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Plasma agriculture makes strides towards super-seeding conventional methods

Researchers at Nagoya University review the latest results of plasma agriculture, finding that well-tuned plasma treatments boost seed vigor or yield in over two-thirds of studies. Plasma-induced epigenetic changes also promote positive expression of plant genes involved in germination and stress tolerance.

SourceNagoya University·JournalJournal of Advanced Research·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 14, 2026
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New UVA professor’s research may boost next-generation space rockets

A UVA professor has made new discoveries about electron kinetic behavior within plasma beams, potentially revealing the 'shape' of future space technology. The findings could lead to more efficient and reliable electric propulsion systems for long-duration space missions.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalPlasma Sources Science and Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 3, 2025

First peek at nuclear shape transitions

Researchers at University of Copenhagen used experimental data to predict hitherto unchartered changes in the shape of nuclei, shedding light on nuclear structure and strong interactions. The study used a high-energy collision experiment at CERN's LHC to analyze the resulting products and reconstruct the processes.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeObservational study·DateNov 5, 2024
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

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Lehigh University researchers dig deeper into stability challenges of nuclear fusion—with mayonnaise

Researchers at Lehigh University use mayonnaise to simulate the phases of Rayleigh-Taylor instability in nuclear fusion, which could inform the design of future inertial confinement fusion processes. The team found that understanding the transition between elastic and stable plastic phases is critical for controlling the instability.

SourceLehigh University·JournalPhysical Review E·DateAug 6, 2024

High-energy collision study reveals new insights into quark-gluon plasma

Researchers studied jet energy loss in nucleus-nucleus collisions, revealing a decrease in the jet transport coefficient with increasing medium temperature. This discovery provides a more accurate understanding of jet quenching in high-energy collisions.

SourceNuclear Science and Techniques·JournalNuclear Science and Techniques·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 23, 2024
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Methane emissions from landfill could be turned into sustainable jet fuel in plasma chemistry leap

University of Sydney researchers have developed a chemical process using plasma that could create sustainable jet fuel from methane gas emitted from landfills. This process has the potential to eliminate the need for traditional and sustainable jet fuels, which add further emissions into the atmosphere. By capturing almost the exact co...

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 30, 2024

Zap Energy achieves 37-million-degree temperatures in a compact device

Scientists at Zap Energy have achieved a major breakthrough in fusion technology, creating a plasma with electron temperatures of up to 37 million degrees Celsius. The company's sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch device far exceeds the previous record and offers a promising path to commercial fusion energy.

SourceZap Energy·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 23, 2024

Hydrogen recombination found to be most plausible explanation for high levels of energy in stellar superflares

Researchers analyzed 42 superflares using two models and concluded that hydrogen recombination is the most physically plausible explanation for high levels of energy. This model is supported by flare processes described in solar flares, which are well-studied phenomena.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateApr 15, 2024

Bendable energy storage materials by cool science

Researchers developed mesoporous metal oxides on flexible materials using synergetic effect of heat and plasma at lower temperatures. The devices can withstand bending thousands of times without losing energy storage performance.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMar 18, 2024
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Plasma oscillations propel breakthroughs in fusion energy

Researchers discovered a new class of plasma oscillations that can exhibit extraordinary features, enabling innovative advancements in particle acceleration and fusion. This finding has significant implications for achieving clean-burning commercial fusion energy.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 15, 2024

Scientists create effective ‘spark plug’ for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion experiments

Researchers from the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics demonstrated an effective 'spark plug' for direct-drive methods of inertial confinement fusion (ICF), achieving a plasma hot enough to initiate fusion reactions. The successful experiments use the OMEGA laser system, with the goal of eventually producing fus...

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 5, 2024

Lithuanian researchers recycle surgical masks for hydrogen-rich gas production

Researchers from Kaunas University of Technology and Lithuanian Energy Institute investigate the possibilities of plasma gasification to convert surgical mask waste into hydrogen-rich syngas, which shows a 42% higher heating value than biomass. The obtained syngas can be used as clean fuel with low carbon emissions.

SourceKaunas University of Technology·JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 10, 2024
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.

Way cool: UVA professor developing ‘freeze ray’ technology for the Air Force

UVA professor Patrick Hopkins is developing a 'freeze ray' technology to cool electronics in spacecraft and high-altitude jets, which can't be cooled by nature due to the vacuum of space. The technology uses heat-generating plasma to create localized cooling, and has been granted $750,000 by the Air Force.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 31, 2023

Fusion model hot off the wall

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a new fusion model that accurately predicts the rotational temperature of hydrogen molecules near the walls of tokamaks. This innovation enables the effective management of heat load and extends the lifetime of future fusion devices.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNuclear Fusion·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2023

Temperature of solar flares helps understand nature of solar plasma

Researchers used simulations to analyze the Lyman Continuum spectrum in dozens of simulated solar flares, confirming its connection to plasma temperature. The study found that analysis of this spectrum can be used for diagnosis of the solar plasma during solar storms.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateMay 16, 2023
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

The mechanism of cosmic magnetic fields explored in the laboratory

Researchers create a hydrogen plasma with known temperature anisotropy, demonstrating the Weibel instability and its potential to seed galactic dynamo magnetic fields. The study uses a novel experimental platform to measure the complex topology of generated magnetic fields.

SourceDOE/US Department of Energy·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2023

Machine learning facilitates “turbulence tracking” in fusion reactors

Researchers used machine learning to track turbulent structures in fusion reactors, gaining detailed information on their behavior and heat flows. The approach enables more accurate engineering requirements for reactor walls and could lead to improved energy efficiency.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 2, 2022

Development of high-time-resolution measurement of electron temperature and density in a magnetically confined plasma

Researchers have developed a high-performance laser system capable of measuring electron temperature and density in plasma at a world record speed of 20,000 times per second. This breakthrough enables detailed measurements of transient phenomena in plasmas, crucial for understanding and controlling fusion power generation.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2022
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

The process of waves carrying plasma heat is observed for the first time in the world

Researchers at National Institutes of Natural Sciences observe plasma heating due to electromagnetic waves for the first time. They used a new measurement system to capture ultrahigh-speed data, revealing that Landau damping transfers energy from high-energy particles to electromagnetic waves, which then heat the plasma.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2022

Nonthermal plasma-promoted CO2 hydrogenation in presence of alloy catalysts

Researchers from Tokyo Tech investigated nonthermal plasma-promoted CO2 hydrogenation on Pd2Ga/SiO2 catalysts, revealing a more than two-fold increase in CO2 conversion compared to thermal methods. The study provides mechanistic insights into the NTP-activated species and metallic catalyst interaction.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 22, 2022

Study proposes mathematical tool to help understand fractal structure of quark-gluon plasma

A new study proposes a mathematical tool to understand the fractal structure of quark-gluon plasma, which is formed in high-energy collisions. The fractal structure explains some phenomena seen in these collisions, including particle momentum distributions that follow Tsallis statistics.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·DateJun 6, 2022
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

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Fresh take on cool plasma

Australian and Asian researchers have used a simulation of a new experimental technique to determine accurate electron cross-sections in liquid using a micro-jet of water, paving the way for more efficient plasma-liquid models. This proof-of-concept model uses machine learning and Monte Carlo training data to enhance predictive power.

SourceFlinders University·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2022

Self-sustained divertor oscillation mechanism identified in fusion plasma experiment

Scientists at Japan's National Institute for Fusion Science discovered a self-sustained mechanism that controls the heat load on the divertor in a fusion reactor. By analyzing the magnetic island and plasma current mirror, they found a competition between two processes that can be described by a biological predator-prey model, which su...

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2022

Nanotube films open up new prospects for electronics

Researchers have found a way to modify carbon nanotubes to meet the requirements of novel electronic devices. The team discovered that exposure to plasma or shortening tube lengths leads to a drop in conductivity at low terahertz frequencies, but at high enough frequencies electrons move freely.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalCarbon·DateFeb 10, 2022
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.

Bringing the Sun into the lab

Researchers create laboratory model to experimentally confirm the behavior of plasma waves as predicted by theory. By studying the properties of liquid metals and high magnetic fields, they successfully generate Alfvén waves in a molten alkali metal, breaking through the sound barrier for the first time.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 3, 2022

Harnessing hot helium ash to drive rotation in fusion reactors

Researchers have discovered a way to harness hot helium ash to drive rotation in fusion reactors, reducing instabilities and turbulence. By capturing the energy of hot fusion ash via alpha channeling, plasma rotation can be stabilized, leading to improved performance and reduced operating costs.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 8, 2021

Neutral particles a drag on disruptive plasma blobs

Recent simulations using Gkeyll reveal that neutral particles significantly impact plasma density, temperature, and flow levels in the scrape-off layer region of tokamaks. The inclusion of neutrals leads to reduced plasma fluctuations and slower blob motion.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 8, 2021
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.

Feeling the heat: Fusion reactors used to test spacecraft heat shields

Researchers used fusion reactors to test spacecraft heat shield materials, achieving conditions similar to those encountered during high-speed atmospheric entries. The experiments demonstrated improved accuracy in modeling heat shield behavior, offering promise for developing advanced materials necessary for future missions.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 8, 2021

Fabricating MgB2 superconductors using spark plasma sintering and pulse magnetization

New research from Shibaura Institute of Technology reveals that spark plasma sintering produces highly dense MgB2 bulks with improved mechanical and superconducting properties. The resulting samples exhibit superior strengths and high trapped field performance, making them suitable for space applications and electric machines.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalMaterials Science and Engineering B·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 23, 2021
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Experimental evidence of an intermediate state of matter between a crystal and a liquid

Scientists have experimentally confirmed the presence of an intermediate hexatic phase in a monolayer dusty plasma system, resolving a long-standing question in theoretical physics. The research uses an unconventional approach to form a monolayer dusty system and precisely controls temperature to identify the phase transition points.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 19, 2021

Compressive fluctuations heat ions in space plasma

Simulations reveal that longitudinal fluctuations preferentially mix with ions, leaving electrons cooler, while transverse fluctuations can mix with both. This finding has significant implications for understanding astronomical observations of supermassive black holes.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Review X·DateDec 18, 2020
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.

Scientists propose a novel method for controlling fusion reactions

Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have developed a new model for stabilizing magnetic bubbles in plasma, which can expand and disrupt fusion reactions. By modifying the standard technique of radio frequency wave deposition, they predict that pulsing the waves can overcome leakage problems and improve performance.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateAug 4, 2020

First results of an upgraded device highlight lithium's value for producing fusion

The LTX-β upgrade successfully demonstrates the ability of liquid lithium to hold onto stray particles, improving plasma temperature profiles and expanding plasma volume for fusion. The device aims to test whether coating all plasma-facing walls with lithium can enhance plasma confinement and increase temperature.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalIEEE Transactions on Plasma Science·DateJul 29, 2020

Mathematical noodling leads to new insights into an old fusion problem

Researchers at DOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have gained new insights into the sawtooth instability, a cooling phenomenon that interferes with fusion reactions. The discovery, rooted in abstract mathematics, suggests an alternative explanation for the phenomenon when the safety factor drops to around 0.7.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNuclear Fusion·DateJun 30, 2020

Applying mathematics to accelerate predictions for capturing fusion energy

Scientists at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have developed a new technique to predict fusion energy performance using advanced mathematical modeling. This approach combines millisecond behavior with longer-term forecasts, enabling accurate predictions of plasma temperature profiles and heat fluxes at significantly reduced computa...

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateApr 15, 2020
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

New explanation for sudden heat collapses in plasmas can help create fusion energy

Researchers at DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory proposed a new theory to explain sawtooth instabilities in plasma, which could lead to more efficient fusion reactions. The theory suggests that localized instabilities can flatten pressure and temperature during the sawtooth cycle, explaining rapid heat collapses.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateMar 30, 2020

Isotope movement holds key to the power of fusion reactions

Scientists in Japan have reached a breakthrough in controlling fusion plasma's uniformity by studying the movement of hydrogen isotopes. The research found that turbulent states, such as ion temperature gradient turbulence, result in more uniform isotope ratios, which is favorable for fusion reactions.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 26, 2020

Electric solid propellant -- can it take the heat?

High-performance electric propellants have a higher enthalpy due to internal energy storage, which affects efficiency. The study predicts the material's conductivity and ionization at extreme temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJournal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer·DateFeb 13, 2020
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.