A laser beam can push a nanoscale particle away with the pressure of its photons, but the particle may also be drawn toward the light when other particles are nearby–like the “tractor beams” of science fiction–according to a theory in the June Physical Review B. Full story
Married physicists Samir and Smita Mathur have their differences — especially when it comes to black holes. Full story (PDF)
The world’s biggest physics experiment starts in May 2008. To support it, the world’s biggest computing experiment has already begun. The payoffs could reach far beyond physics. Full story (PDF)
The next generation of electronics may rely on some quirky materials, including a type of silicon that dramatically changes its behavior when exposed to heat or light. One of the physicists at the forefront of this research is David Drabold. His unique way of looking at the world — including his use of a once-obscure statistical technique for predicting material properties — is pushing the development of these “disordered” materials forward. Full Story
A theory predicts when a sieve will block particles smaller than its holes; this research could apply to a variety of natural and artificial filters. Full Story
At the molecular level, life already moves fast. In search of a better anticocaine medication, scientists at the University of Kentucky used computer simulations to create a souped-up version of the human enzyme that breaks down the drug even faster. Full story (PDF)