Physics
- Physics
The Brazil nut effect gets more jumbled
New and puzzling evidence for why big particles bob to the top when mixtures of granular materials are shaken-the so-called Brazil nut effect-emerges from an experiment showing that even the air between grains plays a role.
- Physics
Nobel prize: Physics
Three scientists have jointly won the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics for creating the first samples, 6 years ago, of a long-sought and strange state of matter called a Bose-Einstein condensate.
- Materials Science
Adhesive loses its stick with heat
A new type of epoxy adhesive loses its stickiness when heated, allowing easy separation of materials that were once tightly bonded.
- Materials Science
Tiny detector finds hydrogen better
Researchers have made a miniature device that can quickly detect hydrogen leaks.
- Physics
Magnets, not magic, make gas bulbs bad
Once as baffling as black magic, the random failures of glass bulbs used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) now appear to stem from unexpected magnetization of the glass.
- Physics
Path to new elements now looks steeper
Making novel, superheavy elements is harder than was previously expected, according to a new experiment, but the findings may also help physicists better choose which atoms to smash into which.
- Physics
Constant Changes
Evidence from the early universe that one of the so-called constants of nature, known as alpha, was once slightly smaller than it is today hints that the laws of physics themselves may vary over time and space.
- Physics
Atomic Crowds Tied by Quantum Thread
Quantum states of record numbers of atoms—entire atom clouds—get blended together by physicists wielding a new, relatively simple technique in quantum telecommunications and computing.
- Materials Science
Ceramics stretch for future applications
Researchers have created a ceramic that stretches to 10 times its original length in record time.
- Physics
Model may expose how friction lets loose
Rather than just grinding past each other, sliding surfaces may tremble with minuscule ripples that overcome friction as they move along.
- Materials Science
Materials use nitric oxide to kill bacteria
A novel coating may offer a new way to fend off microbial buildup on catheters, artificial hips, and replacement cardiac valves.
- Materials Science
Speed demon gets hooked on silicon
A method for coating silicon with high-performance semiconductors such as gallium arsenide may make faster, low-power microcircuits both cheaper and more widespread.
