Tag Archives: energy

New, older age for the universe

By Stephen Ornes / April 4, 2013

This map shows the energy left over from shortly after the Big Bang, as mapped by the Planck space telescope. The average background temperature is about 2.7 degrees above the coldest possible temperature (known as absolute zero). Red spots are slightly warmer, while blue spots are slightly cooler. Astronomers hope this map can help them learn more about the history of the universe.

Telescope peers back to see the first light after the Big Bang

Posted in Space | Tagged absolute zero, age of the universe, astronomy, astrophysics, Big Bang, cosmic background radiation, cosmology, energy, European Space Agency, George Efstathiou, getinvolved, inflation, Matthew Kleban, New York University, Planck space telescope, radiation, Richard Easther, temperature, University of Auckland, University of Cambridge, waves

Helium: Not so super after all

By Stephen Ornes / November 2, 2012

As a gas, helium glows yellow-pink when an electric current is added. Scientists recently reported that they’d made a mistake in a 2004 study that found the element was a supersolid. Turns out helium as a solid isn’t so super. Caption: Pslawinski

An exciting discovery in physics turns out to be merely a case of mistaken identity

Posted in Physics | Tagged atoms, École Normal Supérieure, energy, Eunseong Kim, friction, getinvolved, helium, materials science, matter, Moses Chan, Penn State University, physics, Sébastien Balibar, superfluids, supersolids, topstories

Super star-maker

By Stephen Ornes / September 4, 2012

This artist’s drawing shows what the central galaxy of the Phoenix cluster might look like. The small blue dots represent new stars forming. Credit: NASA.gov

A distant galaxy cluster churns out stars at a whopping rate

Posted in Space | Tagged astronomy, astrophysics, black hole, energy, galaxy, galaxy cluster, gas, getinvolved, matter, Milky Way, MIT, Phoenix cluster, physics, South Pole Telescope, space, star formation, stars, telescope, University of Cambridge

Hot technology

By Stephen Ornes / July 19, 2012

This drawing shows a tiny device that can use changes in temperature to produce electricity. The golden lines in the middle represent wires made from zinc oxide. They’re sandwiched between two plates that conduct electricity. Credit: Z.L. Wang

A new device harvests energy that would otherwise go wasted

Posted in Technology & Engineering | Tagged batteries, Chinese Academy of Sciences, electricity, energy, energy transfer, environmentally friendly, forms of energy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Tech, getinvolved, green technology, Heat, lattice, materials science, nanoenergy, NanoLetters, nanotechnology, pyroelectric, renewable energy, topstories, Zhong Lin Wang, zinc oxide

The energy of an Internet search

By Alexandra_Ossola / December 15, 2010

Websurfing has a bigger footprint than you might think

Posted in Technology & Engineering | Tagged conservation of energy, energy, Energy efficiency, feature, physics

A very good blast from the past

By Amanda Leigh Mascarelli / October 27, 2010

And into the future: New, cool stuff that lasers can do

Posted in Physics | Tagged energy, laser, light, radiation, waves, waves/radiation

Sweeeet! The skinny on sugar substitutes

By Emily Sohn / January 9, 2008

Millions of people use artificial sweeteners, but are they safe?

Posted in Food & Nutrition | Tagged calories, carbohydrates, chem of life, energy, sugar

High-Energy Discovery

By Emily Sohn / November 9, 2007

Scientists have traced the most energetic particles in the universe to their source: giant black holes.

Posted in Space | Tagged cosmic rays, energy, physics

Catching Some Rays

By Sarah Webb / July 2, 2007

In a world with increasing energy needs, scientists are turning to plants for help in using solar power.

Posted in Weather & Climate | Tagged alternative fuels, energy, physics, solar energy

Food for Life

By Emily Sohn / April 12, 2005

New food guidelines emphasize that we should eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Posted in Food & Nutrition | Tagged chem of life, energy, minerals, nutrition, vitamins

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