Fysik & material

Scientists at Europe's LHC have observed rare decays of hidden-beauty particles and measured their properties with unprecedented precision. The breakthrough refines our understanding of fundamental particle physics and validates theoretical models that underpin next-generation detector designs and particle-collision experiments worldwide.EN

IceCube Observatory has set new constraints on theoretical "sterile neutrinos" that could explain dark matter and other cosmic mysteries. The analysis rules out certain mass and mixing scenarios, refining what physicists need to look for—and potentially informing long-term energy and fundamental physics research priorities.EN

IceCube's decade-long search finds no evidence for sterile neutrinos, a theorized particle that could explain dark matter. The null result, published in Physical Review Letters, constrains models that physicists have pursued for years and refocuses the hunt for physics beyond today's standard model onto other candidates and detection methods.EN

Researchers discovered that adding methylamine to magnesium borohydride dramatically speeds up ion movement, boosting electrical conductivity. The finding could accelerate development of safer, cheaper magnesium batteries to compete with lithium-ion technology in electric vehicles and grid storage.EN

Researchers have precisely measured how a charm quark decays into lighter particles—a rare process never directly observed before. The measurement reveals the internal structure of these transformations and tests predictions from the Standard Model of physics, potentially revealing gaps in our understanding of nature's most basic rules.EN

Scientists have made the first direct measurements of how certain particles decay in ways that could reveal why matter dominates over antimatter. Using data from the world's largest particle detector, researchers found no evidence of CP symmetry violations in these decays—a result that narrows where physicists should look next to solve one of physics' deepest unsolved problems.EN

Researchers at China's BESIII detector searched for six theorized subatomic particles but found none, narrowing the field of where exotic matter could exist. The null result constrains competing models of particle physics and guides where future experiments should focus resources.EN

Researchers have detected a rare subatomic decay for the first time, measuring properties that help validate the standard model of physics. The finding could inform next-generation particle detectors and deepen understanding of the forces binding matter together—knowledge with potential applications in materials science and quantum technology development.EN

An international team combined data from two major observatories to search for neutrinos from sources that accelerate cosmic rays to extreme energies. They found nothing—suggesting our understanding of how the universe's most energetic particles form is incomplete. The finding redirects efforts to identify which cosmic accelerators actually produce detectable neutrinos.EN

Researchers have demonstrated a scalable liquid-based process to manufacture chromium sulfide nanosheets at a fraction of the cost of current methods. The technique could accelerate commercialization of spintronic and photodetector devices, though challenges with material degradation during production still need solving.EN

Researchers discovered that superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with chiral molecules behave like magnetic monopoles—creating short-range magnetic fields that respond differently based on molecular handedness. The finding could unlock new applications in targeted drug delivery, magnetic memory storage, and precision catalysis by enabling better control over how these widely-used nanoparticles interact with magnetic environments.EN

Researchers used femtosecond spectroscopy to watch two similar molecules—iron and chromium carbonyls—break apart after light exposure, discovering they follow fundamentally different pathways. The finding could inform design of better catalysts and light-activated materials for industrial chemistry and renewable energy applications.EN

Astronomers have recalibrated the age of a nearby ancient star to 12.3 billion years—resolving a decades-long tension with the universe's known age of 13.77 billion years. The breakthrough uses customized physics models tailored to individual stars rather than generic assumptions, potentially reshaping how scientists date cosmic objects and validate theories about universal history.EN

Researchers coordinated five major telescopes to observe powerful stellar explosions in real time, capturing X-rays, radio emissions, and disk disruptions simultaneously. The findings could improve understanding of magnetic activity in stars and refine models used in exoplanet detection and stellar physics research.EN

Scientists have developed better tools to detect actinides—the heaviest naturally occurring elements—in the aftermath of neutron star mergers. The breakthrough matters because confirming where actinides originate in the universe has implications for nuclear physics research, materials science, and understanding cosmic nucleosynthesis. The work shows that small differences in nuclear data can dramatically change what signatures observers should expect to find.EN

Researchers have uncovered how symmetries in gravity and particle physics equations spontaneously break down at the quantum level, generating observable particle interactions. The discovery bridges two major areas of theoretical physics and could improve precision calculations for next-generation particle detectors and gravitational wave observations.EN

Researchers have identified a new intermetallic compound where nickel atoms arrange in a diamond-like lattice—a structural pattern previously seen only in gold-based materials. The finding could open doors for developing new catalysts, magnets, or semiconductors with improved properties for industrial applications.EN

Researchers discovered that changing the shape of zinc iron oxide nanoparticles—from solid spheres to hollow shells—fundamentally alters their magnetic properties. The finding suggests manufacturers could design magnetic materials with specific behaviors by controlling geometry alone, opening new pathways for applications in data storage, sensors, and industrial catalysts.EN

Researchers used advanced nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to watch a peptide catalyst dynamically shift shape when recognizing different versions of the same molecule. The finding could accelerate development of selective catalysts for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing, where producing the right molecular variant is worth billions in avoided waste and failed drug candidates.EN

Researchers have refined how to measure the clumping of matter around galaxy clusters, a critical step for Euclid's mission to map dark energy and dark matter. The improved calibration could boost the precision of cosmological measurements by up to 20%, enabling more accurate forecasts of the universe's expansion and composition—data that informs long-term space agency planning and fundamental physics.EN

Machine learning algorithms can predict properties of distant galaxies as accurately as traditional methods but far faster, a new study shows. The finding matters because Euclid will collect data on billions of galaxies—a volume that computational efficiency could make or break for researchers and the space agencies funding the mission.EN

Researchers detected the first hint of an exotic particle decaying into light and another particle—a process so rare it could reveal new physics beyond current models. The finding, though preliminary, matters because understanding these decay pathways helps physicists refine theories that underpin quantum computing and materials science research.EN

An international team found no evidence for a rare, short-lived particle called X(1870) in data from 10 billion collision events. The null result tightens constraints on particle physics models and helps researchers focus resources on more promising avenues for discovering new forms of matter that could reshape materials science and energy technology.EN

Researchers using China's BESIII detector searched for previously undetected particles in the decay of rare exotic matter but found none. The null result refines the limits on where to look for new physics and validates existing theoretical models—findings that help focus billion-dollar particle physics investments worldwide.EN

Researchers using the BESIII detector observed the first-ever decay of exotic particles called chi_cJ into pairs of lambda particles and omega mesons—a finding confirmed with exceptional statistical certainty. The discovery refines the map of how subatomic particles behave, potentially informing future particle detector designs and fundamental physics research that underpins advanced materials and energy technologies.EN