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    Category Physics

    Magnetoelectric Memory Cell increases Energy Efficiency for Data Storage

    May 31, 2017, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics

    Magnetoelectric Memory Cell increases Energy Efficiency for Data Storage

    MELRAM cell and the electric scheme for the magnetic state identification.

    A team from France and Russia has now developed a magnetoelectric random access memory (MELRAM) cell that has the potential to increase power efficiency, and decrease heat waste, by orders of magnitude for read operations at room temperature. The research could aid production of devices such as instant-on laptops, close-to-0-consumption flash drives, and data storage centers that require much less air conditioning.

    Billions of transistors can now be etched onto single chips in a space the size of a dime, but at some point, increasing this number for even better performance using the same space will not be possible...

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    Do stars fall quietly into black holes, or crash into something utterly unknown?

    May 31, 2017, Categories  Physics, Astronomy/Space

    This artist's impression shows a star crossing the event horizon of a supermassive black hole located in the center of a galaxy. The black hole is so large and massive that tidal effects on the star are negligible, and the star is swallowed whole. Mark A. Garlick/CfA

    This artist’s impression shows a star crossing the event horizon of a supermassive black hole located in the center of a galaxy. The black hole is so large and massive that tidal effects on the star are negligible, and the star is swallowed whole. Mark A. Garlick/CfA 

    Astronomers at The University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University have put a basic principle of black holes to the test, showing that matter completely vanishes when pulled in. Their results constitute another successful test for Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. Most scientists agree that black holes, cosmic entities of such great gravity that nothing can escape their grip, are surrounded by a so-called event horizon...
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    Harnessing Energy from Glass Walls

    May 30, 2017, Categories  Chemistry/Nanotechnology, Physics, Technology/Electronics

    1.Prototype of a semi-transparent perovskite solar cell with thermal-mirror functionality. Copyright : Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 2. Thermal images are taken by an infrared camera to compare the heat rejection performance of automobile window film, semi-transparent solar cell and glass. Copyright : Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 3. Typical solar cells today are made of crystalline silicon, which is difficult to make translucent. Copyright : Liu Fuyu / 123rf

    1.Prototype of a semi-transparent perovskite solar cell with thermal-mirror functionality.
    Copyright : Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
    2. Thermal images are taken by an infrared camera to compare the heat rejection performance of automobile window film, semi-transparent solar cell and glass.
    Copyright : Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
    3. Typical solar cells today are made of crystalline silicon, which is difficult to make translucent.
    Copyright : Liu Fuyu / 123rf

    A Korean team has developed semi-transparent perovskite solar cells that could be great candidates for solar windows...

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    New Method improves Stability of Perovskite Quantum Dots

    May 29, 2017, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Electron microscopy images of perovskite quantum dots embedded in the protective alumina matrix, and a photograph of the same film stable in water. Credit: © R. Buonsanti/EPFL

    Electron microscopy images of perovskite quantum dots embedded in the protective alumina matrix, and a photograph of the same film stable in water. Credit: © R. Buonsanti/EPFL

    EPFL scientists have built a new type of inorganic nanocomposite that makes perovskite quantum dot exceptionally stable against air exposure, sunlight, heat, and water. Quantum dots are nanometer-size, semiconducting materials whose tiny size gives them unique optical properties. Much effort has been put in building quantum dots from perovskites, which already show much promise for solar panels, LEDs and laser technologies.

    The new approach to stabilize the perovskite quantum dots was developed in the lab of Raffaella Buonsanti at EPFL Valais Wallis...

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