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Through the nanoscale looking glass -- determining boson peak frequency in ultra-thin alumina

The study used neutron spectroscopy to measure lattice vibrations in ultra-thin alumina particles, confirming theoretical predictions. The findings have implications for controlling heat transfer through ultra-thin materials, potentially benefiting electronics and future spacecraft designs.

Scientists find a way to extract color from black

Researchers at University of Birmingham develop technique to control light passing through disordered surfaces, producing vivid colors. The method harnesses random clusters of gold nanoparticles to create a 'transparent cavity' that traps and releases photons with different frequencies, resulting in precise color reproduction.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 27, 2020

Endangered species on supermarket shelves

A study published in Science Advances found nearly 50% of retail eel products in Hong Kong supermarkets contained endangered European eel. The investigation exposed a surprising prevalence of illegally traded glass eels from Europe, posing a significant threat to the species' survival.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 6, 2020

A multi-dimensional optical storage medium: Photostimuable LiGa5O8: Mn2+ glass ceramic

Scientists have developed a new photostimuable LiGa5O8: Mn2+ glass ceramic medium for three-dimensional volumetric optical data storage, enabling expanded storage capacity and improved information security. The material's high transparency and controlled crystallization lead to a highly ordered nanostructure with low bit error rates.

Researchers identify breaking point of conducting material

Researchers at Penn State developed a new method to predict the temperature when plastics change from supple to brittle, which could accelerate the development of flexible electronics. The study found that a simple relationship between chemical structure and glass transition temperature can be used to predict embrittlement point.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 4, 2020

New state-of-the-MOF materials

Researchers at Kyoto University have successfully converted crystalline MOFs into glassy or liquid states, demonstrating porosity, ion conductivity, and optical properties. The new materials show promise for heat storage, gas permeation, and catalytic reactions.

SourceKyoto University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 28, 2020

A quantum of solid

Scientists have isolated and cooled a nanoparticle in a solid, achieving macroscopic quantum control for the first time. By removing thermal energy and isolating the particle from its environment, researchers successfully cooled the glass bead to ultra-cold temperatures near absolute zero.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalScience·DateJan 30, 2020

Storing data in everyday objects

Scientists create 'DNA of Things' technology, storing 3D-printing instructions and other data in everyday objects like plastic rabbits. The method uses DNA molecules, allowing for secure information transfer and hiding in everyday items like glasses or construction materials.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateDec 9, 2019

A new view for glasses

Researchers at The University of Tokyo introduced a new physical model that predicts the dynamics of glassy materials based solely on their local degree of atomic structural order. This theory greatly improves our understanding of how glassy liquids become more viscous on cooling, with potential applications in manufacturing.

Glass from a 3D printer

Using stereolithography, ETH Zurich researchers have created glass objects with intricate structures and pore sizes controlled by UV light intensity. The technique allows for the production of complex glass objects, such as those with different types of glass or combined materials.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Materials·DateNov 27, 2019

Atoms don't like jumping rope

Physicists at the University of Innsbruck have discovered that mechanical vibrations in glass fibers are responsible for heating individual atoms in nanooptical traps. This finding has important consequences for applications, including improved technology and new fields of physics.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review X·DateNov 19, 2019

Historic shadows in a glass house

Researcher Nora Wendl is re-examining the life and legacy of Edith Farnsworth, a pioneering female physician who commissioned Ludwig Mies van der Rohe to build Farnsworth House. By removing Mies-designed furniture, Wendl aims to showcase Farnsworth's own design vision and challenge traditional narratives of modern architecture.

The secret strength of gnashing teeth

Gnashing teeth's secret strength lies in the microarchitecture of brittle materials, where adding small defects can increase glass strength 200 times over. Researchers developed two models to describe fracture propagation and contact mechanics, paving the way for stronger ceramics, biomedical implants, and building materials.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalMechanics of Materials·DateSep 10, 2019

Microscopic glass blowing used to make tiny optical lenses

Scientists create miniature cone-shaped lenses, called axicons, using a new micro glass blowing method. The technique enables the production of robust and low-cost glass axicons with high performance vacuum packaging, suitable for integration into biomedical imaging instruments like optical coherence tomography.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateJun 25, 2019