Articles by Lisa Zyga
Phys.org / After years of forensic investigation, Somerton Man's identity remains a mystery (Part 2: DNA, isotopes, and autopsy)
(Phys.org)—This is the second part of a two-part story about the forensic investigation of the Somerton Man. Read "Part 1: History and Code" here.
Phys.org / Proposed synchrotron could store supersonic beams of hydrogen atoms
(Phys.org)—With a circumference of 27 km (17 miles), the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) holds the claim of being the largest particle accelerator in the world, but it is far from being the only device of its kind. Currently ...
Phys.org / Physicists make first observation of the pushing pressure of light
(Phys.org)—For more than 100 years, scientists have debated the question: when light travels through a medium such as oil or water, does it pull or push on the medium? While most experiments have found that light exerts a ...
Phys.org / After years of forensic investigation, Somerton Man's identity remains a mystery (Part 1: History and Code)
(Phys.org)—As one of Australia's most infamous cold case mysteries, the enigma of the Somerton Man deals with a haunting situation: a man is found dead on a beach, and no one steps forward to identify him. While it's common ...
Phys.org / Amoeba-inspired computing system outperforms conventional optimization methods
(Phys.org)—Researchers have designed and implemented an algorithm that solves computing problems using a strategy inspired by the way that an amoeba branches out to obtain resources. The new algorithm, called AmoebaSAT, can ...
Phys.org / Quantum computer emulated by a classical system
(Phys.org)—Quantum computers are inherently different from their classical counterparts because they involve quantum phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, which do not exist in classical digital computers. But ...
Phys.org / Semiliquid battery competitive with both Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors
(Phys.org)—A new semiliquid battery developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has exhibited encouraging early results, encompassing many of the features desired in a state-of-the-art energy-storage device. ...
Phys.org / New device may make converting waste heat to electricity industrially competitive
(Phys.org)—Currently, up to 75% of the energy generated by a car's engine is lost as waste heat. In theory, some of this waste heat can be converted into electricity using thermoelectric devices, although so far the efficiency ...
Phys.org / Physicists find ways to increase antihydrogen production
(Phys.org)—There are many experiments that physicists would like to perform on antimatter, from studying its properties with spectroscopic measurements to testing how it interacts with gravity. But in order to perform these ...
Phys.org / What happens when Newton's third law is broken?
Even if you don't know it by name, everyone is familiar with Newton's third law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This idea can be seen in many everyday situations, such as when ...
Phys.org / Scientists develop atomic-scale hardware to implement natural computing
(Phys.org)—Despite the many great achievements of computers, no man-made computer can learn from its environment, adapt to its surroundings, spontaneously self-organize, and solve complex problems that require these abilities ...
Phys.org / When an electron splits in two
(Phys.org)—As an elementary particle, the electron cannot be broken down into smaller particles, at least as far as is currently known. However, in a phenomenon called electron fractionalization, in certain materials an electron ...
Phys.org / Scientists use shape-fixing nanoreactor to make a better fuel cell catalyst
(Phys.org)—Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are lightweight fuel cells being developed for applications in vehicles and portable electronics. One of the biggest challenges facing their development is the need ...
Phys.org / Quantum shortcut could speed up many quantum technologies
(Phys.org)—Quantum technologies come in a wide variety of forms, from computers, sensors, and cryptographic systems to simulations and imaging systems. But one thing that all current and future quantum systems have in common ...
Phys.org / Two-dimensional material seems to disappear, but doesn't
(Phys.org)—When exposed to air, a luminescent 2D material called molybdenum telluride (MoTe2) appears to decompose within a couple days, losing its optical contrast and becoming virtually transparent. But when scientists ...
