Physics
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PhysicsWeird physics warps nearby star’s light
Scientists have observed a bizarre effect of quantum physics in light coming from a nearby neutron star.
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ComputingWind power gets downsized — but in a good way
Two young scientists have developed ways to tap into wind power on a small scale.
By Sid Perkins -
Materials Science3-D printers offer better way to make some magnets
3-D printers produced magnets as strong as conventional ones with less material wasted.
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ComputingStar Trek technology becomes more science than fiction
On Star Trek, the characters used devices that seemed wild, futuristic and impossible. But those sci-fi gadgets are inspiring real-world, useful inventions.
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PhysicsScientists Say: Diffraction
When liquid hits something it spatters, when light hits something, it scatters. The process is called diffraction.
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PhysicsHack: How to spy on a 3-D printer
Computer scientists have found that a hacker can eavesdrop on a 3-D printer using a smartphone. The technique uses sound and energy data produced by the printer.
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AnimalsOur shocking eel story wins international prize
Roberta Kwok’s story on the shocking (and surprising) behaviors of electric eels was honored with a win for outstanding science writing.
By Janet Raloff -
AnimalsPeacock spider’s radiant rump comes from teeny tiny structures
Male peacock spiders have highly colored hind ends that they shake to attract females. Scientists have now figured out the physics responsible for those hues.
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ChemistryNew coating for metals could cut engine wear
Scientists have developed a new coating for engine parts that could reduce friction and engine wear. One big benefit: Cars may require fewer oil changes.
By Sid Perkins -
MathMath predicts weird materials; leads to 2016 physics Nobel
The 2016 Nobel Prize in physics will go to three researchers that have made discoveries about exotic states of matter.
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PhysicsExplainer: How heat moves
Energy moves through the universe one of three ways: conduction, convection and radiation. Only radiation can occur through empty space.
By Sid Perkins -
Health & Medicine‘Smart’ sutures monitor healing
Coatings added to the threads used to stitch up a wound let researchers use electrical signals to monitor a wound’s healing — even one covered by a bandage.
By Sid Perkins