Under pressure, sodium, hydrogen could undergo a metamorphosis, emerging as superconductor

In the search for superconductors, finding ways to compress hydrogen into a metal has been a point of focus ever since scientists predicted many years ago that electricity would flow, uninhibited, through such a material.

In very narrow spaces, liquids behave more like gels

Three molecules thick, or two, or one: how does an extremely thin layer of trapped liquid behave when we make it even thinner? Measurements made using the atomic force microscope show that the forces of friction increase with each step. Liquids begin to behave more like a gel, according to new research.

Pioneering stem cell bandage receives approval in UK for clinical trial

Millions of people with knee injuries could benefit from a new type of stem cell bandage treatment if clinical trials are successful. The world

Human skin cells converted directly into functional neurons

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that human skin cells can be converted directly into functional neurons in a period of

New biomaterial closely mimics human tissue

A new biomaterial that closely mimics the properties of native human tissue to repair damaged human tissue, such as heart walls, blood vessels, and skin,

Research breakthrough allows paraplegic man to stand on his own

In a significant medical prothesis breakthrough, Rob Summers, 25, a pitcher for Oregon State University who was completely paralyzed below the chest five

Flying robots, the builders of tomorrow

Dec. 2 - A team of scientists has demonstrated that a coordinated group of pre-programmed, autonomous robots can do the job of building workers, constructing a six meter high tower without any human intervention. Architects say this new technology paves the way for new methods of engineering buildings of the future. Georgina Cooper reports.

Full 3-d invisibility cloak in visible light

Watching things disappear is an amazing experience. But making items vanish is not the reason scientists work to create invisibility cloaks. Rather, the magic-like tricks are attractive demonstrations of the fantastic capabilities that new optical theories and nanotechnology construction methods now enable.

Green environments essential for human health, research shows

Research shows that a walk in the park is more than just a nice way to spend an afternoon. It

Bacteria can grow under extreme gravity: study

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that bacteria is capable of growing under gravity more than 400,000 times that of Earth and gives evidence that the theory of panspermia could be possible.

Chemists fabricate 'impossible' material

(PhysOrg.com) -- When atoms combine to form compounds, they must follow certain bonding and valence rules. For this reason, many compounds simply cannot exist. But there are some compounds that, although they follow the bonding and valence rules, still are thought to not exist because they have unstable structures. Scientists call these compounds "impossible compounds." Nevertheless, some of these impossible compounds have actually been fabricated (for example, single sheets of graphene were once considered impossible compounds). In a new study, scientists have synthesized another one of these impossible compounds -- periodic mesoporous hydridosilica -- which can transform into a photoluminescent material at high temperatures.

Solar power goes viral: modified virus improves solar-cell efficiency by one-third

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at MIT have found a way to make significant improvements to the power-conversion efficiency of solar cells by enlisting the services of tiny viruses to perform detailed assembly work at the microscopic level.

Quantum data storage: single-molecule magnet uses depleted uranium

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have created a new molecule containing two uranium atoms which, if kept at a very low temperature, will

Antihelium-4: physicists nab new record for heaviest antimatter

(PhysOrg.com) -- Members of the international STAR collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider -- a particle accelerator used to recreate and study conditions of the early universe at the U.S. Department of Energy