Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Researchers predict material with record-setting melting point

Using powerful computer simulations, researchers identified a material made of hafnium, nitrogen, and carbon with a melting point of over 4,400 kelvins, two-thirds the temperature at the surface of the sun. The next step is to synthesize the material and corroborate the findings in the lab.

Electron spin brings order to high entropy alloys

High entropy alloys consist of four or more metals in equal amounts, exhibiting remarkable properties such as hardness and tensile strength at low temperatures. Researchers found that chromium and its spin play key roles in ordering the alloy's composition.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

How iron feels the heat

Scientists have uncovered a key factor driving iron's unique thermal behavior, revealing a synergy between magnetism and atomic vibrations that increases the metal's stability at high temperatures. This breakthrough could lead to more accurate predictions of steel properties and enable the development of new, stronger alloys.

On quantum scales, there are many second laws of thermodynamics

Researchers have discovered a family of 'second laws' that govern the behavior of systems at very small scales, leading to counterintuitive phenomena and constraints on disorder. These new laws complement the traditional second law of thermodynamics, which describes the universe's growing state of disorder.

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.

Never say never in the nano-world

An international team of researchers found that a nanoparticle trapped with laser light temporarily violates the second law of thermodynamics, allowing it to release heat to hotter surroundings. This rare event occurs due to the non-equilibrium state created by cooling the nanoparticle below the surrounding gas temperature.

First thin films of spin ice reveal cold secrets

Scientists have successfully fabricated and studied thin films of spin ice, a material known for its unique properties. The researchers found that the normal entropy within these films disappears at about half a degree above absolute zero, restoring the Third Law of Thermodynamics.

The entropy of nations

The study reveals a decrease in global energy inequality, with the distribution of per-capita energy consumption approaching an exponential law. As nations like China move up the curve, energy consumption becomes increasingly concentrated among high-consuming nations.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

IUPUI study: Finding Occam's razor in an era of information overload

A new study led by Steve Pressé reveals a preferred strategy for picking mathematical models with the greatest predictive power, emphasizing simplicity and avoiding unnecessary complexity. The study's findings support Occam's razor principle, suggesting that simpler theories are more likely to be correct.

Growth of disorder of electrons measured in dual temperature system

Aalto University researchers have measured entropy production of electrons in a dual temperature system, revealing a connection between two definitions of entropy and significant implications for future nanoelectronic devices. The study used conductors at different temperatures to measure electronic entropy production according to both...

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.

Entropy can lead to order, paving the route to nanostructures

Computer simulations show that entropy can nudge particles into forming organized structures, with nearly 70% of tested shapes producing crystal-like structures. The researchers used 145 different shapes and analyzed how each behaved under different levels of crowding to predict which types of crystals would form.

Tendency of operational routines to falter is widespread but fixable

A new study by a University of Illinois expert reveals that operational routines tend to move towards higher entropy due to complacency and lack of checks and balances. The research also found that mergers can cause decay in adherence to routines, while acquisitions by healthier firms can serve as a renewal.

UCLA scientists unlock mystery of how 'handedness' arises

Researchers used lithography to create achiral particles that spontaneously formed chiral super-structures with distinct orientations. Entropy played a key role in the emergence of chirality, contradicting traditional views on disorder and order. The discovery sheds new light on the physical origins of molecular handedness.

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.

Caltech researchers find that disorder is key to nanotube mystery

Researchers at Caltech used a novel method to calculate the dynamics of water molecules and found that entropy plays a crucial role in explaining why water spontaneously flows into carbon nanotubes. The team discovered three different reasons why water would flow freely into tubes, depending on diameter.

Quantum knowledge cools computers

Researchers have discovered that quantum entanglement can create a cooling effect when deleting data, which could be used to mitigate heat generation in supercomputers. By understanding the connection between information theory and thermodynamics, they found that entropy is a lack of knowledge that can be exploited for cooling purposes.

'Econophysics' points way to fair salaries in free market

A Purdue University researcher has used econophysics to demonstrate that under ideal circumstances, free markets promote fairness in salaries for workers. The study's findings suggest that the collective self-organizing dynamics of a free market economy lead to fairness as an emergent property.

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.

Entropy alone creates complex crystals from simple shapes, study shows

Scientists at the University of Michigan discovered that certain pyramid shapes can spontaneously organize into intricate quasicrystals without any external interactions. This finding could lead to the development of new materials with unique properties, such as optical properties useful for communication and stealth technologies.

New theory on fairness in economics targets CEO pay

A new theory proposes a method to determine fair CEO compensation using information theory and statistical thermodynamics. The ratio of CEO pay to the lowest employee salary has increased significantly in recent years, with US CEOs averaging around 344-to-1, raising questions about market efficiency.

Pushing the cold frontier in an orderly fashion

Researchers at two Italian universities create method to transfer entropy from potassium atoms to surrounding rubidium atoms, enabling control over ultra-cold matter. This breakthrough technique opens new possibilities for physics research at extremely low temperatures and entropies.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Surprise! Computer scientists model the exclamation point

Researchers propose an alternative mode for characterizing and quantifying information, focusing on individual perception and attention. Their theory outperforms existing methods in capturing human bias toward surprising locations, with potential applications in data mining and understanding complex environments.

Scientists zero in on why time flows in one direction

Researchers Sean Carroll and Jennifer Chen suggest infinite entropy, rather than finite, resolves the universe's low entropy, allowing for an eternal cycle of inflation and increasing entropy. This approach resolves a long-standing puzzle in physics, explaining why time flows in only one direction.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Could Humpback Whales Be Singing Grammatically?

Researchers analyzing humpback whale calls with information theory claim the animals may have a hierarchical grammar. The study measured entropy in the songs, finding predictable sequences of sounds that hint at complex communication.

Physics News Preview: No Information Without Representation

Physicists have demonstrated that single photons and other quantum particles can store a maximum amount of readable information in the presence of noise and real-world disturbances. This finding provides insights into how little energy is required to store complex messages, advancing the idea that information is physical in nature.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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