Molecules On A String: Why Size Isn't The Only Thing That Matters For Data Storage Sep 22, 2009
21, 2009) Molecules of hydrogen are difficult to steer with electric fields because of the symmetrical way that charges are distributed within them ... Electric fields can easily manipulate electrically asymmetric molecules like water, but electric forces can't overcome thermal motions for highly symmetric molecules like H2 ... The far-flung electron feels the pull of the electric field and drags the rest of the molecule along, rendering H2 as manageable as a puppet on a string. (Science Daily)
Aircraft cabins: Breathing easily Sep 22, 2009
The plasma is confined using an electric field and the cabin air is passed through it. The free electrons disrupt the molecular bonds of any particles in the air, causing them to break up into electrically charged pieces. (The Economist)
Strain On Nanocrystals Could Yield Colossal Results Sep 19, 2009
Wu says that in the future strain engineering might be achieved by interfacing a correlated electron material such as vanadium oxide with a piezoelectric - a non-conducting material that creates a stress or strain in response to an electric field. By applying an electric field, the piezoelectric material would strain the correlated electron material to achieve a phase transition that would give us the desired functionality, says Wu ... (May 25, 2009) Researchers have demonstrated that electric... (Science Daily)
Filtration System on Planes Could Stop Germ Spread Sep 17, 2009
The device, called AirManager, uses a controlled electric field to filter out and destroy any airborne particles or germs as they pass through an aircraft s air conditioning system, emitting only clean, sterilized air. RELATED. (Fox News)
Surprise In Earth's Upper Atmosphere Discovered Sep 11, 2009
These are huge variations in particle intensities, magnetic field strength and electric field strength," Lyons said. The magnetosphere was discovered in 1957. By the late 1960s, it had become accepted among scientists that the energy transfer rate was controlled predominantly by the interplanetary magnetic field. Lyons and Kim were planning to study something unrelated when they made the discovery. "We were looking to do something else, when we saw life is not the way we expected it to be,"... (Science Daily)
Laser pulses control single electrons in complex molecules Sep 2, 2009
Scientists led by the junior research group leader Dr. Matthias Kling (MPQ) in collaboration with Professor Marc Vrakking (AMOLF) and Professor Regina de Vivie-Riedle (LMU) have managed to control and monitor the outer electrons from the valence shell of the complex molecule carbon monoxide (CO) utilizing the electric field waveform of laser pulses. Carbon monoxide has 14 electrons. (EurekAlert!)
Scientists Shed New Light On Behavior Of Shark 'Tweens' And 'Teenagers' Aug 26, 2009
24, 2008) Sharks in captivity avoid metals that react with seawater to produce an electric field, a behavior that may help fishery biologists develop a strategy to reduce the bycatch of sharks in longline. (Aug. (Science Daily)
Scientists Conduct Shark Survey Off U.S. East Coast Aug 17, 2009
16, 2009) Sandbar, dusky and tiger sharks are among dozens of shark species living in the coastal waters off the U.S. East Coast. Little is known about many of the species, but a survey begun nearly 25 years ago is helping scientists and fishery resource managers to monitor shark populations and their role in marine ecosystems. (Science Daily)
Trees Affect Air Quality In Surprising Ways Aug 7, 2009
They are then directed into an electric field, where the ions are sorted by mass. The problem with traditional ionization techniques is that delicate molecules, such as those produced in the oxidation of isoprene, generally fragment during the ionization process, making their identification difficult or impossible. (Science Daily)
Giant Molecules Made Of Rydberg Atoms Discovered Aug 5, 2009
A giant molecule can form from two Rydberg atoms when they are in close proximity to one another because fluctuations of the electron orbiting the nucleus can create an electric field at the position of the other Rydberg atom and vice versa to attract the atoms to each other. An additional electric field can change the orbit of the electrons and lead to a change in the forces acting between the Rydberg atoms ... The ability to change the orbit of the electron with an electric field is what makes... (Science Daily)
Teeny-tiny X-ray Vision Aug 1, 2009
"Think of each nanotube as a lightning rod on top of a building. The high electric field at the tip of the lightning rod draws the electric current from the cloud. Carbon nanotubes emit electrons using a similar principle," said Chang. The group used the nanotubes to build micro-sized scanners and image the interior anatomy of small laboratory animals. (Science Daily)
‘Nano Violin String’: Effect of Single Electron Vibrating Carbon Nanotube Jul 28, 2009
They then applied an alternating electric field to the nanotube using an antenna ... As a result of the alternating electric field, the suspended nanotube begins to vibrate at a certain frequency. (Science Daily)
Magnetic Field On Bright Star Vega Jul 26, 2009
A light wave can either be non-polarized, linearly or circularly polarized depending on the orientation of the electric field as the wave travels. In particular, the polarization state of radiation gives information about the presence of a magnetic field in the medium where the radiation was emitted. (Science Daily)
Could Cosmic Ray Influence Climate By Charging Up More Frequent Lightning Storms? Jul 23, 2009
Reis et al. Coal and fuel burning effects on the atmosphere as mediated by the atmospheric electric field and galactic cosmic rays flux ... (June 3, 2009) Scientists have developed a new technique to remotely measure thunderstorm electric fields on the. (Science Daily)
Caltech physicists create first nanoscale mass spectrometer Jul 23, 2009
Those ions are then directed into an electric field, where their motion, which is choreographed by both their mass and their charge, allows the determination of their so-called mass-to-charge ratio. From this, their mass can ultimately be ascertained. (EurekAlert!)
Heartland hires customer relations, marketing manager Jul 14, 2009
"I'm really excited about being able to do something else in the electric field other than what I've been doing for the past 35 years," said Moses. "This will be different for me, but I'm excited about meeting new people and seeing different utilties.". (Madison Daily Leader, SD)
Quantum Mechanical Effects In Ordinary Objects Jun 23, 2009
This energy state can be controlled by applying microwave radiation, which creates an electric field. Because the NEMS resonator and the qubit are fabricated so closely together, their behavior is tightly linked; this allows the NEMS resonator to be used as a probe for the energy quantization of the qubit. (Science Daily)
Graphene's electrically tunable bandgap leapfrogs silicon Jun 17, 2009
"We have for the first time demonstrated that you can use an electric field to open or close a bandgap in graphene," Wang said. "There is no other material available today that can do this, only bilayer grapheme.". (EETimes)
Analyzing DNA by Southern Blot Jun 16, 2009
When the DNA mixture is applied to the gel and placed in an electric field, the fragments will move through the gel mixture at a rate proportional to their size. Small fragments can move fast and go far because they can easily fit through the pores in the slab. (Suite101.com)
Probing Clouds' Roles In Global Electric Circuit Jun 1, 2009
Using conductivity and electric field sensors mounted on high-altitude aircraft, they determined current densities along 850 overflights of electrified clouds ... Electric fields, conductivity, and estimated currents from aircraft overflights of electrified clouds. (Science Daily)
AGU journal highlights -- May 29, 2009 May 30, 2009
Understanding thundercloud electrification and lightning initiation is challenging because the ranges of electric potential and spatial extents of electric fields inside thunderclouds are not known. Directly measuring electric fields in thunderclouds is challengingactive regions of storms can cover many cubic kilometers with violent weather conditions, making it difficult to operate balloons and aircraft ... Dwyer et al. hypothesize that remote sensing of thundercloud electrostatic fields can... (EurekAlert!)
Multiferroics -- making a switch the electric way May 23, 2009
Ramamoorthy Ramesh and Chan-Ho Yang of Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division successfully demonstrated that electric fields can be used as ON/OFF switches in doped multiferroic films, a development that holds ... In a promising new development, researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) working with a prototypical multiferroic have successfully demonstrated just such a switch -- electric fields ... "Using electric fields, we have... (EurekAlert!)
All your movies on a single DVD May 23, 2009
When light waves were projected onto the disc, the direction of the electric field within the waves aligned with the gold nanorods. "The polarisation can be rotated 360 degrees," explained co-author James Chon. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Nanodisc with storage capacity of 2K DVDs May 22, 2009
When they projected light waves onto the disc, the direction of the electric field contained within them aligned with the gold nanorods. This allowed the researchers to record different layers of information at different angles. (India Times)
DVD that holds 2,000 movies unveiled May 22, 2009
The researchers also used polarisation, the angle of the light's electric field, to record data. "The polarisation can be rotated 360 degrees," says paper co-author Dr James Chon. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
High-Flying Giant Balloon To Catch Cosmic Rays May 22, 2009
In the presence of a high electric field, the ions in the gas are accelerated toward the plate surface, resulting in a bright red vertical spark, which is digitized and recorded by a linear charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. According to Clem, the level of solar activity rises and falls over a period of approximately 11 years and influences cosmic ray intensity. (Science Daily)
A New Era in the Application of Lab-on-a-Chip to Rapid Point-of-Care Diagnosis May 18, 2009
The EFADchip technology uses electric field-assisted DNA hybridization to accelerate the detection of biological samples on a single chip. The key differentiator of this technology is the use of a dielectric material for both electric field generation and capture probe DNA immobilization, thus avoiding adverse electrochemical effects that can lead to reduced sensitivity and accuracy of detection. (PR Newswire)
DNA Gripped In Nanopores: Researchers Analyze Forces On DNA In Gel May 18, 2009
The movement of DNA under the influence of an electric field, electrophoresis, is caused by negatively charged groups in the basic structure of the DNA. These negative charges are shielded by positive ions, that accumulate in a layer around the DNA. These ions retard the movement of DNA under the influence of an electric field ... In a strong electric field the molecules judder along the channel. (Science Daily)
NIST super-sensors to measure 'signature' of inflationary universe May 3, 2009
Such waves are believed to have left a faint but unique imprint on the direction of the CMB's electric field, called the "B-mode polarization." These wavesnever before confirmed through measurementsare potentially detectable today, if sensitive enough equipment is used. "This is one of the great measurement challenges facing the scientific community over the next 20 years, and one of the most exciting ones as well," said Kent Irwin, the NIST physicist leading the project. (EurekAlert!)
Storing A Lightning Bolt In Glass May 2, 2009
The thinner the glass, the more electric field can be applied before failure. The etched glass was placed in a polymer fluid for testing and up to 30,000 volts were applied. (Science Daily)
More Than One Nanostring To Their Bow: Scientists Moving Closer To 'Artificial Noses' Apr 30, 2009
Following this physical principle, the nanostrings, which are made of electrically non-conducting silicon nitride, are excited to resonate when exposed to an oscillating inhomogeneous electric field, and their vibration then measured. The alternating electric field required for this stimulation was produced between two gold electrodes right up close to the string. (Science Daily)
Next Generation Nanofilms Created Apr 20, 2009
These pulses create an electric field that interacts with the molecules, rotating them slowly. The electric field associated with these laser pulses is polarized, filtered so that all of the light waves vibrate in the same direction. (Science Daily)
Novel Technique To Sequence Human Genome Apr 16, 2009
Scientists have shown that an applied electric field can drive the DNA molecules through a nanopore, a tiny hole in a membrane ... So, while a large electric field is needed to draw the DNA molecules into the pore, Ling explained, the same field moves the DNA too quickly, a classic scientific Catch-22 ... Like previous researchers, they used an electric field to drive the DNA strand toward the pore. (Science Daily)
New 'near-field' radiation therapy promises relief for overheating laptops Apr 14, 2009
" A change advocated by ITRS from a silica substrate to one made of dielectric materials with a higher dielectric constant would give the substrate material an even stronger surface polariton, says Rotkin. Rotkin's group used microscopic quantum models to calculate heat dissipation as a function of electric field, doping and temperature. "Most of the energy losses are dissipated directly into the polar substrate and do not contribute to the field-effect transistor temperature rise," the... (EurekAlert!)
World's First Nanofluidic Device With Complex 3-D Surfaces Apr 11, 2009
Size exclusion of nanoparticles and confinement of individual DNA strands in the 3-D nanofluidic device is accomplished using electrophoresis, the method of moving charged particles through a solution by forcing them forward with an applied electric field ... The letter E shows the direction of the electric field used to move the nanoparticles through the device. (Science Daily)
Scientists pinpoint the 'edge of space' Apr 10, 2009
The paper "Rocket-based measurements of ion velocity, neutral wind, and electric field in the collisional transition region of the auroral ionosphere" was published this week in the Journal of Geophysical Research. It can be found on-line at. (EurekAlert!)
Device Controls Electron Spin At Room Temperature Apr 8, 2009
Electric field control of room temperature ferromagnetism in III-N dilute magnetic semiconductor films. Applied Physics Letters, 2009; 94 (13): 132505 DOI. (Science Daily)
Gravity satellite feels the force Apr 7, 2009
Satellite carries two engines; one is back-up in case of failure T5 unit draws power from solar panels stuck side of spacecraft Electrons are stripped off xenon atoms to give them charge An electric field then hurls the xenon ions through rear nozzle Xenon exits at speeds in excess of 40,000m/s to provide thrust Amount of thrust is moderated by gradiometer information. The levels and range of thrust needed, however, are tiny - a continuously variable force of anywhere between one and 20... (BBC News -- Europe)
'Cruise control' for spacecraft Apr 7, 2009
They make use of the fact that a current flowing across a magnetic field creates an electric field directed sideways to the current. This is used to accelerate a beam of ions (charged atoms) of xenon away from the spacecraft, thereby providing thrust. (BBC News -- Science)
Electric Pulses Zap Plaque in Arteries Apr 3, 2009
The new technique, called irreversible electroporation (IRE), uses very short electric field pulses to destroy cells within seconds. It penetrates cell membranes and causes cell death within the targeted cells but doesnt harm cells outside the treated area. (Newsmax)
Spintronics Advance Reveals New Conservation Law In Fundamental Physics Apr 3, 2009
In semiconductors, however, a gas of free electrons moving through the crystal lattice reacts to the electric fields of the atoms it encounters; through an interaction called spin-orbit coupling, individual electron spins fluctuate wildly in response to different fields and soon become randomly oriented ... The Rashba term depends on the electric field applied across the quantum well ... Electric fields in semiconductors are usually controlled by introducing dopant atoms, impurity atoms that... (Science Daily)
First Ever Video Of Dynamics Of Carbon Atoms Apr 1, 2009
Said Cohen, Our calculations showed that zigzag graphene nanoribbons are magnetic and can carry a spin current in the presence of a sufficiently large electric field. By carefully controlling the electric field, it should be possible to generate, manipulate, and detect electron spins and spin currents in spintronics applications ... Said Louie, If electric fields can be made to produce and manipulate a 100-percent spin-polarized carrier system through a chosen geometric structure, it will... (Science Daily)
Inorganic Chameleon Show Promise In Energy And Nano Research Mar 26, 2009
This means that they are spontaneously polarisable in an electric field and at the same time they have magnetic properties. Materials of this kind are important in nanoelectronics research as they can combine polarised and magnetic effects in one circuit. (Science Daily)
MEMS sensor targets fingerprints Mar 25, 2009
(03/24/2009 7:58 PM EDT). MANHASSET, N.Y. A biometric sensor that relies on ultrasound technology is claimed to be the thinnest, most durable and accurate fingerprint sensor for wireless and smartcard applications. (EETimes)
Safe, Quick Technique For Eliminating Reblockage Of Arteries Following Angioplasty Mar 16, 2009
IRE destroys cells within seconds, using very short electric field pulses. It causes no damage to structures other than the cells themselves. (Science Daily)
New method for detecting explosives Mar 14, 2009
Typical sensors use ion mobility spectrometers, which ionize tiny amounts of chemicals and measure how fast they move through an electric field. While these instruments are fast, sensitive, and reliable, they are also expensive and bulky, leading many researchers in the last few years to try to find a cheaper, more portable device for detecting explosives. (EurekAlert!)
Quantum Doughnuts Slow And Freeze Light At Will: Fast Computing And 'Slow Glass' Mar 10, 2009
However, remarkably the Warwick led research team have found that if a combination of magnetic and electric fields is applied to these nano-rings, they can actually then simply tune the electric field to freeze an exciton in place or let it collapse and re-emit a photon. While other researchers have used varying exotic states of matter to dramatically slow the progress of light, this is the first time a technique has been devised to completely freeze and release individual photons at will. (Science Daily)
Sprightly Explanation For UFO Sightings? Feb 25, 2009
"Lightning from the thunderstorm excites the electric field above, producing a flash of light called a sprite," explains Prof. Price. (Science Daily)
Can UFO sightings be explained by sprites? Feb 24, 2009
"Lightning from the thunderstorm excites the electric field above, producing a flash of light ," said Colin Price, a geophysicist at Tel Aviv University in Israel. "We now understand that only a specific type of lightning is the trigger that initiates sprites aloft.". (MSNBC -- Technology)
New Plasma Transistor Could Create Sharper Displays Feb 18, 2009
Much heavier than electrons and therefore harder to accelerate, the ions require a large electric field generated by a large voltage drop across the sheath. The intense electric field within the plasma sheath also promotes electron transport, said Eden, who also is a researcher at the university's Coordinated Science Laboratory and at the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory. (Science Daily)
BETTER LIFE: More on sexual health Feb 11, 2009
Sexual health - Better Life - USATODAY.com. Cupid Countdown, Day 1: Keeping love alive. (USA Today -- Life)
Future For Electronics Opened Up With Domain Walls That Conduct Electricity Feb 7, 2009
Bismuth ferrite is an insulator, but each domain has a distinct polarization or orientation of charge, which Seidel mapped using a piezoresponse force microscope (PFM): as the PFM probe moves across a sample, an alternating electric field in the tip gives rise to a detectable mechanical response in the sample, according to its polarization. The same PFM setup can control the nature of the local polarization of the film by applying a large enough voltage to switch it. (Science Daily)
