| Tiny droplets… lead to exotic properties Posted: 17 Jun 2016 06:54 PM PDT Molecules in liquid crystals form exotic phases in which arrays of defects are organized into striking patterns. Confining these defect structures within droplets offers fine control that points to strategies -- not possible in bulk phases -- for assembly of responsive, adaptable materials. |
| Atomic sculpting with a microscope Posted: 17 Jun 2016 06:54 PM PDT A new tool now rests in the 3D printing toolbox. The result is designer materials with desirable structures, such as microchips, or materials with unique properties. |
| New surface makes oil contamination remove itself Posted: 17 Jun 2016 01:03 PM PDT Researchers have developed surfaces where oil transports itself to desired directions. Researchers' oleophobic surfaces are microtextured with radial arrays of undercut stripes. When oil drops fall on surfaces, drops move away from the landing point to the direction set by asymmetric geometrical patterning of the surface. The surfaces open up new avenues for power-free liquid transportation and oil contamination self-removal applications in analytical and fluidic devices. |
| A mathematical analysis of urban traffic models clarifies dispute over which approach is best Posted: 17 Jun 2016 08:40 AM PDT A long-running debate among traffic engineers has been resolved by researchers who have discovered that two seemingly very different models of traffic flow in cities actually have similar underlying mathematical structures. |
| Graphene-based thermal modulators Posted: 17 Jun 2016 08:40 AM PDT Squeezing graphene is a way to control its heat conduction, paving the way to harvesting waste heat for power. |
| Laser manipulates electronic properties Posted: 17 Jun 2016 08:37 AM PDT A new semiconducting material that is only three atomic-layers thick has emerged with more exotic, malleable electronic properties than those of traditional semiconductors. |
| Finding a needle in a crystalline haystack Posted: 17 Jun 2016 07:52 AM PDT With a new technique, scientists can detect a few large grains in a sea of small grains and study the fatigue-induced phenomena of large grain growth. |
| Confirmed: Heavy barium nuclei prefer a pear shape Posted: 16 Jun 2016 11:16 AM PDT Certain heavy barium nuclei have long been predicted to exhibit pear-like shapes. Scientists demonstrated the existence of this exotic shape by taking advantage of breakthroughs in the acceleration of radioactive beams and new detector technologies. |
