Latest News
Our pick of the latest physics stories from around the world wide web.
Laser creates clouds over Germany
04/05/2010
A laser has been used to generate small clouds on demand in lab, and real-world experiments suggest this could be a way to call down rain when it's needed.
Asteroid coated with ice suggests ingredients for life came from space
29/04/2010
Ice and organic chemicals found on an asteroid back the theory that asteroids provided the Earth with the bare necessities of life.
Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory returns first images
22/04/2010
Stunning new images are released of huge explosions and looping gases on the Sun, captured by Nasa's new solar mission.
Quiet sun puts Europe on Ice
15/04/2010
A new study has identified a compelling link between solar activity and winter temperatures in northern Europe.
Pavement power lights up Toulouse
14/04/2010
Electricity generated by pedestrians is being used to illuminate street lights in France's technology capital.
World's deepest undersea vents discovered in Caribbean
12/04/2010
What are believed to be the world's deepest undersea volcanic vents have been discovered in the Caribbean.
Solar plane prototype in first test flight
07/04/2010
A solar-powered plane prototype takes to the air for the first time in its first step towards a round-the-world journey.
Tiny cube to tackle space debris
29/03/2010
UK researchers have developed a device to drag space debris out of orbit.
How atom bomb tests could help detect wine fraud
22/03/2010
Radioactive carbon traces from nuclear tests may help pinpoint a wine's vintage.
Limits of quantum world stretched
18/03/2010
Scientists have created the largest-ever 'quantum state', a result that has implications for quantum physics and computing.
Mile-high mega kites could pull giant, floating power plants
11/03/2010
Catamarans fitted with hydroelectric turbines and hitched to a 6.5 million-square-foot parafoils flying nearly a mile in the air could supply giga watts of power.
Chile earthquake: Shock effect on Earth's axis
04/03/2010
The earthquake that struck Chile may have shifted the Earth's axis and created shorter days.
Ice deposits found at Moon's pole
02/03/2010
A radar experiment aboard India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar spacecraft has identified thick deposits of water ice near the Moon's north pole.
Latex could silence noisy neighbours
23/02/2010
The rumbling bass from the party animals next door need no longer keep you awake at night.
Pliable power pack will let gadgets feed on your body
16/02/2010
Sheets of material that produce voltage when flexed could generate power from the motion of the human body.
Sat-nav devices face big errors as solar activity rises
10/02/2010
Researchers say the Sun is awakening after a period of low activity, which does not bode well for a world ever more dependent on satellite navigation.
Quantum trick for pressure-sensitive mobile devices
09/02/2010
Hand-held devices could soon have pressure-sensitive touch-screens and keys, thanks to a UK firm's material that exploits a quantum physics trick.
How spider webs catch water drops
04/02/2010
A new study has shown how spider silk captures water from the air and gathers it into jewel-like droplets.
Jason ocean mission secures funds
03/02/2010
European nations commit to build the next Jason spacecraft, a key mission to monitor the behaviour of the world's oceans.
Obama cancels Moon return project
02/02/2010
US President Barack Obama has cancelled the NASA project designed to take humans back to the Moon.
Laser fusion test results raise energy hopes
29/01/2010
A major hurdle to producing fusion energy using lasers has been swept aside, results in a new report show.
Nasa accepts Spirit Mars rover 'stuck for good'
27/01/2010
The US space agency (Nasa) has admitted defeat in its battle to free the Spirit rover from its Martian sand trap.
Aliens visiting Earth will be just like humans
25/01/2010
Extra-terrestrials are likely to possess human foibles such as greed, violence and a tendency to exploit others' resources, claims a leading scientist.
Caribbean at risk of more large earthquakes
18/01/2010
Historical records suggest the tragedy in Haiti did not release all the energy that has built up in the faults that run through the Caribbean.
Chemical computer that mimics neurons to be created
13/01/2010
A promising push toward a novel, biologically-inspired 'chemical computer' has begun as part of an international collaboration.
New intelligent wind turbines 'see' the wind
07/01/2010
New wind turbine technology from Denmark can 'see' the wind before it arrives and aim itself accordingly.
Bright future for glowing OLED wallpaper
04/01/2010
OLEDs may soon replace lightbulbs in homes and offices with panels of energy-efficient light built into walls
Data to expose 'ghost mountains'
21/12/2009
Scientists who mapped one of the most enigmatic mountain ranges on Earth have given a first glimpse of their data.
The first glimpse of dark matter?
18/12/2009
US scientists have reported the detection of signals that could indicate the presence of dark matter.
Waterworld planet is more Earth-like than any discovered before
17/12/2009
Astronomers spotted the waterworld orbiting a star in our cosmic backyard, raising the chances that we will eventually discover planets suitable for life.
Our atmosphere came from outer space
14/12/2009
Comets from outer space may have created Earth's atmosphere – not volcanoes spewing out gases from deep within the planet.
Rare words provide 'author's fingerprint'
10/12/2009
>Analyses of classic authors' works provide a way to linguistically fingerprint them.
Kangaroo rat's nose inspires ventilation system
09/12/2009
A heat-exchange system based on the temperature-regulating trick of the kangaroo rat could keep house air fresh without losing heat
California gives green light to space solar power
08/12/2009
The state has approved a deal in which the Pacific Gas and Electric Company will buy power beamed down from satellites beginning in 2016.
Large moon of Uranus may explain odd tilt
07/12/2009
A massive ancient moon that has since disappeared may be the reason Uranus now lies on its side.
Cool find in hunt for exoplanets
04/12/2009
Astronomers have published an image of the coolest planet outside our solar system that has been pictured directly.
Ozone hole repair may dramatically heat Antarctic
01/12/2009
As the blanket of ozone over the southpole seals, temperatures in Antarctica could soar by 3C
Device spells doom for superbugs
26/11/2009
Researchers have demonstrated a prototype device that can rid hands, feet, or even underarms of bacteria, including the hospital superbug MRSA.
LHC smashes protons together for first time
24/11/2009
The particle accelerator is now officially a collider – it will attempt to break the world record for collision energies before the end of the year.
Icy moon's lakes brim with hearty soup for life
23/11/2009
Lakes on Saturn's moon Titan are loaded with acetylene, a chemical some scientists say could serve as food for cold-resistant organisms.
First test for record solar plane
20/11/2009
The prototype of a solar-powered plane destined for a record round-the-world journey has made its first trip across a runway.
LHC nears restart after repairs
17/11/2009
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) could restart as early as this weekend after more than a year of repairs.
Rosetta makes final home call
13/11/2009
Europe's Rosetta probe has made its third and final flyby of Earth as it seeks to position itself to chase down a comet in 2014.
Super-efficient cars racing to win the X prize
10/11/2009
With $10 million prize money at stake, the race to build energy-thrifty cars that appeal to the mass market is hotting up.
English wine gets help from space
05/11/2009
A number of English vineyards have signed up to make use of a satellite imaging service to boost harvests.
Sand patterns baffle scientists
29/10/2009
With nothing more than beads in a glass box, physicists have revealed yet another mysterious property of granular solids, now recognized by scientists as a unique state of matter, like solids or gases.
Solar superpower: Should Europe run on Sahara sun?
26/10/2009
Giant electricity plants in the Sahara desert could provide 15 per cent of Europe's power. But there may be better solar solutions closer to home
Tuesday is the rainiest day
23/10/2009
Analysis of historical data shows there is a genuine reason to detest that day - and disproves the pessimistic assumption that it rains more at weekends.
'Quick test' for airport liquids
20/10/2009
Scientists say they have developed a quick technique for detecting liquids that could be used as explosives.
Lizards filmed walking on water
13/10/2009
Remarkable slow-motion footage has been taken of two lizards that seem to do the impossible - walk on water.
