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Why we slip on ice: Physicists challenge centuries-old assumptions

Researchers at Saarland University discovered that molecular dipoles in ice and shoe soles interact to create a disordered, amorphous structure on the ice surface. This interaction causes the ice to become slippery, leading to slips and falls, rather than pressure or friction.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Researchers solve a fluid mechanics mystery

A team of researchers has solved a puzzle in fluid mechanics using an experiment featuring an ink-on-milk maze. The study reveals how the presence of surfactants in milk helps the ink/soap mixture navigate the maze by exploiting variations in surface tension.

Rice engineers’ storage technology keeps nanosurfaces clean

Researchers at Rice University have created a new type of storage container that effectively prevents surface contamination for at least six weeks. The technology relies on an ultraclean wall with tiny bumps and divots, which attracts VOCs in air inside the containers.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Study opens door to new class of slippery, water-loving surfaces

Researchers developed hydrophilic slipper surfaces that are both extremely slippery and water-attracting, countering conventional wisdom. These SLIC surfaces have potential applications in biomedical technologies and condensers, where they offer anti-fouling properties and improved efficiency.

Ocean scientists measure sediment plume stirred up by deep-sea-mining vehicle

A new field study reveals a previously unobserved fluid dynamic process that affects the ocean's deep-sea mining operations. Researchers equipped a pre-prototype collector vehicle with instruments to monitor its sediment plume disturbances, finding that the plumes remained relatively low and spread under their own weight.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

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.

SwRI scientists identify a possible source for Charon’s red cap

Researchers reveal the likely composition of Charon's dynamic methane atmosphere and propose a possible source for its red polar zone. The team's novel experiments and atmospheric modeling suggest that ultraviolet light breaking down methane molecules is key to understanding the moon's unique albedo.

Gravity-defying spike waves rewrite the rule book

Scientists have found that axisymmetric 'spike waves' can exceed previously thought limits on ocean wave height, leading to significant implications for maritime safety. The new research revealed the fundamental mechanisms behind highly directional and crossing waves becoming much larger than others.

Sophisticated fluid mechanics model is on a roll

The Rice-Waseda team created a computer simulation model that can accurately depict the complex aerodynamics around a moving car and its rolling tires. The model uses NURBS Surface-to-Volume Guided Mesh Generation method, which enables it to capture the deformation of tires as they roll on the road.

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.

Researchers create flat magic window with liquid crystals

Scientists have developed a transparent device that produces a hidden image when light shines on it, using liquid crystals to recreate an ancient light trick. The technology has the potential to enable reconfigurable displays and stable 3D images.

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.

Self-healing ice

Researchers from the University of Amsterdam have found that ice can heal itself by forming a new layer of ice to cover scratches and cuts. This discovery could potentially extend breaks between skating races, but careful control of moisture in the air is still necessary.

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.

Simulations shed significant light on janus particles

Janus particles, with two distinct physical chemical properties, exhibit unique behavior in simulations. Their shape significantly influences their orientation at interfaces and mobility, impacting rheology and processing schemes.

Smart windows can significantly reduce indoor pathogens

Researchers found that smart windows with dynamic tinting can completely disinfect surfaces within 24 hours, reducing bacterial growth rates and viability. In contrast, traditional windows with blinds blocked almost all daylight, promoting contamination on glass, plastic, and fabric surfaces.

Heat conduction important for droplet dynamics

A team of engineers found that thermal conduction is the most prominent form of heat transfer during droplet impact on smooth surfaces, influencing cooling efficiency and droplet behavior. Heat conduction also affects droplet dynamics on rough surfaces, leading to lower heat transfer rates.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Molding, patterning and driving liquids with light

A new fluid has been created that can be molded and patterned using light, with potential applications in adaptive optics, mass transport, and microfluidics manufacturing. The fluid's surface tension is dependent on temperature, making it susceptible to laser manipulation.

Sugar could help repair artificial human joints

Researchers at Durham University have developed a sugar-containing polymer coating that can repair damaged artificial joint implants by mimicking the way cartilage works to lubricate human joints. The coating uses water to create a slippery surface, protecting the surfaces from wear and tear.

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.

Why boiling droplets can race across hot oily surfaces

Researchers at MIT have quantified the phenomenon for the first time, finding that boiling droplets on hot oily surfaces move rapidly due to a thin oil cloak coating the outside of each water droplet. This cloak acts as a kind of balloon skin, holding vapor bubbles in place and imparting momentum.

Dynamic membranes set to solve problems of liquid waste treatment

The study introduces a new type of composite membrane with a polystyrene surface layer that increases its resistance to aggressive media. The developed dynamic membranes show high separation efficiency for emulsions and can be reused by replacing the contaminated surface layer, making them suitable for liquid waste treatment.

Surface tension, not gravity, drives viscous bubble collapse

Researchers challenge previous understanding of viscous bubble behavior, concluding that surface tension and dynamic stress are key drivers of bubble collapse. In viscous liquids, bubbles exhibit structural instability characterized by radial wrinkles around the periphery, a phenomenon previously attributed to gravity.

Biphilic surfaces reduce defrosting times in heat exchangers

Researchers have developed biphilic surfaces that significantly improve defrosting efficiency on heat exchangers. The unique surface design enables the removal of frost and slush from superhydrophobic regions before complete melting, reducing cleaning time and energy consumption.

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.

Weaving Indigenous knowledge with scientific research: a balanced approach

A review in European Geosciences Union's journal offers a roadmap for weaving Indigenous knowledge with modern research, focusing on the geosciences. This approach can provide insights into events erased from the geological record and support native communities in making informed decisions about potential hazards on their ancestral lands.

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.

Future filters

Researchers at UCSB have identified a nuanced way to influence surface hydrophobicity, which affects how water interacts with solid surfaces. By varying the patterning of hydrophobic groups, they found that it can produce large effects on water dynamics, making it useful for designing more efficient membranes.

Songi Han to receive 2019 BPS Innovation Award

Songi Han is recognized for her inventions of solid-state and time-domain-capable dynamic nuclear polarization instrumentation, advancing fundamental understanding of surface water properties in biological materials. Her work characterizes surface water in soft materials, contributing to our knowledge of biological hydration.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

A multifunctional, multiscale, reconfigurable surface

A team of international researchers created a dynamic surface, FLIPS, that can sculpt and re-sculpt microscale to macroscale features, change friction and slipperiness based on magnetic fields. It has been shown to direct particle movement, remove biofilms, coat droplets, and act as an adhesive.

Glass matters

The chemical topology of silica surfaces can significantly impact the effectiveness of various chemical processes, including catalysis, filtration, and nanofabrication. Researchers found that hydrophilic silanol groups attract water molecules, forming a barrier that reactants must overcome to proceed with the desired process.

Soft and spherical: Researchers study dynamics of drop impact

A team of UK researchers investigated the impact of water droplets on spherical soft surfaces, revealing that surface curvature enhances retraction of impacted drops. The effects of impact parameters, including diameter ratios and polymer elastic modulus, were also studied.

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.

Study reveals the atmospheric footprint of global warming hiatus

A recent study reveals that the global warming hiatus from 1998 to 2013 was dominated by decreasing surface latent heat flux and cloud-related processes. The researchers found that atmospheric dynamics are coupled with surface turbulent heat fluxes over lower troposphere and coupled with cloud processes over upper troposphere.

New window into the nanoworld

Researchers have captured images of terahertz electron dynamics of a semiconductor surface on the atomic scale, unlocking a new window into the nanoworld. The breakthrough allows for ultrafast observation of atomic processes with unprecedented precision.

Blocks of ice demonstrate levitated and directed motion

A team led by Stéphane Dorbolo found that a disk of ice becomes highly mobile due to a levitating layer of water between it and the smooth surface on which it rests and melts. By controlling the flow dynamics of the melted ice, they can direct its motion.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Researchers make droplets dance

Scientists from Aalto University and Paris Tech have created a new model system for reversible switching between static and dynamic self-assembled structures. By using periodically oscillating magnetic fields, they demonstrated that droplet patterns can transform into more complex and dynamic ones.

Traveling through the volcanic conduit

Recent eruptions demonstrate the vulnerability to ash dispersal, which can disrupt aviation and cause billions of dollars in economic loss. Scientists now understand that particle size is determined by post-eruption collisions, not just initial fragmentation.