PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Search for advanced materials aided by discovery of hidden symmetries in nature

Search for advanced materials aided by discovery of hidden symmetries in nature
2011-04-03
(Press-News.org) A new way of understanding the structure of proteins, polymers, minerals, and engineered materials will be published in the May 2011 issue of the journal Nature Materials. The discovery by two Penn State University researchers is a new type of symmetry in the structure of materials, which the researchers say greatly expands the possibilities for discovering or designing materials with desired properties. The research is expected to have broad relevance in many development efforts involving physical, chemical, biological, or engineering disciplines including, for example, the search for advanced ferroelectric ferromagnet materials for next-generation ultrasound devices and computers. The paper describing the research will be posted early online by the journal on 3 April 2011, prior to its publication in the journal's May 2011 print edition.

Before the publication of this paper, scientists and engineers had five different types of symmetries to use as tools for understanding the structures of materials whose building blocks are arranged in fairly regular patterns. Four types of symmetries had been known for thousands of years -- called rotation, inversion, rotation inversion, and translation -- and a fifth type -- called time reversal -- had been discovered about 60 years ago. Now, Gopalan and Litvin have added a new, sixth, type, called rotation reversal. As a result, the number of known ways in which the components of such crystalline materials can be combined in symmetrical ways has multiplied from no more than 1,651 before to more than 17,800 now. "We mathematically combined the new rotation-reversal symmetry with the previous five symmetries and now we know that symmetrical groups can form in crystalline materials in a much larger number of ways," said Daniel B. Litvin, distinguished professor of physics, who coauthored the study with Venkatraman Gopalan, professor of materials science and engineering.

The new rotation-reversal symmetry enriches the mathematical language that researchers use to describe a crystalline material's structure and to predict its properties. "Rotation reversal is an absolutely new approach that is different in that it acts on a static component of the material's structure, not on the whole structure all at once," Litvin said. "It is important to look at symmetries in materials because symmetry dictates all natural laws in our physical universe."

The most simple type of symmetry -- rotation symmetry -- is obvious, for example, when a square shape is rotated around its center point: the square shows its symmetrical character by looking exactly the same at four points during the rotation: at 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, and 360 degrees. Gopalan and Litvin say their new rotation-reversal symmetry is obvious, as well, if you know where to look.

The "eureka moment" of the discovery occurred when Gopalan recognized that the simple concept of reversing the direction of a spiral-shaped structure from clockwise to counterclockwise opens the door to a distinctly new type of symmetry. Just as a square shape has the quality of rotation symmetry even when it is not being rotated, Gopalan realized that a spiral shape has the quality of rotation-reversal symmetry even when it is not being physically forced to rotate in the reverse direction. Their further work with this rotation-reversal concept revealed many more structural symmetries than previously had been recognized in materials containing various types of directionally oriented structures. Many important biological molecules, for example, are said to be either "right handed" or "left handed," including DNA, sugars, and proteins.

"We found that rotation-reversal symmetry also exists in paired structures where the partner components lean toward each other, then away from each other in paired patterns symmetrically throughout a material," Gopalan said. These "tilting octahedral" structures are common in a wide variety of crystalline materials, where all the component structures are tightly interconnected by networks of shared atoms. The researchers say it is possible that components of materials with rotation-reversal symmetry could be engineered to function as on/off switches for a variety of novel applications.

The now-much-larger number of possible symmetry groups also is expected to be useful in identifying materials with unusual combinations of properties. "For example, the goal in developing a ferroelectric ferromagnet is to have a material in which the electrical dipoles and the magnetic moments coexist and are coupled in the same material -- that is, a material that allows electrical control of magnetism -- which would be very useful to have in computers," Gopalan said. The addition of rotation-reversal symmetry to the materials-science toolbox may help researchers to identify and search for structures in materials that could have strong ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties.

Gopalan and Litvin said a goal of their continuing research is to describe each of the more than 17,800 different combinations of the six symmetry types to give materials scientists a practical new tool for significantly increasing the efficiency and effectiveness in finding novel materials. The team also plans to conduct laboratory experiments that make use of their theoretical work on rotation-reversal symmetry. "We have done some predictions, we will test those predictions experimentally," Litvin said. "We are in the very early stages of implementing the results we have described in our new theory paper." Gopalan said, for example, that he has predicted new forms for optical properties in the commonplace quartz crystals that are used widely in watches and electronic equipment, and that his group now is testing these predictions experimentally.



INFORMATION:



The National Science Foundation provided financial support for this research through its Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers program.



CONTACTS

Venkatraman Gopalan: cell 814-933-2090, office 814-865-2910, vgopalan@psu.edu
Daniel B. Litvin: 610-396-6144, u3c@psu.edu
Barbara Kennedy (PIO): 814-863-4682, science@psu.edu

IMAGES

High-resolution images associated with this research are online at http://www.science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2011-news/GopalanLitvin3-2011


[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Search for advanced materials aided by discovery of hidden symmetries in nature

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Heart drug cuts prostate cancer risk; holds potential for therapeutic use

2011-04-03
Johns Hopkins scientists and their colleagues paired laboratory and epidemiologic data to find that men using the cardiac drug, digoxin, had a 24 percent lower risk for prostate cancer. The scientists say further research about the discovery may lead to use of the drug, or new ones that work the same way, to treat the cancer. Digoxin, made from the foxglove plant, has been used for centuries in folk medicine and for decades to treat congestive heart failure and heart rhythm abnormalities. It also emerged as a leading candidate among 3,000 drugs screened by the Johns ...

Nanoparticles offer hope for common skin allergy

Nanoparticles offer hope for common skin allergy
2011-04-03
Boston, MA - Tiny particles only billionths of a meter in diameter—about two thousand would fit across the width of a human hair—could offer big hope in a small package to the many millions of people who are allergic to the nickel in everything from jewelry to coins and cell phones, say scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). In the April 3 online issue of Nature Nanotechnology, the team will report a new approach to preventing the common skin allergy. Approximately ten to fifteen percent of the US population, or over 30 to 45 million people, plus many more ...

BestSlots.co.uk Wins Endorsement From eCOGRA for Its Online Slots Guide

2011-04-03
Following a successful first year online delivering independent consumer news and reviews for UK online slots enthusiasts, BestSlots.co.uk has cemented its reputation for trustworthy content and service with recognition by eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) as one of its Reputable Portals. The eCOGRA organisation is a non-profit, independent regulatory body that was formed with a mission to protect players by addressing the need for fair gaming and responsible operator conduct, setting standards for the online gaming industry that are enforced ...

Regional prevention project involving 10,000 adults cuts heart attacks by 25 percent

2011-04-03
The Heart of New Ulm Project, which is merging environmental, peer leadership and individual interventions across an entire rural Minnesota community with the assistance of a healthcare system, worksites and the general community to prevent coronary heart disease, has shown a 24 percent reduction in the number of acute heart attacks in a five-quarter period, compared with the previous five-quarter period of evaluation. This study will be presented at the 60th annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions in New Orleans on April 3. “Hearts Beat Back: ...

Videgameprices.co.uk Brings UK Gamers More Bang for Their Buck

2011-04-03
Videogameprices.co.uk is a new online resource for PC and console gamers dedicated to helping them track down the best current prices on popular titles. Taking its cue from the huge success of UK price comparison sites such as gocompare.com and comparethemarket.com in the realms of finance and insurance products, Videogameprices.co.uk has set out to provide UK gamers with a streamlined service tailored specifically to their interests, aggregating the latest comparative prices from the most competitive, reputable games retailers. The company's founder, David Newstead, ...

Common 'chaperone' protein found to work in surprising way, say Scripps Research scientists

2011-04-03
LA JOLLA, CA – April 3, 2011 – In the constantly morphing field of protein structure, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute offer yet another surprise: a common "chaperone" protein in cells thought to help other proteins fold has been shown instead to loosen them. The study was published in the April 3 issue of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. The research offers the first structural insights into the shape of a "client" protein in the presence of a helper or "chaperone" protein. Specifically, the study examined the client protein p53 tumor suppressor ...

4 new genes for Alzheimer's disease risk identified by Alzheimer's disease consortium

2011-04-03
CHICAGO — In the largest study of its kind, researchers from a consortium of 44 universities and research institutions in the United States, including Rush University Medical Center, identified four new genes linked to Alzheimer's disease. Each gene individually adds to the risk of having this common form of dementia later in life. The findings, published in the April issue of Nature Genetics, offer new insight into the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease. "This is a major advance in the field thanks to many scientists across the country working together over ...

Alzheimer's disease consortium identifies four new genes for Alzheimer's disease risk

2011-04-03
PHILADELPHIA – In the largest study of its kind, researchers from a consortium led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the University of Miami, and the Boston University School of Medicine, identified four new genes linked to Alzheimer's disease. Each gene individually adds to the risk of having this common form of dementia later in life. These new genes offer a portal into what causes Alzheimer's disease and is a major advance in the field. The study, conducted by the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium, reports genetic analysis of more than 11,000 ...

Potential treatment found for debilitating bone disease in wounded soldiers and children

2011-04-03
Contact: John Ascenzi Ascenzi@email.chop.edu 267-426-6055 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Rick Cushman Richard.Cushman@jefferson.edu 215-955-2240 Thomas Jefferson University Potential treatment found for debilitating bone disease in wounded soldiers and children Promising new research reveals a potentially highly effective treatment for heterotopic ossification (HO), a painful and often debilitating abnormal buildup of bone tissue. HO comes in two main forms—one that appears in children and is congenital, another that strikes wounded military personnel ...

YPI Management Deliver 60m Yacht by Abeking & Rasmussen and Present 3 New Luxury Yachts Onto the Sales Market

YPI Management Deliver 60m Yacht by Abeking & Rasmussen and Present 3 New Luxury Yachts Onto the Sales Market
2011-04-03
After a successful 2010 campaign that saw buyers sail away in the stunning MARY-JEAN, a 2011 finalist at the World Superyacht Show as well as the classic ATHOS sailing yacht, YPI Group were again pleased to announce the delivery of a new 60m luxury yacht to a delighted owner. Patrick Renard was the yacht manager assigned to the project that saw him spending months overseeing the yacht's construction and exacting the buyers wishes, "after months on a project, especially of this size and nature, it is always a great feeling knowing that we were able to give the client ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Inspired by bacteria’s defense strategies

Research spotlight: Combination therapy shows promise for overcoming treatment resistance in glioblastoma

University of Houston co-leads $25 million NIH-funded grant to study the delay of nearsightedness in children

NRG Oncology PREDICT-RT study completes patient accrual, tests individualized concurrent therapy and radiation for high-risk prostate cancer

Taking aim at nearsightedness in kids before it’s diagnosed

With no prior training, dogs can infer how similar types of toys work, even when they don’t look alike

Three deadliest risk factors of a common liver disease identified in new study

Dogs can extend word meanings to new objects based on function, not appearance

Palaeontology: South American amber deposit ‘abuzz’ with ancient insects

Oral microbes linked to increased risk of pancreatic cancer

Soccer heading does most damage to brain area critical for cognition

US faces rising death toll from wildfire smoke, study finds

Scenario projections of COVID-19 burden in the US, 2024-2025

Disparities by race and ethnicity in percutaneous coronary intervention

Glioblastoma cells “unstick” from their neighbors to become more deadly

Oral bacterial and fungal microbiome and subsequent risk for pancreatic cancer

New light on toxicity of Bluefin tuna

Menopause drug reduces hot flashes by more than 70%, international clinical trial finds

FGF21 muscle hormone associated with slow ALS progression and extended survival

Hitting the right note: The healing power of music therapy in the cardiac ICU

Cardiovascular disease risk rises in Mexico, despite improved cholesterol control

Flexible optical touch sensor simultaneously pinpoints pressure strength and location

Achalasia diagnosis simplified to AI plus X-ray

PolyU scholars pioneer smart and sustainable personal cooling technologies to address global extreme heat

NIH grant aims for childhood vaccine against HIV

Menstrual cycle and long COVID: A relation confirmed

WMO report on global water resources: 2024 was characterized by both extreme drought and intense rainfall

New findings explain how a mutation in a cancer-related gen causes pulmonary fibrosis

Thermal trigger

SNU materials science and engineering team identifies reconstruction mechanism of copper alloy catalysts for CO₂ conversion

[Press-News.org] Search for advanced materials aided by discovery of hidden symmetries in nature