Physics and Astronomy News Archive: May 2007

Image: Atom Interferometry Displays New Quantum Tricks
Atom Interferometry Displays New Quantum Tricks
Source: NIST   Posted: 5/27/07
Physicists have demonstrated a novel way of making atoms interfere with each other, recreating a famous experiment originally done with light while also making the atoms do things that light just won’t do.
Image: Scientists Pioneer Technique for 'Weighing' Black Holes
Scientists Pioneer Technique for 'Weighing' Black Holes
Source: NASA   Posted: 5/27/07
Astrophysicists at NASA have successfully tested a new method for determining the masses of black holes.
Image: Adaptive Optics Leads The Way To Supermassive Black Holes
Adaptive Optics Leads The Way To Supermassive Black Holes
Source: LLNL   Posted: 5/27/07
Astronomers have discovered the exact location and makeup of a pair of supermassive black holes at the center of a collision of two galaxies more than 300 million light years away.
Image: Moon-Based Observatories Proposed
Moon-Based Observatories Proposed
Source: UMich   Posted: 5/27/07
Is our Moon the ideal location for a network of observatories dedicated to studying climate change on Earth?
Image: The Longest Carbon Nanotubes You've Ever Seen
The Longest Carbon Nanotubes You've Ever Seen
Source: NSF   Posted: 5/15/07
Researchers have grown carbon nanotubes that are the longest in the world. While still slightly less than 2 centimeters long, each nanotube is 900,000 times longer than its diameter.
Image: Hubble Finds Ghostly Ring of Dark Matter
Hubble Finds Ghostly Ring of Dark Matter
Source: NASA   Posted: 5/15/07
Astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope got a first-hand view of how dark matter behaves during a titanic collision between two galaxy clusters.
Image: Scientists offer fresh view of photosynthesis
Scientists offer fresh view of photosynthesis
Source: ASU   Posted: 5/15/07
Scientist at ASU's Biodesign Institute have come up with a new insight into the mechanism of photosynthesis, which involves the orchestrated movement of proteins on the timescale of a millionth of a millionth of a second.
Image: Cell splits water via sunlight to produce hydrogen
Cell splits water via sunlight to produce hydrogen
Source: Wustl   Posted: 5/15/07
Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a unique photocatalytic cell that splits water to produce hydrogen and oxygen in water using sunlight and the power of a nanostructured catalyst.
Image: Quantum dot recipe may lead to cheaper solar panels
Quantum dot recipe may lead to cheaper solar panels
Source: Rice   Posted: 5/6/07
Rice University scientists have revealed a breakthrough method for producing molecular specks of semiconductors called quantum dots, a discovery that could clear the way for better, cheaper solar energy panels.
Image: COROT discovers its first exoplanet
COROT discovers its first exoplanet
Source: ESA   Posted: 5/6/07
COROT has provided its first image of a giant planet orbiting another star and the first bit of ‘seismic’ information on a far away, Sun-like star, with unexpected accuracy.
Image: NASA's Mars Rover Finds Evidence of Ancient Volcanic Explosion
NASA's Mars Rover Finds Evidence of Ancient Volcanic Explosion
Source: JPL/NASA   Posted: 5/6/07
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has discovered evidence of an ancient volcanic explosion at 'Home Plate,' on Mars.
Image: NASA Antenna Cuts Mercury to Core, Solves 30 Year Mystery
NASA Antenna Cuts Mercury to Core, Solves 30 Year Mystery
Source: JPL/NASA   Posted: 5/6/07
Researchers working with high-precision planetary radars have discovered strong evidence that the planet Mercury has a molten core.