News Physics

Turning up the heat on electrons reveals an elusive physics phenomenon

Spin Nernst effect could help scientists design new gadgets that store data using quantum property of spin

illustration of Nernst effect

WHIRL AWAY  Electrons in platinum move in different directions depending on their spin when the metal is heated at one end. Scientists have observed this phenomenon, called the spin Nernst effect, for the first time.

Creativity103/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

By Emily Conover

- More than 2 years ago

When things heat up, spinning electrons go their separate ways.