Condensed matter

Latest articles

Iron-based superconductors really are different Jan 8, 2009 1 comment

Energy gap measurements suggest a new mechanism for superconductivity

Casimir effect goes negative Jan 8, 2009

Bizarre vacuum force is repulsive, as well as attractive

Graphene transistor speeds up Jan 5, 2009

Devices based on ‘wonder material’ could soon catch-up with silicon

Reasons to be cheerful Jan 5, 2009 1 comment

The economy may be in a nosedive but there is plenty to look forward to in science this year

Random motion of bacteria could drive micromotors Dec 18, 2008 1 comment

Tiny organisms could spin a rotor, say physicists

'Uncontrollable' nuclei sharpen up MRI Dec 15, 2008

The solution to a theoretical puzzle could provide the basis for improved MRI techniques.

Spinning drops could model black holes Dec 11, 2008 1 comment

Water droplets take on strange shapes when levitated and spun

Lamb shift spotted in solid qubit Dec 5, 2008 1 comment

Discovery could help physicists design more robust quantum computers

Superconductor switches on and off Dec 3, 2008 2 comments

Discovery could lead to faster and more efficient transistors

New thermometer could help redefine temperature Dec 2, 2008 1 comment

Tunnel junction relates Kelvin degrees to Boltzmann constant

Renewable energy source inspired by fish Nov 28, 2008

Device exploits vortices generated by slow-moving currents

European synchrotron secures €177m upgrade Nov 26, 2008

New beamlines will allow nanometre-scale experiments at Grenoble lab

Light moves tiny devices Nov 26, 2008 2 comments

Researchers combine nanophotonics and nanomechanics

Nanorotors move together Nov 18, 2008

Array of tiny rotors could power 'nanobots'

Optical tweezers: where physics meets biology Nov 13, 2008

Joost van Mameren explains how quantitative force measurements by optical tweezers can unravel the mechanical properties of biological molecules