Chicago Hosts World’s Largest High-Energy Physics Conference

More than 1,300 physicists from around the world will converge in Chicago for the biennial International Conference on High Energy Physics (ICHEP) in August to share new research results, announce new projects and talk about the most intriguing mysteries of the universe. The conference will meet August 3-10 at Chicago's Sheraton Grand Hotel and will welcome scientists from 49 countries.

New Cryo-Coil Improves MRI Performance

A research team has developed a high-temperature superconducting cryo-coil that allows magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to produce higher resolution images or acquire images in a shorter time than when using conventional coils. The cryo-coil works by boosting the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)—a measure of the strength of signals carrying useful information—by a factor of two to three, compared with conventional coils.

Scientists Map Structure of Virus Linked to Childhood Asthma

The atomic structure of an elusive cold virus linked to severe asthma and respiratory infections in children has been solved by a team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Purdue University. The virus was among the first samples analyzed with a new cryo-electron microscopy system at Purdue designed to operate at vastly higher resolution than previous instruments.

LUX Experiment Ends, Dark Matter Remains Elusive

Researchers from the Large Underground Xenon (LUX) dark matter experiment have confirmed that the experiment yielded no trace of dark matter during its final 20-month run (October 2014 - May 2016), even though its sensitivity far exceeded original expectations. The announcement was made during a presentation at the International Dark Matter conference (IDM 2016) held in Sheffield, United Kingdom.

UK Retailer Testing LN2 Engine in Its Refrigerated Delivery Trucks

Sainsbury’s, a major UK based retailer, has become the first company in the world to introduce a refrigerated delivery truck cooled by a liquid nitrogen powered engine. The company says the engine is expected to eliminate all emissions associated with refrigeration. It will undergo a three-month trial during which time it's anticipated to save some 1.6 tons of carbon dioxide, 37kg of nitrogen oxides and 2kg of particulate matter compared to a similar sized diesel system.