Researchers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center found that the Earth's polar fountains of energized gas are a significant source of material for the magnetosphere, contradicting previous assumptions. The discovery was made using a device called TIDE, which neutralizes spacecraft plasma sheaths to detect low-energy ions.
The Boston University team successfully captured the first-ever image of Hale-Bopp's three tails, providing new insights into the comet's composition. The team's innovative detector system and modest telescope size allowed them to detect faint signals from sodium gas, which is not visible to the naked eye.
Purdue University scientists have developed a method to trap and study ions on surfaces, providing a new way to alter materials at the nanoscale level. The technique uses molecular ions that can be selected based on mass, allowing for reversible surface modification and preserving the ions.
Scientists at ORNL have synthesized a range of metal and semiconductor nanocrystals embedded in materials like silica and sapphire. These nanocrystals could enable faster, smarter computers and improved flat-panel displays.