physics

Key mechanism in the dynamics of nuclear reactions promises advances in nuclear physics

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This article was reviewed according to Science OK! by nuclear sciences and techniques Using the advanced GALILEO Array in combination with the 4π Si-ball EUCLIDES, the researchers performed in-depth spectroscopic analyzes to monitor and identify the reactions. The gamma-gamma coincidence method was crucial in isolating specific reaction channels, allowing the team to determine the behavior … Read more

Key mechanism in the dynamics of nuclear reactions promises advances in nuclear physics

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Using the advanced GALILEO Array in combination with the 4π Si-ball EUCLIDES, the researchers performed in-depth spectroscopic analyzes to monitor and identify the reactions. The gamma-gamma coincidence method was crucial in isolating specific reaction channels, allowing the team to determine the behavior of nuclei under different conditions with high accuracy. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-024-01462-w). Credit: Zhang, Gaolong Researchers … Read more

A black hole of unexplained mass: JWST observations reveal a mature quasar at cosmic dawn

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Artist’s impression of the bright core region of a quasar, an active galaxy. The supermassive black hole at the center is surrounded by a bright disk of gas and dust. The dust component further out can obscure the view of the interior and shines mainly in the mid-infrared region, light that can be analyzed by … Read more

Swinging around the sun would make a spacecraft the fastest ever

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Image of the thermal shield test setup. Credit: (2023). DOI: 10.2172/1960159 NASA is very interested in developing a method of propulsion that would allow spacecraft to go faster. We’ve reported several times on different ideas to support that goal, and the most successful ones have put the sun’s gravity to good use, usually by swinging … Read more

Scientists discover new behavior of membranes that could lead to unprecedented separations

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Nanoscale solutes with only small differences in size can be separated by membranes with identical pores – if they have enough opportunities to try. Credit: Argonne National Laboratory. Imagine a basketball game that comes down to the last shot. The chance of the ball going through the hoop may be quite small, but it would … Read more

How neutron stars ‘playing cool’ can unlock exotic physics

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a blazing blue ball of light bordered in white, with red/pink poles. Blue loops of light shoot out and back in large arches in dusty space.

Scientists have discovered that there are three neutron starsborn in the fires of other exploding stars, have cooled surprisingly quickly, bringing us closer to understanding the exotic nature of the matter in the cores of these extreme objects. The discovery was made by a Spanish team led by Alessio Marino from the Institute of Space … Read more

Groundbreaking discovery: how researchers found remains of Earth’s original crust near Perth

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Dikes in Norway cut into older layered sandstone rocks. Credit: Cato Andersen/Mapillary, CC BY-SA Our planet was born about 4.5 billion years ago. To understand this mind-bogglingly long history, we must study rocks and the minerals from which they are made. The oldest rocks in Australia, which are among the oldest on Earth, are found … Read more

Superconductivity at high temperatures: investigation of quadratic electron-phonon coupling

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Conceptual image of the formation of quantum bipolarons. The blue spheres represent the positively charged ions in the material’s lattice and the two red dots are the Cooper pairs. Credit: Pavel A. Volkov. A new study published in Physical Assessment Letters (PRL) investigates the potential of quadratic electron-phonon coupling to enhance superconductivity through the formation … Read more

Scientists devise an algorithm to develop improved enzymes

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Chemical structure for thiamine pyrophosphate and protein structure of transketolase. Thiamine pyrophosphate cofactor in yellow and xylulose 5-phosphate substrate in black. Credit: Thomas Shafee/Wikipedia Scientists have developed a prototype of a new method for ‘rationally manipulating’ enzymes to achieve better performance. They have devised an algorithm that takes into account the evolutionary history of an … Read more

Supercooled phase transitions: can they explain gravitational wave signals?

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To create nHz frequency signals, the vacuum junctions must be supercooled. These slow transitions are difficult to complete due to the cosmic expansion of the universe. Even when the transition is complete, the wave frequencies can shift away from nHz. Although nanohertz gravitational waves are cool, their origin is probably not supercooled. Credit: Andrew Fowlie … Read more