An interesting article about the discovery of a new type of electrical device. Based on the equations relating charge and magnetism, Leon Chua deduced that the mathematics of electric circuits was missing an element (one that directly relates charge to magnetic flux) - he dubbed the missing element a memristor.

Now scientists believe they have found a physical device that has this effect ... at nanoscales. The device could have some amazing applications for computation.

Quoted: What connects human intelligence to the unsung cunning of slime moulds? An electric component that no one thought existed, explains Justin Mullins

PC Version due out any day now.

Quoted: Crayon Physics Deluxe

Strange but interesting - stratified warm water layer at the surface can make it very difficult to swim (and even cuts the speed of power boats).

refaving Brad

Why microscopic black holes are harmless....

Quoted: There's a book by Larry Niven called Hole Man, where a group of explorers on Mars come across an alien communications device. One of the scientists thinks

Like the MIT physics simulator - a game played by drawing physical objects to solve a series of puzzles. Best played with a tablet.

New material has reflective index of only 0.00045.

Thanks, Tosh!

Quoted: U.S. researchers said on Tuesday they have made the darkest material on Earth, a substance so black it absorbs more than 99.9 percent of light.

Great article full of fan mail for MIT physics professor, Walter Lewin.

Quoted: Walter H. G. Lewin, a physics professor at M.I.T., has found devotees across the country with his online lectures.

MIT's Physics lectures - by the best physics lecturer in the world. You can watch the complete course on video for FREE on MIT's Open Courseware website (unfortunately, you need Real Player - but I find that the Real Player is less obnoxious than they used to be).

Quoted: This section contains the video index and videos for the various topics of the course.

click to play

Very cool demo of using CD players as a gyroscopic platform in space.