Peter Weiss

All Stories by Peter Weiss

  1. Physics

    Cellular Contortionist

    Mounting, but controversial, evidence suggests that DNA flexes more easily than previously thought, with potentially important implications for genetics, cell biology, and nanotechnology.

  2. Tech

    Loopy Light: Rings that delay photons may advance microchips

    Chains of tiny, high-precision, light-conducting loops of silicon may open the door to using optical circuits to carry enormous data flows within computer chips.

  3. Tech

    Ahead of the Curve: Novel morphing wing may reduce aircraft’s fuel use

    A prototype aircraft wing has demonstrated in its first flight tests that its morphing might save fuel.

  4. Tech

    Shape shifter shifts twice

    Certain plastics known as shape-memory polymers switch to predetermined shapes when triggered by heat or light. Now, researchers have developed more-versatile versions of such polymers. When heated, each of the new triple-shape polymers switches to a second shape. Then, at a higher temperature, the plastic changes to a third form. “For some applications, [these] more-complex […]

  5. Computing

    What a Flake

    New ways to simulate ice-crystal growth yield patterns remarkably similar to the beautiful and intricate shapes of snowflakes and may shed light on how those real-life shapes come about.

  6. Tech

    A nano–cheese slicer

    Stringing a carbon nanotube between two needles yields a nanoscale cheese knife that could improve slicing of biological samples.

  7. Tech

    Crusty Old Computer: New imaging techniques reveal construction of ancient marvel

    Scientists have figured out the arrangement and functions of nearly all the parts of a mysterious astronomical computer that was recovered from a 2,000-year-old shipwreck.

  8. Physics

    Super Silicon: Top semiconductor turns into a superconductor

    A heavy dose of boron transforms silicon, the superhero material of electronics, into a superconductor.

  9. Tech

    Ancients made nanotech hair dye

    A hair-darkening paste invented thousands of years ago forms lead-and-sulfur nanocrystals remarkably similar to those made in today's nanotechnology labs.

  10. Physics

    Heavy finding

    Physicists have discovered never-before-seen subatomic particles related to protons and neutrons but laden with exotic, heavy subparticles called bottom quarks.

  11. Tech

    Unstoppable Bot: Armed with self-scrutiny, a mangled robot moves on

    Roboticists have made a walking machine that carries on despite serious damage.

  12. Tech

    The Little Chill: Tiny wind generator to cool microchip hot spots

    By generating a tiny cooling wind, a microscale silicon needle armed with a powerful electric field has demonstrated its potential as a new way to cool increasingly hot microchips.