Consumer electronics have changed a lot in 20 years – systems for managing e-waste aren't keeping up

Technical advances are reducing the volume of e-waste generated in the US as lighter, more compact products enter the market. But those goods can be harder to reuse and recycle.

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People who vape are more likely to report mental fog

People who vape are more likely to say they experience mental fog. Does vaping cause the cognitive problem, or are they self-medicating?

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smoking cognition electronic-cigarettes health-and-medicine

Ultracold atoms reveal a new type of quantum magnetic behavior

The findings may help researchers design “spintronic” devices and novel magnetic materials.

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physics photonics quantum-computing light research school-of-science research-laboratory-of-electronics national-science-foundation-nsf materials-research-laboratory

New type of atomic clock keeps time even more precisely

The design, which uses entangled atoms, could help scientists detect dark matter and study gravity’s effect on time.

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physics photonics quantum-mechanics light research school-of-science research-laboratory-of-electronics national-science-foundation-nsf defense-advanced-research-projects-agency-darpa

An LED that can be integrated directly into computer chips

The advance could cut production costs and reduce the size of microelectronics for sensing and communication.

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A cool advance in thermoelectric conversion

A quantum effect in topological semimetals demonstrated by MIT researchers could allow for the utilization of an untapped energy source.

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physics semiconductors electronics quantum-mechanics research school-of-engineering school-of-science materials-science-and-engineering nuclear-science-and-engineering department-of-energy-doe thermoelectricity

Physicists capture the sound of a “perfect” fluid

The results should help scientists study the viscosity in neutron stars, the plasma of the early universe, and other strongly interacting fluids.

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physics photonics light research school-of-science research-laboratory-of-electronics national-science-foundation-nsf

Vaping may up your risk of lung disease by over 40%

People who used e-cigarettes in the past were 21% more likely to develop respiratory disease, and current users had a 43% higher risk, a new study finds.

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electronic-cigarettes lungs health-and-medicine respiratory-infections

3 Questions: Using fabric to “listen” to space dust

Fabric samples are headed to the International Space Station for resiliency testing; possible applications include cosmic dust detectors or spacesuit smart skins.

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Cracking the secrets of an emerging branch of physics

In a new realm of materials, PhD student Thanh Nguyen uses neutrons to hunt for exotic properties that could power real-world applications.

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