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Quantum physics can be romantic, too.

Quantum Kisses: Measuring the World at the Scale of Single Atoms & Molecules |

Even empty gaps have a colour. Now scientists have shown that quantum jumps of electrons can change the colour of gaps between nano-sized balls of gold. The new results, published today in the journal Nature, set a fundamental quantum limit on how tightly light can be trapped.

The team from the Universities of Cambridge, the Basque Country and Paris have combined tour de force experiments with advanced theories to show how light interacts with matter at nanometre sizes. The work shows how they can literally see quantum mechanics in action in air at room temperature.

Because electrons in a metal move easily, shining light onto a tiny crack pushes electric charges onto and off each crack face in turn, at optical frequencies. The oscillating charge across the gap produces a ‘plasmonic’ colour for the ghostly region in-between, but only when the gap is small enough.

Team leader Professor Jeremy Baumberg from the University of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory suggests we think of this like the tension building between a flirtatious couple staring into each other’s eyes. As their faces get closer the tension mounts, and only a kiss discharges this energy.

In the new experiments, the gap is shrunk below 1nm (1 billionth of a metre) which strongly reddens the gap colour as the charge builds up. However because electrons can jump across the gap by quantum tunnelling, the charge can drain away when the gap is below 0.35nm, seen as a blue-shifting of the colour. As Baumberg says, “It is as if you can kiss without quite touching lips.” continue reading

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Big news in the tumblr limerick-writers circle (ok, so it's not earth-shaking, but cool nonethless)

In case you aren't aware Waffle Meringue Productions is a blog run by two siblings with a passion for verse and slayers. They've been making waves with their summaries of every Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode in limerick form and have recently been featured on Adult Swim and io9.

I was inspired to try my own episode summary:

(It would help to be familiar with scansion before proceeding - this is the style  I was taught)

Hush (4x10)

˘ / ˘ ˘ / ˘ ˘ / ˘,

˘ / ˘ ˘ / ˘ ˘ / ˘.

˘ / ˘ ˘ /

˘ / ˘ ˘ /

˘ / ˘ ˘ / ˘ ˘ / ˘.

Happy Birthday Bill Nye the Science Guy!

“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” ― Bill Nye