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Just how secure is quantum cryptography?

Theorists have found new methods to determine the likelihood of quantum encryption scheme failure, enabling device-independent cryptography. This allows for the estimation of failure probabilities without relying on assumptions about the reliability of devices.

SourceOptica·DateMay 28, 2013

Chemical chameleon tamed

Researchers from RUB discover that adding hydrogen molecules to CH5+ gives it a rudimentary structure, freezing its dynamically flexible form. This breakthrough could enable experimental measurements of the molecule's vibrational spectra.

Feynman's double-slit experiment brought to life

Researchers have successfully replicated Feynman's famous double-slit thought-experiment using a gold-coated silicon membrane and a moveable mask. This achievement demonstrates the mysterious properties of electrons, including their ability to produce an interference pattern when fired at the wall one at a time.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateMar 13, 2013

Microprocessors from pencil lead

Researchers found a way to influence electron flow through graphene by mounting it on boron nitride, enabling more controlled electronic properties. The discovery creates hexagonal structures that prevent some electrons from passing through, opening up new possibilities for graphene-based microelectronics.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Physics·DateMar 29, 2012

Breakthrough scientific discoveries no longer dominated by the very young, study finds

A study of Nobel Laureates from 1901 to 2008 found that the majority of breakthroughs in chemistry and physics were made after age 40, with great achievements by age 30 nearly never occurring. The trend toward youthful achievement in early 20th century physics may be attributed to the development of quantum mechanics.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 7, 2011

Escaping gravity's clutches: The black hole breakout

New research by University of York scientists proposes that quantum mechanics could be the key to understanding how black holes work, potentially allowing information to escape. The study's findings suggest a possible breakthrough in our understanding of gravity and its relationship with space and time.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 10, 2011

Discovery of a new magnetic order

Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich and universities of Kiel and Hamburg discovered a regular lattice of stable magnetic skyrmions on a surface, opening up new possibilities for data storage. The tiny formations, made up of just 15 atoms, exist without an external magnetic field and are located on the surface.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 31, 2011

The fallacy of fine-tuning

Stenger examines the concept of fine-tuning in physics and cosmology, arguing that many claims by theists are based on misunderstanding science. He finds evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that God does not exist, exploring standard models of physics and cosmology to support his argument.

Is space like a chessboard?

Physicists at UCLA found that dividing space into discrete locations like a chessboard explains how point-like electrons manage to carry their intrinsic angular momentum. This concept, inspired by graphene's electronic properties, proposes that space at very small distances is segmented, rather than smooth.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 18, 2011

How long does a tuning fork ring?

A team from Vienna and Munich has developed a numerical solver to predict the design-limited damping of mechanical resonators, enabling the creation of more efficient devices. The solver uses quantum mechanics to calculate the radiation of phonons from the resonator, removing the need for trial and error prototype fabrication.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 8, 2011

Columbia engineering team discovers graphene's weakness

A Columbia University engineering team has discovered how pure graphene breaks under tensile stress, revealing a novel soft-mode phonon instability that leads to mechanical failure. This finding is significant for understanding the behavior of low-dimensional systems like graphene and could lead to new ways to engineer its properties.

SourceColumbia University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 30, 2010

A crack in the case for supersolids

Recent research challenges previous observations of supersolid helium, proposing that the phenomenon may be caused by quantum plasticity. The study's findings have significant implications for our understanding of ultracold solid helium and its potential to exhibit counterintuitive characteristics.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 21, 2010

Quantum mechanics reveals new details of deep Earth

Scientists used quantum mechanics to simulate silica behavior under high-temperature and pressure conditions, revealing the mineral's structure changes dramatically with depth. The study suggests the lower mantle may be devoid of silica, except in localized areas where oceanic plates have subducted.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 10, 2010

Physicists capture first images of atomic spin

Researchers at Ohio University and the University of Hamburg captured the first images of atomic spin in a study published in Nature Nanotechnology. The discovery enables manipulation of spin direction to store data in nanoscale devices, potentially leading to faster, smaller, and more efficient computers.

SourceOhio University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateApr 26, 2010

How shape-memory materials remember

Researchers are gaining insight into the workings of magnetic shape-memory materials by studying their molecular level behavior. By examining the effects of excess manganese atoms on a specific alloy, scientists hope to develop materials that exhibit larger changes in shape.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 26, 2010

Nanoscale materials grow with the flow

Researchers discovered that nanoscale lead atoms on silicon exhibit a fluid-like motion, enabling the formation of uniform-height islands in minutes. The unique behavior suggests that quantum mechanics governs the growth process, allowing for rapid self-assembly and potentially simplifying material properties manipulation.

SourceDOE/Ames National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 11, 2009

Making waves

Soundararajan and Roman Holowinsky prove a significant version of the quantum unique ergodicity (QUE) conjecture using different techniques from number theory. Their work shows that for certain shapes associated with number theory, waves always spread out evenly, eliminating whispering galleries.

Princeton scientists spy an electron dance

Researchers from Princeton University have discovered that electrons in bismuth display a highly unusual pattern of behavior under a powerful magnetic field at ultra-low temperatures. This phenomenon, known as a collective state, is a manifestation of quantum mechanics and could lead to new paradigms in computing and electronics.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalScience·DateJul 25, 2008

Shrimps see beyond the rainbow

Researchers found that mantis shrimp can see colours from ultraviolet to infrared and measure four linear and two circular polarisations, enabling them to detect subtle changes in light. This unique talent presents a new concept of polarisation vision, allowing shrimps to navigate and find food more effectively.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 13, 2008

Firing photons makes advance in space communication

Researchers have successfully fired photons back and forth between a space satellite and a ground-based station, demonstrating the possibility of a secure quantum communication channel. The achievement marks an important step towards global communication via satellites using quantum mechanics.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateMar 28, 2008