University of Tokyo September 18, 2018 To generate the magnetic field researchers in Japan built a sophisticated device capable of electromagnetic flux-compression (EMFC), a method of magnetic field generation well-suited for indoor operations. Using the device, they were able to produce a magnetic field of 1,200 teslas, sustain it for 100 microseconds, thousands of times longer than previous attempts, and control the magnetic field so it didn’t destroy their equipment like some past attempts to create powerful fields. The research could lead to powerful investigative tools for material scientists and may have applications in fusion power generation… read more. Open […]
The 2018 Physics World Special Report on China is out now
Physics World September 14, 2018 In this year’s report – the fourth Physics World special report on physics in China following publications in 2011 , 2016 and 2017 – Physics World examines a recent document released by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China which indicates a new shift in emphasis in China’s talent-recruitment drive. Through the new policy, the Chinese government is ramping up its quest to attract non-Chinese scientists, recognizing that the country needs to foster a more collaborative approach to become truly innovative. Foreign scientists are frustrated by career progression in China because they are denied new […]
Another step closer to tunable liquids
Phys.org September 12, 2018 When a liquid is confined between closely spaced surfaces, it may form ordered layers, leading to changes in the liquid’s viscosity and molecular structure. Understanding the mechanical properties of these ordered layers is important for the development of nanotechnology devices and lubricants. Using lubricants undecanol and tetradecane researchers in Singapore were able to produce highly ordered layers of hydrocarbons along the surface of graphite by applying a strong electric field. Even after removing remaining trace amounts of water the oscillatory forces remained present even at high electric field strengths. The research could lead to new applications […]
Enabling ‘internet of photonic things’ with miniature sensors
Science Daily September 12, 2018 In IoT there are vast numbers of spatially distributed wireless sensors predominately based on electronics which are often are hampered by electromagnetic interference. Researchers at Washington University developed whispering gallery mode (WGM) sensors resonating at light frequencies and at vibrational or mechanical frequencies. The 127 mm by 67 mm mainboard of the WGM sensor integrates the entire architecture of the sensor system. The sensor, made of glass, is connected to the mainboard by a single optical fiber. A laser light is used to probe a WGM sensor. Light coupled out of the sensor is sent […]
Engineering new solutions to the challenges of the future
Eurekalert September 13, 2018 The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK, will support the investigation, refinement and execution of new approaches that could have wide-ranging impact. The projects will bring together a wide range of academic and industry partners to share challenges, expertise, experiences, insights and data. The projects under this round of grants are – Probing Multiscale Complex Multiphase Flows with Positrons for Engineering and Biomedical Applications, Integrated Development of Low-Carbon Energy Systems (IDLES): A Whole-System Paradigm for Creating a National Strategy, and Low Temperature […]
The EU Is Developing New Aviation Concepts to Reduce CO2 Emissions
MIT Technology Review September 16, 2018 The EU-funded ULTIMATE project (Ultra-Low (E)mission Technology Innovations (f)or Mid-century Aircraft Turbine Engines) seeks to transform today’s ideas into the engines of the future by combining technologies not currently seen in the aviation sector. The 2018 Farnborough International Airshow featured eight concepts to give people a peek at what’s in the works. It is also looking at a plan called Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) calls on airlines to keep CO2 emissions at 2020 levels. CORSIA applies to all EU countries from 2021-2035…read more.
Growing computers in petri dishes
Eurekalert September 14, 2018 Researchers at Lehigh University are working on an NSF project in support of Understanding the Brain and the BRAIN Initiative that seeks to accelerate the development of new neurotechnologies. They will be building an experimental testbed that will enable optical stimulation and detection of the activity in a living network of neurons and develop algorithms to train it. According to the researchers the intended impact of this work is to help computer engineers develop new ways to think about the design of solid-state machines and may influence other brain-related research…read more.
Gut bacteria’s shocking secret: They produce electricity
Science Daily September 12, 2018 A team of researchers in the US (UC Berkley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) discovered that a common diarrhea-causing bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, produces electricity using an entirely different technique from known electrogenic bacteria, and that hundreds of other bacterial species use this same process. They showed that the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes uses a distinctive flavin-based EET mechanism to deliver electrons to iron or an electrode. The discovery will be good news for those currently trying to create living batteries from microbes. Such “green” bioenergetic technologies could, for example, generate electricity from bacteria in waste treatment […]
Insect-Inspired Vision System Helps Drones Pass Through Small Gaps
IEEE Spectrum September 11, 2018 Insects are quite good at not running into things, and just as good at running into things and surviving, but targeted, accurate precision flight is much more difficult for them. Reliable and not taking much to execute is one way to summarize the focus of the next generation of practical robotics. Researchers at the University of Maryland has developed a system that allows a drone to fly through very small and completely unknown gaps using a single camera and onboard processing. The drone has no information about the location or size of the gap in […]
New devices could reduce excess heat in computers
Science Daily September 13, 2018 An international team of researchers (Germany, Norway, the Netherlands) demonstrated that antiferromagnetic iron oxide, which is the main component of rust, is a cheap and promising material to transport information with low excess heating at increased speeds. They used platinum wires on top of the insulating iron oxide to allow an electric current to pass close by. This electric current leads to a transfer of energy from the platinum into the iron oxide, thereby creating magnons. Antiferromagnets are unaffected by external magnetic fields, which is a key requirement for future data storage. Antiferromagnet-based devices can […]