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Phys.org / The origin of magic numbers: Why some atomic nuclei are unusually stable
For the first time, physicists have developed a model that explains the origins of unusually stable magic nuclei based directly on the interactions between their protons and neutrons. Published in Physical Review Letters, ...
Phys.org / Gravitational lensing technique unveils supermassive black hole pairs
Supermassive black hole binaries form naturally when galaxies merge, but scientists have only confidently observed a very few of these systems that are widely separated. Black hole binaries that closely orbit each other have ...
Phys.org / It takes three types of thinking to be smart
Do you know what it means to be smart? It's a more complicated question than it may seem. There are several ways to think about intelligence—as the well-known "book-vs.-street smart" binary illustrates. By most people's ...
Phys.org / Cutting down on quantum-dot crosstalk: Precise measurements expose a new challenge
Devices that can confine individual electrons are potential building blocks for quantum information systems. But the electrons must be protected from external disturbances. RIKEN researchers have now shown how quantum information ...
Phys.org / How a tiny shrimp could hold the clue to better armor
Modern armor systems do not do a good enough job of protecting humans from blast-induced neurotrauma (brain and eye damage). To improve them, we may have to look to nature. In particular, a tiny shrimp that is able to protect ...
Phys.org / Photonic integrated circuits enable programmable non-Abelian 'braiding' of light states
A research team has successfully implemented a programmable spinor lattice on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). This platform enables the realization of non-Abelian physics, in which the outcome of operations depends on ...
Medical Xpress / Single DMT dose treats stress-induced depression more effectively than Prozac in mice
Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that trigger unusual mental states, also referred to as "trips," altering the perceptions, thoughts, and emotions of those taking them and typically inducing hallucinations. Over the ...
Phys.org / The shape of skis makes the biggest difference in maneuverability
From the biathlon to the slopestyle to the giant slalom, raising a ski above your head after crossing the finish line is the triumphant Olympic skier's standard celebration. But why do the skis of the competitors in each ...
Phys.org / Ancient DNA suggests hunter-gatherers in Europe's lowlands endured until 2500 BCE
Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have used ancient DNA to reveal that hunter-gatherers in one part of Europe survived for thousands of years longer than anywhere else on the continent—and have uncovered the ...
Phys.org / Ammonia leaks can be spotted in under two seconds using new alveoli-inspired droplet sensor
Researchers from Guangxi University, China have developed a new gas sensor that detects ammonia with a record speed of 1.4 seconds. The sensor's design mimics the structure of alveoli—the tiny air sacs in human lungs—while ...
Tech Xplore / Water-based electrolyte helps create safer and long-lasting Zn-Mn batteries
Many countries worldwide are increasingly investing in new infrastructure that enables the production of electricity from renewable energy sources, particularly wind and sunlight. To make the best of these energy solutions, ...
Phys.org / Electronic friction can be tuned and switched off
Researchers in China have isolated the effects of electronic friction, showing for the first time how the subtle drag force it imparts at sliding interfaces can be controlled. They demonstrate that it can be tuned by applying ...
