Peculiar physics at work in the brain

In 1982, the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to Ken Wilson for his contribution to understanding what goes on in certain materials as they undergo a phase transition—like the transition between liquid water and steam. ...

Breaking the symmetry between fundamental forces

A fraction of a second after the Big Bang, a single unified force may have shattered. Scientists from the CDF and DZero Collaborations used data from the Fermilab Tevatron Collider to re-create the early universe conditions. ...

Hidden magnetism appears under hidden symmetry

Sometimes a good theory just needs to right materials to make it work. That's the case with recent findings by UT's physicists and their colleagues, who designed a two-dimensional magnetic system that points to the possibility ...

New theory on liquid crystals with high symmetry

LCD screens use liquid crystals, which have a high degree of order, even though they form a fluid. A new theory detailed in Physical Review X maps out the interplay between order, temperature and symmetry.

Designer's 3-D prosthesis makes waves

For his Master's research, Stuart focused on restoring balance for trans-tibial amputees while swimming—a solution that would improve accessibility and enjoyment, and make it easier for those with below-the-knee amputations ...

The maths behind 'impossible' never-repeating patterns

Remember the graph paper you used at school, the kind that's covered with tiny squares? It's the perfect illustration of what mathematicians call a "periodic tiling of space", with shapes covering an entire area with no overlap ...

Working group seeks new algorithms for an old problem

Symmetry appears readily in nature: on the petals of a sunflower or the spires of a snowflake. But not all symmetries are alike. Flip a square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally – these are reflectional symmetries ...

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