Physics

  1. Physics

    How neutron imaging uncovers hidden secrets of fossils and artifacts

    The technique can complement X-ray scanning and other tools to uncover details of dinosaur fossils, mummies and more.

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  2. Plants

    Salty sweat helps one desert plant stay hydrated

    The Athel tamarisk excretes excess salt through its leaves. The buildup of salt crystals pulls water directly from the air, a study reports.

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  3. Physics

    Physicists get a first glimpse of the elusive isotope nitrogen-9

    With seven protons and two neutrons, the lopsided atomic nucleus of nitrogen-9 pushes the limits of what can even be considered a nucleus.

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  4. Physics

    How quantum ‘squeezing’ will help LIGO detect more gravitational waves

    An upgrade to LIGO that comes from exploiting a quantum rule known as the Heisenberg uncertainty principle makes it easier to detect spacetime ripples.

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  5. Physics

    Tiny accelerators get electrons up to speed using lasers

    In a first, chip-scale accelerators revved up electrons while also confining them into a beam.

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  6. Physics

    Vela’s exploded star is the highest-energy pulsar ever seen

    A spinning dead star about 1,000 light-years away, in the constellation Vela, raises questions about how pulsars can emit such extreme radiation.

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  7. Chemistry

    The development of quantum dots wins the 2023 Nobel prize in chemistry

    Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov split the prize for their work in creating nanoparticles whose properties depend on their size.

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  8. Physics

    Technique to see the ultrafast world of electrons wins 2023 physics Nobel

    Physicists Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier won for work creating light bursts that last billionths of a billionth of a second.

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  9. Physics

    50 years ago, scientists dreamed of lasers that could kick off nuclear fusion

    In the 1970s, lasers that could initiate nuclear fusion were a distant dream. Now, scientists are using such lasers to achieve fusion “ignition.”

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  10. Chemistry

    50 years ago, the quest for superheavy elements was just getting started

    In the 1970s, scientists were on the hunt for superheavy elements. They’ve since found more than a dozen and are searching for more.

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  11. Space

    Clara Sousa-Silva seeks molecular signatures of life in alien atmospheres

    Quantum astrochemist Clara Sousa-Silva studies how molecules in space interact with light, offering clues to what distant objects are made of.

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  12. Physics

    A laser gyroscope measured tiny variations in the lengths of days on Earth

    An underground gyroscope known as ‘G’ uses laser beams traveling in opposite directions to precisely measure Earth’s rotation.

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