Nanomaterials Research update “Pine tree” nanowires do the Eshelby twist Unusual structures could back up 55-year-old theory of material defects Read article: “Pine tree” nanowires do the Eshelby twist
Telescopes and space missions Research update Auroral light is polarized after all New measurements of the Northern Lights overturn 50 years of conventional wisdom Read article: Auroral light is polarized after all
Transport properties Research update Dawn of the memristor There is a fourth standard circuit element in addition to resistors, capacitors and inductors
Telescopes and space missions Research update Report slams UK’s leading physics funding agency MPs call for major shake-up at the Science and Technology Facilities Council Read article: Report slams UK’s leading physics funding agency
Mathematical physics Research update Physicists quantify the ‘coefficient of inefficiency’ The most effective committees have fewer than 20 members Read article: Physicists quantify the ‘coefficient of inefficiency’
Structure and dynamics Research update Synchrotron proves Europeans were not the first painters to use oils Scientists find Afghan oil paintings that date back hundreds of years before the Renaissance Read article: Synchrotron proves Europeans were not the first painters to use oils
Nanomaterials Research update ‘Buckypaper’ stretches in a strange way Material’s response to stretching can be finely-tuned by mixing different carbon nanotubes Read article: ‘Buckypaper’ stretches in a strange way
Stars and solar physics Research update Astronomers get clear view of blazar Black-hole powered jets are created by twisting magnetic fields that drive particles from galactic cores Read article: Astronomers get clear view of blazar
Superconductivity Research update Phonons fail to explain high-temperature superconductivity Electron–phonon interactions can only account for a fraction of superconducting behaviour
Particles and interactions Research update Dark matter claims disputed Flashes of light seen at the DAMA experiment in Italy are not necessarily WIMPs, say physicists Read article: Dark matter claims disputed
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