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When heat flows like water

EPFL researchers have theoretically shown that heat can flow toward warmer regions in highly ordered materials, enabling the design of electronics with minimized heat loss. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient thermal management across multiple sectors, from consumer electronics to energy storage and data centers.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

The (metabolic) cost of life

A new paper proposes a way to calculate the thermodynamic costs of metabolic processes, ranking them according to their biological efficiency. The method estimates the improbability of a network behaving in a certain way, considering maintenance and restriction costs.

For computational devices, talk isn't cheap

Researchers have determined that computational devices must dissipate at least as much heat as the useful information transmitted, challenging earlier views of communication costs. This finding has implications for building energy-efficient systems and could inspire future computer architecture.

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.

When neural spikes break time's symmetry

Researchers developed a method that characterizes collective dynamics of neural activity using principles from thermodynamics. They found that neurons dynamically reshape their interactions during behavior and that the brain's internal temporal asymmetry shifts during task engagement, shedding light on efficient computation.

Surprising nanoscopic heat traps found in diamonds

Researchers discovered 'hot spots' around atomic defects in diamonds that briefly distort the surrounding crystal, affecting quantum-relevant defects. The findings indicate optical techniques used to control defects may unintentionally generate small pockets of heat, potentially affecting diamond-based quantum devices.

Work and heat in quantum systems

A team of researchers at the University of Basel has developed a new approach to applying thermodynamics to microscopic quantum systems. They defined what constitutes

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.

A 'Rosetta Stone' for molecular systems

A new mathematical framework, STIV, can predict larger-scale effects like proteins unfolding and crystals forming without costly simulations or experiments. The framework solves a 40-year-old problem in phase-field modeling, allowing for the design of smarter medicines and materials.

From engines to nanochips: Scientists redefine how heat really moves

Researchers at Auburn University and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have developed a unified statistical theory of heat conduction that explains the unusual ways heat moves in tiny materials. This breakthrough has significant implications for the design of nanochips, AI processors, and advanced energy technologies.

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.

Supercritical fluids once thought uniform found to contain liquid clusters

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology experimentally demonstrated the existence of nanometer-sized liquid clusters in supercritical fluids, overturning the prevailing notion of a single phase. These clusters persisted for up to an hour and have significant implications for industrial processes and natural environments.

Research findings offer new insight into blood thinners and bone builders

A team of Virginia Tech researchers has discovered new insights into blood thinners and bone builders, heparin. The findings may lead to designing safer and more reliable heparin therapies. Heparin's molecular composition affects its ability to bind calcium, influencing its effectiveness in biomineralization and blood clotting.

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.

Boosting thermoelectric efficiency by 91% with oxygen vacancies

A team of scientists at Pohang University of Science & Technology has developed a novel approach to enhance thermoelectric efficiency by controlling oxygen vacancies. By precisely controlling the number of oxygen vacancies in materials, they achieved a remarkable 91% improvement in thermoelectric performance.

Hydrogen from solar heat: who wins the race?

A team of researchers has discovered a novel oxide material that can produce high-efficiency clean hydrogen using only heat. The discovery was made possible by a new computational screening method and has the potential to transform industries such as methane reforming and battery recycling.

World’s first observation of the transverse Thomson effect

Researchers at NIMS have successfully observed the transverse Thomson effect, a phenomenon that releases or absorbs heat when a heat current, charge current, and magnetic field are applied orthogonally. This achievement could lead to breakthroughs in thermoelectric effects and thermal management technologies.

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.

Universal method unlocks entropy calculation for liquids

Researchers developed a universal approach to calculate liquid entropy using fundamental physical principles, achieving remarkable consistency with existing data. The new method predicts entropy accurately for various liquids, including sodium, and has significant implications for optimizing chemical reactions and material properties.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

SwRI offers megawatt-scale heat exchanger testing and research

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is expanding its heat exchanger testing capabilities to include megawatt-scale performance evaluations. This move addresses a significant market gap for high-heat transfer rates involving high-temperature and -flowrate applications in data centers, defense, and other fields.

Quantum clocks can be more accurate than expected

Researchers at TU Wien have demonstrated that special tricks can be used to increase accuracy exponentially. By using two different time scales, a clock can measure time more accurately while minimizing the impact of statistical noise.

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.

The quantum physics of forgetting information

Researchers at TU Wien have measured what happens when quantum physical information is lost, confirming Rolf Landauer's principle that deleting information always results in entropy transfer and energy loss. This study explores the connection between thermodynamics, information theory, and quantum physics.

Creating ice layer by layer: the secret mechanisms of ice formation revealed

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, used molecular-scale simulations to understand ice formation. They found that the arrangement of water molecules in the two layers closest to the surface is crucial for nucleation, promoting a low-dimensional hexagonal crystal lattice at the surface.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

A colloidal crystal model for controlled polymorph selection

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a colloidal crystal model to control specific polymorph formation, advancing understanding of polymorph control for material fabrication and drug development. The study found that particle additives can effectively control polymorph formation and probability by size and cluster stability.

Making the physics of glass more transparent

Koun Shirai bridges conventional physics and nonequilibrium materials to provide robust thermodynamic description of glasses. He redefines equilibrium as energy extraction impact, allowing tools of thermodynamics to apply to glasses.

UMass Amherst team finds exception to laws of thermodynamics

A team of researchers led by a graduate student discovered a novel property in certain liquids that contradicts long-held expectations from the laws of thermodynamics. Magnetized particles increase interfacial tension, bending the boundary between oil and water into a specific shape.

Relax, I'm cool

Researchers at Kyoto University develop thermomajorization theory to unify different distance measures, eliminating ambiguities in previous studies. The approach reveals the Mpemba effect is not restricted to specific temperature ranges, but can emerge across a wide spectrum of thermal conditions.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Even quantum physics obeys the law of entropy

Research at TU Wien shows that quantum systems exhibit increasing entropy over time, even in isolated systems. This reconciles quantum theory with thermodynamics by defining a 'Shannon entropy' that depends on measurement probabilities.

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.

Hybrid theory offers new way to model disturbed complex systems

A hybrid method links bottom-up behaviors and top-down causation in a single theory to capture interactions between small-scale behaviors and system-level properties in disturbed systems. The approach has been tested in examples such as post-fire forest ecosystems and pandemics, predicting ecological patterns and system dynamics.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

New theory demystifies crystallization process

A new theory reveals that the solvent, not solute, is the dominant component in solution, leading to improved understanding of crystal formation. Thermodynamic phase diagrams demonstrate that crystals grow through a melt-like intermediate before organizing into a crystal structure.

Nitrite-driven anaerobic ethane oxidation

A novel genus, Candidatus Alkanivoras nitrosoreducens, is described as potentially performing nitrite-driven anaerobic ethane oxidation. The study reveals a prospective fumarate addition pathway for anaerobic ethane oxidation and a complete denitrification pathway for nitrite reduction.

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.

AI-based Alphafold: Its potential impact on predictive medicine

AlphaFold's groundbreaking ability to predict protein structures is set to transform predictive medicine, enabling the development of personalized vaccines and adaptive clinical trials. However, the review also highlights crucial challenges and ethical considerations surrounding AI integration with clinical data.

What happens when neutron stars collide?

New simulations show that neutrinos created during neutron star collisions can be trapped at the interface of merging stars and interact with matter for 2-3 milliseconds. This brief out-of-equilibrium phase is crucial in understanding the physics of these extreme events.

New work extends the thermodynamic theory of computation

Researchers introduce mathematical equations revealing minimum and maximum predicted energy cost of computational processes with randomness, offering insights into computing energy-cost bounds. The framework offers a way to calculate lower bounds on the energy cost of unpredictable finish situations.

World’s first N-channel diamond field-effect transistor

The team developed a technique to grow high-quality monocrystalline n-type diamond semiconductors, leading to the fabrication of an n-channel diamond MOSFET. The device exhibits excellent high-temperature performance, with a field-effect mobility of approximately 150 cm^2/V·sec at 300°C.

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.

Physicists identify overlooked uncertainty in real-world experiments

Uncertainty in thermodynamic parameters can influence experiment outcomes, suggesting a new approach to modifying stochastic thermodynamics equations. This oversight has implications for various systems, including cells and optical tweezers, where precision is limited by the uncertainty in system parameters.