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Breaking metamaterial symmetry with reflected light

A group of UK researchers discovered a new type of optical activity by breaking the symmetry of metamaterials with reflected light. This enables novel applications such as polarization rotating and circularly polarizing beam splitters and mirrors, as well as optical isolators for circularly polarized light.

UT Austin engineers design next-generation non-reciprocal antenna

Researchers at UT Austin break reciprocity in conventional antennas, enabling independent control of incoming and outgoing signals with large efficiency. This breakthrough technology may lead to faster data rates, improved connections, and reduced bulky systems in various applications.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Crystal and magnetic structure of multiferroic hexagonal manganite

This review article presents an extended study on the crystal and magnetic structure of multiferroic hexagonal manganite RMnO3, which exhibits ferroelectric and magnetic orders. The research highlights the importance of strong interactions between these orders, leading to unique properties.

Geordie Williamson to receive 2016 AMS Chevalley Prize

Geordie Williamson will receive the inaugural AMS Claude Chevalley Prize in Lie Theory for his work on representation theory, including proofs of longstanding conjectures and counterexamples to expected bounds. His research has re-opened the field of modular representations and revealed inadequate numerical evidence.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

A new symmetry underlies the search for new materials

Penn State researchers develop a new symmetry operation that can reduce the number of measurements needed to find new materials. This technique uses distortion symmetry groups to analyze physical systems under stress or forces, enabling faster discovery of advanced materials with unique properties.

Cracking the problem of river growth

A new study at MIT applies the fracture mechanics theory of local symmetry to predict river network evolution. The research found that rivers grow in a direction consistent with symmetry, driven by groundwater pressure and water table height.

Researchers observe surprising phase transition

A Purdue University-led team observed an unexpected phase transition between two different phase categories in an ultrapure material. The transition was made possible by extreme pressures and temperatures, allowing electrons to exhibit unusual behavior.

A necklace of fractional vortices

Chalmers researchers discovered a new mechanism for breaking time-reversal symmetry in high-temperature superconductors, resulting in spontaneous magnetisation. The study utilizes a software package that leverages massive parallelization and graphics processing units to simulate realistic systems.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Development of trust in B2B relationships calls for common goals

A recent University of Eastern Finland and Cranfield University study found that goal congruence, not power symmetry, drives the development of trust in business-to-business relationships. This finding has implications for companies seeking to establish successful partnerships across different types and sizes of organizations.

Experiment confirms fundamental symmetry in nature

The ALICE experiment confirms a fundamental symmetry between nuclei and antinuclei in terms of charge, parity and time. The measurements were made possible by the ALICE experiment's high-precision tracking and identification capabilities.

Injured jellyfish seek to regain symmetry

Researchers discovered a novel self-repair mechanism in moon jellyfish, where injured animals regain symmetry through resymmetrization rather than tissue regeneration. This process relies on mechanical forces and viscoelastic properties of the jellyfish's body material to rebalance the unbalanced forces.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Humans' ancestors had tentacles

Researchers found evidence supporting the idea that the last common bilaterian ancestor had tentacular appendages, a concept favored by the Russian zoological school. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of chordate animals and could help refine the classification system.

New understanding of electromagnetism could enable 'antennas on a chip'

A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge has proposed that electromagnetic waves are generated by symmetry breaking in dielectric materials. This discovery could enable ultra-small antennas for wireless communications and aid understanding of electromagnetism and quantum mechanics crossover.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Symmetrical knees linked to Jamaican sprinting prowess

A Rutgers-led study measures symmetry in elite track and field athletes, finding that symmetrical knees are associated with better times. The researchers discovered that the knees of Jamaican sprinters were more symmetrical than those of non-sprinting Jamaicans, with the most symmetrical knees belonging to 100-meter specialists.

Outsmarting thermodynamics in self-assembly of nanostructures

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a novel method for creating symmetry-breaking optical metamaterials by using a feedback mechanism to self-assemble colloidal nanorods in solution. This breakthrough solves the problem of achieving large-scale symmetric breaking, allowing for new properties and applications.

Lord of the microrings

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a unique microring laser cavity that can produce single-mode lasing even from conventional multi-mode laser cavities. This breakthrough holds implications for optical metrology, interferometry, data storage, spectroscopy, and communications.

JILA team finds first direct evidence of 'spin symmetry' in atoms

Researchers at JILA have confirmed the presence of spin symmetry in strontium atoms, which could lead to breakthroughs in simulating exotic materials and understanding quantum phenomena like superconductivity. The discovery was made possible by an ultra-stable atomic clock, allowing for precise measurements of atom interactions.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Refined biological evolution model

A new study by Petri Kärenlampi refines the biological evolution model by incorporating species interactions and varying degrees of symmetry. The results show that anti-symmetric interactions lead to large, stable ecosystems, while symmetric systems remain small.

Platonic solids generate their 4-dimensional analogues

Alicia Boole Stott and Ludwig Schlaefli showed that six platonic solids have four-dimensional counterparts, featuring strange symmetries. The spinorial construction explains these symmetries, shedding new light on both three- and four-dimensional geometries.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Argonne scientists discover new phase in iron-based superconductors

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a previously unknown phase in iron arsenides, which could resolve a long-standing debate about the origin of nematic order. The new magnetic phase exhibits four-fold symmetry near the onset of superconductivity, contradicting orbital theories and supporting a magnetic explanation.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Widespread tetraradial symmetry among early fossil sponges

A new study finds early fossil sponges exhibiting tetraradial symmetry, a four-fold arrangement of spicules, in well-preserved fossils from the Cambrian period. This symmetry was previously unknown in living sponges and suggests a more complex ancestry than previously thought.

What do women want? It depends on the time of the month

UCLA researchers analyzed dozens of studies to find that ovulating women prefer mates with sexy traits like masculine body type and facial features, dominant behavior, and certain scents. These preferences shift as the woman's cycle progresses and are thought to have been markers of high genetic quality in male ancestors.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Quarks in the looking glass

Physicists at Jefferson Lab have made a new determination of an intrinsic quark property, setting new limits for energies needed to access physics beyond the Standard Model. The experiment probed mirror symmetry in quarks, revealing a previously isolated component of the weak force.

A vexing math problem finds an elegant solution

Graduate student Yash Lodha and Justin Moore describe geometric solution for von Neumann-Day problem, a centuries-old challenge in group theory. The solution involves a finite set of nine rules and has been hailed as natural and compelling enough to study for its own sake.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Cosmology in the lab using laser-cooled ions

Scientists at PTB successfully generated and investigated symmetry-breaking in ion Coulomb crystals, mirroring the early universe. The research enables the study of quantum phase transitions and complex system dynamics.

Research shows potential for quasicrystals

Researchers explore the potential of quasicrystals in fundamental optics research, offering opportunities for building smaller optical circuits and creating more efficient devices. Quasicrystals' unique properties make them an attractive area of study for applications in biosensing, solar cells, and spectroscopy.

BaBar experiment confirms time asymmetry

Researchers observed a long-theorized exception to time reversal symmetry, finding certain particle types change into one another six times more often in one direction than the other. The BaBar experiment provided clear conditions for a direct measurement of time violation, confirming quantum field theory.

NASA sees a wide-eyed Super Typhoon Jelawat

Super Typhoon Jelawat's eye has grown to 36 nautical miles, with extreme rainmaking and symmetrical circulation. The storm is expected to make landfall near Kyoto, Japan on Sept. 30, maintaining strong winds.

NASA sees wind shear battering Tropical Storm Nadine

Tropical Storm Nadine is battling wind shear and dry air, which are hindering its intensification. Despite reaching near-hurricane strength, the storm lacks symmetry in its cloud pattern, a crucial factor for hurricane formation.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

SF State researchers probe asymmetric warfare between earwigs

A new study by San Francisco State University researchers found that asymmetrical forceps in male earwigs provide a competitive advantage, allowing them to dominate smaller males. In contrast, larger males with symmetrical forceps were unable to overcome smaller males with more asymmetric forceps.

Evidence further suggests extra-terrestrial origin of quasicrystals

Researchers Paul J Steinhardt and Luca Bindi found naturally occurring quasicrystal samples in far eastern Russia, strengthening the case that they arrived on Earth from outer space. The samples were brought to the area during the last glacial period, suggesting a meteorite hit around 15,000 years ago.

New phenomenon in nanodisk magnetic vortices

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have discovered that magnetic vortex formations in ferromagnetic nanodisks exhibit asymmetric behavior, breaking the symmetry required for vortex-based data storage devices. This finding challenges the potential application of these vortices in non-volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) systems.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Is your leaf left-handed?

Recent research reveals that the spiral pattern of leaf formation affects the symmetry of tomato and Arabidopsis leaves. The study found measurable anatomical differences between the left and right sides of both young and mature leaves, identifying a previously overlooked axis of asymmetry.

Theorem unifies superfluids and other weird materials

Researchers discovered a commonality among superconductors, Bose-Einstein condensates, magnets, crystals, neutron stars, and cosmic strings. The Nambu-Goldstone boson theory applies to all these phenomena, predicting or designing unusual behavior in new materials.

5-limbed brittle stars move bilaterally, like people

Despite lacking a brain, brittle stars exhibit coordinated movement by designating a central arm and two rowing arms to propel it along. They can also change direction by choosing a new central arm and moving its accompanying limbs.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

How nature's patterns form

Researchers studying plant growth discover that universal features exist across various natural systems, including plants and animals. Alan Newell's work focuses on the mathematical models capturing these similarities.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Quarks 'swing' to the tones of random numbers

Researchers have developed a new theory that describes the way quarks 'swing' inside protons using massive quantities of random numbers. This allows for more accurate numerical calculations and provides a new understanding of the data from large research groups at CERN.

Many roads lead to superconductivity

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) have discovered a universal magnetic signature among all iron-based superconductors. Despite differences in magnetism, these materials display the same magnetic resonance signal as their parent compounds, hinting at a new understanding of how superconductivity arises.

The nano world of Shrinky Dinks

A Northwestern University team has developed a low-cost, high-throughput method for creating and mass-producing large-area nanoscale patterns using Shrinky Dinks. This solvent-assisted nanoscale embossing (SANE) method offers unprecedented opportunities to manipulate electronic, photonic, and magnetic properties of nanomaterials.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

A predilection for certain symmetries

Materials with 7-fold rotation symmetry have not yet been observed in nature, but researchers have discovered the reason why. The density of flower-shaped nuclei plays a crucial role in determining the rotation symmetry of colloidal particles, explaining why materials with certain symmetries are rare in nature.