Multistep mechanism of nanostructure formation in liquid crystal
Most of our daily commodities, such as plastics, alloys and processed foods, are provided as solids, and they are often processed by a controlled cooling process from a liquid mixture to a solid. Liquid crystals, solutions, polymers, and biomaterials.....»»
Some icy exoplanets may have habitable oceans and geysers
A NASA study expands the search for life beyond our solar system by indicating that 17 exoplanets (worlds outside our solar system) could have oceans of liquid water, an essential ingredient for life, beneath icy shells. Water from these oceans could.....»»
Discovery of magnetic liquid crystal: First direct observation of spin quadrupole moments in a spin-nematic phase
Liquid crystal is a state of matter that exhibits properties of both liquid and solid. It can flow like a liquid, while its constituent molecules are aligned as in a solid. Liquid crystal is widely used nowadays, for example, as a core element of LCD.....»»
A mechanism of pressure-induced glass phase transition leading to advanced phase-change memories
When temperature or pressure is applied to a material, its state changes from liquid to solid or remains solid but exhibits structural changes. This change is called a phase transition or change......»»
An unexpected company just raised the bar for smartphone cameras
Tecno, which makes desirable phones on a budget, is taking a new approach to variable aperture and liquid lens tech for smartphone cameras......»»
Research finds marine bacteria, atmospheric rivers can contribute to formation of ice clouds
Understanding cloud formation in polar regions is essential to discern the influence of solar radiation on the polar ice caps. Existing numerical models, however, struggle to replicate ice clouds accurately. Now, using real-world observations and cli.....»»
Researchers quantify the onset of turbulence in a pipe bent back on itself
How much stress do pipes undergo when a liquid flows through them, and how does it depend on the degree of curvature of the pipe?.....»»
Researchers discover a mechanism that controls the identity of stem cells
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, discovered a mechanism that controls the identity of stem cells. When this mechanism fails, embryonic stem cells revert back in time and become totipotent......»»
Fungi join the list of organisms that can control when ice forms
What's the advantage of triggering ice formation? It's not entirely clear. Enlarge / A related species of Fusarium. (credit: Wikimedia Commons) While it may be the reason behind tires skidding, pipes bursting, and closed.....»»
Unlocking the secrets of oobleck—strange stuff that’s both liquid and solid
Scientists tested hypothesis with dense suspensions of piezoelectric nanoparticles. Enlarge / "Oobleck" is a classic kitchen science example of a shear-thickening non-Newtonian fluid. (credit: Screenshot/PBS) Oobleck has.....»»
New math approach provides insight into memory formation
The simple activity of walking through a room jumpstarts the neurons in the human brain. An explosion of electrochemical events or "neuronal spikes" appears at various times during the action. These spikes in activity, otherwise known as action poten.....»»
The Beyhive gets in formation for Beyoncé"s "Renaissance" film: The best reactions from opening weekend
Fans react to 'Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé' after opening weekend. Beyoncé knows how to put on a silver-studded show — IRL or in the theater.This weekend, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé hit number one in its opening week.....»»
Unexpected discovery at the air-water interface for CO₂ reaction impacting geophysical and biological cycles
Ocean acidification, mammal respiration, and aerosol formation all depend on chemistry that occurs at air-water interfaces. In new research, scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have discover.....»»
Researchers show excited electrons straightening the skewed lattice of perovskite nanocrystals
Researchers from ETH Zurich, Empa and Stanford have taken snapshots of the crystal structure of perovskite nanocrystals as it was deformed by excited electrons. To their surprise, the deformation straightened out the skewed crystal structure rather t.....»»
Astronomers spot rare star system with six planets in geometric formation
Astronomers have discovered a star system in which six planets orbit one star in an elaborate geometrical pattern due to a phenomenon called orbital resonance......»»
Massive planet too big for its own sun pushes astronomers to rethink exoplanet formation
Imagine you're a farmer searching for eggs in the chicken coop—but instead of a chicken egg, you find an ostrich egg, much larger than anything a chicken could lay......»»
New understanding of "oobleck-like" fluids contributes to smart material design
If you mix cornstarch and water in the right proportions, you get something that seems not-quite-liquid but also not-quite-solid. Oobleck flows and settles like a liquid when untouched but stiffens when you try to pick it up or stir it with a spoon......»»
Study illuminates formation of US east coast during break up of supercontinent Pangea
A recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth sheds new light on the formation of the East Coast of the United States—a "passive margin," in geologic terms—during the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea and the ope.....»»
When physics meets biology: Prion protein orchestrates liquid–liquid phase separation with copper
In a study published in Science Advances, researchers from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE-Berlin) shed light on the intricate dance between the prion protein and copper ions.....»»
A sun protection mechanism helps plants to survive
Just as people can get sunburned, plants can also suffer from too much sunlight. To stay healthy, they use an internal "sun protection mechanism." Pierrick Bru, a Ph.D. student working with Alizée Malnoë at Umeå Plant Science Centre and Umeå Univ.....»»
Researchers develop a new approach to polarization-independent LC phase modulation
Liquid-crystal (LC) phase modulators are widely used in optical systems because of their advantages of low power consumption, lightweight, flexible bandwidth adjustment, and non-mechanical movements. However, most LC phase modulators are polarization.....»»