Fysik & material

Researchers have identified a superior method to extract clues about the universe's first billion years using radio telescopes. The approach uses topological data patterns rather than traditional spectral analysis, potentially accelerating scientific discovery and informing billion-dollar investments in next-generation observatories like the Square Kilometre Array.EN

Scientists used advanced polarimetry to study a black hole candidate near Earth's galactic center, finding that polarization measurements can precisely determine the orientation and spin of distant black holes. The technique offers a new tool for understanding accretion physics around compact objects, with implications for gravitational wave detection and astrophysics instrumentation.EN

Scientists have published a practical playbook for using Bayesian optimization—an AI technique that finds winning material formulas faster and cheaper than traditional trial-and-error. The method cuts the number of expensive experiments needed, making it economically viable for companies developing new materials, drugs, and chemicals to compete in innovation races.EN

Researchers have developed a parallel computing method that generates hundreds of optimized radiation treatment plans simultaneously, rather than one at a time. The advance could let doctors interactively explore treatment options while patients wait, potentially accelerating Gamma Knife surgery scheduling and improving clinical outcomes.EN

Researchers discovered that hydroxide ions, not external mechanical stress, drive the internal distortions that reshape barium titanate nanorods during synthesis. The finding reframes how manufacturers should control nanorod properties for electronics and energy applications, shifting focus from mechanical processing to chemical composition management.EN

Scientists have mapped how ferroelectric liquid crystals spontaneously twist themselves when squeezed between thin plates, a finding that could improve the design of display technologies and smart materials. The work reveals a critical thickness threshold—around 5 micrometers—where these exotic fluids shift from ordered to twisted states, offering engineers new ways to control molecular behavior in confined systems.EN

A new simulation study reveals that ancient radiation from the early universe left permanent fingerprints on dwarf galaxies—some stopped forming stars entirely while others recovered. The findings provide a roadmap for understanding galaxy formation that could improve models used in cosmology research and telescope observation planning.EN

Researchers have resolved a century-old debate about how quantum mechanics actually works by showing that Heisenberg's famous thought experiment can be made mathematically consistent with the real world—but only if properties depend on context. The finding matters because it clarifies which quantum technologies are fundamentally possible and which are not.EN

Researchers have catalogued dozens of overlapping implementations of a critical quantum simulation algorithm, revealing massive duplication of effort across academia and industry. Consolidating these tools could accelerate quantum materials discovery and drug development by years—if competitors agree to collaborate on shared infrastructure.EN

Researchers have identified specific operating conditions that significantly boost the capacity and stability of aqueous aluminum batteries—a cheaper, safer alternative to lithium-ion cells. By adjusting electrode spacing, voltage range, and current density, the team achieved 80 mAh/g capacity with improved cycling stability, suggesting a clear path to commercialization for sustainable battery technologies.EN

Researchers have developed a new method to predict how materials transform when molecules inside them start spinning randomly at elevated temperatures. The advance could accelerate design of better batteries, ceramics, and heat-resistant compounds—a critical capability as industries seek materials that perform reliably across wide temperature ranges.EN

A major update to GROMACS, the world's most widely used molecular dynamics software, promises to accelerate computational drug discovery and materials research. The release improves how scientists model molecular interactions, potentially cutting simulation times while maintaining accuracy—a shift that could reduce development costs for pharmaceutical and materials companies.EN

Researchers have developed a technique combining rapid cooling with high-pressure treatment to improve copper made via 3D extrusion printing, boosting its strength and internal consistency. The method could make additive manufacturing more viable for applications requiring durable copper components, from electronics to aerospace.EN

Magnethavioröringar i kolmolekyler kan modelleras genom beräkningar av magnetiskt inducerad strömtäthet — en egenskap som styr elektroniska och magnetiska egenskaper i nanostrukturer. Forskare från Helsingfors, Linköping och Mainz har tillämpat flera beräkningsmetoder (DFT, MP2, CCSD, CASSCF) för att kartlägga ringströmmars topologi i kolisomerer. Resultaten klargör hur elektronernas rörelse under magnetfält påverkar molekylstrukturen. För materialteknik är denna kunskap relevant vid utveckling av kolbaserade halvledare och organiska elektronikkomponenter, där magnetisk responsivitet direkt påverkar enhetsprestanda. Studien möjliggör bättre förutsägelse av magnetisk susceptibilitet — en kritisk parameter vid val av kolmaterial för sensorer och lågenergielektronik. Arbetet utgör grund för optimering av kolmolekylers elektroniska egenskaper innan industriell implementering, vilket förkortar utvecklingscykeln från laboratorium till applikation.

Researchers at Japan's Large Helical Device found that spraying lithium granules—a standard technique to improve plasma performance—unexpectedly accelerates the escape of heavy metals like molybdenum from fusion cores. The discovery matters because stellarators and other fusion designs rely on keeping contaminants contained; if wall coatings degrade confinement, it could undermine efficiency gains and complicate reactor operations.EN

Researchers propose a new atom-based detector that could reveal physics beyond current scientific understanding by measuring impossibly small quantum effects. The approach offers an alternative to expensive particle colliders and could accelerate discovery of fundamental forces shaping the universe.EN

Researchers have identified how to detect charged excitons—a key building block in doped 2D materials—using a specialized imaging technique. The discovery enables better understanding of how these materials behave when electrically doped, crucial for developing next-generation semiconductors and quantum devices at scale.EN

Researchers have cracked a decades-old puzzle about why certain signatures of galactic winds are rarely observed, despite being theoretically abundant. The discovery could transform how scientists map gas flows around galaxies—critical for understanding galaxy evolution, star formation, and the mechanisms that regulate cosmic structure.EN

Researchers have identified and corrected a major source of error in computational chemistry tools widely used by pharmaceutical companies to predict drug behavior. By training an AI model on quantum physics calculations, they achieved threefold improvement in hydration free energy predictions—a critical metric for assessing how drug candidates will behave in the body.EN

Researchers have developed qNEP, a machine-learning tool that dramatically accelerates simulations of how materials respond to electric fields—a critical property for designing batteries, semiconductors, and insulators. The advance could slash computational costs for industries relying on electrostatic modeling, from pharmaceuticals to electronics manufacturers.EN

Researchers have created the first fully integrated potassium sensor using standard 3D printing technology, eliminating the need for expensive lab equipment or skilled technicians to assemble it. The breakthrough could accelerate deployment of portable diagnostics in clinics, sports medicine, and environmental monitoring—reducing both costs and time to result.EN

Researchers have developed a cleaner mathematical framework for calculating how particles interact at the subatomic level, making complex quantum computations more tractable. The advance could accelerate simulations used in particle physics research and potentially improve computational tools that depend on precise quantum calculations.EN

Researchers have deployed neural networks to dramatically improve how scientists identify and measure ultra-high-energy neutrinos from space using radio antennas buried in ice. The technique cuts uncertainty in energy measurements by up to 75%, a critical step toward understanding cosmic particle sources and validating next-generation detector investments at the South Pole and Greenland.EN

Researchers have developed a way to grow graphene directly on substrates, eliminating a manufacturing bottleneck that introduces defects and contamination. The transfer-free approach could cut production costs and improve the material's performance in electronics and sensors—removing a major hurdle to commercial graphene applications.EN

Researchers have discovered that widely used computational methods for predicting how shape-memory alloys behave under stress are producing dangerously incorrect results. The problem stems from insufficient sampling in standard simulations—a fixable oversight that has major implications for designing better aerospace components, medical devices, and automotive parts that rely on these materials.EN