Physics
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Materials Science
Breakup doesn’t keep hydrogel down
Scientists create a new material that is strong, soft and self-healing.
- Physics
Just a stone’s throw forms a supersonic jet
Objects hitting water can move air at the speed of sound.
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- Physics
Symmetry found hidden in supercold atoms
Scientists have detected an elusive, complex symmetry in the frequencies of resonating particles
- Physics
2009 Science News of the Year: Matter & Energy
First programmable quantum computer Ultracold beryllium ions are at the heart of the first programmable quantum computer, an advance that brings scientists closer to harnessing the power of quantum systems for general computing. The new system, researchers report in Nature Physics, flexed its versatility by performing 160 randomly chosen processing routines (SN: 12/19/09, p. 13). […]
- Physics
Frozen light stays fresh longer
Researchers have trapped light in an ultracold cloud of atoms for 1.5 seconds.
- Climate
Climate: China defends its reputation
Over the past few days, a number of national delegations – not least the United States’ – have criticized implicitly, if not explicitly, China’s unwillingness to accept binding limits on its greenhouse-gas emissions and the measurement of emissions by outside auditors. This morning, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao addressed a plenary meeting of the United Nations climate-change conference – populated by more than 100 heads of heads of state – to make his case that China has embarked on an earnest step toward substantive climate protection.
- Space
Experiment detects particles of dark matter, maybe
Events in underground experiment too few for certainty, but match the signature of WIMPs.
- Climate
‘Climate-gate’: Beyond the embarrassment
The United Nations Climate Change meeting, which I arrive at tomorrow in Copenhagen, is currently deadlocked on more important issues than who said what impolitic thing about somebody else in a private email to a colleague.
- Chemistry
Batteries made from nanotubes … and paper
Scientists have made batteries and supercapacitors with little more than ordinary office paper and some carbon and silver nanomaterials.
- Physics
Chink found in armor of perfect cloak
A theoretical perfect cloaking device could be foiled using charged particles, a new study suggests.
- Chemistry
Elusive triangular snowflakes explained
Dust particles,wind and aerodynamics could steer some snowflakes toward a three-sided fate
