Strange material demonstrates exotic quantum state at room temperature

Many quantum effects can only be produced at extremely cold temperatures, which limits how useful they would be in real-world settings. Now, researchers at Princeton have demonstrated a strange quantum state taking place in a material at room temperatu… Continue reading Strange material demonstrates exotic quantum state at room temperature

Insulation-free magnet makes space for sustained nuclear fusion reactions

One of the many ways scientists are working to realize the potential of nuclear fusion as a virtually inexhaustible and clean source of energy is through new and improved magnets, which confine fields of plasma for the critical reactions to take place…. Continue reading Insulation-free magnet makes space for sustained nuclear fusion reactions

Worms found to share “memories” by swapping RNA to warn of danger

Sharing information is crucial for species to survive, but how do simple lifeforms like worms spread the word? New research from Princeton has found that tiny roundworms can transfer “memories” to their neighbors, and pass them down to their offspring … Continue reading Worms found to share “memories” by swapping RNA to warn of danger

Wendelstein 7-X fusion reactor on path to plasma twice as hot as the Sun

The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator is an experimental nuclear fusion reactor designed to bring us closer to the prospect of clean, limitless energy, and since producing its first plasma in 2015 we’ve seen it take steady and significant steps toward that a… Continue reading Wendelstein 7-X fusion reactor on path to plasma twice as hot as the Sun

New magnetic rocket thruster concept could propel astronauts to Mars

A crewed mission to Mars may be more practical thanks to a new rocket concept developed by Fatima Ebrahimi, a physicist at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), that uses magnetic fields to generate thrust.Cont… Continue reading New magnetic rocket thruster concept could propel astronauts to Mars

New quantum particle may have been accidentally discovered

By definition metals and insulators are very different – but now Princeton physicists have accidentally discovered an unexpected quantum behavior in an insulator that was thought to be unique to metals. The find suggests a brand new type of quantum par… Continue reading New quantum particle may have been accidentally discovered

Neutrino detector finds new type of “ghost particle” from the Sun

Borexino, a huge underground particle detector in Italy, has picked up a never-before-seen type of neutrino coming from the Sun. These neutrinos confirm a 90-year-old hypothesis and complete our picture of the fusion cycle of the Sun and other stars.Co… Continue reading Neutrino detector finds new type of “ghost particle” from the Sun

Nuclear fusion plasma could be stabilized against large eruptions – by causing lots of small ones

As the Sun and stars themselves can attest, nuclear fusion could be an essentially unlimited energy source, if we can only harness it. The problem is that the plasma used is inherently unstable, and large eruptions can damage the reactors con… Continue reading Nuclear fusion plasma could be stabilized against large eruptions – by causing lots of small ones

Worm study shows behaviors can be passed down several generations

It’s basic biology that physical traits are passed from parent to offspring, but what about behaviors? Biologists at Princeton have shown that in worms, learned behaviors can be passed down as many as four generations, with younger worms inst… Continue reading Worm study shows behaviors can be passed down several generations

Researchers use sound to compromise hard drives in new DOS proof-of-concept

In an entirely new twist on the security of hard disk drives (HDDs), a team of researchers from Princeton and Purdue University have released a paper demonstrating how acoustic signals at specific frequencies can compromise devices that rely on HDD tec… Continue reading Researchers use sound to compromise hard drives in new DOS proof-of-concept