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Electric ash found in Eyjafjallajokull's plume, say UK researchers

UK researchers have discovered electrically charged ash in the plume of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano. The finding contradicts models and adds a new dimension to understanding volcanic plumes' impact on air travel. Detailed measurements reveal self-renewing charge within the plume, which affects particle behavior and growth.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMay 27, 2010

Learning how to erase electronic paper

Jeanne E. Pemberton's research reveals that changing the electrical charge on electronic paper affects how well ink sticks, enabling the development of reusable tablets. The study uses the 'emersion' method to analyze molecular interactions at the interface between liquids and solids.

Electricity from microscopic snowballs

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics found that molecular clusters break up into positively and negatively charged fragments upon impact with any solid surface. They propose that neutral alkali atoms play a key role in charge separation, leading to the formation of separate ionic fragments.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateAug 4, 1999

Research Sheds Light On Electron's Structure

Researchers at Purdue University have discovered that the electron's electromagnetic force may not be constant but rather increases towards the central core. The discovery reveals a cloud of virtual particles surrounding the core, which affects how we perceive the electromagnetic force from the electron.