Hidden topology controls material properties
Solid substances are made of atoms or ions. These may be arranged in an ordered pattern, like in a rock salt crystal, or they may be completely disordered, like in window glass. But more common than either extreme is the intermediate situation where order and disorder...
Correlation between melanin levels and free radical formation in human cells following illumination by ultraviolet A light.
Melanin is a naturally-occurring pigment that is largely responsible for skin colour. It absorbs the ultraviolet and blue components of sunlight, thus preventing the photochemical formation of free radicals that can damage DNA in the skin. In darkly pigmented skin,...
LiFi research to revolutionise data downloads
A new form of high speed wireless internet, which uses the lights in homes and offices to transmit data, could revolutionise the way we download and upload information in the future. Researchers from Northumbria University, Newcastle and University College London...
Identifying triplet pathways in dilute pentacene films
Improving the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity is a fundamental task if humanity is to overcome its dependence on fossil fuels. When light is shone onto a semiconductor, for example in a photovoltaic cell, one photon usually generates one excited...