Category Physics

Microsoft is focusing on developers, not the general public, for the latest in HoloLens events and announcements. The good news for the public is that, in doing so, the conversation is shedding light on what is behind HoloLens and what to expect once availability happens.

You’re looking at sessions of mixed reality, not virtual reality. Do not expect to be mentally transported into another world; you remain in a familiar place where virtual characters may join your space. This is an augmented reality headset; some watchers call it an “untethered wearable.” HoloLens works all on its own: all the hardware necessary to run any program is inside the headset. Microsoft’s definition of its HoloLens: The first holographic computer running Windows 10...

McMaster researchers have taken atomic-level images of individual nanoparticles during heating that could lead to improved fuel-cell technologies at lower cost, reduce dependence on imported oil and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Credit: McMaster University

Heating nanoparticles and atomic-level tracking allows for the development of other cheaper catalysts, such as platinum-ron nanoparticles. Typically, pricey platinum nanoparticles are used. This technology will reduce dependence on imported oil and minimize greenhouse gases.

Using advanced electron microscopic techniques the team was able to track the atomic-rearrangement process of an individual Platinum-Iron nanoparticle – as it got annealed inside the microscope...

© Roberto Schirdewahn In order to test cryptographic techniques for microdevices, the researchers develop the central components of the devices and implement them on evaluation platforms.

The Hardware Security Group at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum is currently working towards protecting the data against threats of tomorrow with the devices available today. Due to a novel computation paradigm, quantum computers could break certain cryptographic techniques that are widely used today. We must now brace ourselves for the fact that highly powerful quantum computers may exist in a few years’ time, says Prof Dr.-Ing. Tim Güneysu.

Cryptography is implemented in many devices with a long service life, eg in satellites. Those devices have to remain secure in many years’ to come...

Laser-heat diamond-anvil cell (A), and anvil in the cell (B) We can create the pressure-temperature condition of the earth core by laser-heating the compressed sample in the cell. Credit: Image courtesy of Osaka University

In recent years, hydrogen’s behavior at high temperature and high pressure has been in the realm of interest not only for planetary science, but also for materials science to achieve a hydrogen energy society. Since hydrogen is both a highly diffusive and highly reactive element, it is difficult to maintain its stability in high-temperature, high-pressure equipment for use in experimentation, which has greatly impeded research on high temperature, high pressure hydrogen...