Fysik & material

Engineers have identified why aluminum-gallium nitride transistors lose performance as they're pushed to handle faster signals—it's a slowdown in how quickly electrons scatter, not a change in their mass. This finding could help chipmakers redesign next-generation 5G and radar components to maintain speed without sacrificing efficiency.EN

A major physics journal has published a correction to a 2023 paper on how dual-frequency laser combs behave in crystalline materials. The correction adjusts theoretical models used in photonics research, which underpins optical communications, sensing, and quantum technologies—industries worth billions annually.EN

Researchers have engineered conducting polymers that switch between metallic and transparent states on demand, offering a tunable alternative to rigid metal components in optical technology. The advance opens pathways for dynamic holograms and reconfigurable light-bending surfaces—potentially disrupting manufacturing in defense, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.EN

Scientists discovered that not all asteroids crumble the same way under extreme temperature swings—a finding that could upend plans for mining, sample collection, and long-term spacecraft durability in space. Using real-time acoustic monitoring on meteorite samples, researchers found that carbon-rich asteroids degrade quickly at first, then stabilize, while other types show delayed damage patterns.EN

Researchers have synthesized organic molecules that can flip between two distinct shapes while remaining stable at room temperature, and absorb light in the near-infrared spectrum up to 1600 nanometers. The advance could enable new applications in optical sensing, imaging, and photonic devices where tunable light absorption is commercially valuable.EN

Scientists have identified the precise magnetic field conditions needed for pair-Alfvén shock waves to develop in electron-positron plasmas, a finding that could inform plasma physics applications from fusion energy to astrophysical modeling. The discovery explains why these shocks only form under specific circumstances and reveals the wave mechanisms sustaining their growth.EN

Researchers have engineered a refined coating technique for quantum dots that cuts unwanted light reabsorption by nearly half, enabling solar concentrators to convert sunlight into electricity at 2.23% efficiency. The advance addresses a long-standing trade-off in quantum dot design and could accelerate deployment of transparent solar windows in buildings.EN

Researchers developed a more accurate way to measure how fluids slip across surfaces—a long-standing problem plagued by measurement uncertainty. The breakthrough could improve design of everything from industrial lubricants to microfluidic devices, with direct implications for manufacturing efficiency and product performance.EN

Physicists analyzing a decade of data from the South Pole have detected the highest-energy neutrino ever observed and found that cosmic neutrinos don't follow simple mathematical models. The discovery reshapes our understanding of violent cosmic events and could guide investments in next-generation detectors for multimessenger astronomy.EN

Scientists have developed an optimized method to fully recycle thermoplastic sandwich panels—the lightweight materials used in cars, planes, and construction—and remanufacture them into new products. The breakthrough could unlock a significant circular economy opportunity for industries generating tons of composite waste annually.EN

Researchers have unveiled the step-by-step molecular choreography behind protein signaling—the chemical messaging that controls how cells respond to their environment. By combining computer simulations with lab experiments, they traced these signals across billionths of a second, revealing that a single amino acid acts as a relay point. The work could accelerate development of drugs targeting diseases from cancer to neurodegeneration.EN

Researchers have developed a faster, cheaper way to synthesize oxadiazoles—ring-shaped molecules widely used in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals—using nothing more than visible light and a catalyst. The one-pot process cuts manufacturing steps and costs, potentially accelerating drug development and lowering production expenses for chemical companies.EN

Researchers have identified a rare form of electron interaction in a two-dimensional material where quantum effects vanish in certain directions—a finding that could reshape how engineers design next-generation electronics and quantum devices. The discovery reveals that symmetry and dimensionality can create exotic electron behavior previously thought impossible, opening new pathways for materials engineering.EN

IceCube's 12-year search found no trace of the neutrinos that should exist if cosmic rays come purely from protons. The finding challenges a leading theory about where the universe's most violent particles originate—and opens new questions for physics, astronomy, and the instruments designed to detect extreme cosmic events.EN

Researchers have cracked key engineering challenges that make micro-LEDs viable for next-generation displays—sharper images, brighter screens, and longer lifespans than current technology. The advances could accelerate adoption in augmented reality glasses, smartphones, and wearables, reshaping a multi-billion-dollar display market.EN

A new survey of 100 shockwaves in the inner solar system reveals they behave differently than expected — moving faster and at steeper angles than observations from Earth's orbit suggest. The findings could improve forecasts of space weather events that damage satellites and disrupt power grids.EN

Researchers created molecules that reversibly switch between different colored light emissions when exposed to acid or base vapors. The discovery opens pathways for low-cost, solid-state sensors to detect toxic gases in manufacturing and environmental monitoring—a market currently dominated by expensive, bulky instruments.EN

Astronomers have created the most accurate catalog yet of stellar ages, masses, and sizes by combining data from NASA's Kepler space telescope with ground-based observations. The breakthrough reveals that our galaxy's oldest stars formed around 9 billion years ago and could help scientists better understand cosmic evolution and refine models used in space exploration and climate research.EN

Researchers created hybrid nanoparticles combining silver with plant-derived carbon dots that killed two dangerous aquaculture bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics. The eco-friendly synthesis method could offer aquaculture producers a non-chemical alternative to prevent costly disease outbreaks as antibiotic resistance spreads across global fish farming operations.EN

Researchers used advanced X-ray techniques to watch iron-oxide films toggle between two different forms while removing carbon monoxide at 150°C—a finding that could improve catalytic converter design and industrial pollution control. The discovery also shows that the underlying metal support critically determines whether such catalysts actually work, opening new avenues for materials engineering in emissions reduction.EN

Researchers have developed a simpler mathematical model to predict how gases are absorbed by glassy polymers and other disordered materials—a finding that could improve the design of gas separation membranes, storage systems, and industrial filters. The new approach reveals how materials transition between states and absorb different amounts of gas, offering engineers a faster way to optimize these widely used materials without extensive trial-and-error testing.EN

Researchers developed a light-activated compound that can switch cancer-targeting DNA structures on and off inside cells with 25-fold changes in potency. The breakthrough enables precision control over drug activation, potentially reducing side effects and improving cancer treatment outcomes in clinical applications.EN

Researchers have developed a faster way to identify which chemicals in complex mixtures pose the greatest health risk, using automated testing and advanced analysis. The breakthrough could help regulators and manufacturers prioritize safety testing and reduce the time and cost of screening thousands of compounds already in use.EN

Scientists at CERN have precisely measured how often top quarks pair with charm quarks in particle collisions, using a novel detection technique. The findings validate physics simulation models critical for understanding fundamental particle interactions and could refine calculations used in high-energy physics research and detector design.EN

Scientists tracking fuel retention in JET fusion reactor components discovered that deuterium accumulates deeper into materials over time, following a pattern that cleaning procedures cannot fully reverse. The finding has serious implications for ITER, the experimental fusion reactor under construction, where long-term fuel management could become a critical operational constraint.EN