Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter

28/11 Researchers at Utrecht University have resolved the controversy on ultracold nuclear physics

2006/46

Two pioneering and yet completely contradictory experiments have recently turned the world of ultracold nuclear physics upside down. Researchers at Utrecht University, FOM Foundation and NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) have thought of an explanation. Read more

21/11 Urea 'embraces' part of water molecules in urine

2006/45

Figure 1. Molecular 'embrace' of an urea and a water molecule

Urine mainly consists of water and an urea solution, which is a protein decomposition. Urea has to be excreted through urine, as a high concentration of urea in water causes enzymes losing their functions (denature). Read more

20/11 New optical tweezers unravel DNA bacteria

2006/44

Figure 1. Artistic impression of the experiment

Researchers at the Vrije Universiteit, led by Dr. G.J.L. Wuite, have succeeded in literally unravelling bacterial chromosomes furthermore by using an optical micro tweezer. Read more

20/11 Protein amyloid fibrillation in Parkinson's disease simulated at a nanoscale

2006/43

Coagulating of proteins in cerebral cells, as is being observed in Parkinson's disease, can be simulated very well in a laboratory. Read more

16/11 TU Delft shines light on atomic transistor

2006/42

Figure 1. One of the used FinFeTs, photo taken by an electron microscope

Researchers from TU Delft and the FOM Foundation (Fundamental Research on Matter) have successfully measured transport through a single atom in a transistor. This research offers new insights into the behaviour of so-called dopant atoms in silicon. Read more

06/11 Nanowire really is the smallest laser in the world

2006/41

Researchers of the FOM Foundation and the Utrecht University have demonstrated for the first time that a nanowire emits spherical and coherent light. Read more

12/10 Miniprotein folds in two ways at the same time

2006/40

Figure 1. Computer simulation protein folding

Scientists of the University of Amsterdam have shown by way of computer simulation that a particular miniprotein is able to fold from the unfolded state in two ways. Read more

11/10 Nanowire captures light

2006/37

Researchers of the Utrecht University and the Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF) in Amsterdam have been able to capture light in extremely thin zinc oxide wires. Usually, light-waves do not fit in rooms smaller than their own wavelengths, but by combining the light-waves with electrons in the material the researchers took care of the light not leaking out of the wires. Read more

03/10 Nobel Prize in Physics 2006 to John C. Mather and George F. Smoot

2006/39

John C. Mather and George F. Smoot share the Nobel Prize in Physics 2006, as just has been announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. They are awarded for their research on cosmic microwave background radiation. Read more

02/10 Inert light changes colour

2006/38

Researchers of the FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF) in Amsterdam and colleagues of the University of Twente and the Institut Fresnel in Marseilles have been able to have light change colour by transmitting it through a screen of nanometre holes. Read more

Press releases 2006