Physics
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Physics
Sounds of Music
Interested in the relationship between musical instruments and the physics of sound? This Rice University Web site offers illustrated explanations of physics terms such as pitch, frequency, and standing waves. It also demonstrates tuning systems, intervals, octaves, and more. There’s a quiz at the end of each module. Go to: http://cnx.rice.edu/content/m11060/latest/
- Materials Science
News That’s Fit to Print—and Preserve
Analyses of newsprint materials suggest that, despite their frail appearance, newspapers can last more than 200 years in storage—a fact that calls into question the merits of microfilming.
- Physics
Topsy Turvy: In neutrons and protons, quarks take wrong turns
Revved-up particles, namely quarks, spinning inside neutrons in the opposite direction to that of the neutrons themselves, challenge the prevailing model of how quarks behave.
- Materials Science
Crystal Clear: Liquid crystal sensor plays nature’s game
By fixing the components of a cell membrane to a liquid crystal, researchers devised a sensitive and high-speed sensor for detecting chemical and biowarfare agents.
- Materials Science
Crystal Clear: Liquid crystal sensor plays nature’s game
By fixing the components of a cell membrane to a liquid crystal, researchers devised a sensitive and high-speed sensor for detecting chemical and biowarfare agents.
- Materials Science
New materials take the heat
Researchers have devised a way to prevent an innovative solar cell material from degrading under high temperatures and prolonged exposure to light.
- Materials Science
New materials take the heat
Researchers have devised a way to prevent an innovative solar cell material from degrading under high temperatures and prolonged exposure to light.
- Materials Science
Drug particle delivers insulin on demand
Injectable polymer nanoparticles could store insulin in the body over several days and release the medication precisely when blood sugar concentrations change.
- Materials Science
Drug particle delivers insulin on demand
Injectable polymer nanoparticles could store insulin in the body over several days and release the medication precisely when blood sugar concentrations change.
- Physics
Dune leapfrogging is deciphered
Some wind-propelled sand dunes can pass right through each other if their relative sizes are right, new computer simulations indicate—although the sand grains of one dune don't actually penetrate through the other dune.
- Physics
Dune leapfrogging is deciphered
Some wind-propelled sand dunes can pass right through each other if their relative sizes are right, new computer simulations indicate—although the sand grains of one dune don't actually penetrate through the other dune.
- Physics
Hints emerge of a four-quark particle
Previously observed only in twos, threes, and perhaps in fives, quarks and antiquarks in a newfound particle may have glommed together to form a never-before-seen foursome.
