Top quirk

It took almost 2 decades of squinting at the microverse to finally pin down, on March 2, an accomplished atomic escape artist, the top quark

Scientists under a microscope

A department of science and technology report reveals that India's boffins are academically a lax lot

The secret of carbon nanotubes

Successful experiments in measuring individual carbon nanotubes opens pathways for manufacture of a diverse range of products

The mysterious planets

Tadpole like objects in the Helix nebula, detected by the Hubble telescope, suggest the presence ofhitherto unseen objects in the universe

Star's blueprint

The mapping of the magnetic field of TX Camelopardalis can provide important insights into the behaviour of stars

Byte by byte

To increase disk drive capacity, both silicon chips and magnetic-memory disks will have to get better

Precious mine

With the help of nickel and vitreous carbon, the industrial manufacture of diamonds becomes easier

On borrowed time

The Hubble telescope is slowly wearing out and efforts to repair it are on, alongwith preparations for its replacement

Distance dilemma

Are quasars near or far? Doubts appear as the astronomical calculator, red shift, is challenged

Space science, biology and politics

NASA hopes to solve its resource crunch by putting forward a case that uses space science for explaining the origins of life

Composition: critical

While the aircraft industry flies high with composites, one question nags engineers: are they really safe?

Light matters

Every kid knows that E=mc 2 . But this time, physicists are working backwards, converting energy into matter

A perfect ten, is it?

Two groups of scientists have claimed there is proof of a tenth planet in the solar system. Astrophysicists are sceptical

Challenge of the balance

When will scientists stop? The latest is the 'nanobalance', which would measure the mass of microorganisms and viruses

Lab on the lap

Indian scientists develop a low-cost, easy-to-use physics lab

Antarctic retreat

Most glaciers in peninsular region melting rapidly

Portable nuclear reactor

Works at room temperature

Golden technique

To make nanoprisms

It's hot out there

Striking lasers

A semiconductor laser would enhance the performance of telecommunications

From the blurbs

Bubbles from sound

Fresh lease

Switching speeds

Scientists develop a new switch to revolutionise fibre-opti techniques

Plastic ploys

Dendrimers are about to revolutionise the age of polymers