Energy

  1. Physics

    Famous physics cat now alive, dead and in two boxes at once

    Splitting Erwin Schrödinger’s famous — and fictitious — cat between two boxes brings scientists one step closer to building quantum computers from microwaves.

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  2. Materials Science

    Nanowires could lead to super-long-lived battery

    Scientists have long been looking for ways to make rechargeable batteries that last forever. They now may be close. Their solution: gel-dipped nanowires.

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  3. Physics

    Sunlight + gold = steaming water (no boiling needed)

    Nano-gold is the new black, at least when it comes to absorbing heat. When tiny gold particles get together, they become energy super-absorbers — turning them black.

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  4. Physics

    Scientists Say: Yottawatt

    On Earth, scientists measure energy use in watts. When you have lot of those watts — one million billion billion — you have a yottawatt.

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  5. Chemistry

    Smash hit: Making ‘diamond’ that’s harder than diamonds

    Scientists had suspected extreme meteorite impacts might turn graphite into an unusual type of diamond. Now they’ve seen it happen — in under a nanosecond.

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  6. Physics

    Black hole smashup sent out ‘yottawatts’ of power

    When two black holes collided, they released a lot of energy in gravity waves. How much? How about 36 septillion yottawatts of power!

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  7. Microbes

    Microbes mine treasure from waste

    Like miniature factories, bioreactors house microbes recruited to chew through wastes to clean dirty water, make chemicals or generate electricity.

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  8. Tech

    Cool Jobs: The power of wind

    Science and engineering careers explore all aspects of wind, from terrible tornadoes to aeronautics and clean energy.

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  9. Microbes

    Powered by poop and pee?

    Scientists are developing methods to not only remove human waste from wastewater, but also to harness the energy hidden within it.

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  10. Physics

    Scientists ‘see’ thunder for first time

    Scientists have captured the first image of thunder. The map shows the relative strengths of the sound waves emanating from the loud clap.

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  11. Tech

    ‘Smart’ clothes generate electricity

    Scientists in South Korea have developed a fabric that captures energy from its wearer’s motions and turns it into electricity.

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  12. Physics

    How popcorn got its pop

    Popcorn is a popular treat. Now, scientists have learned exactly what happens as it pops. They also have come up with an experiment they hope you will try.

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