Shining a light on molecules: L-shaped metamaterials can control light direction
Polarized light waves spin clockwise or counterclockwise as they travel, with one direction behaving differently than the other as it interacts with molecules. This directionality, called chirality or handedness, could provide a way to identify and s.....»»
New electron microscopy technique reveals complex spin structures at femtosecond timescales
Plasmons are collective oscillations of electrons in a solid and are important for a wide range of applications, such as sensing, catalysis, and light harvesting. Plasmonic waves that travel along the surface of a metal, called surface plasmon polari.....»»
Advancing light control: New opportunities for metasurfaces in optoelectronics
A global review of advancements in integrating metasurfaces—thin planar arrays of nanostructures—into optoelectronic devices highlights their potential to transform technologies such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, optical modulators, an.....»»
Shedding light on snow"s crucial role in Earth"s climate system
EU researchers are braving extreme Arctic conditions to shed light on snow's crucial role in Earth's climate system......»»
Genetically encoded biosensors measure living cells" charge in real time
Biological cells have many vital functions in the organism. For example, they produce proteins, carbohydrates and fats. But they are also responsible for detoxifying harmful molecules and transmitting signals and immune defense steps. A so-called red.....»»
First results from 2021 rocket launch shed light on aurora"s birth
Results from a 2021 experiment led by a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist have begun to reveal the particle-level processes that create the type of auroras that dance rapidly across the sky......»»
Compact on-chip polarimeter measures light polarization with high accuracy
Reliably measuring the polarization state of light is crucial for various technological applications, ranging from optical communication to biomedical imaging. Yet conventional polarimeters are made of bulky components, which makes them difficult to.....»»
How to solve the Three Eyed Gate puzzle in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Even Indy doesn't like light puzzles in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The three eyed gate puzzle is mandatory, though, so we will help you solve it......»»
The New Glenn rocket’s seven powerful engines may light up as soon as today
"Maybe, maybe, maybe today, maybe soon. I think it's very soon." In a widely anticipated test, Blue Origin may ignite the seven main engines on its New Glenn rocket as soon as Thu.....»»
Molecular tool demonstrates how bad eggs are identified for destruction by reproductive system
The biological factory that produces reproductive cells has a robust quality control system to identify and eliminate eggs with chromosomal abnormalities. For years, cell biologists have sought to uncover the mechanisms behind this system, relying on.....»»
Cellular RNA plays key role in antiviral defense, study finds
Scientists have uncovered a new role for a cell's own RNA in fending off attacks by RNA viruses. Some of the cell's RNA molecules, researchers found, help regulate antiviral signaling. These signals are part of the intricate coordination of immune re.....»»
Early warning tool may help control huge locust swarms
Desert locusts typically lead solitary lives until something—like intense rainfall—triggers them to swarm in vast numbers, often with devastating consequences......»»
Prototype sunscreen uses TiO₂ nanoparticles to cool skin while blocking UV rays
Wearing sunscreen is important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation but doesn't cool people off. However, a new formula, described in Nano Letters, protects against both UV light and heat from the sun using radiative cooling......»»
Easy tips to save money don"t always work. Here"s why.
Amid spending season and a plethora of articles listing ways to control your budget during these holidays, a Deakin University researcher warns there are no quick and easy solutions......»»
Astronomers detect new 1.9-second pulsar using FAST
Using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in China, astronomers have discovered a new pulsar with a spin period of about two seconds. The newly detected pulsar, designated PSR J1922+37, was found in the direction of open.....»»
Scientists recreate molecular timers to control nanomachine activation rates
Living organisms monitor time—and react to it—in many different ways, from detecting light and sound in microseconds to responding physiologically in pre-programmed ways, via their daily sleep cycle, monthly menstrual cycle, or to changes in the.....»»
Optical spring enables programmable defect mode in new mechanical crystal
Mechanical crystals, also known as phononic crystals, are materials that can control the propagation of vibrations or sound waves, just like photonic crystals control the flow of light. The introduction of defects in these crystals (i.e., intentional.....»»
SpaceX gets green light for seventh Starship test, but when is it?
The FAA has given the nod to SpaceX to conduct its seventh Starship test from its Starbase site in Texas......»»
Miniaturized all-fiber photoacoustic spectrometer for intravascular gas detection rivals lab-based systems
Miniaturized spectroscopy systems that can detect trace concentrations at the parts-per-billion (ppb) level are of the utmost importance in applications ranging from environmental monitoring and industrial process control to biomedical diagnostics. H.....»»
Distant blazar discovery supports rapid black hole formation in the early universe
Astronomers have discovered an important piece of the puzzle of how supermassive black holes were able to grow so quickly in the early universe: a special kind of active galactic nucleus so distant that its light has taken more than 12.9 billion year.....»»
NASA finds "sideways" black hole using legacy data and new techniques
NASA researchers have discovered a perplexing case of a black hole that appears to be "tipped over," rotating in an unexpected direction relative to the galaxy surrounding it. That galaxy, called NGC 5084, has been known for years, but the sideways s.....»»