ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

Biomolecular force generation based on principle of a gas spring Posted: 05 Mar 2015 09:52 AM PST The mechanical basis of mitosis has only been understood in fragments so far. Now scientists have been able to add another piece to the puzzle of cell biological mechanisms.

Breakthrough in nonlinear optics research Posted: 05 Mar 2015 08:06 AM PST A method to selectively enhance or inhibit optical nonlinearities in a chip-scale device has been developed by scientists. To achieve their result the scientists investigated a specific optical nonlinearity that deals with the interaction between light and sound on chip scale devices.

Magnetic material attracts attention for cancer therapy Posted: 05 Mar 2015 08:05 AM PST An extraordinary self-regulating heating effect that can be achieved in a particular type of magnetic material may open the doors to a new strategy for hyperthermia cancer treatment, researchers say. "This strong, self-regulated heating effect is unmatched by other materials," an investigator said. "It opens a novel design strategy for realising in vivo hyperthermia therapy."

Einstein put to the test: Satellite mission on dark energy and theory of gravitation Posted: 05 Mar 2015 08:03 AM PST Physicists have gained new insights into dark energy and the theory of gravitation by analyzing data from the "Planck" satellite mission of the European Space Agency (ESA). Their results demonstrate that the standard model of cosmology remains an excellent description of the universe. Yet when the Planck data is combined with other astronomical observations, several deviations emerge. Further studies must determine whether these anomalies are due to measurement uncertainties or undiscovered physical correlations, which would also challenge Einstein's theory of gravitation. Thus, the analysis of the Planck data gives major impetus for research during future space missions.

Chemists develop 'looking glass' for spotting sound molecular structures Posted: 05 Mar 2015 08:02 AM PST Chemists have developed a computational approach for determining the viability and suitability of complex molecular structures -- an advancement that could aid in the development of pharmaceuticals as well as a range of other materials.

Protecting crops from radiation-contaminated soil Posted: 05 Mar 2015 05:17 AM PST A chemical compound that prevents plants from taking up cesium, thus protecting them -- and us -- from the harmful effects of soil contaminated with radiocesium, has been discovered by scientists.

Semi-artificial chloroplasts to manufacture biotechnologically relevant products Posted: 05 Mar 2015 05:13 AM PST An international research team wants to create semi-artificial chloroplasts for the manufacture of biotechnologically relevant products. For this purpose, they aim to modify the photosynthetic process of natural chloroplasts.

Breakthrough in energy harvesting could power 'life on Mars' Posted: 05 Mar 2015 05:11 AM PST Martian colonists could use an innovative new technique to harvest energy from carbon dioxide thanks to new research. The research proposes a new kind of engine for producing energy based on the Leidenfrost effect -- a phenomenon which happens when a liquid comes into near contact with a surface much hotter than its boiling point. This effect is commonly seen in the way water appears to skitter across the surface of a hot pan, but it also applies to solid carbon dioxide, commonly known as dry ice.

Printing custom touch-sensitive displays yourself Posted: 05 Mar 2015 05:11 AM PST Computer scientists have developed a technique that could enable virtually anyone to print out customized displays of their own in future -- in all shapes and sizes and onto various materials. A regular home printer could be used to print wafer-thin displays onto paper, so these printed displays might present custom-designed icons or even respond to touch.

Medical nanoparticles: local treatment of lung cancer Posted: 05 Mar 2015 05:11 AM PST Nanoparticles can function as carriers for medicines to combat lung cancer, scientists say, after developing nanocarriers that site-selectively release medicines/drugs at the tumor site in human and mouse lungs. The scientists report that this approach led to a significant increase in the effectiveness of current cancer medicines in lung tumor tissue.

Strength in numbers: First-ever quantum device that detects and corrects its own errors Posted: 04 Mar 2015 12:26 PM PST When scientists develop a full quantum computer, the world of computing will undergo a revolution of sophistication, speed and energy efficiency that will make even our beefiest conventional machines seem like Stone Age clunkers by comparison.

Water in smog may reveal pollution sources Posted: 02 Mar 2015 12:07 PM PST The chemical signature of water vapor emitted by combustion sources such as vehicles and furnaces has been found in the smoggy winter inversions that often choke Salt Lake City. The discovery may give researchers a new tool to track down the sources of pollutants and climate-changing carbon dioxide gas.