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Showing papers in "Physics Today in 2018"


Journal ArticleDOI

188 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article found that lab experiments are more effective when their goal is to teach experimental practices rather than to reinforce classroom instruction, rather than reinforcement instruction, and that labs were more effective in teaching experimental practices instead of classroom instruction.
Abstract: Research reveals that labs are more effective when their goal is to teach experimental practices rather than to reinforce classroom instruction.

86 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: When the discrete time-translation symmetry of isolated, periodically driven systems is spontaneously broken, a new phase of matter can emerge as discussed by the authors, when the discrete translation symmetry is broken, and when the periodic time translation symmetry can be broken.
Abstract: When the discrete time-translation symmetry of isolated, periodically driven systems is spontaneously broken, a new phase of matter can emerge

73 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: By carefully orchestrating atomic-scale interactions, one can coax hard surfaces to slide against one another with virtually no resistance as discussed by the authors, which is the state-of-the-art.
Abstract: By carefully orchestrating atomic-scale interactions, one can coax hard surfaces to slide against one another with virtually no resistance.

67 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The power of organic chemistry is opening new possibilities for building customized two-dimensional materials as mentioned in this paper, and the power of ODE has been shown to be useful in many applications in computer vision applications.
Abstract: The power of organic chemistry is opening new possibilities for building customized two-dimensional materials.

48 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A mix of proteins, polymers, lipids, and tightly bound but fluid shells of water molecules may account for a healthy joint’s ultralow friction.
Abstract: A mix of proteins, polymers, lipids, and tightly bound but fluid shells of water molecules may account for a healthy joint’s ultralow friction.

39 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, how stars are born from clouds of gas is a rich physics problem whose solution will inform our understanding of not just stars but also planets, galaxies, and the universe itself.
Abstract: How stars are born from clouds of gas is a rich physics problem whose solution will inform our understanding of not just stars but also planets, galaxies, and the universe itself.

35 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The response of a material to a periodic, large strain manifests the internal mechanisms by which the substance relieves stress as mentioned in this paper. But Nature does not readily reveal her tricks, nor does she reveal her secrets.
Abstract: The response of a material to a periodic, large strain manifests the internal mechanisms by which the substance relieves stress. But Nature does not readily reveal her tricks.

33 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Perhaps the most important reason to understand the deep history of a field is that it is the right thing to do as mentioned in this paper, which is the same as the reason we understand the history of this paper.
Abstract: Perhaps the most important reason to understand the deep history of a field is that it is the right thing to do.

30 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the vibrational and electronic spectra of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their fullerene derivatives are analyzed. But the analysis is limited to planar flakes of fused benzene rings.
Abstract: The rich molecular structures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—essentially planar flakes of fused benzene rings—and their fullerene cousins are revealed through their vibrational and electronic spectra.

26 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The rapid neutron-capture process needed to build up many of the elements heavier than iron seems to take place primarily in neutron-star mergers, not supernova explosions as mentioned in this paper, which is not the case in most of the existing works.
Abstract: The rapid neutron-capture process needed to build up many of the elements heavier than iron seems to take place primarily in neutron-star mergers, not supernova explosions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Although quenching one's thirst may be the primary appeal of soda pop or cold beer, there is a lot of physics in the drinks' two-phase flow.
Abstract: Although quenching one’s thirst may be the primary appeal of soda pop or a cold beer, there’s a lot of physics in the drinks’ two-phase flow.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The superconducting transition's exquisite sensitivity to heat underlies a maturing technology for detecting photons as mentioned in this paper, which has been used for the detection of photons in the last few decades.
Abstract: The superconducting transition’s exquisite sensitivity to heat underlies a maturing technology for detecting photons.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the formation of new phases when liquid helium-3 is infused in a highly porous random solid such as a silica aerogel was studied, where disorder, confinement, and symmetry breaking contribute to the formation new phases.
Abstract: Disorder, confinement, and symmetry breaking contribute to the formation of new phases when liquid helium-3 is infused in a highly porous random solid such as a silica aerogel.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Vision begins when the eye's optical system-the cornea, iris, and crystalline lens-projects an image onto the retina, the thin and nearly transparent sheet of neural tissue that lines the back of the eye.
Abstract: By implanting electrodes that transmit visual information to the surviving neurons in a diseased retina, it’s possible to bring the eye’s dormant neural circuitry back to life.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The surface molecular structure is the arbiter in the contest between energy and entropy that largely determines how ice and snow crystals develop as mentioned in this paper, and surface molecular structures are the arbiters of the contest.
Abstract: Surface molecular structure is the arbiter in the contest between energy and entropy that largely determines how ice and snow crystals develop

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the distance to the merger of two massive compact objects is encoded by the gravitational waves accompanying the merger without the usual appeal to a hierarchy of length scales, and the distance can be expressed as a linear combination of the distances to the merging.
Abstract: The gravitational waves accompanying the merger of two massive compact objects encode the distance to the merger without the usual appeal to a hierarchy of length scales.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An unusually broad set of experiences helped prepare Stanford Ovshinsky to recognize a phenomenon that forever changed solid-state physics as mentioned in this paper, which he called the "Ovshinsky phenomenon".
Abstract: An unusually broad set of experiences helped prepare Stanford Ovshinsky to recognize a phenomenon that forever changed solid-state physics.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The half-century-old handbook commonly known as Abramowitz and Stegun enters the 21st century.
Abstract: The half-century-old handbook commonly known as Abramowitz and Stegun enters the 21st century.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A glut of cheap natural gas, coupled with rapid increases in wind energy, is accelerating a decline in the US commercial nuclear industry when carbon-free energy has never been more important as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A glut of cheap natural gas, coupled with rapid increases in wind energy, is accelerating a decline in the US commercial nuclear industry when carbon-free energy has never been more important.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors circumvented an intrinsic limitation in laser technology to develop an amplification protocol now found in nearly every high power, ultra fast system, including the one used in this paper.
Abstract: The laureates circumvented an intrinsic limitation in laser technology to develop an amplification protocol now found in nearly every high-power, ultrafast system.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: When two carbon sheets are misaligned by a mere degree, striking changes result as discussed by the authors, which is not the case when two carbon sheet are aligned by a simple degree, as is the case here.
Abstract: When two carbon sheets are misaligned by a mere degree, striking changes result.When two carbon sheets are misaligned by a mere degree, striking changes result.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the idea of carbon dioxide removal from the air has been discussed, and it is shown that the approach could be scaled up for the job of air pollution removal.
Abstract: Critics dismiss the idea of scrubbing meaningful amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, but proponents say the approach could be scaled up for the job.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, two research groups demonstrate the coherent interaction between the spin of a single electron and a single microwave photon, and demonstrate that the spin can be represented by a single photon.
Abstract: Two research groups demonstrate the coherent interaction between the spin of a single electron and a single microwave photon.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: During the first half of the second millennium, the American West was plagued by a succession of decades-long dry spells as mentioned in this paper, and it is possible that it could happen again.
Abstract: During the first half of the second millennium, the American West was plagued by a succession of decades-long dry spells. Could it happen again?

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The combined effects of ozone, sunlight, and atmospheric waves turn the near void of Earth's mesosphere into a refrigerator capable of producing vast clouds of water ice as mentioned in this paper, which is called water ice refrigeration.
Abstract: The combined effects of ozone, sunlight, and atmospheric waves turn the near void of Earth’s mesosphere into a refrigerator capable of producing vast clouds of water ice.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Event Horizon Telescope as mentioned in this paper combines data from a worldwide network of radio telescopes to image the shadow that a black hole casts on the surrounding plasma, which can be used to detect black holes.
Abstract: The Event Horizon Telescope will combine data from a worldwide network of radio telescopes to image the shadow that a black hole casts on the surrounding plasma.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Scottish mathematician and writer shaped the way we think about science and carved a place for herself in the intellectual world of the 19th century as discussed by the authors, and her work can be traced back to the early 1800s.
Abstract: The Scottish mathematician and writer shaped the way we think about science and carved a place for herself in the intellectual world of the 19th century.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Optical tweezers have been used as an invaluable laboratory tool for manipulating molecules and other small particles as mentioned in this paper, and they have been widely used in the field of particle physics.
Abstract: Optical tweezers have endured as an invaluable laboratory tool for manipulating molecules and other small particles.