A theoretical model compares the transport characteristics of straight- and branched-chain polymers in channels, shedding light on how deformability affects their movement. The findings could aid in developing carrier molecules for targeted drug delivery.
Physicists at Rice University report a simple scaling behavior in electronic excitations of a related material, providing direct evidence of large-scale electronic consequences of quantum critical effects. The study reveals that variables from classical physics cannot explain all observed macroscopic properties at quantum critical points.
Researchers at CIN2 have developed a way to make artificial materials that control water condensation, leading to the formation of 'room-temperature ice' at ambient conditions. This breakthrough has significant implications for snowmaking, improved freezer systems, and new coatings for skating rinks.
Scientists have observed the first real-time measurements of a rare gas atom and halogen molecule dissociation. The study found that adding vibrational energy to the bromine-stretching vibration led to rapid direct dissociation, while higher excitation resulted in a more complex mechanism.
Researchers improved a theoretical model for polymer movement through nanopores, addressing the motion of polymers inside pores and introducing significant increases in total time in the pore. This improvement has potential technological applications in DNA sequencing and biosensors.
Researchers have developed a new method to manufacture highly stable glass films with properties equivalent to those of conventionally aged glasses. This breakthrough uses physical vapor deposition and alternating current nanocalorimetry, enabling the production of 'impossible materials' in a matter of minutes.
A new study published in the Journal of Chemical Physics suggests that decompression sickness is caused by the formation and loss of small gas bubbles in soft tissues. The researchers propose a model where these bubbles are stabilized by pockets of reduced pressure, allowing them to persist despite their expected collapse.
The NIST team has built an ultra-stable instrument for tugging on chains of atoms, achieving results that require heroic efforts at vibration isolation. The new instrument enables the direct measurement of force between two gold atoms, giving researchers a direct method to calibrate their equipment.
Chemists have successfully designed and observed custom-shaped microparticles interacting and self-assembling in a controlled manner within a liquid crystal. The discovery opens up possibilities for the creation of larger-scale assemblies with various applications in photonics, optical communication networks, and other fields.
Scientists investigate Hořava's quantum gravity model, which modifies Lorentz symmetry. The team finds that the modifications only reproduce general relativity on unobservable scales.
Scientists have developed a way to train proteins to line up neatly on the surface of water in thin layers called nanofilms. This technique should allow biochemists to better see and study the molecules, leading to new generations of molecular electronics and ultra-thin materials.
Carlos Ordonez, a UH professor, recruits up-and-coming scientists from Latin America for two-year fellowships at UH's top researchers. The program enhances scientific partnerships between the US and Latin America, empowering promising young scientists to tackle problems in their home countries.
A team of University of Toronto researchers has discovered that heating gold at extremely high rates can make it harder, rather than softer. The study used a technique called 'femtosecond electron diffraction' to observe the effects of rapid heating on the material's atomic structure.
Researchers have discovered a new mathematical framework, superadiabaticity, to optimize magnetic resonance pulse sequences in MRI scans. This breakthrough could lead to sharper images, more informative scans, and potentially even portable MRI machines.
Researchers used the Petersburg Paradox to predict how force required to break two types of strings varied with length. Their findings suggest that longer strings require less force to break in a unique pattern.
Researchers found that high school math preparation significantly improves college performance in biology, chemistry, and physics. However, no correlation was seen between scientific disciplines, challenging the 'Physics First' movement's arguments.
A team of 9 scholars from six universities will use precise biological assembly techniques to study quantum physics in nanoparticle arrays. This research could lead to new mechanisms for computing, signal processing and sensing.
Researchers in Manchester and London are working on a £1.5m project to create more efficient solar cells using inexpensive materials and novel fabrication methods. The goal is to produce demonstration hybrid solar cells with the potential to be mass-produced and achieve an energy conversion efficiency of ten percent.
Researchers found telltale signs of a link between quantum effects and thermodynamic properties in YbRh2Si2, shedding light on collective organization of microscopic particles.
Researchers from the University of Arizona found that the same mathematical equation describing stalactite shapes also applies to icicles, regardless of size or growth conditions. The discovery provides new insights into the physics of natural formations and their underlying math.
Soft Matter will separate from its host journal in January 2007, becoming an independent publication with a focus on interdisciplinary research. The move is expected to have far-reaching effects for the soft matter community.
Researchers create new method to analyze data from experiments in cracking, gaining deeper understanding of the process. The team's approach enables prediction of how cracks will advance in different materials under various stresses.
Photonic crystals provide ideal characteristics for the development of instruments with diverse applications. A multidisciplinary research effort at the University of Navarra has led to significant breakthroughs in manufacturing these crystals, paving the way for miniaturization and enhanced nanotechnology.
The U of T team has developed a technique to capture the atomic-level melting process of aluminum, revealing the solid's arrangement as it changes into a liquid. The researchers observed the transformation in real-time using laser and electron pulse technology, shedding light on the fundamental processes governing chemistry and biology.
Researchers at Purdue University have made a groundbreaking discovery about the formation of drops from nozzles, which could lead to new methods for making threads, wires, and particles. The team found that when a nozzle is immersed into sticky liquids, such as honey or silicone oil, the drop forms differently, creating an extremely th...
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how proteins fold by capturing single proteins in action. The study reveals that protein molecules vary in the routes they take to form the same folded shape and create numerous intermediate shapes along the way.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a novel molecular template that enables the creation of surfaces with varying particle concentrations. This innovation allows for the design of sensors, filters, and other devices that can be tailored for specific applications in electronics, chemistry, and life sciences.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have performed simulations that mimic hydrocarbon combustion, demonstrating a defining feature of combustion and gaining insights into the two-way interaction between chemistry and turbulence. The work aims to develop more realistic models of fluid mechanics and chemistry involved in combustion.
The Physics First movement seeks to create a science-literate population by introducing physics in high school, rather than later. Preliminary analysis from a study shows that while many teachers are skeptical about reversing the traditional sequence of sciences, those who already teach early physics are enthusiastic about teaching it.
Researchers have discovered a possible atomic process behind sonoluminescence, which could aid in the emerging field of sonochemistry. The study proposes that stimulated atoms decaying in unison emit light, explaining the short pulses observed in sonoluminescence.