https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Astronomers have discovered a remarkably clumpy rotating galaxy that existed just 900 million years after the Big Bang, shedding new light on how galaxies grew and evolved in the early universe. Nicknamed the "Cosmic Grapes," the galaxy appears to be composed of at least 15 massive star-forming clumps—far more than current theoretical models predict could exist within a single rotating disk at this early time. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-universe-secret-harvest-cosmic-grapes.html Astronomy Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:59:37 EDT news673790373 Oregon State University pigment researchers are using a rare mineral discovered in Norway more than a century ago as a road map for creating new yellows, oranges and reds that are vibrant, durable, non-toxic and inexpensive. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-pigment-vivid-yellows-oranges-reds.html Materials Science Thu, 17 Jul 2025 08:40:05 EDT news671960181 In a remarkable feat of chemistry, a Northwestern University-led research team has developed the first two-dimensional (2D) mechanically interlocked material. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-chainmail-material-future-armor.html Nanomaterials Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:00:07 EST news656241542 In a new publication in Nature Communications, Israeli and Palestinian engineers from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem pioneered the use of metamaterials to create whole cuts of meat. The work leverages cutting-edge materials science to overcome the long-standing challenges of replicating the texture and structure of traditional meat while offering a scalable and cost-effective production method that surpasses 3D printing technology. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-crafting-meat-metamaterials-mimic-muscle.html Biochemistry Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:20:24 EST news655564816 Two-dimensional (2D) materials have atomic-level thickness and excellent mechanical and physical properties, with broad application prospects in fields such as semiconductors, flexible devices, and composite materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-method-tuning-instability-2d-materials.html Nanophysics Mon, 22 Jul 2024 09:17:47 EDT news640858663 An Oregon State University researcher who made color history in 2009 with a vivid blue pigment has developed durable, reddish magentas inspired by lunar mineralogy and ancient Egyptian chemistry. https://phys.org/news/2024-04-advance-pigment-chemistry-moon-reddish.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:05:48 EDT news632487946 From a seasonal cold to a stomach bug, nobody likes catching a virus—and epidemics can be devastating. We need safe, sustainable antiviral options to treat the outbreaks of the future. Scientists in Finland have now shown that an extract of willow bark—a plant that has already provided several medicines, including the precursor to modern aspirin—has a broad-spectrum antiviral effect in cell sample experiments. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-willow-bark-broad-spectrum-antiviral-effect.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:01 EST news618597221 For the first time, scientists and engineers have observed in real time how two types of nanoparticles made from different materials combine into new composite materials. The findings, reported by a team led by the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan, could help engineers have more control over the assembly of materials that combine the desirable properties of each particle—such as photoluminescence, magnetism and the ability to conduct electricity. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-scientists-composite-superstructure-growth-nanocrystals.html Nanomaterials Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:06:03 EST news618487561 Since ancient times, gemstones have been mined and traded across the globe, sometimes traveling continents from their origin. Gems are geologically defined as minerals celebrated for beauty, strength, and rarity. Their unique elemental composition and atomic orientation act as a fingerprint, enabling researchers to uncover the stones' past, and with it, historical trade routes. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-gemstones-unique-characteristics-uncover-ancient.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:00:01 EDT news610098640 Dr. Amir Asadi, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M University, is making groundbreaking strides in the field of composite materials. His research explores embedding patterned nanostructures composed of multiple materials into high-performance composites to achieve the desired multifunctionality without sacrificing any other properties. This could lead to advancements in various fields, including electronics, energy storage, transportation and consumer products. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-approach-properties-composite-materials.html Nanomaterials Wed, 26 Jul 2023 12:06:39 EDT news609591996 For pharmaceuticals, knowing the chemical composition is not enough—molecular geometry and crystal structure also play an important role in a drug's activity. By using a method based on electron diffraction, it has now been possible for a research team to determine the structure of Levocetirizine, as reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie. The advantage of this technique is that, unlike for X-ray crystallography, nanoscale crystals are sufficient. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-elusive-antihistamine-levocetirizine.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 22 May 2023 11:20:01 EDT news603973116 Photoelectrodes based on BiVO4 are considered top candidates for solar hydrogen production. But what exactly happens when they come into contact with water molecules? A study in the Journal of the American Chemical Society has now partially answered this crucial question: Excess electrons from dopants or defects aid the dissociation of water which in turn stabilizes so-called polarons at the surface. This is shown by data from experiments conducted at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. These insights might foster a knowledge-based design of better photoanodes for green hydrogen production. https://phys.org/news/2022-11-photoelectrodes-contact.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 14 Nov 2022 10:35:03 EST news587644501 Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are a class of materials with physical properties that make them ideally suited for use in flexible optoelectronic applications, such as light detectors, light-emitting diodes and solar cells. For such applications to perform well, the crystalline quality of the TMDCs needs to be extremely high, however; defects in the crystal structure worsen device performance. https://phys.org/news/2022-10-strategies-high-quality-crystal-growth.html Nanophysics Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:55:03 EDT news584186101 Two-dimensional (2D) materials possess extraordinary properties. They usually consist of atomic layers that are only a few nanometers thick and are particularly good at conducting heat and electricity, for instance. To the astonishment of many scientists, it recently became known that 2D materials can also exist on the basis of certain metal oxides. These oxides are of great interest in areas such as nanoelectronics applications. A German-American research team, led by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), has now succeeded in predicting twenty-eight representatives of this new class of materials by using data-driven methods. https://phys.org/news/2022-03-ultra-thin-materials-extensive-2d.html Nanomaterials Fri, 11 Mar 2022 09:49:10 EST news566214545 In unconventional superconductors, electrons often exhibit a tendency towards spatial ordering within their atomic structure. https://phys.org/news/2021-06-nematic-transition-nanoscale-suppression-superconductivity.html Condensed Matter Wed, 16 Jun 2021 02:08:49 EDT news543028124 An international group of researchers has developed a new technique that could be used to make more efficient low-cost light-emitting materials which are flexible and can be printed using ink-jet techniques. https://phys.org/news/2021-06-atom-swapping-ultra-bright-flexible.html Nanomaterials Mon, 07 Jun 2021 16:35:12 EDT news542302506 An international collaboration has provided the first insights into a new type of silk produced by the very unusual Australian basket-web spider, which uses it to build a lobster pot web that protects its eggs and trap prey. https://phys.org/news/2020-10-secrets-aussie-spider-unique-silk.html Materials Science Mon, 19 Oct 2020 05:00:02 EDT news522297494 Electric motors and electronic devices generate electromagnetic fields that sometimes have to be shielded in order not to affect neighboring electronic components or the transmission of signals. High-frequency electromagnetic fields can only be shielded with conductive shells that are closed on all sides. Often thin metal sheets or metallized foils are used for this purpose. However, for many applications such a shield is too heavy or too poorly adaptable to the given geometry. The ideal solution would be a light, flexible and durable material with extremely high shielding effectiveness. https://phys.org/news/2020-07-lightest-electromagnetic-shielding-material-world.html Nanomaterials Thu, 02 Jul 2020 11:21:36 EDT news512907694 Mapping the evolution of life on Earth requires a detailed understanding of the fossil record, and scientists are using synchrotron-based technologies to look back—way, way back—at the cell structure and chemistry of the earliest known woody plant. https://phys.org/news/2019-08-world-oldest-woody-fossil.html Archaeology Thu, 29 Aug 2019 08:59:31 EDT news486287957 Bioinspired engineering strategies rely on achieving the combined biological properties of strength and toughness inherent in nature. Tissue engineers and materials scientists therefore aim to construct intelligent, hierarchical biomimetic structures from limited resources. As a representative material, natural nacre maintains a brick-and-mortar structure that allows many viable toughening mechanisms on multiple scales. Such naturally occurring materials demonstrate an outstanding combination of strength and toughness, unlike any synthetic, engineered biomaterial. https://phys.org/news/2019-06-bioinspired-materialsgraphene-enabled-nickel-composites.html Materials Science Tue, 11 Jun 2019 07:11:18 EDT news479455868 Next time you listen to a favorite tune or wonder at the beauty of a natural sound, you might also end up pondering the math behind the music. https://phys.org/news/2019-05-phase-transitions-math-music.html Mathematics Thu, 23 May 2019 09:46:52 EDT news477823603 Carbon fiber composites—lightweight and strong—are great structural materials for automobiles, aircraft and other transportation vehicles. They consist of a polymer matrix, such as epoxy, into which reinforcing carbon fibers have been embedded. Because of differences in the mechanical properties of these two materials, the fibers can detach from the matrix under excessive stresses or fatigue. That means damage in carbon fiber composite structures can remain hidden below the surface, undetectable by visual inspection, potentially leading to catastrophic failure. https://phys.org/news/2018-11-next-generation-composites-health.html Nanomaterials Fri, 16 Nov 2018 10:00:02 EST news461584671 Over 3500 extra-solar planets have been confirmed to date. Most of them were discovered using the transit method, and astronomers can combine the transit light curves with velocity wobble observations to determine the planet's mass and radius, and thereby constrain its interior structure. The atmosphere can also be studied in a transit by using the fact that the chemical composition of the atmosphere means its opacity varies with wavelength. By measuring the depth of the transit at different wavelengths, it is possible to infer the composition and temperature of the planet's atmosphere. https://phys.org/news/2018-03-stellar-super-earths.html Astronomy Fri, 02 Mar 2018 10:00:10 EST news439207195 In the quest for more efficient vehicles, engineers are using harder and lower-density carbon materials, such as carbon fibers, which can be manufactured sustainably by "baking" naturally occurring soft hydrocarbons in the absence of oxygen. However, the optimal "baking" temperature for these hardened, charcoal-like carbon materials remained a mystery since the 1950s when British scientist Rosalind Franklin, who is perhaps better known for providing critical evidence of DNA's double helix structure, discovered how the carbon atoms in sugar, coal, and similar hydrocarbons, react to temperatures approaching 3,000 degrees Celsius (5,432 degrees Fahrenheit) in oxygen-free processing. Confusion over whether disorder makes these graphite-like materials stronger, or weaker, prevented identifying the ideal "baking" temperature for more than 40 years. https://phys.org/news/2017-03-chaos-carbon-materials-lighter-stronger.html Nanomaterials Mon, 20 Mar 2017 06:42:23 EDT news409210927 The effectiveness of crystalline pharmaceuticals is not only influenced by molecular composition; the structure of the crystals is also important because it determines both the solubility and the rate of dissolution, which in turn affect the bioavailability. Researchers from Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA) have recently developed a method by which different crystals can be separated by their density in a magnetic field. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, they have now demonstrated the extraordinary efficiency of separation through "magnetic levitation". https://phys.org/news/2013-09-magnetic-levitation-crystal-polymorphs-density.html Materials Science Mon, 09 Sep 2013 07:08:50 EDT news297929313 (Phys.org) —A team of University of Pennsylvania engineers has used a pattern of nanoantennas to develop a new way of turning infrared light into mechanical action, opening the door to more sensitive infrared cameras and more compact chemical-analysis techniques. https://phys.org/news/2013-05-nanoantennas-infrared.html Nanophysics Mon, 20 May 2013 07:31:00 EDT news288253848 (Phys.org) —Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have once again demonstrated the incredible capabilities of metamaterials – artificial nanoconstructs whose optical properties arise from their physical structure rather than their chemical composition. Engineering a unique two-dimensional sheet of gold nanoantennas, the researchers were able to obtain the strongest signal yet of the photonic spin Hall effect, an optical phenomenon of quantum mechanics that could play a prominent role in the future of computing. https://phys.org/news/2013-03-physicists-metamaterials-giant-photonic-hall.html Quantum Physics Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:25:10 EDT news283094703 (Phys.org) —In a world first, a team of researchers from Australia, China and the US has created a super strong metallic composite by harnessing the extraordinary mechanical properties of nanowires. https://phys.org/news/2013-03-super-nanowire-composite-valley-death.html Nanophysics Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:01:09 EDT news282294059 (Phys.org)—Two teams of astronomers have used data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes to map the distribution of dark matter in a galaxy cluster known as Abell 383, which is located about 2.3 billion light years from Earth. Not only were the researchers able to find where the dark matter lies in the two dimensions across the sky, they were also able to determine how the dark matter is distributed along the line of sight. https://phys.org/news/2013-02-abell-full-picture-elusive-subject.html Astronomy Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:10:01 EST news281263332 The transistor is the ultimate on-off switch. When a voltage is applied to the surface of a semiconductor, current flows; when the voltage is reversed, current is blocked. Researchers have tried for decades to replicate these effects in transition metal oxides by using a voltage to convert the material from an insulator to a metal, but the induced change only occurs within a few atomic layers of the surface. https://phys.org/news/2013-02-transistor-vanadium-dioxide-function-smart.html Condensed Matter Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:08:01 EST news279551272