Laser pincers generate antimatter by recreating neutron star conditions

Some of the greatest mysteries in cosmology revolve around antimatter, and it’s hard to study because it’s rare and hard to produce in the lab. Now a team of physicists has outlined a relatively simple new way to create antimatter, by firing two lasers… Continue reading Laser pincers generate antimatter by recreating neutron star conditions

Scientists create solid crystal form of electrons in the lab

Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a crystal made entirely of electrons. The structures have been theorized for decades, but this marks the first time they’ve been experimentally confirmed in the lab.Continue ReadingCategory: Physics, ScienceTags: … Continue reading Scientists create solid crystal form of electrons in the lab

CERN anomaly hints at new particle physics Standard Model can’t explain

CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is designed to probe the fringes of known physics, and now the facility has found particles not behaving as predicted. While it’s still early days, the discovery hints at the existence of new particles or forces beyon… Continue reading CERN anomaly hints at new particle physics Standard Model can’t explain

Plasma “space hurricane” detected over Earth for first time

Scientists have found evidence of a “space hurricane” for the first time. The storm, made up of swirling clouds of plasma, raged in Earth’s upper atmosphere for hours, dumping huge amounts of electrons like rain in a system that resembles a regular hur… Continue reading Plasma “space hurricane” detected over Earth for first time

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

“Fifth state of matter” used to make new type of superconductor

Superconductors – materials in which electricity flows without any resistance whatsoever – could be extremely useful for future electronics. Now, engineers at the University of Tokyo have managed to create a superconductor out of a state of matter call… Continue reading “Fifth state of matter” used to make new type of superconductor

Non-magnetic material made magnetic using electricity for the first time

Researchers have for the first time managed to use electricity to switch on magnetism in a material that’s normally non-magnetic. The find could be a step towards making electronic components out of common materials that might not otherwise be suitable… Continue reading Non-magnetic material made magnetic using electricity for the first time

Salt water flowing over thin layers of rust generates electricity

It’s not unusual to find rust around saltwater, but now the pairing might actually be useful. Researchers at Caltech and Northwestern University have found that electricity can be produced when saltwater flows over the top of thin films of ru… Continue reading Salt water flowing over thin layers of rust generates electricity

Twisted graphene exhibits previously-unseen form of magnetism

As a flat sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a lattice, graphene is pretty simple, and yet it keeps surprising scientists with new properties. For the latest in this long line of breakthroughs, a team from Stanford has shown that graphene arra… Continue reading Twisted graphene exhibits previously-unseen form of magnetism