Teaching physics to AI makes the student a master Researchers have demonstrated that incorporating known physics into machine learning algorithms can help the inscrutable black boxes attain new levels of transparency and insight into material propert …
Nuclear physics and extreme environments of cosmic explosions Researchers have helped peer inside a nova — a type of astrophysical nuclear explosion — without leaving Earth. These stellar events help forge the universe's chemical elements, and astronomers …
Algorithms empower metalens design Researchers have developed a new method for designing large-scale metasurfaces that uses techniques of machine intelligence to generate designs automatically. The method will enable new metasurface de …
New silicon nanowires can really take the heat A research team has demonstrated an ultrathin silicon nanowire that conducts heat 150% more efficiently than conventional materials used in advanced chip technologies. The device could enable smaller, …
Going gentle on mechanical quantum systems Systems in which mechanical motion is controlled at the level of individual quanta are emerging as a promising quantum-?technology platform. New experimental work now establishes how quantum propertie …
When quantum particles fly like bees A quantum system with only 51 charged atoms can take on more than two quadrillion different states. Calculating the system's behavior is child's play for a quantum simulator. But verifying t …
Skipping tiny stones into a quantum whirlpool Researchers confirmed silicon nanoparticles are attracted to vortices in superfluid helium. Their simulations allowed them to visualize the process of vortex line recombination. The work may lead to i …
One particle on two paths: Quantum physics is right The famous double slit experiment shows that particles can travel on two paths at the same time — but only by looking at a lot of particles and analysing the results statistically. Now a two-path-int …
Researchers find way to form diodes from superconductors Researchers have demonstrated how a heterostructure consisting of superconductors and magnets can be used to create uni-directional current like that found in semiconductor diodes.
Small, mini, nano: Gear units created from a few atoms Ever smaller and more intricate — without miniaturization, we wouldn't have the components today that are required for high-performance laptops, compact smartphones or high-resolution endoscopes …
Computational sleuthing confirms first 3D quantum spin liquid Computational detective work by physicists has confirmed cerium zirconium pyrochlore is a 3D quantum spin liquid, a solid material in which quantum entanglement and the geometric arrangement of atoms …
Spintronics: How an atom-thin insulator helps transport spins An intermediate layer consisting of a few atoms is helping to improve the transport of spin currents from one material to another. Until now, this process involves significant losses. A team reports o …
Hidden distortions trigger promising thermoelectric property A study describes a new mechanism for lowering thermal conductivity to aid the search for materials that convert heat to electricity or electricity to heat. Scientists describe the previously hidden s …
Powerful family of two-dimensional materials discovered A team has developed a new family of two-dimensional materials that researchers say has great potential for many applications such as batteries and supercapacitors, catalysis, sensors and electronics. …
Researchers create flat magic window with liquid crystals Researchers have used liquid crystals to create a flat magic window — a transparent device that produces a hidden image when light shines on it. The process for creating transparent liquid crystal ma …
Quantum mechanics could explain why DNA can spontaneously mutate The molecules of life, DNA, replicate with astounding precision, yet this process is not immune to mistakes and can lead to mutations. Using sophisticated computer modelling, a team of physicists and …
The quest for an ideal quantum bit Scientists have developed a qubit platform formed by freezing neon gas into a solid, spraying electrons from a light bulb's filament onto it, and trapping a single electron there. This system sho …
Light-infused particles go the distance in organic semiconductors Polaritons offer the best of two very different worlds. These hybrid particles combine light and molecules of organic material, making them ideal vessels for energy transfer in organic semiconductors. …
Self-assembled logic circuits created from proteins In a proof-of-concept study, researchers have created self-assembled, protein-based circuits that can perform simple logic functions. The work demonstrates that it is possible to create stable digital …
Harnessing the powers of light to operate computers Researchers have fabricated a metallic waveguide with a nano-sized cavity to select certain wavelengths of light. This work may contribute to developing devices that can compute based on light instead …
In Einstein's footsteps and beyond Physicists are re-examining the foundations of quantum physics from the perspective of momentum and exploring what happens when the momentum of light is reduced to zero.
Glimpse inside a graphene sandwich In the search for novel types of superconductors — phases of matter that that conduct electric current without loss — scientists are investigating materials that consist of multiple layers. A team h …
Physicists embark on a hunt for a long-sought quantum glow Researchers say they've found a way to significantly increase the probability of observing the Unruh effect, a 'quantum glow' phenomenon that was first proposed in the 1970s.
How equal charges in enzymes control biochemical reactions It is well known in physics and chemistry that equal charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract. It was long assumed that this principle also applies when enzymes — the biological catal …
Exotic magnetic structures created with laser light Research has found a new way to create nano-sized magnetic particles using ultrafast laser light pulses. The discovery could pave the way for new and more energy-efficient technical components and bec …
Scientists turn a hydrogen molecule into a quantum sensor Using a scanning tunneling microscope equipped with a femtosecond terahertz laser, scientists have exploited the quantum properties of a two-atom hydrogen molecule to observe changes in the electrosta …
The physics of a singing saw Researchers have used the singing saw to demonstrate how the geometry of a curved sheet, like curved metal, could be tuned to create high-quality, long-lasting oscillations for applications in sensing …
Microdrones with light-driven nanomotors Physicists have managed to propel micrometer-sized drones precisely using light only. Their microdrones are significantly smaller than red blood cells.
Sapphire fiber could enable cleaner energy and air-travel Researchers have developed a sensor made of sapphire fiber that can tolerate extreme temperatures, with the potential to enable significant improvements in efficiency and emission reduction in aerospa …
Lasers trigger magnetism in atomically thin quantum materials Researchers have discovered that light — from a laser — can trigger a form of magnetism in a normally nonmagnetic material. This magnetism centers on the behavior of electrons 'spins,' whi …
'Dative epitaxy': A new way to stack crystal films Scientists have grown thin films of two different crystalline materials on top of each other using an innovative technique called 'dative epitaxy.' The researchers discovered the method by s …
Phase transitions in the early universe and their signals The early universe may chirp about unknown physics. A research team has demonstrated how an early universe phase transition will lead to gravitational wave signals potentially visible in the upcoming …
Guiding a superconducting future with graphene quantum magic Superconductors are materials that conduct electrical current with practically no electrical resistance at all. This ability makes them extremely interesting and attractive for a plethora of applicati …
Hybrid quantum bit based on topological insulators With their superior properties, topological qubits could help achieve a breakthrough in the development of a quantum computer designed for universal applications. So far, no one has yet succeeded in u …
Graphene-hBN breakthrough to spur new LEDs, quantum computing In a discovery that could speed research into next-generation electronics and LED devices, a research team has developed a reliable, scalable method for growing single layers of hexagonal boron nitrid …