Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Octopus-inspired adhesive works well in wet conditions

Researchers developed an octopus-inspired adhesive with elastic, curved stalk and membrane that adheres to multiple surfaces in wet environments. The adhesive demonstrated strong attachment to complex objects and could be rapidly attached and released.

SourceWiley·JournalAdvanced Science·DateOct 9, 2024

Unveiling the math behind your calendar

Researchers used mathematical modeling to calculate the likelihood of successfully scheduling a meeting based on several factors. As the number of participants grows, the probability of scheduling a successful meeting decreases sharply, with a critical point where the likelihood drops significantly.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 13, 2024

A new advancement in photonic chips set to unlock an industry

Researchers have developed a new engineering approach to on-chip light sources, enabling the widespread adoption of photonic chips in consumer electronics. The innovation involves growing high-quality multi-quantum well nanowires using a novel facet engineering approach, which enables precise control over the diameter and length of the...

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2024

Tiny new lasers fill a long-standing gap in the rainbow of visible-light colors, opening new applications

Scientists at NIST have created tiny lasers that generate light at yellow and green wavelengths, filling a long-standing gap in the visible-light spectrum. The new technology has potential applications in underwater communications, medical treatments, and quantum computing.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2024

Study finds highest prediction of sea-level rise unlikely

A new study led by Dartmouth researchers questions the rapid polar ice collapse model used in the IPCC's sixth assessment report. The team found that the expected rate of retreat is significantly lower than predicted, making the worst-case scenario less likely, but still dire due to ongoing ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 21, 2024

Faster than one pixel at a time – new imaging method for neutral atomic beam microscopes developed by Swansea researchers

Researchers have developed a new imaging method for neutral atomic beam microscopes that can improve image resolution without significantly increasing measurement time. The new method uses magnetic spin precession to encode the position of beam particles, which interact with the sample.

SourceSwansea University·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 16, 2024

Metamaterials for the data highway

Scientists from HZDR, TU Chemnitz, TU Dresden, and Forschungszentrum Jülich have demonstrated the storage of entire bit sequences in cylindrical domains. The team's findings could lead to novel types of data storage and sensors, including magnetic variants of neural networks.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalAdvanced Electronic Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 16, 2024

Getting bacteria into line

Physicists at Aalto University have developed a method to align bacterial cells using magnetic fields. By mixing bacteria into a liquid with millions of magnetic nanoparticles, the researchers can control the alignment of the rod-shaped bacteria in response to magnetic field strength. The findings offer insights into active matter phys...

SourceAalto University·JournalCommunications Physics·DateJul 4, 2024

Uncovering the nature of emergent magnetic monopoles

Scientists have discovered unique periodic structures in manganese germanide that behave like magnetic monopoles and antimonopoles. The researchers studied the collective excitation modes of these structures, revealing a way to experimentally determine their spatial configuration.

SourceWaseda University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 12, 2024

Switching nanomagnets using infrared lasers

Researchers at TU Graz have calculated that metal phthalocyanine molecules generate tiny magnetic fields when irradiated with circularly polarized infrared light. The team aims to experimentally prove the principle, which could lead to high-precision optical switches for quantum computer circuits.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 11, 2024

New technology gives people a better sense of what they’re breathing

Scientists developed a miniaturized micro-spectrometer to detect multiple toxic and greenhouse gases, offering increased control over individual exposure. The technology uses machine learning and metasurface spectral filter arrays to create a compact sensor that can be integrated into wearable devices.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalMicrosystems & Nanoengineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 6, 2024

From burns to the wave nature of heat – via the telegraph equation

Researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences find that wave phenomena, like sound waves, may be responsible for heat transport in complex systems. The study uses the telegraph equation to describe how electric current propagates with attenuation along one spatial dimension.

SourceThe Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalInternational Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer·DateMay 23, 2024

What is "time" for quantum particles?

Physicists from TU Darmstadt propose a new approach to define and measure the time required for quantum tunneling. They suggest using Ramsey clocks, which utilize the oscillation of atoms to determine the elapsed time. The proposed method may correct previous experiments that observed particles moving faster than light during tunneling.

SourceTechnische Universitat Darmstadt·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 16, 2024

New method unravels the mystery of slow electrons

Researchers have developed a new method to study slow electrons in solids, allowing for the deciphering of previously inaccessible information. By combining data from fast and slow electrons, scientists can now investigate how electrons release energy in their interaction with materials, crucial for applications such as cancer therapy ...

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2024

Barcodes expand range of high-resolution sensor

Lan Yang and Jie Liao demonstrate a transformative approach to overcome limitations of whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) resonators, enabling simultaneous monitoring of multiple resonant modes within a single WGM resonator. This allows for greater resolution and accuracy in detecting molecules, with a potentially limitless range of measure...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalIEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement·DateApr 26, 2024

Rubber-like stretchable energy storage device fabricated with laser precision

Researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology have fabricated a small-scale energy storage device that can stretch, twist, fold, and wrinkle. The device features fine patterning of liquid metal electrodes using laser ablation, allowing it to maintain its energy storage performance under repeated mechanical deformations.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·Journalnpj Flexible Electronics·DateApr 24, 2024

Trapped in the middle: billiards with memory

Researchers from the University of Amsterdam have introduced a billiards game with memory, where the ball may never cross its own previous path. This leads to a trapping effect, making the system chaotic and fascinating, with many open mathematical questions and potential applications in physics and biophysics.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 11, 2024

Multifractal detection of the early stages of multiple sclerosis

Researchers detected multifractality in electrical brain signals of patients with early-stage multiple sclerosis, suggesting complex communication between neurons. The study also found that healthy individuals have more regular fractal components, indicating a potential compensatory mechanism in the brain's neural networks.

Will the convergence of light and matter in Janus particles transcend performance limitations in the optical display industry?

Researchers pioneer technique to control polaritons, unlocking potential for next-generation materials and surpassing performance limitations of optical displays. The breakthrough enables stable generation of polariton particles with enhanced brightness and color control.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 8, 2024

Like sands through the hourglass – but not quite

Scientists from the University of Amsterdam and Chile have created a new type of granular material that can be compressed and still flow like a liquid. This breakthrough has significant potential for applications such as shock dampening, where the material can absorb and distribute energy more consistently.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 3, 2024

Continuous non-invasive glucose sensing on the horizon with the development of a new optical sensor.

Researchers have developed a miniaturized optical sensor that can detect glucose levels in human blood plasma with comparable sensitivity to laboratory-based sensors. The device operates wirelessly using a coin battery and has demonstrated its viability in detecting glucose levels between 50-400mg/dL.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalAdvanced Sensor Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2024

A breakthrough in all-solid-state battery technology, enhancing the performance of the lithium from the bottom

A research team developed an anode protection layer to prevent random electrodeposition of lithium, promoting stable 'bottom electrodeposition' and reducing unnecessary consumption. The breakthrough results in all-solid-state batteries with stable electrochemical performance over extended periods using ultrathin lithium metal anodes.

CityUHK develops world-leading microwave photonics chip for high-speed signal processing

A research team from City University of Hong Kong has developed a world-leading microwave photonic chip capable of performing ultrafast analog electronic signal processing. The chip, 1,000 times faster and consuming less energy than traditional processors, has wide applications in 5/6G wireless communication, AI, and computer vision.

Under pressure

Scientists have created a novel instrument that enables the precise measurement of superconductors under extreme pressure, overcoming existing limitations. The new tool uses quantum sensors integrated into a standard pressure-inducing device, allowing for direct imaging of the material's behavior.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 28, 2024