New ‘vacuum ultraviolet’ laser is 100 to 1,000 times more efficient than existing tech
The vacuum ultraviolet region is the area of the electromagnetic spectrum lying between X-rays and visible light. It…
Cambridge scientists capture electrons leaping across solar materials in 18 femtoseconds
A tiny burst of motion inside a molecule may be enough to shove an electron across a solar…
Researchers create pure hexagonal diamonds that are harder than natural diamonds
Diamonds are famous for their strength, but scientists have long suspected that another form of diamond might be…
New platinum-free photocatalyst turns sunlight and water into renewable energy
A small beaker of water can look ordinary. Under the right light, it can also become a quiet…
3D printed moon dust structures could be the future of lunar construction
A gray powder that looks like ash can become something closer to stone when hit with the right…
Flexible nylon film generates electricity from compression
A thin sheet of nylon does not look like much on its own. But in lab tests, a…
Programmable hydrogel ‘smart skin’ can hide images, shift texture, and morph shape
At first glance, it looks like a plain, slightly glossy sheet. Then it goes through a quick bath,…
Motion sensors perform better when attached to loose clothing
When your arm moves inside a loose shirt, the fabric does not simply follow along. It ripples, folds,…
Prosthetic arm blurs the line between machine and human body
A virtual forearm can bend in a blink. It can also take its time, easing toward a target…
NYU physicists create visible time crystals levitated by sound
A strange form of matter called a time crystal has fascinated physicists for about a decade. These systems…
Scientists can now 3D print one of the world’s hardest tool materials
Hard materials keep modern life moving, from drill bits to cutting tools. One of the toughest is tungsten…
Global first: Physicists use light to reveal quantum vibrations in a superconducting material
Light can tell you a lot about what matter is doing. Visible light shows a surface. X-rays reveal…