Flash Physics: Intricate crystals made with DNA, laser harnesses Josephson effect, borophene has Dirac cones

Golden design: DNA glues gold nanoparticles into clathrate crystals structure

The most complex synthetic nanoparticle crystal ever made has been created using DNA and gold. Researchers have used gold nanoparticles and DNA "smart glue" to assemble intricate clathrate-crystal structures. There are many aspects of nature that scientists struggle to emulate in a laboratory. This includes a huge array of complex crystal structures such as clathrates. These cage-like lattices comprise polyhedral clusters and pores that can house small molecules. Such structures are useful for environmental applications where pollutants can be held within the pores.

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Flash Physics: Too radioactive even for robots, IBM to build 50 qubit computer, seeing through opaque materials

Failing robots: radiation levels inside Fukushima units too high even for robots

Better robots are needed for investigating the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after current designs failed due to radiation levels and debris obstacles. At a recent news conference, president of Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning, Naohiro Masuda, spoke about the need for more creative robot design after repeated failures. In 2011, multiple reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant went into meltdown after a severe earthquake and tsunami. To safely decommission the damaged plant, its operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) must know exactly where the melted fuel is and the extent of structural damage to the surrounding buildings. The radiation levels, however, would kill a human within seconds, so TEPCO is reliant upon remote-controlled robotic probes. Yet early robots have come across unexpected challenges. In February, TEPCO sent in two

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Has the Large Hadron Collider Disproved the Existence of Ghosts?

An illustration of the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, in Switzerland

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) might be the world's most incredible science experiment. A particle collider seventeen miles in circumference, it accelerates protons to velocities approaching the speed of light and slams them together. Enthralled scientists from all over the world watch the subatomic demolition derby and record what happens. Thus far, they've witnessed the creation of quark-gluon plasma (the densest matter outside of black holes), found key evidence against

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Table Tennis Gets 'First' Robotic Coach

The robot, called FORPHEUS, was named the "first robot table tennis tutor" for its ability to play and teach the sport.

If you're interested in learning how to play table tennis, a robot in Japan is up for the coaching job, and the bot has even earned a Guinness World Record for its tutoring skills.

The robot, called FORPHEUS, was named the "first robot table tennis tutor" for its ability to play and teach the sport. Guinness World Record officials said the robot's "unique technological intelligence and educational capabilities" earned it the title. The record-breaking robot uses vision and motion sensors to track a match, with cameras following the ball 80 times per second.

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UK self-driving car insurance rules outlined by government

Insurance companies will need to offer two types of protection for self-driving cars in the UK, to cover times when the vehicle is driving itself and times when a human driver is in control, according to government proposals.

The plans, which are detailed in the Vehicle Technology and Aviation Bill, enable drivers involved in an accident to claim compensation if the incident took place when their car was driving autonomously.

Under the rules, insurers would be able to try to recover their costs from the vehicle manufacturers.

However, the draft bill also flags up two exemptions.

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