Physical Sciences

Probing Question: Are We Running Out of Helium?
Moses Chan, Evan Pugh Professor of Physics at Penn State. Credit: Greg Grieco, Penn State
White-Dwarf Star, Blown Apart in 1604, Now Reveals New Secrets
This composite of images from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory shows the remnant of Kepler's supernova in low-energy (red), intermediate-energy (green) and high-energy (blue) X-rays. Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/NCSU/M.Burkey et al.; optical: DSS
Crucial Step in Human DNA Replication Observed Using Fluorescent Tags
Stephen J. Benkovic, Mark Hedglin, and other members of Professor Benkovic's research team have studied the importance of “clamp loader” enzymes and their activities during DNA replication. In this image, the clamp loader is represented, for illustrative purposes, by a hand, which is loading the sliding clamp ring onto DNA. Credit: Benkovic lab, Penn State University
Penn State researching ways to improve computer speed, efficiency
Nitin Samarth, department head of physics at Penn State, works with the molecular beam epitaxy equipment in his lab. He conducts research to design and build new materials needed for radically new kinds of computer chips that could open the door to a new era of super-fast quantum computers. Credit: Fredric Weber, Penn State University
Remnants of a Shattered Star Discovered in Milky Way
This composite image of supernova remnant G306.3-0.9 merges Chandra X-ray observations (blue), infrared data acquired by the Spitzer Space Telescope (red and cyan) and radio observations (purple) from the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The image is 20 arcminutes across, which corresponds to 150 light-years at the remnant's estimated distance. Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Michigan/M. Reynolds et al; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech; Radio: CSIRO/ATNF/ATCA
Penn State Researchers Part of $194 Million National Semiconductor Research Effort
The Closest Star System Found in a Century
WISE J104915.57-531906 was discovered through its rapid motion across the sky, which is shown in these images taken between 1978 and 2010 by the Digitized Sky Survey, the Two Micron All-Sky Survey, and the WISE satellite. Credit: NASA/STScI/JPL/IPAC/University of Massachusetts
Oldest Known Star Gets a Birthdate Update
This image is an illustration of the oldest star ever found in our solar neighborhood. The aging star, cataloged as HD 140283, lies 190.1 light-years from Earth. Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild and F. Summers (STScI)
Engineering control theory helps create dynamic brain model
New, Multifunctional Electronic Devices May Soon Be Possible, New Research Suggests
Schematic drawing of the multiferroic tunnel junction of two polarization configurations. The red layer is the ferroelectric barrier and the green layer is the interface that undergoes metal-to-insulator as well as magnetic-phase transition when the barrier polarization is reversed. Credit: Li lab, Penn State University
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