Category Archives: APS Physics

Scientists Theorize a Hidden Phase Transition Between Liquid and a Solid

Posted on August 16, 2023 by rberkowitz

Improved understanding of glassy dynamics could help scientists explain why a liquid behaves like a solid, and develop useful new materials. Continue reading →

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Zap with Microwaves to Reverse Spin

Posted on August 10, 2023 by rberkowitz

Irradiating a uniaxial magnetic system with a specific sequence of microwave pulses can induce in the system quantum oscillations that cause the material’s spins to flip back and forth. Continue reading →

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Express Delivery of Proton Therapy

Posted on July 27, 2023 by rberkowitz

A new scheme could increase the efficiency of a high-dose cancer radiation therapy and mitigate patient discomfort by reducing particle loss in proton beams. Continue reading →

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A Broader Stance Can Stop a Sandy Slide

Posted on July 25, 2023 by rberkowitz

Experiments show that an optimal distance between points of contact helps insects and other multilegged creatures avoid slipping down a steep granular slope. Continue reading →

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Sensor Judges Taste of Raw Maple Syrup

Posted on June 15, 2023 by rberkowitz

Climate change is altering late-season maple syrup, but a portable plasmonic sensor could help avoid waste by detecting molecules in a tree’s sap that lead to an off-tasting batch. Continue reading →

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Pinpointing Problems in Transmission Power Grids

Posted on June 9, 2023 by rberkowitz

Researchers have developed an optimization algorithm to help identify the location of an electric current surge in a power grid, without knowledge of the grid’s broad structure. Continue reading →

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Squeezable Metal Offers a Greener Approach to Refrigeration

Posted on May 30, 2023 by rberkowitz

A system built around a metal that gains and loses heat when compressed could lead the way to the commercialization of chemical-free refrigeration technology. Continue reading →

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Angle and Friction Matter for Table Tennis Spin

Posted on May 26, 2023 by rberkowitz

The angle of incidence and the friction of the surface are the only factors that impact the spin of a table tennis ball after it collides with a rigid surface. Continue reading →

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Gravity Alters the Shape of an Evaporating Droplet

Posted on May 24, 2023 by rberkowitz

Whether sitting or hanging, the surface of a protein-containing droplet changes as the water escapes, an effect researchers link to the pull of gravity. Read more in APS Physics…

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A Lab Plasma Rotates and Produces Jets

Posted on May 12, 2023 by rberkowitz

A spinning plasma ring mimics the rotating structure surrounding a black hole. Continue reading →

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