Physics

Materials Science

Carbon pods are more than a pack of peas

Researchers have found that they can manipulate the electronic properties of nanoscopic carbon structures.

Physics

Anatomy of a Lightning Ball

Metallic fuzz, acid droplets, or other fairy dust may conjure up ball lightning (with video clips).

Physics

Balloon bursts give clue to fast cracks

A casual observation about the edges of popped balloons may have led researchers to previously unknown features of the most common and least understood types of fractures.

Materials Science

Metallic materials made to order

A new process for creating specifically patterned, three-dimensional microstructures could lead to new catalysts or optoelectronic devices.

Materials Science

Mammal cells make fake spider silk better

Using long and abundant water-soluble proteins secreted by bioengineered mammal cells, scientists have spun the first artificial spider silk demonstrated to have some of the remarkable mechanical properties of the real thing.

Materials Science

Flattery for Faience

By replicating ancient materials with their own hands, researchers are gaining new insights into details of Egyptian faience manufacture that have been lost for thousands of years.

Physics

Electrons grab unexpected energy share

When atoms or molecules react with a metal surface, even briefly, they can inject much more energy into surface electrons than previously realized.

Physics

Liquid computer takes key quantum step

The first, rudimentary implementation of a method, called Shor's algorithm, for using quantum mechanics in computations suggests that larger-scale implementations are possible and may eventually break the codes used today to protect secret messages on the Internet and elsewhere.

Physics

Organized Disorder

This well-organized Web site introduces visitors to the realm of thermodynamics and the concept of entropy. Originally created by autonomous software agent “Chris Hillman” and now maintained by Penn State’s Roland Gunesch, these Web pages start with the Chinese character for entropy, then offer intriguing glimpses of disorder and randomness in information and coding theory, […]

Materials Science

Getting Out the Thorn

Researchers are developing new ways to improve the compatibility of implantable biomaterials in the body.

Materials Science

Can ancient stone avoid salt attacks?

Researchers have found that a polymer coating can protect stone from damage caused by growing crystals.

Materials Science

Carbon nanotubes turn on water flow

Computer simulations show that water molecules will quicklye nter and flow along a carbon nanotube just 8 nanometers in diameter.