In doing his due diligence, cleaning his lab equipment, fluid physicist Stoffel Janssens from the Mathematical Soft Matter Unit in the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Okinawa, Japan, took notice of the ...
Condensed Matter
Mar 14, 2017
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Superhydrophobic surfaces have attracted global attention due to their water-repellant characteristics and myriad number and variety of applications. A team of researchers with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at ...
Materials Science
Nov 9, 2016
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The spinning rainbow surface of a soap bubble is more than mesmerizing – it's a lesson in fluid mechanics. Better understanding of these hypnotic flows could bring improvements in many areas, from longer lasting beer foam ...
Soft Matter
Sep 13, 2016
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(Phys.org)—A team of researchers at Princeton University, along with assistance from a photographer in Arizona, has uncovered the secret behind why whisky does not leave behind "coffee rings" when in dries. In their paper ...
Lining up gold nanoparticles in narrow trenches carved into a gold substrate has enabled A*STAR researchers to greatly enhance an optical effect that doubles the frequency of impinging light1. This approach could help produce ...
Nanophysics
Jan 20, 2016
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Researchers at MIT and elsewhere have found a way to significantly boost the energy that can be harnessed from sunlight, a finding that could lead to better solar cells or light detectors.
General Physics
Nov 5, 2015
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(Phys.org)—Scientists have demonstrated that pinwheel-shaped microgears floating on a liquid surface can rotate at speeds of up to 300 r.p.m. when illuminated by an ordinary LED. This light-driven motion, which arises because ...
Fear of water may seem like an irrational hindrance to humans, but on a molecular level, it lends order to the world.
Materials Science
Jan 14, 2015
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Your mother probably warned against playing with your food, but she may have neglected to mention playing with your drinks. Dr. Lisa Burton, a scientist from MIT, thankfully missed that lesson. Inspired by a love of experimental ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 6, 2015
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(Phys.org)—A new study predicts that large-scale power plants based on thermoelectric effects, such as small temperature differences in ocean water, could generate electricity at a lower cost than photovoltaic power plants.
