Physical Sciences News

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Vanishing Viscosity

An elusive state of matter called superconductivity could be realized in stacks of sheetlike crystals just a few atoms thick, a trio of physicists has determined.

Relaxation Helps Pack DNA into a Virus

Taking a moment to pause and relax can help if you find yourself in a tight spot. This strategy can work for molecules as well as people, it turns out. Researchers at UC San Diego have found that DNA packs more easily into the tight confines of a virus when given a chance to relax.

Radiation from Early Universe Found Key to Answer Major Questions in Physics

Astrophysicists at UC San Diego have measured the minute gravitational distortions in polarized radiation from the early universe and discovered that these ancient microwaves can provide an important cosmological test of Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

Phone Calls Reveal Population Patterns that Censuses Miss

It's no surprise that official tallies of the inhabitants of a city miss many residents. Not everyone wishes to be counted, particularly not those who lack legal permission to be there, and censuses are infrequent, if they happen at all.

Mathematician Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship

Professor Kiran Kedlaya has won a Guggenheim Fellowship, to further his work in number theory, one of the most classical branches of mathematics.

Discovery Could Lead to Novel Therapies for Fragile X Syndrome

Scientists studying the most common form of inherited mental disability—a genetic disease called “Fragile X syndrome”—have uncovered new details about the cellular processes responsible for the condition that could lead to the development of therapies to restore some of the capabilities lost in affected individuals.