Magnetic spins that 'freeze' when heated

Physicists observed a strange new type of behavior in a magnetic material when it's heated up. The magnetic spins "freeze" into a static pattern when the temperature rises, a phenomenon that normally occurs when the temperature ...

New glass-ceramic emits light when under mechanical stress

Researchers have created a new glass-ceramic that emits light in response to mechanical stress, a property known as mechanoluminescence. With further development, the new material could be used to create a light source that ...

Atomic fractals in metallic glasses

Metallic glasses are very strong and elastic materials that appear with the naked eye to be identical to stainless steel. But metallic glasses differ from ordinary metals in that they are amorphous, lacking an orderly, crystalline ...

Fresnel lenses: High contrast and efficient focusing

The first Fresnel lens was installed in 1823 in the Cordouan lighthouse, where its beam was visible for 32 km. Since then, this lens design has been used in lighthouses, traffic lights, automobile headlights, magnifying glasses, ...

Fujifilm shows off bendable 'Beat' diaphragm speaker

(Phys.org)—Japanese film maker Fujifilm has unveiled a new kind of bendable speaker at this year's Nanotech 2013 tradeshow, currently running in Tokyo. It's based on a thin bendable diaphragm the company calls "Beat."

Researchers toughen glass using nanoparticles

UCLA mechanical engineers and materials scientists have developed a process that uses nanoparticles to strengthen the atomic structure of glass. The result is a product that's at least five times tougher than any glass currently ...

Nanocrystal-coated fibers might reduce wasted energy

(Phys.org) -- Researchers are developing a technique that uses nanotechnology to harvest energy from hot pipes or engine components to potentially recover energy wasted in factories, power plants and cars.

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