ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

Rice-sized laser, powered one electron at a time, bodes well for quantum computing Posted: 15 Jan 2015 11:23 AM PST Researchers have built a rice grain-sized microwave laser, or 'maser,' powered by single electrons that demonstrates the fundamental interactions between light and moving electrons. It is a major step toward building quantum-computing systems out of semiconductor materials.

Inventors choose to reveal their secret sauce before patent approval Posted: 15 Jan 2015 11:22 AM PST Common wisdom and prior economic research suggest that an inventor filing a patent would want to keep the technical know-how secret as long as possible. But a new study of nearly 2 million patents in the United States shows that inventors are not as concerned with secrecy as previously thought. Researchers found that since 2000, most inventors when given the choice opted to disclose information about their patents before patent approval -- even small inventors -- and this disclosure correlates with more valuable patents.

Physicists detect 'charge instability' across all flavors of copper-based superconductors Posted: 15 Jan 2015 11:17 AM PST Physicists have detected 'charge ordering' in electron-doped cuprate superconductors for the first time. Charge ordering is a ripple-like instability at the electron level that competes with superconductivity and likely suppresses the temperature at which materials demonstrate superconducting properties. Until now, researchers had only observed the phenomenon in other forms of cuprate materials.

Liquids and glasses relax, too -- but not like you thought Posted: 15 Jan 2015 10:48 AM PST A new insight into the fundamental mechanics of the movement of molecules offers a surprising view of what happens when you pour water out of a glass.

Gold nanoparticles show promise for early detection of heart attacks Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:21 AM PST A novel colloidal gold test strip is demonstrating great potential for early detection of certain heart attacks. Researchers are developing the strip to test for cardiac troponin I (cTn-I); its level is several thousand times higher in patients experiencing myochardial infarctions. The new strip uses microplasma-generated gold nanoparticles. Compared to AuNPs produced by traditional chemical methods, the surfaces of thesenanoparticles attract more antibodies, which results in significantly higher detection sensitivity.

FDA approves first medical device for obesity treatment targeting brain-to-stomach signaling Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:20 AM PST The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved EnteroMedic’s VBLOC® vagal blocking therapy, delivered via the Maestro® System, which is the first medical device approved for obesity treatment that targets the nerve pathway between the brain and the stomach. The Obesity Society calls this a "a novel device that interrupts signals from the stomach to the brain that are believed to be involved with stomach emptying and feelings of fullness."

World's most powerful electrical testing system Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:20 AM PST Researchers have unveiled a new 24,000-volt direct current power test system, the most powerful of its kind available at a university research center throughout the world.

Smart farming technique to boost yields, cut fertilizer pollution Posted: 15 Jan 2015 08:13 AM PST Researchers are using X-rays to help farmers increase yields and cut water pollution following an unexpected discovery in a pea and bean crop. Scientists hope to combine two new technologies to provide a rapid "same day" measurement of soil phosphorus availability, enabling farmers and growers to make more informed decisions about fertilizer application.

Improved solar panels and printed electronics on the horizon with new material discovery Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:32 AM PST New and improved solar panels could result from the discovery of a new liquid crystal material, making printable organic solar cells better performing.

Harnessing bacteria to move microscopic gears and ratchets Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:31 AM PST Computer simulations suggest new applications in industry by harnessing active microscopic particles in fluids. Previous research has already demonstrated that substantial quantities of self-motile or active agents such as bacteria in a fluid environment can be harnessed to do mechanical work like moving microscopic gears and ratchets. Bacteria as well as algae can also be used to transport or displace matter in fluidic environments.

Huge 3-D displays without 3-D glasses Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:28 AM PST A new kind of display uses laser beams to send out different pictures into different directions. Each pixel contains lasers and a moving mirror, which directs the laser light. Different pictures can be sent to the right and the left eye of each viewer, so that 3-D effects become possible without the need for special glasses. A prototype has successfully been built, the technology is expected to become widely available in 2016.

Extra-short nanowires best for brain Posted: 15 Jan 2015 06:19 AM PST If in the future electrodes are inserted into the human brain -- either for research purposes or to treat diseases -- it may be appropriate to give them a 'coat' of nanowires that could make them less irritating for the brain tissue. However, the nanowires must not exceed a certain length, according to new research.

Imaging test for autism spectrum disorder under development Posted: 15 Jan 2015 06:18 AM PST A two-minute brain-imaging test that may be able to aid in the diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorder is currently under development in the United States. Usually, diagnosis -- an unquantifiable process based on clinical judgment -- is time consuming and trying on children and their families. That may change with this new diagnostic test.

Physicists observe light-matter interaction of two atoms for the first time Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:30 AM PST If two children splash in the sea high water waves will emerge due to constructive superposition. Different observations are made for the microscopic world in an experiment where physicists used a laser beam to generate light waves from two cesium atoms. The light waves were reflected back from two parallel mirrors. It turned out that this experimental arrangement suppressed the emergence of high light waves. With their experiment the scientists observed the most fundamental scenario of light-matter interaction with two atoms.

Improved interface for a quantum internet Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:30 AM PST A quantum network requires efficient interfaces over which information can be transferred from matter to light and back. Physicists now show how this information transfer can be optimized by taking advantage of a collective quantum phenomenon.

Entrepreneurs succeed in transforming used PET plastic bottles into mineral paper Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:30 AM PST In order to cut down fewer trees and avoid wasting water, researchers have designed a system that converts used PET bottles into mineral paper or peta paper, which is biodegradable and meets quality standards required to print books, boxes general stationery.

Can ultrasound detect potential heart attacks, stroke before symptoms arise Posted: 12 Jan 2015 04:13 PM PST A study of portable ultrasound carried out in the USA, Canada and India has revealed the potential of this technology for detecting plaques in peripheral arteries that can lead to heart attacks and stroke before symptoms arise, in both developed and developing country settings, allowing preventive treatment in those affected.