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NASA's SDO sees new kind of magnetic explosion on sun

Scientists observe a new type of magnetic explosion, known as forced reconnection, triggered by a solar eruption. This discovery confirms a decade-old theory and may help predict space weather and understand the Sun's atmosphere.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 17, 2019
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.

Island retreat: Fuel injection helps reduce magnetic island instabilities

Researchers have discovered that injecting frozen hydrogen fuel pellets into a fusion reactor's plasma can help repair tears in the surrounding magnetic field, reducing magnetic island instabilities. This approach may improve the efficiency of future fusion power plants by freeing up resources needed for magnetic stability.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateOct 21, 2019

Story tips from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, October 2019

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated that metal foam can enhance the evaporation process in thermal conversion systems, enabling the development of compact heating, ventilation and refrigeration units. The small-scale evaporator proved metal foam is well-suited for compact systems.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 7, 2019

Simulations fix the cracks in magnetic mirrors

Physicists have found that by fine-tuning the electromagnet configurations and initial plasma properties, magnetic mirrors can achieve longer confinement times and lower loss rates. This could make them ideal for new particle physics experiments.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateJul 18, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Fusion's path to practicality

TAE Technologies, backed by DOE funding through INCITE program, aims to achieve commercially viable nuclear fusion energy. The company's FRC device seeks to confine plasma at high temperatures for extended periods, paving the way for sustainable, carbon-free energy production.

SourceDOE/US Department of Energy·DateJul 16, 2019

As hot as the sun's interior

Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena have successfully created plasma using nanowires and long-wavelength ultrashort pulse lasers. The new method achieves higher temperatures than previously thought possible in a laboratory setting, opening up new avenues for studying plasma and its properties.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalPhysical Review X·DateJun 5, 2019
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

CubeSats prove their worth for scientific missions

Science-oriented CubeSats like MinXSS can collect valuable data on solar flares and the Sun's atmosphere, consistent with large satellites. The success of these small satellites has led to new funding opportunities for CubeSat science missions.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateApr 16, 2019

Shrimp claw inspires new method of underwater plasma generation

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a new method of underwater plasma generation using a snapping shrimp's claw, producing jets of plasma reaching over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This discovery could provide significant improvements for actions ranging from water sterilization to drilling.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 28, 2019

Researchers turn liquid metal into a plasma

Scientists at the University of Rochester's LLE have successfully turned a liquid metal into a plasma, exhibiting classical properties at high temperatures. This discovery has implications for better understanding stars and planets, as well as realizing controlled nuclear fusion, a promising alternative energy source.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 11, 2019
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Scientists discover a process that stabilizes fusion plasmas

Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have discovered a process that can help control disruptions in fusion plasmas, a key challenge for generating clean energy. The process focuses on stabilizing tearing modes, which create magnetic islands that can trigger disruptive events and halt fusion reactions.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 8, 2019

Successful second round of experiments with Wendelstein 7-X

The Wendelstein 7-X experiment achieved record-high plasma densities of up to 2 x 10**20 particles per cubic meter and temperatures of 20 million degrees Celsius. These results are significant milestones in fusion research, demonstrating the potential for stellarators to achieve high-quality confinement.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (IPP)·DateNov 26, 2018

Why a stream of plasma makes chemical reactions more efficient

Using computer modeling, a team discovered that plasmas activate metal catalysts in packed bed reactors, causing faster and more efficient chemical reactions. This process could lead to more efficient processes for removing air pollution, converting CO2 into fuels, and producing fertilizer.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 6, 2018
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Peak performance: new stellarator experiments show promising results

The Wendelstein 7-X superconducting stellarator successfully completes its first operational phase, demonstrating stable and high-density plasma conditions. The experiment's goal is to achieve temperatures of over 10 million degrees in plasmas using microwaves, a crucial step towards realizing fusion power.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 5, 2018

No more zigzags: Scientists uncover mechanism that stabilizes fusion plasmas

Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have discovered a mechanism called magnetic flux pumping that stabilizes plasma in tokamaks, preventing sawtooth gyrations and halting fusion reactions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of fusion energy by regulating plasma current and pressure.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateJul 17, 2018

Wendelstein 7-X achieves world record

Researchers at Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik achieved a record-breaking fusion product with Wendelstein 7-X, lasting up to 26 seconds and reaching temperatures of 40 million degrees. The device's optimized magnetic field geometry also demonstrated improved thermal insulation and low bootstrap current.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (IPP)·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 25, 2018
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.

Quantum mechanics runs hot in a cold plasma: UBC research

Researchers have discovered a way to create an ultracold plasma that naturally forms a robust many-body localized state, enabling the spontaneous creation of quantum materials. This breakthrough could pave the way for more practical applications of quantum technology.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 14, 2018

A new discovery that makes possible prediction immediately before plasma loss

Researchers at National Institute for Fusion Science have discovered a way to predict plasma loss in fusion research. By studying the resonant and non-resonant modes of plasma deformation, they can identify the 'trigger' that occurs immediately before the sudden phenomenon, allowing for predictions to be made.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 1, 2018
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Osaka university researchers make the slipperiest surfaces adhesive

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a new method to make non-stick fluoropolymers adhesive by combining heat and plasma treatments. This approach improves the bonding strength of PTFE with other materials, avoiding the use of harsh chemicals and increasing its industrial applications.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 16, 2017
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.

Wendelstein 7-X: Second round of experimentation started

The second round of experimentation has begun at Wendelstein 7-X, a stellarator designed to produce power from fusion reactions. The upgrade includes new heating and measuring facilities, graphite wall tiles, and ten divertor modules, which will allow for higher temperatures and plasma discharges.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (IPP)·DateSep 11, 2017

Ion temperature of one hundred million degrees achieved

Researchers at National Institutes of Natural Sciences successfully generated plasma with an ion temperature of 100 million degrees, a key milestone toward achieving burning plasma for fusion. The high-temperature plasma exhibits characteristics suitable for fusion reactor plasmas.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·DateJul 14, 2017

PPPL researchers demonstrate first hot plasma edge in a fusion facility

Researchers at PPPL successfully demonstrated a hot plasma edge in a fusion facility by coating tokamak walls with lithium. The findings show that high-edge temperatures and constant temperature profiles can be achieved, which is crucial for improving plasma performance and efficiency.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 5, 2017
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.

Finally, understanding how the sun's spicules are made

Spicules are violently driven jets of plasma that occur thousands of times per day, yet their origin is poorly understood. The new model resolves this mystery by explaining how magnetic fields and solar plasma interact to generate spicules.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJun 22, 2017

Scientists perform first-principles simulation of transition of plasma edge to H-mode

Physicists at PPPL have simulated the spontaneous transition of turbulence at the plasma edge to H-mode using a first-principles-based model. The simulation reveals that both turbulence-generated and non-turbulent sheared flows contribute to the bifurcation, providing the physics-basis for successful tokamak operation.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 18, 2017

Surprisingly long lifetime of high adhesion property of plasma-treated PTFE

Researchers at Osaka University report heat-assisted plasma treatment can modify PTFE to improve its adhesive properties, making it suitable for medical procedures. The treatment recovers the surface layer, strengthening the adhesion between PTFE and rubber, allowing for stable and non-toxic lubrication.

SourceOsaka University·JournalRSC Advances·DateApr 12, 2017

Calculating 1 billion plasma particles in a supercomputer

Researchers at National Institutes of Natural Sciences successfully simulated a plasma blob's movement with unprecedented accuracy, calculating 1 billion particles. This breakthrough allows for finely detailed analyses of the plasma's internal structure and temperature distribution, greatly improving prediction accuracy.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNuclear Fusion·DateDec 21, 2016
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Study shows blood products unaffected by drone trips

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that drone transportation of large bags of blood products can maintain their temperature and cellular integrity. The study suggests drones are an effective way to transport blood products to remote areas or time-sensitive destinations.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalTransfusion·DateDec 7, 2016

Springer launches new journal Reviews of Modern Plasma Physics

The journal aims to provide cutting-edge reviews and tutorials on plasma physics, benefiting graduate students and young researchers. Published exclusively online by Springer, it will cover various fields of plasma physics, including natural and laboratory plasmas.

SourceSpringer·JournalReviews of Modern Plasma Physics·DateNov 30, 2016

Breakthrough in Z-pinch implosion stability opens new path to fusion

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have demonstrated improved control over and understanding of implosions in a Z-pinch, enabling the creation of thermonuclear fusion-relevant densities and temperatures. The breakthrough was enabled by unforeseen physics that led to unprecedented implosion stability due to helical modes rather...

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateOct 27, 2016
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Fusion reactor designs with 'long legs' show promise

Researchers found that long-leg plasma exhaust channels can handle high power densities, exceeding material limits. The configuration promotes the build-up of high gas pressures in the legs, enabling a stable radiating layer to fully accommodate plasma heat exhaust.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateOct 27, 2016

From Germany comes a new twist for fusion research

The Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) experiment in Germany has achieved impressive initial plasma results, pushing the boundaries of magnetic confinement. The device uses a unique twist design to optimize plasma confinement on both individual-particle and macroscopic scales.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateOct 27, 2016

Clarifying the fusion plasma confinement improvement mechanism

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for generating electric currents that leads to improved plasma confinement, solving a long-standing problem in fusion reactor development. The study found that the difference in trajectories between electrons and ions plays a crucial role in creating this electric current.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 4, 2016
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.

PPPL scientists help test innovative device to improve efficiency of tokamaks

Researchers at PPPL designed and tested a 'liquid lithium limiter' that circulated protective liquid metal within the walls of China's EAST tokamak, keeping plasma from cooling down and halting fusion reactions. The system improved tokamak performance by reducing impurities and maintaining optimal plasma conditions.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNuclear Fusion·DateApr 6, 2016

New plasma source favorable for hydrogen negative ion beam is developed

The team discovered a new plasma wave phenomenon leading to the development of a negative ion source for fusion plasma heating. The newly developed plasma source utilizes a helicon wave to produce high-temperature electrons, which are then neutralized and injected into the magnetically-confined plasma core.

SourceTohoku University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 1, 2016

Compressing turbulence to improve inertial confinement fusion experiments

New findings suggest that turbulent plasma could improve inertial confinement fusion experiments by storing energy. The compression of fluid turbulence was modeled to show a positive impact on ICF experiments, suggesting a new design for compression-based fusion research. However, caveats and challenges remain in the field.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 15, 2016

Accelerating fusion research through the cutting edge supercomputer

Researchers have successfully simulated deuterium plasma turbulence in the Large Helical Device (LHD) using the Plasma Simulator, a cutting-edge supercomputer. The results show improved energy confinement in deuterium plasma compared to hydrogen plasma.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 16, 2015

Made to order: Researchers discover a new form of crystalline matter

A team of researchers from Auburn University, the University of Iowa and the University of California, San Diego, discovered a new form of crystalline-like matter in strongly magnetized dusty plasma. The lattice properties can be imposed arbitrarily by an external grid/mesh structure, creating unique geometric patterns.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·DateNov 11, 2015
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Discovery of a new confinement state for plasma

Researchers at National Institute for Fusion Science have discovered a new confinement state inside a magnetic island, essential for improving fusion reactor plasma confinement. This breakthrough was achieved through the 'momentary heating propagation method' and has implications for future fusion research.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 11, 2015

World's largest atom smashers produce world's smallest droplets

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have successfully created tiny drops of quark-gluon plasma using the Large Hadron Collider, exhibiting coherent behavior and flowing properties similar to those of liquids. The findings shed new light on the formation process of these primordial droplets.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 2, 2015
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.

UW researchers scaling up fusion hopes with DOE grant

University of Washington researchers are scaling up their 'Sheared Flow Stabilized Z-Pinch' device in hopes of achieving a sustainable fusion reaction. With a $5.3 million grant, they aim to create a proof-of-principle experiment that demonstrates the concept's scalability.

SourceUniversity of Washington·DateJun 2, 2015

Tiny grains of lithium dramatically improve performance of fusion plasma

Scientists have discovered that injecting tiny grains of lithium into a plasma can dramatically improve its temperature and pressure, doubling the pressure at the outer edge and increasing the length of time it remains high. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient fusion reactions and potentially shorten the development timeline.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNuclear Fusion·DateMay 20, 2015

PPPL physicist wins Early Career Research Program grant

Delgado-Aparicio's research aims to eliminate impurities that cool plasma and halt fusion reactions, crucial for ITER and NSTX-U experiments. His $2.6M grant will fund development of a complex diagnostic tool to analyze impurity reactions with plasma.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·DateMay 11, 2015

York scientists lead study on new treatment for prostate cancer

Researchers at the University of York have found a potential new treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer using low-temperature plasmas. The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, suggests LTPs may be a viable alternative to current radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy treatments.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateApr 9, 2015

Plasma flow damping observed due to stochastization of the magnetic field

Researchers at NIFS and Kyushu University have discovered a new mechanism that stops plasma flow when the magnetic flux surface is disturbed. This observation is significant for nuclear fusion research and has implications for understanding plasma behavior in the universe.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 9, 2015
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.

Plasma: Casimir and Yukawa mesons

Researchers discovered a connection between nuclear particles and electromagnetic theories via plasmas, suggesting an equivalence between generalized Casimir forces and weak nuclear interactions. The study found that long-range electromagnetic fluctuations differ from those in vacuum conditions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateNov 3, 2014