Physics
press releases.

Physics4 Mar 2024

Tests show high-temperature superconducting magnets are ready for fusion

In the predawn hours of Sept. 5, 2021, engineers achieved a major milestone in the labs of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC), when a new type of magnet, made from high-temperature superconducting material, achieved a world-record magnetic field strength of 20 tesla for a large-scale magnet. That’s the intensity needed to build a fusion power plant that is expected to produce a net output of power and potentially usher in an era of virtually limitless power production. The test was immediately declared ...

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Physics2 Mar 2024

Nanoscale topcoat can turbocharge supported gold nanoparticle catalysts

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a way to add single nanosheets of mixed metal oxide to gold nanoparticles supported on silica to enhance their catalytic activity. Converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, they found that the temperature required for the reaction was greatly reduced, with significant improvements over existing methods for coating gold/silica structures. The method paves the way for the development of a wide range of new high-performance catalysts. Gold nanoparticles, particles less than five nanometers in diameter, are known to be excellent catalysts ...

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Physics2 Mar 2024

Beyond the ink: Painting with physics

Falling from the tip of a brush suspended in mid-air, an ink droplet touches a painted surface and blossoms into a masterpiece of ever-changing beauty. It weaves a tapestry of intricate, evolving patterns. Some of them resemble branching snowflakes, thunderbolts or neurons, whispering the unique expression of the artist's vision. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) researchers set out to analyse the physical principles of this fascinating technique, known as dendritic painting. They took inspiration from the artwork ...

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Physics1 Mar 2024

It’s not only opposites that attract – new study shows like-charged particles can come together

A study published today in Nature Nanotechnology shows that similarly charged particles can sometimes attract, rather than repel. The team found that like-charged particles suspended in liquids can attract one another at long-range, depending on the solvent and the sign of the charge. The study has immediate implications for processes that involve interactions in solution across various length-scales, including self-assembly, crystallisation, and phase separation. ‘Opposites charges attract; like charges repel’ is a fundamental principle of basic physics. But a new study from Oxford University, published today in Nature Nanotechnology, has demonstrated that similarly ...

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Physics29 Feb 2024

DOE announces plans to host an informational meeting and requests expressions of interest for the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility Management and Operating Contract Competition

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the schedule for upcoming events and submissions associated with the competition for the management and operating contract for the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF). TJNAF is a DOE national laboratory and DOE-sponsored Federally Funded Research and Development Center that has a mission focused on delivering breakthrough science and technology in nuclear physics. DOE will host an informational meeting and site tour on March 27, 2024 at TJNAF to provide information regarding the site to interested parties. ...

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Physics29 Feb 2024

Accreditation with commendation awarded to the American College of Chest Physicians

Glenview, IL– The American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST) has received accreditation with commendation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and reaccreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). This achievement grants CHEST reaccreditation through November 2029 and places the organization in the highest tier of all continuing medical education (CME) providers, including some of the nation’s most prestigious medical schools and professional medical societies. “Receiving reaccreditation with commendation from the ACCME is a real testament to the education team at CHEST including both internal ...

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Physics29 Feb 2024

USTC realizes durable CO2 conversion in proton-exchange membrane system

The metabolic process of bilirubin has been a focus in medical research since the abnormal accumulation of bilirubin has been found to be associated with a variety of diseases. Bilirubin is a substance produced by the breakdown of aging or damaged red blood cells, and its effective removal is essential for human health. A research team led by Prof. CHEN Yuxing and Prof. ZHOU Congzhao from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed ...

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Physics29 Feb 2024

Better neutron mirrors can reveal the inner secrets of matter

Improved neutron mirrors can increase the efficiency of material analysis in neutron sources such as the ESS, which is being built outside Lund, Sweden. The improved mirror has been developed by researchers at Linköping University by coating a silicon plate with extremely thin layers of iron and silicon mixed with boron carbide. Their study has been published in the journal Science Advances. “Instead of increasing the power on the neutron source, which is extremely expensive, it’s better to focus on improving optics,” says Fredrik Eriksson, researcher at the Thin Film Physics Division at Linköping University. Together with protons, neutrons ...

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Physics27 Feb 2024

You may be breathing in more tiny nanoparticles from your gas stove than from car exhaust

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Cooking on your gas stove can emit more nano-sized particles into the air than vehicles that run on gas or diesel, possibly increasing your risk of developing asthma or other respiratory illnesses, a new Purdue University study has found. “Combustion remains a source of air pollution across the world, both indoors and outdoors. We found that cooking on your gas stove produces large amounts of small nanoparticles that get into your respiratory system and deposit efficiently,” said Brandon Boor, an associate professor in Purdue’s Lyles School of Civil Engineering, who led this research. Based on these ...

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Physics27 Feb 2024

Press program now available for the world's largest physics conference

The American Physical Society’s March Meeting begins next week with presentations on new research in climate science, medicine, biological physics, quantum information, superconductivity, condensed matter, and more. The conference will be in person in Minneapolis and online everywhere March 3-8. Press Kit There are no press conferences planned for this year’s program. However, tip sheets about newsworthy presentations are now available in the March Meeting press kit. Registered journalists and public information officers will also receive emails with press information daily for the duration of the meeting. Press Room In-person press registrants ...

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Physics27 Feb 2024

Development of a thick-film conductive ink suitable for large-area, large-current printed electronics

1. NIMS, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (based in Minato City, Tokyo), N.E. CHEMCAT CORPORATION (based in Minato City, Tokyo) and Priways Co., Ltd. (a NIMS-founded startup based in Tsukuba, Ibaraki) have jointly developed a thick-film, electrically conductive ink suitable for printing electronic circuits and sensors on the surfaces of films and other substrates to manufacture printed electronics. Sumitomo Metal Mining and Priways displayed the ink during the 38th Nepcon Japan exhibition to be held from January ...

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Physics27 Feb 2024

Nano-sized particles emitted from gas stoves

A study quantifies the emission of extremely tiny particles by gas stoves and finds that the particles could harm human health. Airborne nanoparticles between 1–3 nm, referred to as nanocluster aerosol or NCA, are known to be bioactive and toxic, but measuring such minute particles has been a challenge. Brandon E. Boor and colleagues measured indoor NCA during propane gas cooking in the Purdue zero Energy Design Guidance for Engineers (zEDGE) test house using a novel instrument. Combining measurement data with the general dynamic equation for aerosols, the authors were able to characterize the production and behavior ...

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Physics27 Feb 2024

Low-Temperature Plasma used to remove E. coli from hydroponically grown crops

A group led by researchers at Nagoya University and Meijo University in Japan has developed a disinfection technology that uses low-temperature plasma generated by electricity to cultivate environmentally friendly hydroponically grown crops. This innovative technology sterilizes the crops, promoting plant growth without the use of chemical fertilizers. Their findings appeared in Environmental Technology & Innovations. In hydroponic agriculture, farmers cultivate plants by providing their roots with a nutrient solution. However, the nutrient solution can become infected with pathogenic E. coli strains, contaminating the crop and leading to foodborne illnesses. To avoid ...

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Physics26 Feb 2024

Reimagining electron microscopy: Bringing high-end resolution to lower-cost microscopes

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have shown for the first time that expensive aberration-corrected microscopes are no longer required to achieve record-breaking microscopic resolution. The field of microscopy is in the middle of a great revolution. Since the 1800s and the invention of the compound light microscope, there have only been a few major jumps in resolution to see different length scales: from bacteria and cells, to viruses and proteins, and even down to single atoms. Generally, ...

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Physics26 Feb 2024

A new theoretical development clarifies water's electronic structure

There is no doubt that water is significant. Without it, life would never have begun, let alone continue today – not to mention its role in the environment itself, with oceans covering over 70% of Earth. But despite its ubiquity, liquid water features some electronic intricacies that have long puzzled scientists in chemistry, physics, and technology. For example, the electron affinity, i.e. the energy stabilization undergone by a free electron when captured by water, has remained poorly characterized from an experimental ...

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Physics26 Feb 2024

Laser-focused look at spinning electrons shatters world record for precision

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Scientists are getting a more detailed look than ever before at the electrons they use in precision experiments. Nuclear physicists with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility have shattered a nearly 30-year-old record for the measurement of parallel spin within an electron beam – or electron beam polarimetry, for short. The achievement sets the stage for high-profile experiments at Jefferson Lab that could open the door to new physics discoveries. In a peer-reviewed ...

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Physics23 Feb 2024

Shaping the future: A new technique for sorting micro-particles unveiled

Thanks to the rapid progress in tiny tech, we've been mainly using microfluidics to sort tiny particles by size. But now, there's a new way to sort them by shape, which could be a big deal for medical tests and chemistry. This study shows off a new method using sound waves to separate oddly shaped particles from round ones, without needing any labels. This breakthrough could lead to better ways to deliver drugs or diagnose diseases by offering a smarter approach to sort these tiny particles. In the realm of microfluidics, separating micro-particles based solely on size has been the norm. However, distinguishing these particles ...

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Physics23 Feb 2024

Mixed-dimensional transistors enable high-performance multifunctional electronic devices

Downscaling of electronic devices, such as transistors, has reached a plateau, posing challenges for semiconductor fabrication. However, a research team led by materials scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) recently discovered a new strategy for developing highly versatile electronics with outstanding performance, using transistors made of mixed-dimensional nanowires and nanoflakes. This innovation paves the way for simplified chip circuit design, offering versatility and low power dissipation in future electronics. In recent decades, as ...

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Physics22 Feb 2024

Maynooth University partners in study published in Science that finds evidence of elusive neutron star

A new study, published in Science and co-authored by Dr Patrick Kavanagh of Maynooth University’s Department of Experimental Physics in Ireland, has provided the first conclusive evidence for the presence of the elusive neutron star produced in the supernova SN 1987A. Supernovae are the spectacular end result of the collapse of stars more massive than eight to ten times the mass of the sun. Besides being the main sources of chemical elements such as the carbon, oxygen, silicon, and iron that make life possible, they are also responsible for creating the ...

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Physics21 Feb 2024

Water quality monitor, locust-inspired electronic nose under development

By Beth Miller Two teams of engineers led by faculty in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis will work toward developing products to monitor drinking water quality and to detect explosives with an electronic nose with one-year, $650,000 Convergence Accelerator Phase 1 grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Barani Raman, professor of biomedical engineering, and Daniel Giammar, the Walter E. Browne Professor of Environmental Engineering, will lead teams of researchers from Washington University and other institutions and entities funded under the NSF’s Convergence Accelerator program, designed to address national-scale ...

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Physics20 Feb 2024

VUB researchers assemble patterns of micro- and nanoparticles

Researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Riga Technical University and the MESA+ Institute at the University of Twente have succeeded in arranging very small particles (10 µm to 500 nm, 10 to 100 times thinner than a human hair) in a thin layer without using solvents. This is a hugely important first step towards developing a new generation of sensors and electronics for a wide range of applications. “Common methods based on crystallising solutions are ...

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Physics16 Feb 2024

Optimal volume of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity postconcussion in children and adolescents

About The Study: The findings of this study of children and adolescents with acute concussion suggest that moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity reduced symptoms up to a certain threshold but appeared to offer no further benefit in symptom reduction beyond that point. Authors: Andrée-Anne Ledoux, Ph.D., of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.56458) Editor’s Note: Please ...

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Physics16 Feb 2024

Self-monitoring improves physical activity of care-needing elderly

Self-monitoring of physical activity with an accelerometer and feedback is an effective tool to improve physical activity in elderly people requiring long-term support. The Kobe University study is the first to show that with simple and safe means the physical activity of this demographic can be improved, which is expected to help prevent serious illness and reduce costs for long-term care. Taking more steps and sitting less is well known as having a significant influence on a wide range of noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, orthopedic diseases and stroke. This is particularly problematic in senior citizens who depend on long-term care such as in day-care ...

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Physics15 Feb 2024

First-ever atomic freeze-frame of liquid water

RICHLAND, Wash.—In an experiment akin to stop-motion photography, scientists have isolated the energetic movement of an electron while “freezing” the motion of the much larger atom it orbits in a sample of liquid water. The findings, reported today in the journal Science, provide a new window into the electronic structure of molecules in the liquid phase on a timescale previously unattainable with X-rays. The new technique reveals the immediate electronic response when a target is hit with an X-ray, an important step in understanding the effects of radiation exposure on objects and people. “The chemical reactions induced by radiation ...

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Physics14 Feb 2024

Altermagnetism proves its place on the magnetic family tree

There is now a new addition to the magnetic family: thanks to experiments at the Swiss Light Source SLS, researchers have proved the existence of altermagnetism. The experimental discovery of this new branch of magnetism is reported in Nature and signifies new fundamental physics, with major implications for spintronics. Magnetism is a lot more than just things that stick to the fridge. This understanding came with the discovery of antiferromagnets nearly a century ago. Since then, the family of magnetic materials has been divided into two fundamental phases: the ferromagnetic branch known for several millennia and the antiferromagnetic branch. The experimental proof of a third branch of ...

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