Exotic “second sound” phenomenon observed in pencil lead
At relatively balmy temperatures, heat behaves like sound when moving through graphite, study reports.
Reducing the burden of tuberculosis treatment
Drug delivery system would allow patients to switch from daily to monthly doses.
Engineers make clear droplets produce iridescent colors
Optical effect could be harnessed for light displays, litmus tests, and makeup products.
Physicists calculate proton’s pressure distribution for first time
The particle’s core withstands pressures higher than those inside a neutron star, according to a new study.
Quantum dots can spit out clone-like photons
System that generates coherent single particles of light could help pave the way for quantum information processors or communications.
Study of quark speeds finds a solution for a 35-year physics mystery
Number of proton-neutron pairs determine how fast the particles move, results suggest.
Robots track moving objects with unprecedented precision
System uses RFID tags to home in on targets; could benefit robotic manufacturing, collaborative drones, and other applications.
Climate change makes summer weather stormier yet more stagnant
Study finds rising temperatures feed more energy to thunderstorms, less to general circulation.
New technique pinpoints milestones in the evolution of bacteria
Results show bacterial genomes provide “shadow history” of animal evolution.
New pill can deliver insulin
Capsule that releases insulin in the stomach could replace injections for patients with type 1 diabetes.
Unleashing perovskites’ potential for solar cells
New results show how varying the recipe could bring these materials closer to commercialization.
Biologists answer fundamental question about cell size
The need to produce just the right amount of protein is behind the striking uniformity of sizes.
Ingestible, expanding pill monitors the stomach for up to a month
Soft, squishy device could potentially track ulcers, cancers, and other GI conditions over the long term.
Surprising electronic disorder in a copper oxide-based ceramic
MIT researchers use resonant X-ray scattering measurements to reveal unexpected “Wigner glass” in desirable superconducting material.
Converting Wi-Fi signals to electricity with new 2-D materials
Device made from flexible, inexpensive materials could power large-area electronics, wearables, medical devices, and more.