicists have mathematically described what happens when an electron collides with a hydrogen atom, accomplishing a longstanding goal.

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  6. Physics

    Loud Loop: New explanation of whip-snapping unfurls

    The wake of a loop zooming along a whip may silence the faster-moving tip so the loop actually causes the whip's loud bang.

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  7. Physics

    Atom laser gets a full tank

    A method to refill Bose-Einstein condensates—ultracold clouds of atoms all in the same quantum state—may soon make possible the first atom lasers that can shoot a stream of condensate atoms indefinitely.

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  8. Materials Science

    Beyond Jell-O: New ideas gel in the lab

    Researchers have created a new class of hydrogels that might prove useful in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and other biomedical applications.

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  9. Physics

    Tiny tungsten beams lord over light

    By filtering radiated heat, a novel microstructure of crisscrossed tungsten beams promises to improve the efficiency of light bulbs and of heat-to-electricity conversion devices.

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  10. Physics

    Unexpected Boost: A superconductivity killer’s silver lining

    Among superconductors—materials able to conduct electricity without resistance—an effect that normally diminishes current-carrying ability surprisingly turns out to sometimes enhance it.

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  11. Physics

    Detector spots solar chameleons

    A new measurement of the sun's emission of ghostly neutrinos indicates that the prevailing theory of particle physics needs repair.

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  12. Physics

    Fluid Beauty

    Visualizations of a swirling jet, an insect’s wake, agitated sand, and other types of fluid motion can produce stunning images. The American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics annually recognizes research efforts that generate images having both scientific merit and aesthetic appeal. Its gallery of fluid motion features a variety of winning photographs (pdf images) […]

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