<p>A new, magnesium superionic conductor based on metal-organic frameworks</p>

<p>The new Mg2+ conductor consists of

TUS JP

Lithium-Free Solid-State Batteries

Scientists demonstrate for the first time a metal-organic framework-based magnesium ion conductor showing superionic conductivity even at room temperature.

<p>The new OPA that replaces the multiple emitters of traditional OPAs with a slab grating to create a single emitter. T

Optica

Smaller, Cheaper Lidar?

Researchers have developed a new chip-based beam steering technology that provides a promising route to small, cost-effective and high-performance lidar (or light detection and ranging) systems.

<p>Artist rendering of Jupiter with rings that rival Saturn's. (Stephen Kane/UCR)</p>

UCR

Why Jupiter doesn’t have rings like Saturn

Because it’s bigger, Jupiter ought to have larger, more spectacular rings than Saturn has. But new UC Riverside research shows Jupiter’s massive moons prevent that vision from lighting up the night sky.

<p>Much of the damage inside nuclear reactors is so small that it has eluded previous tests. Now a new tool provides a w

MIT

A better way to quantify radiation damage in materials

More complete than existing methods, the new approach might enable longer operational lifetimes for nuclear reactors.

<p>MIT researchers say cubic boron arsenide is the best semiconductor material ever found, and maybe the best possible o

MIT

The best semiconductor of them all?

Researchers have found a material that can perform much better than silicon.

Physics and Astronomy Online

Welcome to PhysLink.com - the physics and astronomy online portal! We feature latest physics news and editorials, extensive science reference and constants section, education section where you can ask our experts any physics or astronomy related question. Also, don't miss our fun page and our online science store.

ScienceIQ Facts

Ultraviolet Light

by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and ScienceIQ.com

Ultraviolet light is a form of radiation which is not visible to the human eye. It's in an invisible part of the 'electromagnetic spectrum'. Radiated energy, or radiation, is given off by many objects: a light bulb, a crackling fire, and stars are some examples of objects which emit radiation. The type of radiation being emitted depends on the temperature of the object. A coal glowing red in a barbecue is cooler than our Sun, which appears yellow, which is cooler still than some stars which appear bright white.

If a prism is used to break-up the radiated light from an object into it's component colors, the 'visible light' which our eyes can see makes up only a small part of the total spectrum. Visible light runs from the familiar blue to green to yellow to orange to red. Red light is the least energetic of the colors of visible light, and blue is the most energetic. Beyond the red end of the visible part of the spectrum lies the infrared and radio radiation. Infrared 'light' is familiar to us as heat, while radio waves are used for TV and radio broadcasts.

Beyond the blue end of the visible spectrum lies ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma-rays. All of the X-rays, gamma-rays and ultraviolet light emitted by stars are absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. That is why we need to send our telescopes into space (such as Astro-2 !) in order to measure the ultraviolet light from stars and galaxies. Many scientists are interested in studying the invisible universe of ultraviolet light, since the hottest and most active objects in the universe give off large amounts of ultraviolet energy.

Physics & Astronomy Facts

Artist Depiction of the Stardust spacecraft

Mission: Gather Comet Dust; Return To Earth

One of the most imaginative NASA missions of recent years is the Stardust mission. Its main purpose: to gather dust and particles from comet P/Wild 2 and return them to Earth for study. Think about th ...

Carbon dating the bones of an animal can pinpoint the time this animal died to within a few years.

Carbon Dating From The Skies

Determining the age of relatively recent fossils, those of plants and animals that lived tens of thousands of years ago, is not a guessing game but an exact science. By using carbon dating we can dete ...

Stopping In Thin Air

Imagine you're going very fast -- much faster than a race car. In fact, imagine you're going 100 or 200 times faster than a race car. When you reach your destination, you need to stop relatively quick ...

'Physics is mathematical not because we know so much about the physical world, but because we know so little; it is only its mathematical properties that we can discover.'

Bertrand Russell
(1872-1970)

Science Sidebar

Beyond the bubbling volcano: Secrets to successful science fair projects

We have put together a list of tips to help you and your child find and develop a successful science fair project. In addition, we've added age appropriate guidelines when needed.

10 Ways to Keep Your Kids Interested In Science

Young children are natural scientists: they ask questions, pick up sticks and bugs outside, and are curious about the world around them. But as they get a bit older, many kids gradually lose their interest in science. Here are tips to get them excited about science again!

Cool Summer Science Projects

Summer is a natural time for learning about science. Longer days and the freedom from school schedules allow kids the opportunity to explore the world around them in new and exciting ways. Here are a few ideas to help get you started.