2017
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Nanomaterials help spiders spin the toughest stuff
Spiders’ silk is already tough stuff – just ask your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman. But now, researchers in Italy and the UK have found a way to make Spidey’s silk a lot stronger, using various different spider species and carbon nanotubes or graphene. The research team, led by Professor Nicola Pugno at the University of Trento, […]
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Meet Journal of Physics G's Reviewer of the Year 2016: Dr Christian Beck
The Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics is one of the highest-ranking nuclear physics journals, and includes both experimental and theoretical articles. Considering its high impact factor, Dr Christian Beck, from the Universite de Strasbourg, France, demands that the papers he reviews are rigorous and original; authors must be meticulous in the presentation of […]
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Cognitive hearing aid filters out the noise
US engineers have made a major advance in helping hearing-impaired people follow a conversation in a noisy environment, with a new method that brings cognitive hearing aids a step closer to reality. People who are hearing impaired have a difficult time following a conversation in a multi-speaker environment such as a noisy restaurant or a […]
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Analysis highlights failings in US’s advanced nuclear program
Despite repeated promises over the past 18 years, the US Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is unlikely to deliver on its mission to develop and demonstrate an advanced nuclear reactor by the mid-21st century. That is the conclusion of a new study from the University of California, San Diego and Carnegie Mellon University, published today […]
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Meet Journal of Physics B's Reviewer of the Year 2016: Professor Aurelien Dantan
There are two primary reasons why Professor Aurelien Dantan, from Aarhus University, Denmark, referees for the Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. Firstly, he regards the peer review process as an important service to the scientific community; secondly, he reviews out of curiosity. As a reviewer, he finds it inspiring to be […]
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Introducing Multifunctional Materials – a new multidisciplinary journal from IOP Publishing
The design and manufacture of materials capable of multiple functions – so called “multifunctional” materials – has emerged as a rapidly growing direction within materials science. It is characterised by multidisciplinary research activity, and the significant potential for wide-ranging technological innovation extending to energy, environmental sustainability, healthcare, aerospace, nanoelectronics, soft robotics and semiconductors. Integrating almost […]
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Colour-shifting electronic skin could have wearable tech and prosthetic uses
The ability of some animals, including chameleons, octopus, and squid, to change their skin colour for camouflage, temperature control, or communication is well known. While science has been able to replicate these abilities with artificial skin, the colour changes are often only visible to the naked eye when the material is put under huge mechanical […]
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Meet the Journal of Optics' Reviewer of the Year 2016: Professor Tie Jun Cui
Dedicated to metamaterials and plasmonics research, Professor Tie Jun Cui, from Southeast University, People’s Republic of China, enjoys reviewing manuscripts for the Journal of Optics, a high-standard and high-impact international journal that covers all areas of pure and applied optics. A recent example of a paper that resonated with him was an article entitled “Optical quantum […]
