http://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. A team of researchers from Columbia University, City University of New York, the University of Central Florida (UCF), and Tohoku University and the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan, have directly observed a rare quantum effect that produces a repeating butterfly-shaped energy spectrum, confirming the longstanding prediction of this quantum fractal energy structure, called Hofstadter's butterfly. The study, which focused on moiré-patterned graphene, is published in the May 15, 2013, Advance Online Publication (AOP) of Nature. http://phys.org/news287824835.html Nanotechnology Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:09 EST news287824835 (Phys.org) —Sometimes, all it takes is an extremely small amount of material to make a big difference. Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have recently discovered that they could substitute one-atom-thick graphene layers for oil-based lubricants on sliding steel surfaces, enabling a dramatic reduction in the amount of wear and friction. http://phys.org/news286180123.html Nanotechnology Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:28:59 EST news286180123 In an article about to be published in European Physical Journal Plus, Daan Frenkel from the University of Cambridge, UK, outlines the many pitfalls associated with simulation methods such as Monte Carlo algorithms or other commonly used molecular dynamics approaches. http://phys.org/news278669088.html Physics Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:04:57 EST news278669088 (Phys.org)—J. M. J. van Leeuwen, a physicist at Leiden University in The Netherlands has created a mathematical model that predicts the maximum incremental size of falling dominos. He's found, as he describes in a paper he's uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, that in a perfect world, the maximum growth factor is approximately 2. http://phys.org/news277110291.html Other Sciences Fri, 11 Jan 2013 07:30:06 EST news277110291 (Phys.org)—Researchers using computer simulations and modeling have come up with two possible explanations for the phenomenon known as true polar wandering. The team led by Jessica Creveling of Harvard University, suggest in their paper published in the journal Nature, that dramatic shifts in the Earth's surface over millions of years, and then a return to the previous state, can be explained by bulging at the equator and elasticity of the planets outer shell. http://phys.org/news271578233.html Space & Earth Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:50:02 EST news271578233 Northwestern University scientists have developed a thermoelectric material that is the best in the world at converting waste heat to electricity. This is very good news once you realize nearly two-thirds of energy input is lost as waste heat. http://phys.org/news267281340.html Physics Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:49:16 EST news267281340 The chances of rogue fractures due to shale gas fracking operations extending beyond 0.6 kilometres from the injection source is a fraction of one percent, according to new research led by Durham University. http://phys.org/news254508025.html Space & Earth Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:04 EST news254508025 Researchers at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech have assembled the draft genome of a marine algae sequence to aid scientists across the US in a project that aims to discover the best algae species for producing biodiesel fuel. The results have been published in Nature Communications. http://phys.org/news252687081.html Biology Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:51:26 EST news252687081 In a finding that gives new meaning to the adage, "waste not, want not," scientists are reporting that household sewage has far more potential as an alternative energy source than previously thought. They say the discovery, which increases the estimated potential energy in wastewater by almost 20 percent, could spur efforts to extract methane, hydrogen and other fuels from this vast and, as yet, untapped resource. Their report appears in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology. http://phys.org/news213452639.html Space & Earth Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:24:28 EST news213452639 (PhysOrg.com) -- A new technique that harnesses the power of mighty microscopic bubbles, developed by Duke engineers, can open for a blink of the eye nanometer-sized entries into individual cells. http://phys.org/news201501293.html Physics Fri, 20 Aug 2010 05:35:16 EST news201501293 (PhysOrg.com) -- "One of the hopes people have for graphene is in electronic devices. It is seen as a possible replacement for silicon, due to its unique properties," Herb Fertig tells PhysOrg.com. Graphene conducts well, and it is easy to cool, making it ideal for use in electronic devices continually shrinking in size. However, scientists have yet to understand some of the properties of graphene, including how to control the flow of electrons. "In silicon," Fertig continues, "there is an energy gap that can be exploited to manipulate the flow of electrons. Graphene is a good conductor, but it is less clear how to control the electrons." http://phys.org/news193389403.html Nanotechnology Tue, 18 May 2010 09:10:03 EST news193389403 (PhysOrg.com) -- Developing countries use proportionally less energy than industrialized nations, but this could soon change. http://phys.org/news151776174.html Other Sciences Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:03:56 EST news151776174