Immortal quantum particles Decay is relentless in the macroscopic world: broken objects do not fit themselves back together again. However, other laws are valid in the quantum world: new research shows that so-called quasiparti …
'Hidden' phases of matter revealed through the power of light New chemistry research demonstrates how 'hidden' phases of matter can be activated by extremely fast pulses of light. This fundamental scientific breakthrough paves the way for creating mate …
Liquid gold on the nanoscale Researchers have discovered what liquid gold looks like on the nanoscale — and in doing so have mapped the way in which nanoparticles melt, which is relevant to the manufacturing and performance of n …
One step closer to graphene-based topological insulator In 2005, condensed matter physicists considered the fate of graphene at low temperatures. Their work led to the discovery of a new state of matter dubbed a 'topological insulator,' which wou …
Tiny light box opens new doors into the nanoworld Researchers have discovered a completely new way of capturing, amplifying and linking light to matter at the nanolevel. Using a tiny box, built from stacked atomically thin material, they have succeed …
Fiber-optic probe can see molecular bonds Engineers have developed the world's first portable, inexpensive, optical nanoscopy tool that integrates a glass optical fiber with a silver nanowire condenser. The device is a high-efficiency ro …
Dashing the dream of ideal 'invisibility' cloaks for stress waves Some have dreamt of the perfect cloak to make buildings impervious to stress waves caused by bombs, earthquakes or other calamities. Sorry, researchers are now dashing the dream. But there's stil …
Infrared frequency comb measures biological signatures Researchers have demonstrated a compact frequency-comb apparatus that rapidly measures the entire infrared band of light to detect biological, chemical and physical properties of matter.
New core-shell catalyst for ethanol fuel cells Scientists have developed a highly efficient catalyst for extracting electrical energy from ethanol, an easy-to-store liquid fuel that can be generated from renewable resources.
Probing semiconductor crystals with a sphere of light Researchers have developed a technique using a hollow sphere to measure the electronic and optical properties of large semiconducting crystals. The approach could lead to energy savings for mass produ …
Radon inferior to radium for electric dipole moments searches Researchers have made a discovery that will help with the search for electric dipole moments in atoms, and could contribute to new theories of particle physics such as supersymmetry.
Creating new molecular sieves Molecular sieves are useful in many industrial processes, especially in the chemical and energy sectors. They could be used to remove contaminants from water and have received attention for potential …
Using physics to print living tissue Bioprinting is a relatively new technology that has advanced mostly by trial and error. Scientists are now using the laws of physics and predictive computer modeling to improve these techniques and op …
Accurate probing of magnetism with light Probing magnetic materials with extreme ultraviolet radiation allows to obtain a detailed microscopic picture of how magnetic systems interact with light — the fastest way to manipulate a magnetic ma …
Flexible generators turn movement into energy Researchers have produced triboelectric nanogenerators with laser-induced graphene. The flexible devices turn movement into electrical energy and could enable wearable, self-powered sensors and device …
Physicists 'teleport' logic operation between separated ions Physicists have teleported a computer circuit instruction known as a quantum logic operation between two separated ions (electrically charged atoms), showcasing how quantum computer programs could car …
The most complete study of battery failure sees the light An international team of researchers just published the widest study on what happens during battery failure, focusing on the different parts of a battery at the same time.
Quantum information gets a boost from thin-film breakthrough Efforts to create reliable light-based quantum computing, quantum key distribution for cybersecurity, and other technologies got a boost from a new study demonstrating an innovative method for creatin …
Secure metropolitan quantum networks move a step closer Successful new field tests of a continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) system over commercial fiber networks could pave the way to its use in metropolitan areas.
Colliding lasers double the energy of proton beams Researchers have developed a new method which can double the energy of a proton beam produced by laser-based particle accelerators. The breakthrough could lead to more compact, cheaper equipment that …
Adding a carbon atom transforms 2D semiconducting material A technique that introduces carbon-hydrogen molecules into a single atomic layer of the semiconducting material tungsten disulfide dramatically changes the electronic properties of the material, accor …
Exotic matter uncovered in the sun's atmosphere Scientists have announced a major new finding about how matter behaves in the extreme conditions of the sun's atmosphere. Their work has shed new light on the exotic but poorly understood 'f …
Geometry of an electron determined for the first time Physicists are able to show for the first time how a single electron looks in an artificial atom. A newly developed method enables them to show the probability of an electron being present in a space. …
Big energy savings for tiny machines Physicists demonstrate for the first time a strategy for manipulating the trillions of tiny molecular nanomachines inside us that work to keep us alive, to maximize efficiency and conserve energy. The …
A light matter: Understanding the Raman dance of solids Scientists investigated the excitation and detection of photogenerated coherent phonons in polar semiconductor GaAs through an ultrafast dual pump-probe laser for quantum interferometry.
Superconductor's magnetic persona unmasked In the pantheon of unconventional superconductors, iron selenide is a rock star. But new experiments by physicists have found the material's magnetic persona to be unexpectedly mundane.