9 D Universe

Pulses of laser light can cause any material – including insulators – to develop a relatively large magnetic moment. This effect, which has been demonstrated for the first time by an international team of researchers, shows that laser light can induce quantum behaviour even at room temperature, not just under [...]

New observations of the flavour composition of atmospheric neutrinos have revealed no conclusive evidence for the minuscule, short-lived black holes that have been predicted by some theories of quantum gravity. The study was done by researchers using the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole and the result places some [...]

Eager explorer Florence Downs enjoys showcasing the opportunities of engineering to young people. (Courtesy: Florence Downs) What skills do you use every day in your job? As an editor, the largest part of my job is doing just that – editing. Most broadly, I spend my time working out how to communicate [...]

Author(s): Charles DayThe commercialization of magnesium-ion batteries could be closer thanks to the development of a cathode material inspired by multispecies metal alloys.[Physics 17, 75] Published Fri Apr 26, 2024 [...]

Author(s): Charles DayMost models for the overall shape and geometry of the Universe—including some exotic ones—are compatible with the latest cosmic observations.[Physics 17, 74] Published Fri Apr 26, 2024 [...]

The oncology information system (OIS) lies at the heart of all cancer care, managing the entire clinical pathway – from patient registration, to treatment scheduling and delivery, to follow-up. The software revolution has transformed cancer care from paper-based charts and records to today’s fully digitized processes. But an OIS can [...]

Fellowship funds graduate studies for outstanding immigrants and children of immigrants. MIT graduate student Riyam Al Msari and alumna Francisca Vasconcelos ’20 are among the 30 recipients of this year’s Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. In addition, two Soros winners will begin PhD studies at MIT in the [...]

In a proof-of-concept study, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) used a smartphone’s built-in magnetometer, combined with hydrogels that change their shape in response to specific cues, to measure sugar concentrations in beverages. The platform, they say, could potentially be used to measure glucose in biological [...]

This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast explores how the medical physics community is embracing environmental sustainability. Our guests are the medical physicists Rob Chuter of the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in the UK and Kari Tanderup of Aarhus University in Denmark. They chat with Physics World’s Tami Freeman about [...]

Today’s measurement systems can get very complicated very quickly. Scientists working at the cutting edge of research will often have to cobble together instruments from a number of different suppliers. This is problematic because mixed-vendor systems can be difficult to operate and this can seriously compromise the accuracy and repeatability [...]

Author(s): Michael SchirberInterest in developing batteries based on sodium has recently spiked because of concerns over the sustainability of lithium, which is found in most laptop and electric vehicle batteries.[Physics 17, 73] Published Thu Apr 25, 2024 [...]

Chosen from 16 finalist teams, the MIT-led projects will investigate quantum topological materials and sustainable microchip production. Two teams led by MIT researchers were selected in December 2023 by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator, a part of the TIP Directorate, to receive awards of $5 million each over three [...]

The prestigious honor society announces more than 250 new members. Eight MIT faculty members are among the 250 leaders from academia, the arts, industry, public policy, and research elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the academy announced April 24. One of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies, the academy [...]

New movies of two of the most famous objects in the sky—the Crab Nebula and Cassiopeia A—are being released from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Each includes X-ray data collected by Chandra over about two decades. They show dramatic changes in the debris and radiation remaining after the explosion of two [...]

Planetary nebula are some of nature's most stunning visual displays. The name is confusing since they're the remains of stars, not planets. But that doesn't detract from their status as objects of captivating beauty and intense scientific study. [...]

The advance offers a way to characterize a fundamental resource needed for quantum computing. Entanglement is a form of correlation between quantum objects, such as particles at the atomic scale. This uniquely quantum phenomenon cannot be explained by the laws of classical physics, yet it is one of the properties that [...]

Vol. 6845. Galactic structure, stellar clusters and populations Observed kinematics of the Milky Way nuclear stellar disk region by M. Zoccali, A. Rojas-Arriagada, E. Valenti, R. Contreras Ramos, A. Valenzuela-Navarro, C. Salvo-Guajardo 2024, A&A, 684, A214 Zooming into the central regions of the Milky Way unravels a great deal of structures, though often [...]

Author(s): Katherine WrightFor Shirley Meng, the biggest barrier to achieving sustainable batteries is sociological not technological, requiring a change in mindset about how we consume and dispose of batteries.[Physics 17, 72] Published Wed Apr 24, 2024 [...]

Author(s): Rachel BerkowitzReal-time in situ x-ray observations of new nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries reveal that reduced performance comes from lithium ions getting trapped in the cathode.[Physics 17, 70] Published Tue Apr 23, 2024 [...]

New research from the group of MIT Professor Brett McGuire has revealed the presence of a previously unknown molecule in space. The team's open-access paper, “Rotational Spectrum and First Interstellar Detection of 2-Methoxyethanol Using ALMA Observations of NGC 6334I,” appears in April 12 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Zachary T.P. [...]

The honor recognizes professors for their outstanding mentorship of graduate students. In the halls of MIT, a distinctive thread of compassion weaves through the fabric of education. As students adjust to a postpandemic normal, many professors have played a pivotal role by helping them navigate the realities of hybrid learning and [...]

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are intense bursts of gamma radiation, typically generating more energy in a few seconds than the sun will produce over its ten-billion-year lifetime. These transient phenomena present one of the most challenging puzzles in astrophysics, dating back to their accidental discovery in 1967 by a nuclear surveillance [...]

Author(s): Katherine WrightPaul Kempler runs a master’s program at the University of Oregon that provides hands-on electrochemistry training for those wanting to enter the field without them having to take a five-year-long PhD.[Physics 17, 62] Published Mon Apr 22, 2024 [...]

Author(s): Hee Seong Yun and Dong Ki Yoon Using thin layers of chiral nematic liquid crystals, researchers have observed the formation dynamics of skyrmions.[Physics 17, 69] Published Mon Apr 22, 2024 [...]