Physics
press releases.

Physics18 Nov 2024

Authoritative review makes connections between electron density topology, future of materials modeling and how we understand mechanisms of phenomena in familiar devices at the atomistic level

2024 marks an important milestone with the publication of a comprehensive review in Chemical Reviews on electron density-based methods. The review, authored by an international team, was spearheaded by leading researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo (Sergei Manzhos and Manabu Ihara of the Ihara-Manzhos lab) and included collaborators from Canada (Paul Ayers of McMaster University and Cherif Matta of Mount Saint Vincent University), China (Samantha Jenkins of Hunan Normal University), and the USA (Michele Pavanello from Rutgers University). The project also saw significant contributions from young researchers, Daniel Koch from ...

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Physics13 Nov 2024

First ever study finds sexual and gender minority physicians and residents have higher levels of burnout, lower professional fulfillment

EMBARGOED by JAMA Network Open until 11 a.m., ET until Nov. 13, 2024 Contact: Gina DiGravio, 617-358-7838, ginad@bu.edu (Boston)—Burnout is a public health crisis that affects the well-being of physicians and other healthcare workers, and the populations they serve. Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, lack of motivation, and feelings of ineffectiveness and inadequate achievement at work. Past studies have shown that compared to the general working U.S. population, physicians ...

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Physics8 Nov 2024

New material to make next generation of electronics faster and more efficient

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (11/08/2024) — Researchers at the University of Minnesota have achieved a new material that will be pivotal in making the next generation of high-power electronics faster, transparent and more efficient. This artificially designed material allows electrons to move faster while remaining transparent to both visible and ultraviolet light, breaking the previous record. The research, published in Science Advances, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, marks a significant leap forward in semiconductor ...

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Physics4 Nov 2024

Nanoscale transistors could enable more efficient electronics

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Silicon transistors, which are used to amplify and switch signals, are a critical component in most electronic devices, from smartphones to automobiles. But silicon semiconductor technology is held back by a fundamental physical limit that prevents transistors from operating below a certain voltage. This limit, known as “Boltzmann tyranny,” hinders the energy efficiency of computers and other electronics, especially with the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies that demand faster computation. In an effort to overcome this fundamental limit of silicon, MIT researchers fabricated a different type ...

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Physics28 Oct 2024

A single thin film perfectly absorbs all electromagnetic waves!

The research team of Dr. Byeongjin Park and Dr. Sang Bok Lee from the Composites & Convergence Materials Research Division at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), has developed the world's first ultra-thin film composite material capable of absorbing over 99% of electromagnetic waves from various frequency bands (such as 5G/6G, WiFi, and autonomous driving radar) using a single material. This electromagnetic wave absorption and shielding material is less than 0.5mm thick and is distinguished by its low reflectance ...

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Physics25 Oct 2024

Invisible anatomy in the fruit fly uterus

You have likely not spent much time thinking about the uterus of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. But then, neither have most scientists, even though Drosophila is one of the most thoroughly studied lab animals. Now a team of biologists at the University of California, Davis, has taken the first deep look at the Drosophila uterus and found some surprises, which could have implications not just for understanding insect reproduction and potentially, pest control, but also for understanding fertility in humans. The work is published Oct. 25 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Drosophila have been a favorite subject for ...

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Physics25 Oct 2024

Pitchers rejoice? Plasma irradiation might prevent tendon re-tears

The human body, filled with muscles and moving parts, is far from indestructible. Injuries are common, especially where tendons and bones connect. In Japan, rotator cuff tears affect approximately 1 in 4 people over age 50, and reports state that even after surgery, about 20% of cases result in re-tears. To combat this, new healing methods to bolster current clinical practices are needed. Graduate student Katsumasa Nakazawa, Associate Professor Hiromitsu Toyoda, and then Professor Hiroaki Nakamura at Osaka Metropolitan University’s ...

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Physics24 Oct 2024

Texas A&M physicist Kevin Kelly earns American Physical Society Early Career Award

Dr. Kevin J. Kelly, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M University and a member of the George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the American Physical Society’s Henry Primakoff Award for Early-Career Particle Physics in recognition of his contributions and promising career potential in fundamental particle physics and cosmology. Kelly, who joined the Texas A&M faculty in 2022, works at the interface of two of the biggest outstanding mysteries in particle physics: ...

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Physics24 Oct 2024

Virginia Tech team creates new method of flexing on electronics

If a phone or other electronic device was made of soft materials, how would that change its use? Would it be more durable? If hospital health monitoring equipment was made of less rigid components, would it make it easier for patients to wear? While electronics of that type may still be far in the future, Virginia Tech researchers have developed an innovative method for constructing the soft electronic components that make them up. The focus of a project from the team of Michael Bartlett, principal investigator and associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, ...

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Physics22 Oct 2024

Geometric mechanics shape the dog's nose

The noses of many mammals, such as dogs, ferrets and cows, feature grooves forming a multitude of polygons. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has analyzed in detail how these patterns form in the embryo using 3D imaging techniques and computer simulations. The researchers discovered that differential growth of the skin tissue layers leads to the formation of domes, which are mechanically supported by the underlying blood vessels. This work describes for the first time this morphogenetic process, which could help explain the formation of other biological structures ...

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Physics18 Oct 2024

Laser solid-phase synthesis of graphene shell-encapsulated high-entropy alloy nanoparticles

Rapid synthesis of high-entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA NPs) offers a new opportunity to develop functional materials in various applications. Although some methods have successfully produced HEA NPs, these methods generally require rigorous conditions such as high pressure, high temperature, restricted atmosphere and limited substrates, which impede practical viability. In a new paper published in Light: Science & Applications, a team of scientists, led by Professor Zhu Liu from the Research Centre for Laser Extreme Manufacturing, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed ...

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Physics16 Oct 2024

Innovating in the corners where atoms meet

How can we engineer materials that are stronger and lighter? What about new materials for extreme conditions such as in jet engines and spacecrafts? The answer, says Fadi Abdeljawad, an associate professor of materials science and engineering in Lehigh University's P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, might be hidden in the infinitesimally tiny regions, or boundaries, where atoms in crystals come together. Along with his collaborators at the U.S. Department of Energy's Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), Abdeljawad is uncovering how those ...

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Physics15 Oct 2024

MIT team takes a major step toward fully 3D-printed active electronics

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Active electronics — components that can control electrical signals — usually contain semiconductor devices that receive, store, and process information. These components, which must be made in a clean room, require advanced fabrication technology that is not widely available outside a few specialized manufacturing centers. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the lack of widespread semiconductor fabrication facilities was one cause of a worldwide electronics shortage, which drove up costs for consumers and had implications in everything from economic growth to national defense. The ability to 3D print an entire, active electronic ...

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Physics11 Oct 2024

Engineering perovskite materials at the atomic level paves way for new lasers, LEDs

Researchers have developed and demonstrated a technique that allows them to engineer a class of materials called layered hybrid perovskites (LHPs) down to the atomic level, which dictates precisely how the materials convert electrical charge into light. The technique opens the door to engineering materials tailored for use in next-generation printed LEDs and lasers – and holds promise for engineering other materials for use in photovoltaic devices. Perovskites, which are defined by their crystalline ...

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Physics9 Oct 2024

Wavelength-independent and photoinitiator-free laser 3D nanolithography

Laser direct writing (LDW) employing multi-photon 3D polymerisation is a scientific and industrial lithography tool used in various fields such as micro-optics, medicine, metamaterials, programmable materials, etc., due to the fusion of high-throughput and fine features down to hundreds of nm. Some limitations of technology applicability emerge from photo-resin properties as any material modifications can strongly affect its printability due to applied photoexcitation conditions. In a paper published at Light: Advanced Manufacturing, a team of scientists, led by Professor Mangirdas Malinauskas from Laser Research Center at Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania, coworkers ...

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Physics8 Oct 2024

UC Irvine researchers discover atomic-level mechanism in polycrystalline materials

Irvine, Calif., Oct. 8, 2024 — Researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other international institutions have for the first time achieved atomic-scale observations of grain rotation in polycrystalline materials. Widely used in electronic devices, aerospace technologies, automotive applications and solar energy systems, these substances have long been studied for their unique properties and structural dynamics. Using state-of-the-art microscopy tools housed in the UC Irvine Materials Research Institute, scientists were able to heat samples of platinum nanocrystalline thin films and observe the mechanism driving grain rotation in unprecedented ...

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Physics8 Oct 2024

First successful demonstration of a dual-media NV diamond laser system

Measuring tiny magnetic fields, such as those generated by brain waves, enables many new novel opportunities for medical diagnostics and treatment. The research team led by Dr. Jan Jeske at Fraunhofer IAF is working on a globally innovative approach to precise magnetic field measurements: Laser Threshold Magnetometry. The researchers have now combined an NV diamond and a laser diode in a resonator, successfully demonstrating the sensor system with two active media for the first time. This outstanding paper has been published in Science Advances and represents a significant progress in the BMBF-funded research project NeuroQ. Quantum ...

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Physics7 Oct 2024

Jefferson Lab physicists named APS Fellows

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Four physicists affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility have been selected by their peers for the distinct honor of Fellow of the American Physical Society. “Our staff power the science and innovation that are continuing to move the discipline of physics and this laboratory into the future,” said Jefferson Lab Director Kim Sawyer. “We’re very proud that the accomplishments and contributions of these four Jefferson Lab staff members to the field of physics are being recognized by their peers with this honor.” According to the APS, fellows have made ...

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Physics4 Oct 2024

‘Neutron Nexus’ brings universities, ORNL together to advance science

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has launched its Neutron Nexus pilot program with Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, or FAMU, and Florida State University, or FSU, through the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. The first program of its kind nationwide, it’s aimed at broadening and diversifying the scientific user community with outreach to universities and colleges to increase collaboration and, ultimately, scientific advancement. Although a recently planned two-day “ORNL Days” event in Florida was cut ...

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Physics1 Oct 2024

UTA physicists explore possibility of life beyond Earth

Are there planets beyond Earth where humans can live? The answer is maybe, according to a new study from University of Texas at Arlington physicists examining F-type star systems. Stars fall into seven lettered categories according to their surface temperature. They also differ in other factors including mass, luminosity, and radius. F-types are in the middle of the scale, hotter and more massive than our sun. F-type stars are yellowish white in color and have surface temperatures of more than 10,000 degrees. A habitable zone (HZ) is the distance from a star at which water could exist on orbiting planets’ surfaces. In the research led by doctoral student Shaan Patel ...

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Physics30 Sep 2024

Trends in female physicians entering high-compensation specialties

About The Study: This study found that female physicians were underrepresented among residents entering high-compensation specialties compared with non–high-compensation specialties. However, while high-compensation surgical specialties experienced a steady increase in the proportion of female applicants and matriculants over time, high-compensation nonsurgical specialties experienced an overall decrease in the proportion of female applicants and no significant changes in the proportion of female matriculants. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Karina Pereira-Lima, PhD, ...

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Physics30 Sep 2024

Pooled analysis of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep among children from 33 countries

About The Study: Most 3- and 4-year-old children in this pooled analysis did not meet the current World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Priority must be given to understanding factors that influence these behaviors in this age group and to implementing contextually appropriate programs and policies proven to be effective in promoting healthy levels of movement behaviors. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Kar Hau Chong, PhD, email khchong@uow.edu.au. To access the embargoed ...

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Physics24 Sep 2024

SNU researchers develop ‘Selective Metal Films Deposition Technique’ enabling fabrication of soft electronics with various form factors

Seoul National University’s College of Engineering announced that a research team led by Prof. Yongtaek Hong from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in collaboration with Prof. Byeongmoon Lee from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), has developed a ‘printing-based selective metal film deposition technique’ that enables the facile and fast fabrication of high-performance soft electronic devices and circuits in various ...

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Physics24 Sep 2024

First observation of ultra-rare process that could uncover new physics

Scientists at CERN have discovered an ultra-rare particle decay process, opening a new path to find physics beyond our understanding of how the building blocks of matter interact. Today the NA62 collaboration presented at a CERN EP seminar the first experimental observation of the ultra-rare decay of the charged kaon into a charged pion and a neutrino-antineutrino pair (K+ → π p+νν). This is an ultra-rare occurrence - the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics, which explains how particles ...

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Physics17 Sep 2024

Beneath the brushstrokes, van Gogh’s sky is alive with real-world physics

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2024 – Vincent van Gogh’s painting “The Starry Night” depicts a swirling blue sky with yellow moon and stars. The sky is an explosion of colors and shapes, each star encapsulated in ripples of yellow, gleaming with light like reflections on water. Van Gogh’s brushstrokes create an illusion of sky movement so convincing it led atmospheric scientists to wonder how closely it aligns with the physics of real skies. While the atmospheric motion in the painting cannot be measured, the brushstrokes can. In an article published this week in Physics ...

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