 |
|
High-temperature superconductors: magnetic glue may be the clue
June 02, 2004Striking pictures of magnetic waves inside advanced ceramics may be the clue to understanding how they can transmit electricity without losing energy, according to results obtained by two teams of scientists using the UK's world-leading ISIS neutron source in Oxfordshire and published this week in the journal Nature.
The ceramics, known as high-temperature superconductors, lose all resistance to the flow of electricity when cooled below a critical temperature. Wires made from the ceramics can conduct up to 140 times more power than conventional copper wires of the same dimension, carrying current with 100% efficiency. Yet despite their growing use in applications ranging from medical imaging scanners to revolutionary propulsion systems, just exactly how they work remains a mystery.
What is astonishing in the results of the two research teams led by Professor Stephen Hayden at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and Dr. John Tranquada at the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, is the almost identical data obtained from their two different ceramics. Electric current is carried most efficiently in the materials when the electrons are 'glued' into pairs. Both teams believe they have observed the fingerprint of what might be the binding glue.
"Without the unique capabilities of the MAPS experiment at the ISIS neutron source these observations would have been impossible," said Dr Toby Perring, Project Scientist for the MAPS instrument at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and a co-author on both of the Nature papers. "The 100 million detector pixels gives an unmatched clarity of vision into the interior world of superconductors."
"The results suggest that the glue may be due to very weak magnetism associated with embedded copper atoms. The electrons appear to be bound together by a sort of magnetic glue," explained Stephen Hayden.
Whilst the results will cut a swathe through the huge number of competing explanations in existence, each team is currently backing their own favourites, and the impact of their results will certainly be intensely debated.
"We definitely expect some controversy," says John Tranquada from the Brookhaven team, "because our data suggest that some popular ideas are wrong."
Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC)
"Without the unique capabilities of the MAPS experiment at the ISIS neutron source these observations would have been impossible," said Dr Toby Perring, Project Scientist for the MAPS instrument at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and a co-author on both of the Nature papers. "The 100 million detector pixels gives an unmatched clarity of vision into the interior world of superconductors."
"The results suggest that the glue may be due to very weak magnetism associated with embedded copper atoms. The electrons appear to be bound together by a sort of magnetic glue," explained Stephen Hayden.
Whilst the results will cut a swathe through the huge number of competing explanations in existence, each team is currently backing their own favourites, and the impact of their results will certainly be intensely debated.
"We definitely expect some controversy," says John Tranquada from the Brookhaven team, "because our data suggest that some popular ideas are wrong."
Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC)
Science Research Departments
Earth Science
Alternative Energy | Anthropology and Archaeology | Earthquakes and Volcanoes | Environment and Nature News | Global Warming | High-Energy and Particle Physics | Ozone Hole | Scientists Slow Light | Tsunami
Space Science
Astronomy and Space News | Black Holes | Chandra X-Ray Observatory | Extrasolar Planets | Hubble Telescope | International Space Station | Jupiter Galileo Mission | Jupiter Cassini Mission Flyby | Mars Exploration | Mars Odyssey 2001 | Mars Global Surveyor | Mars Polar Lander | Mars Climate Orbiter | Mars Pathfinder | Meteors and Asteroids | Mir Space Station | NEAR Asteroid Probe Mission | Pluto Planet Debate | Search for Extraterrestrial Life | Space Shuttle Program | Space Shuttle Mission: STS-102 | Space Weather
Life Science
Animal News | Biotechnology and Genetics | Brain Research | Human Cloning | Dinosaur and Fossil Discoveries | Endangered Species | Gene Therapy | Genetically Modified Food | Stem Cell Research | Whales and Whaling
 |
The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series) by Tom Robinson (Author) Science has never been so easy - or so much fun! With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments. High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space. You'll discover answers to questions like: Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms... |
 |
Scientific Explorer's Mind Blowing Science Kit for Young Scientists by Scientific Explorer Mind blowing experiments to delight and educate young scientists! Erupt a color changing volcano. Mix up magic ooze with a mind of its own. Play with sand that never gets wet. Mix safe chemicals and watch colors change before your eyes. You'll amaze yourself and your friends as you explore the science behind these truly remarkable reactions. |
 |
Science: The Definitive Visual Guide by DK Publishing (Author) This remarkable reference book tells the story of science from earliest times to the present day, taking in everything from ancient Greek geometry to quantum physics, and the wedge to the worldwide web. Exploring science in a thematic, highly approachable manner, each spread takes as its theme a specific event, discovery, invention, experiment, theory, or individual and explains why this subject was so significant in the development of scientific thought and what its impact on history has been. In addition to providing a broad-ranging and comprehensive history of science, the book also explains how science works, employing DK's trademark clarity and visual ingenuity to render tricky scientific subjects easily comprehensible. Science is structured chronologically with five... |
 |
Scientific Explorer's Disgusting Science - A Kit for Studying the Science of Revolting Things by Scientific Explorer Grow your own friendly germs and fuzzy molds. Mix up a batch of coagulating fake blood. Even make a stinky intestine. learn the science behind unmentionable bodily functions while doing some truly NASTY Experiments. Ages 8+ |
 |
The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic) by National Geographic (Author), Marshall Brain (Foreword) A delight for the casual reader, yet so complete and wide-ranging that science buffs and students will welcome it, The Science Book encapsulates centuries of scientific thought in one richly illustrated volume. Natural phenomena, revolutionary inventions, and the most up-to-date investigations are explained in detailed text, and 2,000 vivid illustrationsincluding 3-D graphics and pictogramsmake the information even more accessible and amazing to discover. The Science Book offers both a general overview of topics for the browsing reader and more specific information for those seeking deeper insight into a particular subject. Six major sections, ranging from the universe and planet Earth to biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, encompass everything from microscopic life... |
 |
Science in Seconds for Kids: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less by Jean Potter (Author) Make lightning in your room! Keep paper dry under water! Lose weight by going upstairs! See colors that aren’t there! Experience the magic of science with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each activity in ten fun-filled minutes or less. Clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time. The projects help you learn about everything from why eggs aren’t round to how submarines surface and submerge. You will find most of the required materials already in your home, backyard, or neighborhood, and you can perform the experiments practically anywhere. The 108 activities in this book cover twelve different subject areas, including air, animals, energy, gravity, magnetism, light, the human body, and much more.... |
 |
Scientific Explorer's The Magic Science Wizard's Kit by Scientific Explorer Cast real smoke from your fingertips, make a wizard wand, and whip up color-changing potions in your test tube laboratory. Also included are laminated cards with wizard facts, an instruction booklet with 11 activities, lab equipment, and mysterious wizard powders that will mix together to mystify you! |
 |
NOVA - Genius: The Science of Einstein, Newton, Darwin, and Galileo Starring: Stacy Keach; Peter Thomas (VI); Don Wescott Directed By: - DVD set that includes Einstein's Big Idea, Newton's Dark Secrets, Darwin's Dangerous Idea, and Galileo's Battle for the Heavens. |
 |
The Complete Book of Science, Grades 5-6 by School Specialty Publishing (Author) The Complete Book of Science for grades 5 to 6 teaches children important science skills!
Children complete a variety of exercises that help them develop a number of skills in this 352 page workbook. Including a complete answer key this workbook features a user-friendly format perfect for browsing, research, and review.
Over 4 million in print! The best-selling Complete Book series offers a full complement of instruction, activities, and information about a single topic or subject area. Containing over 30 titles and encompassing preschool to grade 8 this series helps children succeed in every subject area! ... |
 |
ScienceWiz Inventions Experiment Kit and Book 13 Experiments, Inventions by Sciencewiz This kit includes a 40 page full-color book and materials. Years of testing with children has produced this carefully crafted set of doable projects. Build, Build, Build! a spinning motor a clicking telegraph a light flashing generator a real radio Step-by-step, highly visual instructions lead a child successfully through each invention. Incredible illustrations present central scientific concepts, allowing children to discover the "why" as well as the "how". The use of everyday materials demystifies the way common electronic components work. Although Inventions is designed for 8 year olds and up, this title has had an extraordinary history and following. It has been used at MIT to mentor high school students in physics. It has been used at U.C. Berkeley to mentor women... |
| © 2010 BrightSurf.com |