Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Offbeat: Earth and Climate
Published

Energy-storing supercapacitor from cement, water, black carbon      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Engineers have created a 'supercapacitor' made of ancient, abundant materials, that can store large amounts of energy. Made of just cement, water, and carbon black (which resembles powdered charcoal), the device could form the basis for inexpensive systems that store intermittently renewable energy, such as solar or wind energy.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Space Physics: Optics Space: The Solar System
Published

Sun 'umbrella' tethered to asteroid might help mitigate climate change      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Earth is rapidly warming and scientists are developing a variety of approaches to reduce the effects of climate change. An astronomer has proposed a novel approach -- a solar shield to reduce the amount of sunlight hitting Earth, combined with a tethered, captured asteroid as a counterweight. Engineering studies using this approach could start now to create a workable design that could mitigate climate change within decades.

Energy: Nuclear Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Nuclear spin's impact on biological processes uncovered      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have discovered that nuclear spin influences biological processes, challenging long-held beliefs. They found that certain isotopes behave differently in chiral environments, affecting oxygen dynamics and transport. This breakthrough could advance biotechnology, quantum biology, and NMR technology, with potential applications in isotope separation and medical imaging.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Energy: Technology Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Scientists create novel approach to control energy waves in 4D      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Everyday life involves the three dimensions or 3D -- along an X, Y and Z axis, or up and down, left and right, and forward and back. But, in recent years scientists have explored a 'fourth dimension' (4D), or synthetic dimension, as an extension of our current physical reality.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

When electrons slowly vanish during cooling      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Many substances change their properties when they are cooled below a certain critical temperature. Such a phase transition occurs, for example, when water freezes. However, in certain metals there are phase transitions that do not exist in the macrocosm. They arise because of the special laws of quantum mechanics that apply in the realm of nature's smallest building blocks. It is thought that the concept of electrons as carriers of quantized electric charge no longer applies near these exotic phase transitions. Researchers have now found a way to prove this directly. Their findings allow new insights into the exotic world of quantum physics.

Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing
Published

Novel Raman technique breaks through 50 years of frustration      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a new technique that vastly improves readings of protein-to-ligand interactions through Raman spectroscopy.

Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

How atomic nuclei vibrate      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Using ultra-high-precision laser spectroscopy on a simple molecule, a group of physicists has measured the wave-like vibration of atomic nuclei with an unprecedented level of precision. The physicists report that they can thus confirm the wave-like movement of nuclear material more precisely that ever before and that they have found no evidence of any deviation from the established force between atomic nuclei.

Engineering: Graphene Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Scientists caught Hofstadter's butterfly in one of the most ancient materials on Earth      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have revisited one of the most ancient materials on Earth -- graphite, and discovered new physics that has eluded the field for decades.

Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Bacteria as Blacksmiths      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A hot bath is a place to relax. For scientists, it is also where molecules or tiny building blocks meet to form materials. Researchers take it to the next level and use the energy of swimming bacteria to forge materials. A recent study shows us how this works and the potential sustainability benefits that may arise from this innovative approach.

Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Egg 'signatures' will allow drongos to identify cuckoo 'forgeries' almost every time, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Egg 'signatures' will allow drongos to identify cuckoo 'forgeries' almost every time, study finds. African cuckoos may have met their match with the fork-tailed drongo, which scientists predict can detect and reject cuckoo eggs from their nest on almost every occasion, despite them on average looking almost identical to drongo eggs.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

A new type of quantum bit in semiconductor nanostructures      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have created a quantum superposition state in a semiconductor nanostructure that might serve as a basis for quantum computing. The trick: two optical laser pulses that act as a single terahertz laser pulse.

Energy: Technology Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

'Quantum avalanche' explains how nonconductors turn into conductors      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The study takes a new approach to answer a long-standing mystery about insulator-to-metal transitions.

Biology: Microbiology Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Detection of bacteria and viruses with fluorescent nanotubes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The new carbon nanotube sensor design resembles a molecular toolbox that can be used to quickly assemble sensors for a variety of purposes -- for instance for detecting bacteria and viruses.

Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Unveiling the quantum dance: Experiments reveal nexus of vibrational and electronic dynamics      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have demonstrated experimentally a long-theorized relationship between electron and nuclear motion in molecules, which could lead to the design of materials for solar cells, electronic displays and other applications that can make use of this powerful quantum phenomenon.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate
Published

It's sewage, not fertilizer fueling nitrogen surge in Florida's Indian River Lagoon      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Fertilizer restrictions along Florida's 156-mile-long Indian River Lagoon were intended to reduce nutrient inputs from urban and agricultural land uses. The hope was that water quality would improve by reducing the nitrogen load. While these restrictions were well-intended, a study finds fertilizer use is not the root cause of the lagoon's environmental issues. It's sewage. For decades, fertilizer use was implicated for about 71 percent of the lagoon's environmental impairments. In fact, current estimates show 79 percent of nitrogen loading is from septic systems; 21 percent is from residential fertilizer use.

Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Theory for superfluid helium confirmed      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in studying how vortices move in these quantum fluids. A new study of vortex ring motion in superfluid helium provides crucial evidence supporting a recently developed theoretical model of quantized vortices.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Researchers establish criterion for nonlocal quantum behavior in networks      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new theoretical study provides a framework for understanding nonlocality, a feature that quantum networks must possess to perform operations inaccessible to standard communications technology. By clarifying the concept, researchers determined the conditions necessary to create systems with strong, quantum correlations.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

New superconductors can be built atom by atom      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The future of electronics will be based on novel kinds of materials. Sometimes, however, the naturally occurring topology of atoms makes it difficult for new physical effects to be created. To tackle this problem, researchers have now successfully designed superconductors one atom at a time, creating new states of matter.

Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics Space: Exploration Space: The Solar System
Published

Despite doubts from quantum physicists: Einstein's theory of relativity reaffirmed      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

One of the most basic assumptions of fundamental physics is that the different properties of mass -- weight, inertia and gravitation -- always remain the same in relation to each other. Although all measurements to date confirm the equivalence principle, quantum theory postulates that there should be a violation. This inconsistency between Einstein's gravitational theory and modern quantum theory is the reason why ever more precise tests of the equivalence principle are particularly important. A team has now succeeded in proving with 100 times greater accuracy that passive and active gravitational mass are always equivalent -- regardless of the particular composition of the respective masses.