High-energy protons find applications in imaging and tumour therapy, apart from being central to multiple research areas like nuclear physics, particle physics, accelerator science and material science. While the applications are multifold, their production is limited to massive-scale particle accelerators and big Laser-based systems. Laser-based ion acceleration uses intense light flashes to heat the electrons and ions of a solid to enormous temperatures and propel these charged particles to extreme speeds. Though smaller than conventional accelerators, these setups involve conditions and parameters attainable only by a select few central research facilities, with the lasers generating only a few flashes in a minute. Researchers from TIFR Hyderabad have devised a mechanism to enable protons to be accelerated to a million volts of energy, all on a tabletop. Driven by small-scale laser systems firing a thousand times a second,  the quasi-industrial setup exploits fundamental physics mechanisms previously deemed a hindrance. This new finding promises to deliver protons of comparable energy and flux at a fraction of the cost and complexity of a traditional accelerator system, with the idea being translatable to industries and smaller universities.

Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have solved a long-standing mystery behind the drainage of liquid from foams. Standard physics models wildly overestimate the height of foams required for liquid to drain out the bottom. Through careful observation, the team found that the limits are set by the pressure required to rearrange bubbles, not simply push liquid through a static set of obstacles. Their approach highlights the importance of dynamics to understanding soft materials.

 

A study published in Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts details the development of anion exchangers from microfibrillated cellulose using glycidyltriethylammonium chloride. The resulting material demonstrates high ion exchange capacity and efficiency in removing pollutants like nitrates, sulphates, and phosphates from water.

Molecules like DNA are capable of storing large amounts of data without requiring an energy source, but accessing this molecular data is expensive and time consuming. Publishing May 16 in the Cell Press journal Chem, researchers have developed an alternative method to encode information in synthetic molecules, which they used to encode and then decode an 11-character password to unlock a computer.