Articles tagged with Neutrons
A team of physicists reveals how oxygen-16's nuclear shape differs between its ground and first excited states, shedding light on the element's production. The findings may improve our understanding of helium-burning reactions in red giant stars.
The LUX detector demonstrates its high sensitivity to potential signals in the search for low-mass dark matter particles. The new calibration confirms that no evidence of such particles was found during the detector's initial run.
Researchers propose that a 33 A.D. Old Jerusalem earthquake triggered neutron radiation, causing the Shroud's distinctive image and potentially leading to incorrect radiocarbon dating results. The theory is based on piezonuclear fission reactions and suggests that neutron emissions from earthquakes could have imprinted the image onto t...
A European Union-funded project investigates how pressure vessels in nuclear power stations age and lose their toughness due to neutron radiation. The study highlights the need for monitoring and adapting procedures to ensure safe long-term operation.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a technique to examine pore sizes in nanoporous carbons, revealing higher local structural order than previously believed. This discovery allows for more efficient gas extraction from shale deposits and potential carbon dioxide sequestration technologies.
Researchers at RIKEN have provided evidence for a new nuclear 'magic number' in the unstable calcium isotope 54Ca, which has 34 neutrons. This discovery challenges the traditional understanding of atomic nuclei and sheds light on the behavior of highly unstable nuclei.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new concept for a microscope that uses neutrons to create high-resolution images, enabling the probing of internal structures in metal objects and biological materials. The device could improve existing neutron imaging systems by a factor of 50, allowing for sharper images and smaller instruments.
Research reveals lithium's unique mode of action in treating depression and bipolar disorders. Lithium accumulation in white matter suggests a new target for psychotropic drugs.
Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute found that adding sugar cane ash to cement makes it stronger, more durable and crumbles less. The ash helps bind water in the cement, saving energy and reducing pollution from cement production.
A recent neutron study has revealed that HIV inhibitors have only two strong hydrogen bonds, presenting opportunities for improvement through structural changes and strengthening the binding. This discovery may also help address drug resistance by increasing the effectiveness of drugs and reducing dosages.
Researchers from the University of Leicester have developed a new technique to visualize and enhance latent fingerprints, increasing identification rates. The technique uses electrochromic polymers that change color when exposed to electricity or light, creating a negative image of the print.
The autonomous robot will test technologies and techniques for exploring life on Mars, with a focus on gathering scientific data. Zoë is equipped with a one-meter drill to bore deep into the ground and analyze soil samples using instruments like the Mars Microbeam Raman Spectrometer.
Researchers use revolutionary techniques to observe hydrogen atoms in ice at unprecedented pressures, revealing two different mechanisms of dissociation. The findings could alter our understanding of energy science and have implications for studying planetary interiors.
A new metal-organic framework (MOF) material has been developed to separate the highest-octane components of gasoline, potentially making petroleum refining cheaper and more efficient. The MOF selectively traps lower-octane isomers, allowing for a more efficient separation process.
Berkeley Lab researchers have developed a new set of metrics for analyzing data acquired via small angle scattering (SAS) experiments with X-rays or neutrons. The new metrics reduce the time required to collect data by up to 20 times, enabling accurate high-throughput and objective analyses of flexible molecular machines that control c...
A study using neutrons has explained how ozone causes severe respiratory problems by attacking the fatty lining of lungs. The attack leads to increased surface tension, impairing oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.
A new form of radiation therapy, BNCT, has been developed by University of Missouri researchers, putting cancer into remission in mice without harmful side effects. The technique targets cancer cells by delivering boron chemicals that shatter and destroy cancer cells from the inside out.
Researchers developed novel converters for Bulk-Micromegas detectors, increasing neutron detection efficiency by threefold. The new design enables 2D neutron beam monitoring with low detection efficiency detectors.
Researchers use small angle neutron scattering to study ion adsorption in pores of different sizes, understanding how factors like pore size and electrolyte properties affect ion concentration. The technique provides new insights into optimizing energy storage and water desalination systems.
Engineers at the University of Sheffield have developed a new technique to analyze polymer photovoltaic cells, enabling deeper understanding of their structure and efficiency. The technique, SERGIS, has been used to map the size and distance between crystallites in PCBM material, key properties for improving solar cell efficiency.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new type of magnetism called quantum spin liquid, which exhibits constant magnetic orientation fluctuations resembling those of molecules in a true liquid. The discovery has significant implications for data storage and communications technologies.
The researchers used ab initio lattice calculations to unravel the structure of the Hoyle state, finding a compact triangular configuration of alpha clusters for the ground state and a bent-arm formation for the excited state. This work opens interesting questions regarding shape and stability in nuclear physics.
Neutron scattering experiments have provided new insights into the origin of AmB's side effects, revealing that it interacts differently with fungal and animal cell membranes. The study suggests that AmB can open up holes in fungal cells but is unable to do so as readily in human cells, leading to harmful side effects.
Alan Tennant, physicist at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, has been awarded the Europhysics Prize 2012 for his groundbreaking work on magnetic monopoles. Using neutron scattering at the Berlin research reactor BER II, he observed the first time magnetic monopoles in spin ice.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a microscopy technique to map oxygen vacancies in fuel cell materials, which can affect device efficiency. The research aims to improve fuel cells with longer lifetimes and lower prices.
Research models stellar explosions revealing neutrinos' previously unrecognized impact on supernovae's core and outer envelope. The study shows that neutrino interactions with halo neutrinos significantly alter the explosion's physics, changing element formation.
A team of researchers has directly measured shell effects in the heaviest elements, providing new insights into nuclear stability. By weighing the heaviest atomic nuclei with utmost precision, the scientists have benchmarked existing models and shed light on the 'Island of Stability', a region where superheavy elements are predicted to...
Myoglobin's motion is essential for its biological function, and neutron scattering shows it can perform without water. This discovery makes proteins a viable material for new wound dressings or chemical gas sensors.
The Portable Neutron Spectroscope (NSPECT) is a highly sensitive instrument that detects illicit radioactive materials with pinpoint accuracy. The technology, developed by UNH scientists, employs techniques used in NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory to locate nuclear bomb-making material.
Physicists at TUM successfully created and analyzed tin-100, a doubly magic nucleus with the fastest beta decay rate. The experiment confirmed predictions made by theoretical physicists and aims to improve understanding of heavy element formation during compact star explosions.
Berkeley Lab's Laser Ablation Molecular Isotopic Spectrometry (LAMIS) technology enables remote chemical analysis on other planets, while the Compact Variable Collimator (CVC) improves X-ray beam shaping for protein crystallography. The Multinozzle Emitter Array (MEA) accelerates biomedical research by analyzing biomolecules in microfl...
Researchers suggest mirror particles could be responsible for the missing mass of the universe due to an anomaly in neutron behavior. The loss rate of slow neutrons appears to depend on magnetic field strength, which could indicate a parallel world with invisible mirror twins.
Researchers created a new configuration for neutron generators using flat geometry inspired by computer chips. The technology enables tiny medical neutron sources for cancer treatment and has potential applications in sensors and non-proliferation.
Researchers used neutron scattering to observe zero-sound oscillations in a fermion liquid, which could be a mechanism for high-temperature superconductivity. The discovery reveals new density waves with atomic wavelength in the helium fluid, differing from previous findings in bulk liquids.
A proposed new time-keeping system based on a neutron's orbit around an atomic nucleus could achieve unprecedented accuracy. This approach would allow scientists to test fundamental physical theories at higher precision and explore diverse applications.
Researchers at NIST have created a method to directly correlate particle size, shape, and agglomeration with redox chemical properties of nanoparticles. This allows for the observation of structural changes in nanoparticles during important chemical reactions.
A team of researchers has discovered an iron-based superconductor that operates at the highest known temperature for its class, reaching 47 degrees Kelvin. The crystal's unusual property is that it can collapse by up to 10% when a smaller atom is substituted for calcium in some of its hubs.
Researchers at the University of Bristol developed a magnetic soap composed of iron-rich salts, which levitates through an organic solvent when exposed to a magnetic field. The soap's properties were confirmed using neutron scattering, and its potential applications include environmental clean-ups and industrial cleaning products.
Researchers used neutron scattering to study molecular motion in a silica nanopore, gaining insight into how surface interactions affect chemistry. Understanding these interactions can help tailor materials for specific outcomes, such as catalysis and drug delivery.
Researchers at NIST have developed a new device that can perform neutron interferometry in a much smaller space, increasing its sensitivity and speed. This innovation could enable the technique to be used in industries such as materials science and manufacturing.
The University of Missouri has received a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to train scientists in neutron scattering techniques. The program will focus on three areas of research and provide hands-on training at the university's Research Reactor facility.
NICER will measure X-rays from hotspots on a neutron star's surface and its magnetic field, revealing the star's size and helping researchers determine an Equation Of State. This will unlock the secret of matter under extreme gravity in these incredibly dense objects.
Researchers analyzed neutron decay patterns, placing constraints on theories explaining the universe's matter-antimatter imbalance. While no clear answer emerged, improved detector sensitivity limited possible explanations, offering a fresh perspective for future investigations.
The study reveals three distinct classes of protein motion: localized diffusion, methyl group rotations, and jumps. These motions are crucial for understanding protein functions critical to life, enabling scientists to design new biofuels and environmental remediation technologies.
Researchers have observed four cesium states with roughly the same size, surprising theorists and suggesting a new kind of ultracold chemistry at work. The three-body parameter varies consistently across different atomic species, implying universal behavior.
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute discovered that plants create a water reserve around their roots, which helps them survive short periods of drought. The water reserve is found within a few millimeters from the roots and contains about 30% more water than the rest of the soil.
Researchers at UNH's Space Science Center are developing a highly sensitive instrument to detect illicit radioactive materials with pinpoint accuracy. The Portable Neutron Spectroscope can identify hazardous nuclear materials by analyzing radiation patterns and velocity.
Los Alamos researchers successfully observed the elusive hydronium ion for the first time using neutrons, revealing its crucial role in enzyme-catalyzed reactions and protein transport. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding biochemical systems and treating diseases such as acid reflux.
The German Federal Ministry of Health has awarded funding for efficient production of cancer diagnostic agent technetium-99m at FRM II in Garching. The goal is to increase specific activity and improve packaging processes.
A new microscopic theory describes interactions between components of complex polymer mixtures, enabling realistic modeling and macroscopic property predictions. The method has been experimentally proven using neutron scattering experiments, opening up possibilities for studying complex mixtures with improved properties.
Researchers discovered that antiferromagnetism and superconductivity can coexist in certain solids, contradicting previous theories. This finding provides crucial experimental evidence for understanding the interplay between various phases in high-temperature superconductors.
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has secured a five-year funding plan of $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy Nuclear Criticality Safety Program to launch a new nuclear safety research program. The program aims to provide high-accuracy nuclear data for international nuclear community applications.
Researchers have found direct evidence of a superfluid state at the core of a neutron star using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory data. This discovery has important implications for understanding nuclear interactions in matter at high densities.
Researchers at Jefferson Lab have combined data from six experiments to reveal a correlation between the EMC Effect and short-range correlations in bound neutrons. The findings suggest that there is a common cause for both effects, potentially linked to nucleon behavior.
Neutron analysis reveals that magnetic interactions responsible for high-temperature superconductivity occur in a next-nearest-neighbor ordering of atoms, not just adjacent ones. This discovery suggests that superconductivity shares a common magnetic origin among different materials.
Researchers confirm existence of spherical magnesium-32 nucleus, contrary to predicted shell structure. The finding has implications for understanding element synthesis in stellar explosions and requires further experiments to refine predictions.
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has invested 198 million euros over ten years to support scientific use of the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz neutron source. This funding will enable researchers to build new instruments, upgrade existing ones, and hire additional staff.
The ATLAS experiment at CERN has directly observed lead ions melting and dissolving into smaller particles, providing insight into the universe's early stages. This phenomenon was only expected to occur at extreme temperatures, confirming the power of the LHC in studying fundamental physics.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have developed a method to image the full spatial structure of magnetic domains deep within materials. They exploit domain walls, where magnetic fields deflect neutrons slightly from their path, allowing for the creation of 3D images.
A new additive has been developed to treat carbon dioxide, making it suitable for efficient and environmentally friendly oil extraction. The additive can also reduce environmental damage caused by industrial processes.