Fysik & material

Scientists analyzing imagery from asteroid Ryugu have linked aligned fracture patterns to thermal stress, offering the first quantitative model for how small celestial bodies erode over time. Understanding these mechanisms could improve asteroid mining forecasts and refine predictions about space debris generation—critical for both commercial space ventures and planetary defense strategies.EN

Researchers have found the first population-level evidence that near-Earth asteroids are being destroyed by gravitational forces during close encounters with planets. The discovery explains a long-standing gap in impact prediction models and could improve forecasting of meteor impacts and meteorite falls that pose risks to infrastructure and populated areas.EN

Researchers found that meteorite impacts hit the Moon unevenly—clustering near the poles rather than spreading uniformly—forcing a major recalibration of how scientists date lunar rocks and surface features. The discovery reconciles long-standing discrepancies in crater dating and could reshape timelines for lunar geology, resource assessment, and mission planning.EN

Astronomers have created the first systematic catalog of potential gravitational lenses around quasars using data from the Gaia space telescope. The discovery matters because strongly lensed quasars are crucial tools for measuring the universe's expansion rate and structure—data that underpins multibillion-dollar physics experiments and cosmological models.EN

Researchers have created the first detailed model of how asteroids migrate from the main belt to near-Earth space, revealing that different-sized asteroids follow distinct pathways. The findings could reshape how companies and governments assess planetary defense risks and plan long-term space resource strategies.EN

Researchers have developed a spectroscopy method that can detect methane, carbon dioxide, and other molecules in real time during combustion. The advance could improve monitoring of industrial flames, optimize fuel efficiency, and help detect methane leaks from pipelines and facilities.EN

The European Space Agency's Gaia mission released detailed velocity measurements for nearly 10,000 long-period variable stars, filling a critical data gap before the next major catalog arrives in 2025. This dataset strengthens fundamental stellar models that underpin astronomical research and validates techniques for studying distant, time-varying celestial objects.EN

Europe's Gaia space telescope uncovered 500,000 previously undetected stars in omega Centauri by using a new image-analysis technique designed for crowded celestial regions. The breakthrough demonstrates how algorithm innovations can extract value from existing data—a lesson relevant to any organization managing large, complex datasets where standard methods hit their limits.EN

Scientists analyzed light reflected from a binary asteroid before and after NASA's DART spacecraft deliberately crashed into it last year. The findings suggest that dust composition—not how particles are arranged—determines how asteroids scatter light, a discovery that could improve how we track and characterize near-Earth objects for planetary defense.EN

The Gaia space telescope has cataloged nearly 160,000 asteroids with sub-milliarcsecond accuracy, enabling more precise orbital predictions than ever before. The breakthrough matters for space resource companies, satellite operators, and planetary defense efforts—all of which depend on knowing exactly where asteroids will be.EN

Europe's Euclid space telescope will image up to 150,000 asteroids, but most appear as faint streaks that are hard to spot automatically. Researchers used deep learning to dramatically improve detection rates, a breakthrough that will unlock asteroid composition data needed for space resource mapping and planetary science.EN

Researchers have identified which gravitational resonances drive near-Earth asteroids into dangerously close solar orbits, where they eventually disintegrate. The discovery could improve asteroid-tracking models used for planetary defense and long-term risk assessment of collision threats to Earth.EN

Scientists have developed a statistical method to predict an asteroid's composition based solely on its orbital characteristics, potentially speeding up the classification of newly discovered near-Earth objects. The breakthrough could help space agencies and defense planners quickly assess whether incoming asteroids pose a hazard or contain valuable resources, streamlining decision-making in planetary defense and space exploration.EN

A new study shows spacecraft can be designed for reuse rather than scrapped after one mission, potentially cutting costs and reducing orbital debris. Researchers found that deliberate design choices—treating space hardware like consumer goods with circular economy principles—could transform how the industry operates and make long-term space exploration economically viable.EN

Researchers have developed a new way to measure gas temperature using laser-induced plasma, achieving high precision without disrupting the original molecular state. The method could improve quality control in chemical manufacturing, combustion diagnostics, and industrial processes where accurate real-time temperature data is critical.EN

Researchers have solved a technical barrier that has limited quantum experiments for decades, making it possible to definitively prove quantum systems behave in ways classical physics cannot explain. The breakthrough matters because quantum-secure communications and computers depend on validating these quantum properties in real-world systems.EN

Researchers demonstrated precise optical control of chromium impurities embedded in silicon carbide and gallium nitride—two materials already used in power electronics and RF devices. The advance could accelerate development of quantum computers and spintronic devices by providing a practical way to manipulate and read spin states without complex external equipment.EN

New research on how rumors spread through social networks reveals that a person's number of friends doesn't linearly predict gossip damage—a finding that upends conventional wisdom. The work, validated against Facebook data, offers insights for reputation management and suggests that network structure, not just individual connectivity, determines how far damaging information travels.EN

Researchers have identified why PbSe converts heat to electricity more efficiently than chemically similar competitors—a discovery that could accelerate development of thermoelectric devices for waste-heat recovery in industrial and automotive applications. The finding, based on quantum simulations, reveals unusual atomic vibrations that suppress heat flow, a property that manufacturers can now target when engineering next-generation energy materials.EN

Researchers have solved a persistent problem with organic ferroelectric materials: they lose their stored electrical charge too quickly. By applying weak electric fields and operating devices just above their phase transition temperature, scientists extended data retention to over 12 hours—potentially opening new markets for flexible, biodegradable electronics and low-power memory devices.EN

Researchers have experimentally confirmed a decades-old theory about how plasma shells become unstable when compressed by colliding flows. The finding could improve predictive models for inertial confinement fusion—a leading candidate for commercial fusion energy—and refine simulations used in weapons science and astrophysics.EN

Researchers have solved a long-standing problem in scandium nitride by using magnesium doping to flip its electrical properties from n-type to p-type. The breakthrough enables the creation of high-performance semiconductor devices for thermoelectrics and advanced electronics, opening a commercially viable path for a material previously hampered by uncontrollable native defects.EN

Researchers found that epitaxial graphene exhibits unusual, contradictory electrical behavior near its charge neutrality point when exposed to strong magnetic fields—a phenomenon tied to substrate-induced asymmetries. The discovery could inform efforts to build graphene-based electronics and quantum devices, where controlling such effects is critical for device performance.EN

Researchers found that microscopic surface wrinkles in phosphorene—a promising semiconductor material—significantly alter how the material behaves in magnetic fields. The discovery suggests engineers can fine-tune the material's electrical properties for next-generation sensors and electronics, potentially opening new applications in devices operating under 10 tesla magnetic fields.EN

Researchers have identified critical problems in a popular computational shortcut used to model materials and molecular behavior—findings that could affect the reliability of predictions in drug discovery, battery design, and semiconductor development. The flaw stems from a mathematical assumption that, while theoretically elegant, produces erratic results in real-world applications.EN