ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

Under special circumstances, the electrical resistance of a material can adopt a fixed value that is independent from the basic material properties and 'quantized'. This 'quantization' normally occurs within strong magnetic fields at very low temperatures when electrons move in two-dimensions. Now, a research team has succeeded in demonstrating this effect at low temperatures in the almost complete absence of a magnetic field in naturally occurring double-layer graphene, just two atoms thick.

A team has developed a catalyst that can be used to both generate fuel and provide power.

A century ago, scientists first detected the proton in the atomic nucleus. Yet, much about its contents remains a mystery. Scientists report a new theory for understanding what's inside protons moving at the speed of light.

LEO carves out a new type of locomotion somewhere between walking and flying.

Scientists hope that tiny sacs of material excreted by cells -- so-called extracellular vesicles -- can be used to deliver drugs inside the body. Researchers now show that these nano-bubbles can transport protein drugs that reduce inflammation caused by different diseases. The technique shows promising results in animal models.

The goal of tackling global warming by turning carbon dioxide into fuel could be one step closer with researchers using a supercomputer to identify a group of 'single-atom' catalysts that could play a key role.

A team of scientists has discovered a new physical phenomenon: complex braided structures made of tiny magnetic vortices known as skyrmions. Skyrmions were first detected experimentally a little over a decade ago and have since been the subject of numerous studies, as well as providing a possible basis for innovative concepts in information processing that offer better performance and lower energy consumption. Furthermore, skyrmions influence the magnetoresistive and thermodynamic properties of a material. The discovery therefore has relevance for both applied and basic research.

Scientists have created a set of tools to make annotated 3D images of cells, showing the relationships between different organelles.

Researchers studying two solar parks, situated in arid locations, found they produced 'cool islands' extending around 700 meters from the solar park boundaries. The temperature of surrounding land surface was reduced by up to 2.3 degrees at 100 meters away from the solar park, with the cooling effects reducing exponentially to 700 meters. This new discovery is important as it shows the solar park could impact ecological processes, including productivity, decomposition, and ultimately the carbon balance, in the surrounding landscape.

Scientists have made a path-breaking discovery in strontium ruthenate -- with potential for new applications in quantum electronics.

The development of alveoli in organoids derived from mammary-gland tissue follows the same physical principles as the formation of discrete droplets in a water jet.

Automated vehicles could be made more pedestrian-friendly thanks to new research which could help them predict when people will cross the road. Scientists investigating how to better understand human behavior in traffic say that neuroscientific theories of how the brain makes decisions can be used in automated vehicle technology to improve safety and make them more human-friendly.