Ultrafast X-rays watch matter melt
The germanium sample was bombarded with powerful laser pulses to excite the electrons and cause thermal melting. In this process, unlike normal melting, the metallic crystal goes from a cold solid to ...
UN promotes space science for developing nations
During the 1990s the UN and ESA organized a series of workshops to promote the development of small telescopes in countries such as Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Colombia and Jordan. Over 800 astronomer...
First evidence for planet orbiting a binary star
The majority of stars in the universe are believed to be in binary systems, but previously no one had produced any evidence to show that such systems could contain planets. The 20 planets that have be...
Electron transfer made easy
Electron transfer in protein results from quantum tunnelling between reduction- oxidation (redox) centres. “There’s a widely accepted idea that electrons get from one redox centre to anoth...
Storing fuel in nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes are rolled up sheets of graphite that can have lengths of about 30-100 nanometers and diameters of about a nanometer. Two years ago it was discovered that carbon nanofibres – wh...
Superconductor stripes move on
There is an old joke about a farmer who has a hen that will not lay eggs. After consulting unsuccessfully with a biologist, and then a chemist, he finally turns to a theoretical physicist. Several day...
Read article: Superconductor stripes move on
AEA looks for winning formula
Benetton recently signed a two-year partnership with AEA Technology, the UK science and engineering services firm. They believe that AEA’s knowledge of materials will make their cars lighter and...
IT holds the key to growth
Investment in “knowledge”, which is defined as research and development, software and public spending on education, now accounts for 8% of the OECD’s total gross domestic product (GD...
UK physics to be scrutinised
The survey is similar to a study of engineering research being undertaken by the Royal Academy of Engineering and will draw on existing data, assessments from a body of selected international experts,...
