{"@attributes":{"version":"2.0"},"channel":{"title":"Phys.org news tagged with:electricity","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/","language":"en-us","description":"Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine.","item":[{"title":"Image: Strong solar flare","description":"This Feb. 4, 2026, image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captures a strong solar flare erupting from the star. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy that can, along with other types of solar eruptions, impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The flare pictured was classified as an X4.2 flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-image-strong-solar-flare.html","category":"Astronomy","pubDate":"Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:20:03 EST","guid":"news689857504"},{"title":"Microfluidic method boosts control and separation of tiny particles\u2014a promising tool for medical research","description":"In nanoscale particle research, precise control and separation have long been a bottleneck in biotechnology. Researchers at the University of Oulu have now developed a new method that improves particle separation and purification. The promising technique could be applied, for example, in cancer research.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-microfluidic-method-boosts-tiny-particles.html","category":"Bio & Medicine","pubDate":"Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:00:01 EST","guid":"news689875262"},{"title":"Wireless sensor assesses subsoil health in effort to cut costs and refine farming","description":"A new smart platform invented by Purdue University researchers to wirelessly monitor subsoil health could change the landscape of agricultural sensing systems. The invention addresses a critical need in agriculture nationwide: the efficient use of water, fertilizers and pesticides. Due to the variability of soil conditions across large fields, applying uniform amounts of these inputs can lead to significant waste, increasing costs for farmers and causing environmental harm if nutrient runoff reaches water systems.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-wireless-sensor-subsoil-health-effort.html","category":"Biotechnology","pubDate":"Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:01:51 EST","guid":"news689871662"},{"title":"Ultra-clean MXenes deliver 160-fold higher conductivity","description":"An international team of researchers has developed a breakthrough method for producing MXenes\u2014an important family of two-dimensional materials\u2014with unprecedented purity and control. The new \"gas\u2013liquid\u2013solid\" process enables the synthesis of pure MXenes with uniformly distributed halogen atoms on the surface and a precisely tunable surface composition. The method dramatically boosts their electrical conductivity and opens the door to high-performance electronics, sensors, and energy technologies.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-ultra-mxenes-higher.html","category":"Nanophysics","pubDate":"Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:40:02 EST","guid":"news689867558"},{"title":"Three-component catalyst boosts ammonia from nitrate electrolysis by more than 50%","description":"A research team led by Dr. Dandan Gao from the Department of Chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has developed a new method for the sustainable production of ammonia and formic acid. Ammonia is indispensable in modern agriculture and, like formic acid, an important industrial feedstock. Conventionally, ammonia is produced using the Haber-Bosch process, which is extremely energy-intensive and causes significant CO\u2082 emissions. It is also possible to produce ammonia via electrolysis, i.e., using electrical current, but this remains a relatively young field of research. Electrolysis offers a sustainable alternative for production because it can be powered by renewable electricity.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-component-catalyst-boosts-ammonia-nitrate.html","category":"Analytical Chemistry","pubDate":"Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:11:21 EST","guid":"news689602201"},{"title":"Did trees in the Dolomites anticipate a solar eclipse? Not quite, say researchers","description":"Around 14 hours before a partial solar eclipse passed over the Dolomites in Northern Italy, a group of spruce trees showed a sudden, synchronized increase in electrical activity. Previous research by Alessandro Chiolerio and others claimed that the trees were anticipating and preparing for the impending solar eclipse.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-trees-dolomites-solar-eclipse.html","category":"Plants & Animals","pubDate":"Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:00:01 EST","guid":"news689592061"},{"title":"Why cheaper power alone isn't enough to end energy poverty in summer","description":"Australia is an energy superpower. We have abundant natural resources, high average incomes and one of the highest per-capita rates of rooftop solar uptake in the world.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-cheaper-power-isnt-energy-poverty.html","category":"Economics & Business","pubDate":"Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:00:01 EST","guid":"news689504417"},{"title":"Electron-phonon 'surfing' could help stabilize quantum hardware, nanowire tests suggest","description":"That low-frequency fuzz that can bedevil cellphone calls has to do with how electrons move through and interact in materials at the smallest scale. The electronic flicker noise is often caused by interruptions in the flow of electrons by various scattering processes in the metals that conduct them.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-electron-phonon-surfing-stabilize-quantum.html","category":"Condensed Matter","pubDate":"Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:21:01 EST","guid":"news689448001"},{"title":"Solid, iron-rich megastructure under Hawaii slows seismic waves and may drive plume upwelling","description":"Mantle plumes beneath volcanic hotspots, like Hawaii, Iceland, and the Galapagos, seem to be anchored into a large structure within the core-mantle boundary (CMB). A new study, published in Science Advances, takes a deeper dive into the structure under Hawaii using P- and S-wave analysis and mineralogical modeling, revealing its composition and properties.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-solid-iron-rich-megastructure-hawaii.html","category":"Earth Sciences","pubDate":"Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:20:04 EST","guid":"news689341995"},{"title":"A hearing test for the world's rarest sea turtle: Understanding its vulnerability to human-caused noise","description":"Kemp's ridley sea turtles are among the most endangered species of sea turtles in the world. They reside along the east and Gulf coasts of North America, alongside some of the world's most active shipping lanes. While the threats from fishing, pollution, and vessel collisions are well understood, it is less clear how disruptive human-caused noise is to their survival.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-world-rarest-sea-turtle-vulnerability.html","category":"Plants & Animals","pubDate":"Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:00:04 EST","guid":"news689243521"},{"title":"A more realistic picture of platinum electrodes","description":"Current electrochemical theory does not adequately describe realistic platinum electrodes. Scientists at Leiden University have now, for the first time, mapped the influence of imperfect platinum surfaces. This provides a more accurate picture of these electrodes, with applications in hydrogen production and sensors.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-realistic-picture-platinum-electrodes.html","category":"Analytical Chemistry","pubDate":"Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:53:24 EST","guid":"news689269981"},{"title":"'Northwest Passage' mechanism of bile acid transport reveals a voltage-dependent pathway","description":"In a study published in Nature on January 28, a research team led by Eric H. Xu (Xu Huaqiang) from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with Ma Xiong from Renji Hospital, determined how Ost\u03b1\/\u03b2 transports bile acids and why it differs fundamentally from previously characterized carriers through cryo-EM structure determination, molecular dynamics simulations, and electrophysiological analyses.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-northwest-passage-mechanism-bile-acid.html","category":"Cell & Microbiology","pubDate":"Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:10:01 EST","guid":"news689252691"},{"title":"Focusing and defocusing light without a lens: First demonstration of the structured Montgomery effect in free space","description":"Applied physicists in the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have demonstrated a new way to structure light in custom, repeatable, three-dimensional patterns, all without the use of traditional optical elements like lenses and mirrors. Their breakthrough provides experimental evidence of a peculiar natural phenomenon that had been confined mostly to theory.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-focusing-defocusing-lens-montgomery-effect.html","category":"Optics & Photonics","pubDate":"Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:39:53 EST","guid":"news689251142"},{"title":"Japan says rare earth found in sediment retrieved on deep-sea mission","description":"Sediment containing rare earth was retrieved from ocean depths of 6,000 meters (about 20,000 feet) on a Japanese test mission, the government said Monday, as it seeks to curb dependence on China for the valuable minerals.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-02-japan-rare-earth-sediment-deep.html","category":"Earth Sciences","pubDate":"Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:40:18 EST","guid":"news689229576"},{"title":"Older petrol and diesel vehicles produce 50% of harmful particle emissions in Finland, study shows","description":"In Finland, the average age of passenger cars is among the highest in Europe, and the majority of traffic-related particle emissions are produced by ICE vehicles that are more than 15 years old. The worst polluters are old diesel cars without a diesel particulate filter.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-older-petrol-diesel-vehicles-particle.html","category":"Environment","pubDate":"Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:52:27 EST","guid":"news688841521"},{"title":"Record stretching of metallic bond reveals quantum conductance in gold atomic chains","description":"Researchers from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have stretched a chain of gold atoms by a record-breaking 46%, providing direct evidence of how fundamental metal bonds behave under extreme deformation. This study also reveals how structural changes at the atomic scale influence electrical transport.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-metallic-bond-reveals-quantum-gold.html","category":"Nanophysics","pubDate":"Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:57:26 EST","guid":"news688834621"},{"title":"Quantum batteries could quadruple qubit capacity while reducing energy infrastructure requirements","description":"Scientists have unveiled a new approach to powering quantum computers using quantum batteries\u2014a breakthrough that could make future computers faster, more reliable, and more energy efficient.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-quantum-batteries-quadruple-qubit-capacity.html","category":"Quantum Physics","pubDate":"Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:26:45 EST","guid":"news688832761"},{"title":"How defects make permanent magnets even more efficient","description":"Rare-earth magnets are essential for electric motors in vehicles, drones, and trains, forming the backbone of modern, environmentally friendly mobility. These are not simple blocks of metal, but carefully engineered materials with a complex internal nanostructure composed of tiny building blocks called phases, each with its own crystal structure, chemistry, and physical properties. How magnetization behaves at the interfaces between these tiny building blocks and how well it resists demagnetizing forces ultimately determines the strength and stability of the magnet, and therefore the efficiency and reliability of the motor or generator.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-defects-permanent-magnets-efficient.html","category":"Nanophysics","pubDate":"Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:52:26 EST","guid":"news688740721"},{"title":"NASA, GE aerospace hybrid engine system marks successful test","description":"To an untrained eye, the aircraft engine sitting outside of a Cincinnati facility in December might have looked like standard hardware. But NASA and GE Aerospace researchers watching the unit fire up for a demonstration knew what they were looking at: a hybrid engine performing at a level that could potentially power an airliner.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-nasa-ge-aerospace-hybrid-successful.html","category":"Space Exploration","pubDate":"Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:12:22 EST","guid":"news688738321"},{"title":"Unlocking defect-free graphene electrodes for transparent electronics","description":"Transparent electrodes transmit light while conducting electricity and are increasingly important in bioelectronic and optoelectronic devices. Their combination of high optical transparency, low electrical resistance, and mechanical flexibility makes them well suited for applications such as displays, solar cells, and wearable or implantable technologies.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-defect-free-graphene-electrodes-transparent.html","category":"Nanomaterials","pubDate":"Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:50:01 EST","guid":"news688653784"},{"title":"Proposed new mission will create artificial solar eclipses in space","description":"When a solar storm strikes Earth, it can disrupt technology that's vital for our daily lives. Solar storms occur when magnetic fields and electrically charged particles collide with Earth's magnetic field. This type of event falls into the category known as \"space weather.\"","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-mission-artificial-solar-eclipses-space.html","category":"Space Exploration","pubDate":"Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:20:06 EST","guid":"news688655666"},{"title":"AI agents streamline discovery of safer, more efficient solid electrolytes for batteries","description":"Solid-state batteries are widely viewed as a key technology for the future of energy storage, particularly for electric vehicles and large-scale renewable energy systems. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, which rely on flammable liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes to transport ions. This shift offers major advantages in safety, energy density, and long-term reliability.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-ai-agents-discovery-safer-efficient.html","category":"Materials Science","pubDate":"Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:40:01 EST","guid":"news688660423"},{"title":"'Shark-repellent' method could reform fisheries by curbing bycatch","description":"For decades, sharks have been the unintended victims of longline fisheries aimed at tuna and swordfish. Rising accidental catches have contributed to population declines and created serious challenges for both conservation and commercial fishing. And the impacts go beyond the sharks themselves\u2014every time a shark takes the bait, hooks are lost to target species, gear gets damaged, costs climb, and crews face added risks when handling or releasing the animals.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-shark-repellent-method-reform-fisheries.html","category":"Ecology","pubDate":"Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:26:52 EST","guid":"news688641961"},{"title":"Superconducting nanowire memory array achieves significantly lower error rate","description":"Quantum computers, systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, will require faster and energy-efficient memory components, which will allow them to perform well on complex tasks. Superconducting memories are promising memory devices that are made from superconductors, materials that conduct electricity with a resistance of zero when cooled below a critical temperature.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-superconducting-nanowire-memory-array-significantly.html","category":"Condensed Matter","pubDate":"Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:30:01 EST","guid":"news688223997"},{"title":"Using amino acids as fuels to make conductive graphene","description":"Graphene has drawn attention as a scientific curiosity owing to its record conductivities, strength and thermal properties. But now, it's starting to make its way into a number of real-world applications, from batteries to concrete, sensors and material composites. Its market is already worth billions and is set to boom in the next few years.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-amino-acids-fuels-graphene.html","category":"Nanomaterials","pubDate":"Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:30:01 EST","guid":"news688382897"},{"title":"Hydrogen's role in generating free electrons in silicon finally explained","description":"Researchers announced that they have achieved the world's first elucidation of how hydrogen produces free electrons through the interaction with certain defects in silicon. The achievement has the potential to improve how insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) are designed and manufactured, making them more efficient and reducing their power loss. It is also expected to open up possibilities for future devices using ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) materials.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-hydrogen-role-generating-free-electrons.html","category":"Analytical Chemistry","pubDate":"Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:59:35 EST","guid":"news688399092"},{"title":"Harnessing nanoscale magnetic spins to overcome the limits of conventional electronics","description":"Researchers at Kyushu University have shown that careful engineering of materials interfaces can unlock new applications for nanoscale magnetic spins, overcoming the limits of conventional electronics. Their findings, published in APL Materials, open up a promising path for tackling a key challenge in the field and ushering in a new era of next-generation information devices.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-harnessing-nanoscale-magnetic-limits-conventional.html","category":"Nanophysics","pubDate":"Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:38:00 EST","guid":"news688394208"},{"title":"Scientists observe a 300-million-year-old brain rhythm in several animal species","description":"Sleep is a universal biological state that allows all animals, from mammals to amphibians, fish and even insects, to restore their energy and consolidate knowledge that can contribute to their survival. Neuroscientists and zoologists have been investigating the biological underpinnings of sleep and its vital functions for centuries, more recently by measuring the brain activity of animals or people while they are asleep.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-scientists-million-year-brain-rhythm.html","category":"Plants & Animals","pubDate":"Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:30:01 EST","guid":"news688383014"},{"title":"Adoption of electric vehicles tied to real-world reductions in air pollution","description":"When California neighborhoods increased their number of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) between 2019 and 2023, they also experienced a reduction in air pollution. For every 200 vehicles added, nitrogen dioxide (NO\u2082) levels dropped 1.1%. The results, obtained from a new analysis based on statewide satellite data, are among the first to confirm the environmental health benefits of ZEVs, which include fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars, in the real world. The study is published in The Lancet Planetary Health.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-electric-vehicles-real-world-reductions.html","category":"Environment","pubDate":"Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:11:44 EST","guid":"news688389061"},{"title":"Light-controlled switches offer precise regulation of ion channels in living cells","description":"Researchers at Leipzig University and TU Dresden have succeeded in developing biological switches that can selectively turn ion channels on and off using light pulses. Initial applications show that it is possible, for example, to stimulate nerve cells in the brain or to control the release of adrenaline from cells of the adrenal gland and the movement of the small intestine using light stimuli.","link":"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2026-01-precise-ion-channels-cells.html","category":"Cell & Microbiology","pubDate":"Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:07:27 EST","guid":"news688388815"}]}}