ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

Lightning plus volcanic ash make glass Posted: 03 Mar 2015 03:34 PM PST Researchers have proposed a mechanism for the generation of glass spherules in geologic deposits through the occurrence of volcanic lightning. The existence of fulgurites -- glassy products formed in rocks and sediments struck by cloud-to-ground lightning -- provide direct evidence that geologic materials can be melted via natural lightning occurrence.

First scientific publication from data collected at National Synchrotron Light Source II Posted: 03 Mar 2015 03:34 PM PST Just weeks after NSLS-II achieved first light, a team of scientists tested a setup that yielded data on thermoelectric materials. To test the optical performance and components of the beamline, the scientists put a material in the path of the x-ray beam and attempted to characterize its structure as the best way to identify and fix possible flaws or aberrations that the instrument could have caused.

New tech could significantly cut carbon dioxide emissions Posted: 03 Mar 2015 03:33 PM PST A provisionally patented technology could revolutionize carbon dioxide capture and help significantly reduce pollution worldwide.

Understanding electric car 'range anxiety' could be key to wider acceptance Posted: 03 Mar 2015 09:39 AM PST Drivers have been slow to adopt electric vehicles due to 'range anxiety,' the fear of becoming stranded with an empty battery. This phenomenon was recently addressed in a study that aims to explain range anxiety and determine whether hands-on experience can reduce drivers' stress.

Float like a mosquito: Mechanical logic may inspire aquatic robots, better boats Posted: 03 Mar 2015 09:37 AM PST By examining the forces that the segments of mosquito legs generate against a water surface, researchers have unraveled the mechanical logic that allows the mosquitoes to walk on water, which may help in the design of biomimetic structures, such as aquatic robots and small boats.

Flower-like magnetic nanoparticles target difficult tumors Posted: 03 Mar 2015 09:36 AM PST Next-generation magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) may soon be treating deep-seated and difficult-to-reach tumors within the human body.

Step change for screening could boost biofuels Posted: 03 Mar 2015 07:58 AM PST Researchers have developed a new way of rapidly screening yeasts that could help produce more sustainable biofuels. The new technique could also be a boon in the search for new ways of deriving valuable renewable chemicals from plant-based wastes, reducing our reliance on petrochemicals.

UK cities including London not as 'smart' as global counterparts Posted: 03 Mar 2015 07:57 AM PST Major cities in the UK are falling behind their international counterparts in terms of their use of smart technologies, according to a new study. The research has found that smart cities in the UK, such as London, are not as advanced as the leading smart cities across the globe, such as San Francisco, Barcelona and Amsterdam, because of a lack of citizen engagement with new smart technologies.

The rub with friction: News rules of friction at the microscopic level Posted: 03 Mar 2015 06:58 AM PST Scientists have explored friction at the microscopic level. They discovered that the force generating friction is much stronger than previously thought. The discovery is an important step toward understanding the physics of the cellular and molecular world and designing the next generation of microscopic and nanotechnologies.

Networks of micro-drones: What can they be expected to do? Posted: 03 Mar 2015 06:57 AM PST Micro-drones are already being put to use in a large number of areas: These small aircraft face extensive requirements when performing aerial observation tasks or when deployed in the field of disaster management. A newly developed concept summarizes these challenges.

Computer simulator will improve radiation therapy for cancer patients, experts say Posted: 03 Mar 2015 06:57 AM PST A project to develop a computer simulator of dual foil scattering systems used in radiation therapy is underway. "The user user-friendly interface and real-time nature of the simulator also make it an effective educational tool for gaining a better understanding of the effects that various system parameters have on dose profiles," an author said. "In other words, it will help medical physicists and linear accelerator designers to better understand the physics behind the equipment with which they will be working."

MR spectroscopy shows precancerous breast changes in women with BRCA gene Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:54 AM PST A magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique that monitors biochemical changes in tissue could improve the management of women at risk of breast cancer, according to a new study.

Towards dust-free wood combustion Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:53 AM PST About 15 million wood-fired stoves and combustion systems exist in Germany, including central-heating boilers for apartment houses. They are subject to strict clean air regulations. New wood-fired boilers exceeding emission limits for particles have to be equipped with precipitators since the beginning of 2015. Next week, scientists will present the Carola®-precipitator for boilers.

New data on the nature of dark matter Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:53 AM PST Recent research contributes to the effort to determine the nature of dark matter, one of the most important mysteries in physics. As indirect evidence provided by its gravitational effects, dark matter amounts to more than 80% of the universe.

Graphene Research: Electrons Moving along Defined Snake States Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:51 AM PST Physicists have shown for the first time that electrons in graphene can be moved along a predefined path. This movement occurs entirely without loss and could provide a basis for numerous applications in the field of electronics.

Breakthrough in particle control creates special half-vortex rotation Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:51 AM PST A breakthrough in the control of a type of particle known as the polariton has created a highly specialised form of rotation.

The taming of magnetic vortices: A unified theory for skyrmion-materials Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:51 AM PST Magnetic vortex structures, so-called skyrmions, could in future store and process information very efficiently. They could also be the basis for high-frequency components. For the first time, a team of physicists succeeded in characterizing the electromagnetic properties of insulating, semiconducting and conducting skyrmion-materials and developed a unified theoretical description of their behavior. This lays the foundation for future electronic components with purpose-designed properties.

Magnetic vortices in nanodisks reveal information Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:49 AM PST Scientists have found a new way to electrically read out the orientation of magnetic vortices in nanodisks. Their new method relies on measuring characteristic microwaves emanating from the vortices. The new knowledge about these signals could be used in the construction of extremely small components for novel memory technology or wireless data transmission.

Giant virus revealed in 3-D using X-ray laser Posted: 02 Mar 2015 03:17 PM PST For the first time, researchers have produced a 3-D image revealing part of the inner structure of an intact, infectious virus, using a unique X-ray laser. The virus, called Mimivirus, is in a curious class of “giant viruses” discovered just over a decade ago.

Black phosphorus is new 'wonder material' for improving optical communication Posted: 02 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PST In a new study, researchers used an ultrathin black phosphorus film -- only 20 layers of atoms -- to demonstrate high-speed data communication on nanoscale optical circuits. The devices showed vast improvement in efficiency over comparable devices using the earlier "wonder material" graphene.

Google Glass shows promising uses in plastic surgery Posted: 02 Mar 2015 09:32 AM PST The 'wearable technology' Google Glass has a wide range of possible applications in plastic surgery -- with the potential to enhance surgical training, medical documentation, and patient safety, according to a new paper.

Brain metastases: Better outcomes for those under 50 years old receiving stereotactic radiosurgery alone Posted: 02 Mar 2015 07:45 AM PST Cancer patients with limited brain metastases (one to four tumors) who are under 50 years old should receive stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) without whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), according to a study.