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New nanostructured glass for imaging and recording

Scientists have created a new type of computer memory using nano-structured glass that can record and store data in a permanent form, revolutionizing medical imaging and material processing. The technology uses ultra-short laser pulses to imprint tiny dots in the glass, enabling precise imaging and manipulation.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 17, 2011

Researchers map the physics of Tibetan singing bowls

Researchers captured high-speed images of fluid-filled Tibetan bowls to quantify how droplets are propelled from the water's surface as the bowls are excited. The unique singing properties of Tibetan bowls were used to investigate a liquid's interaction with solid materials, a situation that arises in many engineering applications.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNonlinearity·DateJun 30, 2011

For stressed bees, the glass is half empty

Researchers found that stressed bees display pessimistic judgment, expecting bitter tastes in unfamiliar scents, mirroring human-like cognitive bias. This study suggests that bees can be used as models for emotion research in invertebrates, potentially reducing animal welfare concerns.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 2, 2011

Scientists crack the spiders' web code

Researchers observed that spiders increase decorating activity in response to severe web damage but not light damage, suggesting the purpose of silk decorations is to make webs more visible to predators. This study helps unravel the mystery of why orb-weaving spiders decorate their webs.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateMay 31, 2011

Mini disks for data storage

Researchers created mini magnetic disks with slanted edges, which favor the formation of tiny magnetic vortices. This allows for efficient data processing and reduced power consumption compared to traditional memory storage systems.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMar 14, 2011

UC breakthrough may lead to disposable e-Readers

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a low-cost, high-performance paper-based display technology that could enable the creation of disposable e-readers. The technology uses electrowetting devices and has been shown to be equivalent in performance to glass, which is the gold standard in the field.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateNov 22, 2010

Putting a spin on light and atoms

Researchers have improved alkali-vapor magnetometer measurements by maintaining spin polarization for over 60 seconds at room temperature, a two-orders-of-magnitude improvement. The technique involves coating the glass vapor cell with an antirelaxation coating to reduce magnetic fluctuations and collisions among atoms.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 16, 2010

Europe ready to launch 3-D TV outperforming the competition

German and Swiss researchers have developed a 3D LCD flat-screen monitor capable of displaying high-definition images without the need for red and green glasses. The Dualplex Display technology offers improved image quality, reduced eye strain, and wider viewing angles, making it suitable for both consumer and professional markets.

SourceEUREKA·DateAug 13, 2010

Best way to pour champagne? 'Down the side' wins first scientific test

A scientific study reveals that pouring champagne down the side of an angled glass preserves more carbon dioxide than pouring straight down the middle. The researchers also found that chilling champagne to 39 degrees Fahrenheit reduces carbon dioxide loss, making 'down-the-side' a winning method for preserving champagne's taste and fizz.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateAug 11, 2010

New nanoscale electrical phenomenon discovered

Researchers have discovered a new nanoscale electrical phenomenon that allows for nondestructive transmission of electricity through glass, enabling the development of faster and less expensive portable diagnostic devices. This breakthrough could also enable significant advancements in building micro-mechanical and lab-on-a-chip devices.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMay 18, 2010

Duke technique is turning proteins into glass

Duke University researchers have devised a method to dry and preserve proteins in a glassified form that retains their properties. The technique uses decanol as a 'drying' agent to remove water from proteins, creating a glass-like substance with potential applications in protein-based drugs.

SourceDuke University·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateMar 17, 2010

The Glass Cliff: Female representation in politics and business

Research by Dr. Michelle Ryan found that women are more likely to be appointed to powerful leadership positions when an organization is in crisis or high-risk circumstances, a phenomenon known as the 'glass cliff'. This stereotype is often reinforced and self-perpetuating, with women continuing to face challenges in politics and business.

SourceWiley·JournalPsychology of Women Quarterly·DateFeb 9, 2010

Tiny whispering gallery

Researchers at Washington University have developed a sensor that can detect and measure single nanoparticles using an ultra-high-Q microresonator. The sensor exploits the phenomenon of whispering-gallery mode resonance, where the light wave interacts with the particle on the ring's surface.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Photonics·DateDec 18, 2009

Rare earth metal enhances phosphate glass

Researchers at Penn State have developed a new type of glass that blocks ultraviolet light and has increased radiation damage resistance. The cerium-containing phosphate glasses can be used in windows, sunglasses, and solar cells.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Non-Crystalline Solids·DateDec 15, 2009