Separation by scattering: Scientists take on an isotope challenge

You can split sunlight into a vibrant array of colors by sending it through a prism, as fans of physics (or Pink Floyd) know well, or by bouncing it off a mirror through a refractive medium like water. In an exciting but less colorful way a team of researchers from the University of Chicago recently demonstrated that you can split neon gas into the specific varieties or isotopes of neon that compose the gas in an analogous way. This could be a more cost- and energy-efficient method for enriching isotopes a key component in many medical technologies energy systems and other applications. Read more.