Ancient stars may have forged superheavy elements unknown to science

Scientists have uncovered hints of a world of new elements beyond the periodic table. A new study has found that ancient stars may have been producing extremely heavy elements that remain unknown to science.Continue ReadingCategory: Physics, ScienceTag… Continue reading Ancient stars may have forged superheavy elements unknown to science

How a really cold bath can help unravel the mysteries of the cosmos

A new “bathtub” experiment has allowed physicists to measure the lifetime of a free neutron far more precisely than ever before. The breakthrough could help probe the fringes of the Standard Model of particle physics, as well as mysteries like dark mat… Continue reading How a really cold bath can help unravel the mysteries of the cosmos

Perovskite crystals given new job as nuclear radiation detectors

Perovskite crystals are quickly gaining a name for themselves in the solar energy field, thanks to their impressive ability to convert photons into electricity. But scientists have now tweaked this process to pick up neutrons instead, making an effecti… Continue reading Perovskite crystals given new job as nuclear radiation detectors

Bizarre star may have been forged in a gigantic “hypernova”

A bizarre star may have its origins in one of the most energetic events in the cosmos. Astronomers have found that a star with a very unusual composition may have formed in the wake of a new type of hypernova – a stellar explosion with 10 times the ene… Continue reading Bizarre star may have been forged in a gigantic “hypernova”

New technique links lithium distribution in the brain to depression

A new technique is allowing researchers to measure endogenous lithium concentrations in the human brain for the very first time. To test the technique researchers compared lithium levels in post-mortem brain tissue between a suicidal subject and a pair… Continue reading New technique links lithium distribution in the brain to depression

Unexplained X-ray signals from neutron stars hint at “ghost” particles

Astronomers have detected a strange signal coming from a group of neutron stars that could be the fingerprints of a long-sought elementary particle – and maybe even dark matter. An unexplained excess of X-rays hints at axions, hypothetical “ghost” part… Continue reading Unexplained X-ray signals from neutron stars hint at “ghost” particles

Where Do You Get Your Neutrons? Neutron Sources for Nuclear Fusion, Science, Medicine, and Industry

All of us probably know what neutrons are, or have at least heard of them back in physics class. Yet these little bundles of quarks are much more than just filler inside an atom’s nucleus. In addition to being an essential part of making matter as stable as it (usually) …read more

Continue reading Where Do You Get Your Neutrons? Neutron Sources for Nuclear Fusion, Science, Medicine, and Industry