news 2012

There is, it seems, more than one way to create an exploding star. That's what scientists studying the origins of type 1a supernovae - important because they help to measure the accelerating expansion of the Universe and dark energy - have found. A team, including Mark Sullivan of Oxford University's Department of Physics, has reported in Science observations that suggest weaker stellar explosions from giant stars contribute to some of these bright supernovae.

A revolutionary tool created by scientists at the University of Sheffield has enabled researchers to analyse nanometer-sized devices without destroying them for the first time, opening the door to a new wave of technologies. The nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus - developed by the University's Department of Physics and Astronomy - will allow for further developments and new applications for nanotechnology which is increasingly used in harvesting solar energy, computing, communication developments and also in the medical field.

University of Sheffield researchers have shown, for the first time, that a method of storing nuclear waste normally used only for High Level Waste (HLW), could provide a safer, more efficient, and potentially cheaper, solution for the storage and ultimate disposal of Intermediate Level Waste (ILW). ILW makes up more than three quarters of the volume of material destined for geological disposal in the UK.

Researchers at King's College London, in collaboration with European research institutes ICFO (Barcelona) and AMOLF (Amsterdam), have succeeded in mapping how light behaves in complex photonic materials inspired by nature, like iridescent butterfly wings. Scientists have broken the limit of light resolution at the nanoscale and delivered a fundamental insight into how light and matter interact, which could lead to the development of enhanced bio-sensors for healthcare and more efficient solar cells and displays.

Mounting evidence of Higgs boson a "triumph” for particle physics Mounting evidence that the Higgs boson exists is a "triumph" for particle physics, according to Durham University experts providing the theory and analysis behind a number of experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Scientists at the LHC at CERN, in Geneva, have announced that they have found a new particle consistent with the long-sought Higgs.

A new advance in X-ray imaging has revealed the dramatic three-dimensional shape of gold nanocrystals, and is likely to shine a light on the structure of other nano-scale materials. Described today in Nature , the new technique improves the quality of nanomaterial images, made using X-ray diffraction, by accurately correcting distortions in the X-ray light.

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have developed a method to visualise gold on the nanoscale by using a special probe beam to image 20 atoms of gold bound together to make a cluster. The research is published today (26 July 2012) in the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal Nanoscale. Physicists have theorised for many years how atoms of gold and other elements would be arranged and ten years ago the structure of a 20-atom tetrahedral pyramid was proposed by scientists in the US.

Essentially, we have created a new recipe for mother of pearl using nature's cookbook." —Professor Ulli Steiner, of the Department of Physics' Cavendish Laboratory Mimicking the way mother of pearl is created in nature, scientists have for the first time synthesised the strong, iridescent coating found on the inside of some molluscs.

An international team of scientists have discovered a rare hybrid star using ESA's XMM-Newton and Nasa's SWIFT X-ray-telescopes. While the first example of its kind was discovered two years ago, the team has now identified its long-sought twin. Featuring both the properties of magnetars and radio pulsars, the new hybrid star will help the team to understand more on the interior of neutron stars.

Scientists at the CERN - including members from UCL's High Energy Physics Group working at the ATLAS experiment - have discovered a new subatomic particle that could be the elusive Higgs boson, which is believed to be crucial in the formation of the universe. Videos: what the discovery of the Higgs means to UCL physicists "We've all talked before about rumours, about hints, about projections and the hows and whys.

Sussex physicists celebrate role in historic discovery at Large Hadron Collider University of Sussex physicists were celebrating today (Wednesday 4 July) following news of a giant step for science with the discovery of a tiny sub-atomic particle.

Mounting evidence of Higgs boson a "triumph” for particle physics, says Durham University expert Mounting evidence that the Higgs boson exists is a "triumph" for particle physics and could help answer other questions about the Universe, according to a Durham University expert. Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, in Geneva, have announced that they have found a new particle consistent with the long-sought Higgs.

A team from the University of Bristol's Centre for Quantum Photonics (CQP) has experimentally demonstrated how to use Berry's phase to accurately control quantum interference between different photons. The effect may provide a way to implement reliable circuits for the coming generation of photonic quantum simulators, systems of photons designed to simulate other quantum systems, set to be physically realised much sooner than the universal quantum computer.

Newly analysed data from the underground facility near Geneva has discovered a new particle consistent with the Higgs boson, which was first postulated by the University's Professor Peter Higgs. Tiny particle Professor Higgs developed his theory of the particle that bears his name when he was a researcher at the University in the early 1960s.

University of Birmingham researchers, along with colleagues from the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, have today (4th July 2012) confirmed that they have found a new particle consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson. These results mark a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the fundamental laws that govern the Universe.

John Ellis, Professor of Theoretical Physics at King's, has today joined his colleagues in CERN as they reveal compelling evidence that they have discovered a new particle consistent with the Higgs boson. Scientists believe they have captured the elusive particle that gives matter mass and holds the physical fabric of the Universe together.

A 'double Z' event observed at the heart of ATLAS: physicists believe Higgs boson decay would look like this, producing two Z bosons Liverpool physicists who have played a major role in the search for the Higgs boson particle, are celebrating following new results which appear to confirm the existence of the Higgs.

Andy Parker, Professor of High Energy Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory, sheds light on today's announcement and 'what next'. Cambridge has worked on the Large Hadron Collider since 1989 and was among the research groups which founded the ATLAS experiment." —Andy Parker, Professor of High Energy Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory Researchers from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN have today, 4 July 2012, confirmed that they have found a new particle consistent with the long-sought Higgs Boson.

Scientists working at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva may finally have tracked down the elusive Higgs boson. Results announced today at CERN show that a new heavy particle has been identified, with all the properties expected of the Higgs. Bristol physicists working at the CMS experiment played a key role in establishing this exciting new result which is the culmination of twenty years' work.

by Colin Smith Scientists have discovered that the inflammation in the surrounding tissue of patients with failing chromium-cobalt metal-on-metal (MOM) implants is caused by the release of The Cobalt 2+ ions (Co2+) from metal debris that wears away from replacement joints. These ions are known to be genotoxic and could lead to further medical complications.