Phys.org news
Phys.org / World's first superconducting quantum heat engine offers path to larger quantum computers
Recent improvements in our understanding of how the principles of thermodynamics apply in the quantum realm could give a boost to quantum technology, and a clearer picture of quantum thermodynamics could in turn enhance our ...
Phys.org / Oobleck droplets reveal 5 ways cornstarch 'goo' behaves when hitting water
Cornstarch can thicken soup or serve as a base for a DIY shampoo, but there's more to the humble pantry staple. Given the right conditions, it seems to defy the laws of physics. Mixing cornstarch with water creates "oobleck"—a ...
Phys.org / Atomic‐scale tracing of lithium trapped in copper current collectors
Any loss of lithium reduces the capacity and service life of lithium batteries. Recent research suggested that lithium is lost to the current collector during charging. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, working ...
Phys.org / RNA-only repair enzyme reveals how primordial life could have protected genomes
In most modern cells, DNA stores the genetic blueprint, and proteins replicate, repair and build from those blueprints. At the same time, proteins require instructions from DNA to be made in the first place.
Phys.org / Only 13% of biodiversity promises from 180 influential companies pass accountability test
New research by the University of Oxford and the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University has revealed that most biodiversity commitments made by large, influential companies are not precise enough to enable society ...
Phys.org / Gravitational waves reveal hidden populations within black hole mergers
Since gravitational waves were first detected in 2015, instruments including LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA have picked up a steady stream of signals from colliding black holes, building a catalog that now numbers in the hundreds. ...
Phys.org / Self‑building molecular rings bring next‑generation drug delivery and smart materials closer
Rotaxanes are dumbbell-shaped mechanically interlocked molecules in which one or more ring-shaped molecules are threaded through a linear segment, known as the axle. To keep the ring from sliding off, two bulky groups, sometimes ...
Phys.org / Tiny magnetic 'flowers' could expand how researchers image spintronic materials under stronger fields
Materials with magnetic nanostructures have a wide range of potential applications. One area is so-called spintronics, with devices that encode information in magnetic domains. These magnetic bits can be written, read and ...
Phys.org / Trees for hotter cities: New approach can bolster community input in meeting targets
Efforts to plant more trees in cities could be boosted thanks to a new tool for planners and community groups, published by an international group of researchers. Residents, policymakers and tree officers in Cardiff, Milton ...
Phys.org / Textbook chemistry gains blue-light upgrade to build complex drug molecules in fewer steps
In drug discovery, building complex molecules quickly is the name of the game.
Phys.org / New imaging method offers fresh insight into LED materials
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are used in everything from household lighting and mobile phones to large display screens. Improving their efficiency could reduce energy use and enhance performance across a wide range of technologies. ...
Phys.org / Scientists decipher how a psychedelic substance is created, then engineer a plant to produce several at once
Long before scientists began studying them in the lab, mind-altering substances were already being gathered from plants, fungi and even animals for use in rituals, healing practices and mental health treatment. Researchers ...