Bagels and the Nobel prize

[Jacque67 7,328]

in Physics on Tuesday for revealing unusual states of matter, leading to advances in electronics and potentially helping work on future quantum computers.

David Thouless, Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz, who all now work at U.S. universities, share the prize for their discoveries on abrupt changes in the properties, or phases, of ultra-thin materials.

Their research centers on topology, a branch of mathematics involving step-wise changes like making a series of holes in an object. The difficult-to-grasp concept was illustrated by Nobel Committee member Thors Hans Hansson at a news conference using a cinnamon bun, a bagel and a pretzel.

Phases are obvious when matter goes from solid to liquid to gas, but materials can also undergo topological step changes that affect their electrical properties. One example is a superconductor, which at low temperatures conducts electricity without resistance.

"Thanks to their pioneering work, the hunt is now on for new and exotic phases of matter," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in awarding the 8 million Swedish crown ($937,000) prize.

"Many people are hopeful of future applications in both materials science and electronics."

Thouless was awarded half the prize, with the other half divided between Haldane and Kosterlitz.

[Jacque67 7,328]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nobel-prize-physics-idUSKCN1240VO

Congrats to japan also for the chemistry prize!!! Yuuuuuge!

[Jacque67 7,328]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/04/science/yoshinori-ohsumi-nobel-prize-medicine.html

This is pretty amazing since all the research was based on simple microscopic work and yeast cells.

It's kinda of like how an octopus will eat one of it's own tentacles to survive. Great stuff.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Where's the bagels Jacque? I'm hungry.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Where's the bagels Jacque? I'm hungry.

Hold that thought. I'm busy chewing on a tentacle.

TNR

[Teddy B 17,252]

Hold that thought. I'm busy chewing on a tentacle.

TNR

Okay, not too hungry anymore, thanks.