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Building better diffusion models for active systems

New theories have enabled researchers to model unusual dynamics where particle motions are no longer influenced by previous events. The 'memory term' principle allows studying this effect in a broader range of situations, particularly for advanced materials that respond to their environment.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateNov 19, 2020

Modelling microswimmers for drug delivery

Researchers developed mathematical models to study microswimmers in clean and surfactant-covered viscous drops, revealing significant alterations in behavior due to the presence of surfactant. These models may aid in designing artificial microswimmers for targeted drug delivery, micro-surgery, and other applications.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateNov 11, 2020

Mare Plasticum - The Plastic Sea

The book Mare Plasticum delves into the devastating effects of plastics and microplastics on marine environments. It aims to change society's consciousness towards more responsible behavior, highlighting urgent need for action.

Investigating optical activity under an external magnetic field

Researchers derived an analytical model of optical activity in black phosphorous under an external magnetic field, discovering tunable phenomena. The findings show optical activity conforming to that previously observed in chiral metamaterials and have applications in polarization optics, stereochemistry, and molecular biology.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateNov 6, 2020

Identifying biomolecule fragments in ionising radiation

A new study reveals the precise energies at which secondary electrons produce certain biomolecule fragments when living cells are irradiated with heavy ions. The research could lead to more effective cancer therapies by understanding how biomolecules such as DNA are damaged by ionising radiation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateOct 29, 2020

Weak equivalence principle violated in gravitational waves

Research reveals that quantum particles can break a key principle of classical physics when passing through gravitational waves, opening up new possibilities for advanced materials and devices. This finding has significant implications for the development of gravitational wave detectors and potential energy harvesting technologies.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal C·DateOct 28, 2020

Impurities enhance polymer LED efficiencies

Researchers found that molecular dynamics simulations confirm interactions between triplet excitons and impurities in polymer layers significantly enhance PLED efficiency. This new understanding could lead to more widespread applications of the devices in the future.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateSep 24, 2020

A question of reality

Bell's inequalities contrast local realism with quantum mechanics, relevant to security, cryptography, and computing applications.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal H·DateSep 24, 2020

Updating Turing's model of pattern formation

A team of researchers offers new explanations for how living systems form ordered patterns through instabilities in un-patterned systems. The study revisits Turing's theory to prove mathematically how instabilities can occur through simple reactions and widely varied environmental conditions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateAug 7, 2020

Skyrmion dynamics and traverse mobility

Researchers have studied skyrmion behavior under dc and ac drives, discovering directional locking effects and enhanced transverse mobility. The study's findings could revolutionize computing and solve the mystery of ball lightning.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 19, 2020

Polymers can fine-tune attractions between suspended nanocubes

Adding polymers to a solution containing hollow silica nanocubes can adjust their attractions, leading to stable mixtures. By varying polymer concentrations, researchers can manipulate the behavior of colloidal mixtures and explore new technologies in light sensing and manipulation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateJun 19, 2020

Simulating cooperation in local communities

Researchers introduced a new system to improve cooperation among goods and service providers in rural villages, by assigning reputation scores and rewarding responsible welfare usage. The study's findings suggest that the payoff transfer mechanism can optimize public cooperation without significant costs.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 18, 2020

Exploring mass dependence in electron-hole clusters

Research by Alexei Frolov finds distinct relationships between particle masses and cluster properties, improving understanding of semiconductors' optical spectra. The study's formulas could be adapted to describe clusters with varying masses, enabling finer tuning of semiconductor properties.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 18, 2020

'Bottom-heavy squirmers' adopt characteristic group behaviours

A team of scientists found that groups of living organisms that move through squirming exhibit distinct collective properties depending on their velocities and bottom-heaviness. These characteristics can lead to intriguing emergent behaviors, such as clusters forming at the bottom or top of a container.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMay 28, 2020

Stresses and flows in ultra-cold superfluids

Researchers developed a new model to study stresses and flows in ultra-cold superfluids. The findings show that the fluid becomes deformed when flowing around impurities, providing valuable insights into quantum mechanical properties at a macroscopic scale.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMay 11, 2020

What protects minority languages from extinction?

Researchers have identified two scenarios in which minority languages can survive: linguistic diversity and mixed speaker populations. By applying mathematical modeling, the authors propose a new framework for understanding language coexistence, shedding light on the complexities of minority language preservation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateApr 22, 2020

Looking for dark matter

Physicists Rees McNally and Tanya Zelevinsky have proposed two novel methods of searching for dark matter by measuring tiny perturbations in fundamental constants. These methods involve using gravity sensors and LIGO gravitational wave detectors to detect a small extra 'push' or acceleration on normal matter caused by dark matter clumps.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateApr 9, 2020

Distortion isn't a drag on fluid-straddling particles

A team of researchers found that drag forces experienced by particles straddling interfaces between un-mixable fluids are less affected by the shape of the distortion. The study's discovery could have implications for self-assembling properties of various species, including nano- and microparticles, proteins, and other molecules.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMar 18, 2020

Frozen-planet states in exotic helium atoms

Physicists have mapped the energy levels of exotic helium atoms and discovered a 'frozen planet' state configuration where an antiproton is trapped. This study provides insights into the stability of such configurations, which may be more amenable to experimental research.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMar 18, 2020

Separations between earthquakes reveal clear patterns

Researchers found a strong 'cross-correlation' between inter-earthquake distances and times, especially after large earthquakes. The study's results could help seismologists better understand earthquake patterns and inform policymakers about disaster preparedness.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateMar 12, 2020

Stimulating resonance with two very different forces

Parametric oscillators can be made to resonate when driven by high and low frequencies, a discovery that could improve our understanding of nonlinear systems in various fields. This is achieved through the tuning of the high-frequency driving force to match the low frequency, causing the system to exhibit resonance.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateFeb 25, 2020

A better starting point for exploring entanglement

Researchers propose updated equations that simplify calculations for distinguishing between two types of 'non-Gaussian curve' and genuinely quantum states. This approach could speed up advances in quantum communication and computation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateFeb 25, 2020

Deconstructing Schrödinger's cat

Laloë's theory combines adding a random term to the Schrödinger equation with another concept from de Broglie and Bohm, relating quantum collapse to the universal gravitational field. This approach can be applied to both macroscopic objects like cats and atoms.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateFeb 14, 2020

Breaking up amino acids with radiation

Researchers break down amino acid glutamine when bombarded with different doses of electrons. This process has implications for understanding the effect of ionising radiation on human cells and improving cancer radiotherapy.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateFeb 5, 2020

Exploring strangeness and the primordial Universe

Dr Johann Rafelski reviews decades of work on quark-gluon plasma, exploring strangeness production and discovery methods. He highlights the evolution of understanding this primordial material, which once filled the Universe, and the ongoing experimental efforts to recreate it.

SourceSpringer·JournalEPJ Techniques and Instrumentation·DateJan 31, 2020

Spinning quantum dots

Physicists Sanjay Prabhakar and Roderick Melnik modelled the interplay between electric fields and electron spins in slowly moving quantum dots. They revealed that spin-orbit coupling occurs, inducing a magnetic field in the absence of an external one.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJan 15, 2020

Time-to-death of Roman emperors followed distinct pattern

A statistical analysis of Roman emperors' deaths reveals a distinct pattern, with high risk in the first year and a bathtub-like curve indicating stabilization by the eighth year. The study suggests underlying processes governing the length of each rule until death, similar to reliability engineering.

SourceSpringer·JournalPalgrave Communications·DateDec 22, 2019

Laser-based prototype probes cold atom dynamics

Researchers develop a new industrial laser system to study cold atom dynamics in space. By doubling the frequencies of widely used telecommunications lasers, their design enables accurate measurements of subtle variations in the Earth's gravitational field.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateDec 16, 2019

Colliding molecules and antiparticles

Researchers Marcos Barp and Felipe Arretche developed a model predicting rotational energy loss when positrons collide with molecules like CF4 and methane. The model agreed well with experimental results and could improve PET scanning techniques, providing new insights into matter-antimatter interactions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateDec 13, 2019

Better studying superconductivity in single-layer graphene

Physicists have discovered that an existing technique is more accurate in explaining the 'critical temperature' of superconductivity in pure, single-layer graphene. This finding has significant implications for understanding graphene's diverse structural properties and potentially aiding the development of new technologies.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateDec 13, 2019

Proton-hydrogen collision model could impact fusion research

A new theoretical model predicts how protons will collide with hydrogen atoms in high-energy collisions, validating some previous conclusions while revealing discrepancies. The model has the potential to advance our understanding of plasma behavior and its application in realizing clean energy sources.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateDec 9, 2019

Chronic opioid treatment may increase PTSD risk

A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that chronic opioid treatment before a traumatic event enhances fear learning in mice, potentially linking opioid dependence to PTSD. The findings suggest that individuals with a history of opioid use may become more susceptible to the negative effects of stress.

SourceSpringer·JournalNeuropsychopharmacology·DateDec 1, 2019

Advanced cancer drug shrinks and intercalates DNA

Researchers discovered that Pixantrone interacts with cancer DNA by prising apart the double helix structure and compacting its backbone. This mechanism could lead to the development of more effective cancer drugs with reduced harm to healthy cells.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateOct 28, 2019

Mathematics reveals new insights into Marangoni flows

Researchers found that impurities swept away in deeper water decrease in size with surface elasticity, while counterflows cancel out fluid movement. In shallow water, the boundary becomes blurred, revealing new processes in well-studied physics experiments.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateOct 28, 2019

Retrieving physical properties from two-colour laser experiments

Physicists have discovered that useful information about ultrafast light-matter interactions is buried deep within signals produced by two-colour pump-probe experiments. Advanced techniques are required to extract this information, which could lead to breakthroughs in fields such as vision and photosynthesis.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateOct 25, 2019