Mathematicians have a knack for uncovering patterns in the natural world wherever they look. One of the more peculiar connections they’ve stumbled upon is the intriguing correlation between the formation of zebra stripes and the propulsion of sperm. Drawing inspiration from the processes governing patterns in a diverse range of organisms, from zebras to giant
When it comes to gravity, both matter and its counterpart, antimatter, seem to share an affectionate embrace. A recent groundbreaking experiment conducted by the international collaboration known as the Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA) achieved a remarkable feat: the direct measurement of free-falling antimatter. Had the results been different, we might have finally gained a
Finally, the elusive ghost has materialized within the machine. Earlier this year marked a pivotal moment as scientists accomplished the unprecedented feat of detecting neutrinos generated within a particle collider. These abundant yet enigmatic subatomic particles exist in such isolation from the rest of matter that they traverse through it like specters, earning them the
In 1687, Isaac Newton unveiled his laws of motion and the concept of universal gravity, which brought the intricate movements of distant celestial bodies such as stars, moons, and planets into sharp focus. With a stroke of his quill, Newton’s groundbreaking work ignited a centuries-long quest for mathematical solutions to unravel the complex dynamics of
If you were to witness grains of sand defying gravity and ascending slopes, it might remind you of scenes from a Christopher Nolan film. However, a team of scientists from Lehigh University in the United States has recently unraveled the intriguing phenomenon of making sand-like material flow uphill, without any time-bending tricks. The researchers achieved
As the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) II, goes operational, the boundaries of scientific exploration are poised for continuous expansion. This revolutionary technology promises a “new era” of discovery, showcasing its remarkable capability to generate a million X-ray flashes per second, an astonishing 8,000-fold increase compared to its predecessor.
For centuries, Leonardo da Vinci, celebrated as an inventor, scholar, and artist, has received acclaim for his precise and proportionate drawings as well as his imaginative designs. He discerned the resemblance between gravity and acceleration, predating Newton by a century, while his artworks were nothing short of brilliance in terms of their perspective and geometry.
A team of international researchers, led by experts from the University of Adelaide, has made significant strides in unraveling the mysteries of dark matter. “Dark matter, which constitutes a staggering 84% of the universe’s matter, remains an enigmatic puzzle,” remarked Professor Anthony Thomas, the Elder Professor of Physics at the University of Adelaide. “Despite being
Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) showcase a plethora of exceptional attributes, including versatile multicolor emission and prolonged emission lifetimes, rendering them highly suitable for a wide range of light-emission applications. Despite their numerous advantages, advancing the utilization and practicality of UCNPs encounters substantial hurdles. Fluorescence, a critical aspect of UCNP behavior, encompasses polarization as a fundamental
A team of researchers, including scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Tsinghua University led by Ma Xiongfeng, and Fudan University led by Zhou You, have made significant progress in creating and measuring scalable multipartite entangled states. Through the utilization of ultra-cold atoms confined
Mott insulators represent an intriguing category of materials that, in theory, should conduct electricity due to their structural characteristics but instead exhibit insulating properties. These materials harbor electrons with strong correlations, resulting in complex many-body states characterized by unconventional excitations. Traditionally, scientists believed that the unconventional excitations in Mott insulators could only manifest at low
In a recent article published in Nature Communications on September 18, researchers from the Paul-Drude-Institut in Berlin, Germany, and the Instituto Balseiro in Bariloche, Argentina, showcased a groundbreaking discovery. They revealed that the intermingling of confined quantum fluids of light and GHz sound results in the emergence of a previously elusive quasi-particle called the phonoriton.
Recent research is shaking up conventional scientific beliefs regarding the boundaries of the nuclear chart in scorching stellar conditions with temperatures soaring into the billions of degrees Celsius. The nuclear chart serves as a method for charting different atomic nuclei based on their count of protons and neutrons, and the “drip lines” signify the perimeters
Countless biological processes underpin the behaviors, physiology, and existence of living organisms, involving intricate communication between cells and other molecular constituents. These molecular entities employ diverse means to transmit information, such as diffusion, electrical depolarization, and the exchange of mechanical waves. A recent investigation conducted by researchers at Yale University focused on quantifying the energy
Determining the refractive index and thickness of thin films, which can range from less than a nanometer to several microns in thickness, is crucial for characterizing them and enhancing the performance of sensors and devices utilizing such films. Ellipsometry, a well-established method with a wide array of available commercial solutions, is commonly employed for this
Optical metrology, a versatile technique harnessing light as an information conduit for contactless and non-destructive measurements, plays a pivotal role in manufacturing, basic research, and engineering applications. Thanks to the advent of lasers and charge-coupled devices (CCDs), contemporary manufacturing, precision positioning, and quality assessment processes increasingly rely on optical metrology methods. These methods offer advantages
In recent years, there has been an astounding surge in the volume of data being transferred and processed per second. Emerging technologies like high-dimensional quantum communications, large-scale neural networks, and high-capacity networks demand extensive bandwidth and rapid data transfer rates. One promising avenue to achieve these goals involves replacing traditional metallic wires connecting electronic system
Magnetic skyrmions have garnered significant attention due to their potential as topologically protected quasiparticles with applications in spintronics. These skyrmions are small, swirling magnetic excitations with particle-like characteristics. However, their limited stability confines them to a narrow temperature range and necessitates an external magnetic field, restricting their broader use. In a recent report published in
A 48-node graph with 90% of the edges connected exemplifies the intricate nature of an all-to-all connected architecture, as credited to Lo et al. Quantum computing, which harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics, holds promise for efficiently addressing complex tasks, particularly combinatorial optimization problems. These problems involve identifying the optimal combination of variables within a
Title: Innovative Optical Device Safely Eliminates Pathogens on Surfaces Caption: AlN-Based Wavelength Conversion Device Developed by Hiroto Honda In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a heightened interest in the potential of ultraviolet (UV) light to combat disease-causing pathogens. However, traditional technologies like excimer lamps and LEDs, which emit deep-UV light, have
Hokkaido University researchers have uncovered previously undetected interactions between neutrinos, elusive particles, and photons, the fundamental constituents of light and electromagnetic radiation. The study, led by Kenzo Ishikawa, Professor Emeritus at Hokkaido University, and his colleague Yutaka Tobita, a lecturer at Hokkaido University of Science, has been published in the journal Physics Open. These findings
