Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Warming up optoelectronic research

A team of US/UK physicists has developed a new material that can control excitons at room temperature, making it easier to manipulate these bound pairs of electrons and electron holes. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of new optoelectronic devices for commercial applications.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 7, 2016

Superconductivity: Footballs with no resistance

Researchers from Max Planck Institute achieve light-induced lossless electricity transmission in fullerenes, contributing to the search for practical superconducting materials. The discovery could lead to a better understanding of high-temperature superconductivity and the development of artificial superconductors.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateFeb 9, 2016

New transitory form of silica observed

A team of scientists has discovered five new forms of silica under extreme pressures at room temperature, revealing a four-to-six configuration shift in the deep Earth. The findings provide valuable insights into the transition between different chemical phases under high-pressure conditions.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 20, 2015

New terahertz device could strengthen security

Researchers at Northwestern University developed a compact terahertz radiation source that operates at room temperature, offering improved security detection capabilities. The device has a wide frequency coverage and can detect explosives, chemical agents, and biological substances from safe distances.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateNov 21, 2014

Risky metabolism

A study by Max-Planck Institute found that great tits' risk-taking behaviour correlates with both metabolic rate and ambient temperature. Birds with high metabolic rates and low temperatures were more likely to approach predators.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalFunctional Ecology·DateSep 30, 2014

World's best thermometer made from light

University of Adelaide researchers have created the world's most precise thermometer, using light to measure temperature differences of 30 billionths of a degree in just one second. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize industrial and medical applications where trace amount detection is crucial.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2014

Yawning to cool the brain

Researchers found that yawning frequencies vary with ambient temperature, with people yawns more in summer and less in winter. The study suggests that yawning functions as a brain cooling mechanism to maintain optimal brain temperature, improving arousal and mental efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalPhysiology & Behavior·DateMay 6, 2014

Quantum world record smashed

A team has achieved a world record 39 minutes for a fragile quantum state to survive at room temperature, paving the way for ultrafast quantum computers. The discovery demonstrates robust and long-lived qubits that could enable efficient quantum calculations.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience·DateNov 14, 2013

3-dimensional carbon goes metallic

Researchers have discovered a new metallic structure of carbon that is stable at ambient temperature and pressure. The discovery could lead to breakthroughs in materials science and technology, including the development of lightweight metals for space applications.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 6, 2013