Scientia Issue #115 | Shifting Paradigms in Physics and Engineering
SHIFTING PARADIGMS IN PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING
In this electrifying edition of Scientia, we showcase the work of various research groups across the globe, each dedicated to shifting paradigms in the diverse fields of physical science and engineering.
To begin, we delve deep into the most fundamental building blocks of our Universe – the elementary particles. Here, we explore everything from the trillions of cosmic neutrinos that pass through our bodies every second, to the antimatter positrons used in medical imaging technology. We also feature an exclusive interview with Professor Tara Shears about her team’s recent discovery of five particles at CERN. We then jump up the scales – first showcasing the latest paradigm shifts in molecular science, followed by recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology. Finally, we introduce a team of scientists who investigate (amongst other things) the dynamic behaviour of raindrops, which may help us to more accurately forecast extreme weather events caused by climate change.
In our middle section of the edition, we meet many remarkable researchers – each dedicated to combatting climate change and solving the energy crisis through developing and improving sustainable energy technologies. Here, we feature several varied and promising research projects, from boosting the efficiency of wind turbines, to creating the most energy-dense lithium-ion battery, and finally, to realising controlled nuclear fusion as a future power source.
Finally, we showcase the latest innovations in computer science and engineering, where we meet an incredible bunch of researchers, each aiming to improve our lives through enhancing our computing technologies. One team of researchers is combining analogue and digital computing to create a device capable of solving large sets of differential equations, while another has created an accurate and affordable virtual reality controller, which holds promise for numerous fields, including medicine, architecture and gaming.
From illuminating our understanding of the Universe, to combatting climate change and developing futuristic computing technologies, the research teams featured in this edition are certainly paving the way to a bright future for all.
Contributors from…
CONTACT
Published in the UK, by Science Diffusion ltd
ISSN 2059-8971 (print)
ISSN 2059-898X (online)
E: info@sciencediffusion.com
W: www.sciencediffusion.com
W: www.scientia.global
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Meet The Team…
DIRECTOR
Nick Bagnall
nick@sciencediffusion.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Nelly Berg
nelly@sciencediffusion.com
EDITOR
Catriona Houston
catriona@sciencediffusion.com
PUBLICATION MANAGERS
Brett Langenberg
brett@sciencediffusion.com
Nick Powers
npowers@sciencediffusion.com
Marie Serrano
marie@sciencediffusion.com
Tom Render
tom@sciencediffusion.com
Hannah Warren
hannah@sciencediffusion.com
DESIGN MANAGER
Mimi Jones
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Stuart Henry Wilson, PhD
Rebecca Ingle, PhD
Jessica Bristow, PhD
Alma Ionescu, BSc
Matthew Aitkenhead, PhD
Samuel Jarman, MSc
Chris Harrison, PhD
Paul Hattle, BSc
Andrew Breeson, PhD
Scientia Issue #115 Contents
Click to read
ILLUMINATING OUR PHYSICAL WORLD:
FROM QUARKS TO RAINDROPS
Click to read
FIVE NEW PARTICLES DISCOVERED AT CERN
An exclusive interview with Professor Tara Shears,
a scientist behind CERN’s omega_c baryon discovery
Click to read
THE RAPP CENTER: SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS IN PLASMA-ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS
Unravelling the mysteries of the Universe by tracking cosmic elementary particles
Click to read
TICAL AIMS FOR PARADIGM SHIFT IN PET IMAGING
Professor Paul Lecoq
Modifying PET technology to aid more precise diagnoses and increase patient survival rates
Click to read
THE UNEXPECTED SPIRALS OF ELECTRON DENSITY
Dr Jasper van Wezel
Explaining how electrons can spontaneously organise into corkscrew shapes
Click to read
CALLING IN THE BIOELECTRICIAN
Dr Andrew K. Udit
Developing a system that can exploit cytochrome P450 enzymes in medical and industrial applications
Click to read
THE EXACTING TASK OF BRINGING MOLECULES TO ATTENTION
Professor Bretislav Friedrich
Using electromagnetic fields to orient molecules, while solving the Schrödinger equation for these interactions
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MONITORING AND CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF SINGLE MOLECULES THROUGH NANOPORES
Dr Lisa Burden and Dr Daniel Burden
Controlling molecules as they are transported through nanometre-sized pores, towards the development of chemical sensors
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DETERMINING THE TOXICITY OF NANOMATERIALS
The SmartNanoTox team
Resolving the mechanisms underlying nanotoxicity, to provide an efficient approach for predicting the toxicity of nanomaterials
Click to read
THE SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATICAL WORLD OF TEXTILES
Professor Ning Pan
Understanding the underlying mechanisms behind unique material properties
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HYPERSONIC LASER TAGGING: A NEW WAY OF UNDERSTANDING FLUID MECHANICS
Professor Richard B. Miles
Developing FLEET, a pioneering way of measuring the velocities of high-speed fluids
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UNDERSTANDING PARTICLE-FLUID INTERACTION DYNAMICS IN TURBULENT FLOW
Dr Lian-Ping Wang
New models to predict phenomena from rainfall patterns to particle transport in industrial processes
Click to read
A FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Click to read
CATCHING THE WIND: UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMICS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
Dr Glen Whitehouse
Meet the team at Continuum Dynamics, who are developing ways to model wind turbine interactions
Click to read
THE HIGHEST ENERGY LI-ION BATTERY: UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF THE SILICON ANODE AND NICKEL-RICH NMC CATHODE
Dr Daniela Molina Piper and Dr Tyler Evans
Meet the team at SiILion, who have rewritten the rulebook for lithium-ion battery design
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THE EXOTIC CHEMISTRY OF THE HEAVIEST ELEMENTS
Professor Thomas E. Albrecht-Schmitt
Exploring bonding in radioactive molecules, towards designing compounds to clean up nuclear waste
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IN SILICO CHEMISTRY: MODELLING THE REACTIONS OF HEAVY ELEMENTS
Dr Kirk A. Peterson
Developing computational tools for accurately modelling the chemistry of heavy elements
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CLEANING UP A CATASTROPHE
Professor Peter H. Santschi
Investigating the consequences of when radioactive substances are released into the environment
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HOPE FOR HUMANITY IN THE ENERGY CRISIS: ASTRONOMICAL JETS IN A LAB
Professor Setthivoine You
Taking inspiration from astrophysical jets to achieve nuclear fusion on Earth
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LITERAL SUN JARS: SHRINKING STARS FOR ENERGY PRODUCTIO
Professor Michael Brown
Developing a totally new approach to fusion energy through magneto-inertial fusion
Click to read
THE COMPUTING REVOLUTION CONTINUES
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MIXING ANALOGUE AND DIGITAL COMPUTERS: THE FUTURE IS HYBRID
Dr Michael D Bryant and Dr Benito Fernandez
Combining analogue and digital components to create a computer for solving large sets of differential equations
Click to read
USING NOISE TO CONTROL MICROMECHANICAL & MACROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS
Professor Balakumar Balachandran
Harnessing the power of noise to make tiny mechanical oscillators operate better than before
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MAPPING P-ADIC SPACES WITH HEIGHT PAIRINGS
Professor Amnon Besser
Exploiting P-adic numbers to solve long-standing problems bridging several fields of mathematics
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ALGORITHMIC ACCELERATION OF COMPUTING PERFORMANCE
Professor Xiaodong Zhang
Developing more efficient algorithms to revolutionise the design of computer components
Click to read
EARCHING FOR THE PERFECT PICTURE
Dr Gerald Friedland and Jaeyoung Choi
Developing better tools for image and video-based Internet searches
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CHIRPING COMMUNICATION – SENDING DATA OVER SOUND
Dr Daniel Jones
Meet the team at Chirp, who harness the power of sound to send data
Click to read
CAPTIVE: A NEW DIRECTION FOR VIRTUAL REALITY CONTROLLERS
Professor Christopher G. Healey and Zeyuan Chen
Creating CAPTIVE – an accurate and affordable controller system for virtual reality applications