Fysik & material

Researchers have solved a long-standing materials problem that hampers hydrogen production from aluminum-gallium alloys—a potential breakthrough for scaling up clean hydrogen as an energy source. By controlling how the alloy's crystal structure forms during hydrolysis, they've improved performance and stability, opening a practical path toward affordable on-demand hydrogen generation.EN

Researchers have discovered that computer models of how electricity flows through materials miss crucial physics — complex interactions between electrons that only show up in precise measurements. The finding affects how engineers design better semiconductors and could improve predictions for emerging quantum devices and high-temperature superconductors.EN

Researchers have demonstrated that direct-injection hydrogen engines can operate at very lean fuel-air ratios by carefully controlling how the fuel mixture forms inside the cylinder. The finding could help automakers and energy companies overcome a key technical barrier to hydrogen combustion engines as a cleaner alternative to battery-electric vehicles.EN

Researchers have replaced a toxic tin-based manufacturing process for semiconductors with a cleaner alternative that produces materials with identical performance. The breakthrough could reduce environmental hazards in electronics production while maintaining the electrical properties needed for next-generation phones and computing devices.EN

Scientists have demonstrated superconductivity in a single-layer cobalt selenide material operating at 27 Kelvin (−246°C) using a chemically treated strontium titanate substrate. The breakthrough could accelerate development of higher-temperature superconductors for power grids, computing, and quantum devices—technologies currently hampered by extreme cooling requirements.EN

Engineers aboard the BepiColombo mission successfully diagnosed and repaired a critical instrument malfunction during its multi-year cruise to Mercury, preventing mission loss. The recovery demonstrates how real-time troubleshooting of space hardware—where replacement is impossible—has become essential for deep-space exploration programs managing billion-dollar investments.EN