http://www.physorg.com/physics-news/soft-matter/ en-us PhysOrg.com provides the latest news on soft matter, soft condensed matter, liquids, colloids, polymers, foams, gels, granular materials In the classic fairy tale, "The Emperor's New Clothes," Hans Christian Andersen uses the eyes of a child to challenge conventional wisdom and help others to see more clearly. In similar fashion, researchers at the University of Illinois have now revealed the naked truth about a classic bell-shaped curve used to describe the motion of a liquid as it diffuses through another material. http://www.physorg.com/news167934205.html Physics - Soft Matter Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:00:02 EST news167934205 (PhysOrg.com) -- Engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have fabricated and tested a unique biosensor that measures concentrations of potassium and hydrogen ions in the human heart with high specificity. The research could lead to a superior method of monitoring indicators of acute myocardial ischemia, or AMI, one of the leading causes of cardiovascular failure. http://www.physorg.com/news159719279.html Physics - Soft Matter Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:28:48 EST news159719279 (PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at MIT and Brown University studying how marine bacteria move recently discovered that a sharp variation in water current segregates right-handed bacteria from their left-handed brethren, impelling the microbes in opposite directions. http://www.physorg.com/news159014218.html Physics - Soft Matter Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:38:39 EST news159014218 (PhysOrg.com) -- Some of the brightest colors in nature are created by tiny nanostructures with a structure similar to beer foam or a sponge, according to Yale University researchers. http://www.physorg.com/news157914340.html Physics - Soft Matter Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:06:05 EST news157914340 (PhysOrg.com) -- The idea of generating hydrogen from salt water has often been claimed to work effectively. However, the systems proposed so far generally require a much greater energy input than the energy they produce, making them impractical for energy generation. Now, a recently revived system may be able to cheaply generate a small amount of power. http://www.physorg.com/news156596965.html Physics - Soft Matter Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:09:57 EST news156596965 (PhysOrg.com) -- There is a lot of hope invested in hydrogen, but it also presents some problems. It is energy-rich, clean and, as a constituent of water, of almost unlimited availability. However, so far it has been difficult to access it. Scientists at the Max Planck In-stitute of Colloids and Interfaces have now found a simple, low-cost way to produce hydrogen. http://www.physorg.com/news155834961.html Physics - Soft Matter Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:29:52 EST news155834961 A discovery by Canada-U.S. biophysicists will improve the understanding of ion channels, akin to little 'nano-machines' or 'nano-valves' in our body, which when they malfunction can cause genetic illnesses that attack muscles, the central nervous system and the heart. http://www.physorg.com/news148828762.html Physics - Soft Matter Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:19:22 EST news148828762