NEWSROOM

MIT researchers have developed a lightweight polymer film that is nearly impenetrable to gas molecules, raising the possibility that it could be used as a protective coating to prevent solar cells and other infrastructure from corrosion, and to slow the aging of packaged food and medicines. The polymer, which can be applied as a film mere nanometers thick, completely repels nitrogen and other gases, as far as can be detected by laboratory equipment, the researchers found. Tha

The study found that rectification happens because of the way the electric charges lining the inside of the pore influence ion movement. The charge distribution makes it easier for ions to pass in one direction than the other, like a one-way valve. Gating, on the other hand, occurs when a large flow of ions leads to a charge imbalance that structurally destabilizes the pore, which causes part of the pore to temporarily collapse, blocking the flow of ions.

What makes some plastics stick to metal without any glue? Osaka Metropolitan University scientists peered into the invisible adhesive zone that forms between certain plastics and metals — one atom at a time — to uncover how chemistry and molecular structure determine whether such bonds bend or break. Their insights clarify metal–plastic bonding mechanisms and offer guidelines for designing durable, lightweight, and more sustainable hybrid materials for use in transportation.

Lasers that emit extremely short light pulses are highly precise and are used in manufacturing, medical applications, and research. The problem: efficient short-pulse lasers require a lot of space and are expensive. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have developed a new system in cooperation with Stuttgart Instruments GmbH. It is more than twice as efficient as previous systems, fits in the palm of a hand, and is highly versatile. The scientists describe their approa

In a promising breakthrough, MIT physicists have today reported their observation of new key evidence of unconventional superconductivity in “magic-angle” twisted tri-layer graphene (MATTG) — a material that is made by stacking three atomically-thin sheets of graphene at a specific angle, or twist, that then allows exotic properties to emerge. MATTG has shown indirect hints of unconventional superconductivity and other strange electronic behavior in the past. The new discover

Scientists at New York University report the discovery of “gyromorphs”—a material that combines the seemingly incompatible properties of liquids and crystals and that performs better than any other known structure in blocking light from all incoming angles. The breakthrough, described in the journal Physical Review Letters, marks an innovative way to control optical properties and to potentially advance the capabilities of light-based computers.

Rice University researchers studying a class of atom-thin semiconductors known as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have discovered that light can trigger a physical shift in their atomic lattice, creating a tunable way to adjust the materials’ behavior and properties. The effect, observed in a TMD subtype named after the two-faced Roman god of transitions, Janus, could advance technologies that use light instead of electricity, from faster and cooler computer chips to

Sometimes a change of perspective can make a world of difference. A team of scientists from PETRA III, Centre for X-ray and Nanoscience (CXNS) at DESY, and MAX IV has rearranged the method in which one can use an X-ray beam to image a sample without using high-quality lenses. The method, called ptychography, has been widely used at synchrotrons and free-electron lasers to analyse the inner workings of materials quickly enough while avoiding major damage to the sample by the X

Quantum materials are a fascinating platform for future technologies, as they host a variety of exotic phenomena beyond the reach of classical physics. Among them, van der Waals heterostructures stand out: They are created by stacking different two-dimensional layers that can be only one atom thick. These structures are remarkably easy to manipulate, offering unprecedented tunability and a vast realm for exploration. A team from the Max-Planck-Institute for the Structure and

Physicists at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) in Hamburg have discovered a striking new form of quantum behavior. In star-shaped Kagome crystals—named after a traditional Japanese bamboo-basket woven pattern—electrons that usually act like a noisy crowd suddenly synchronize, forming a collective “song” that evolves with the crystal’s shape. The study, published in Nature, reveals that geometry itself can tune quantum coherence, opening

A European research team involving scientists from DESY and Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) has developed a novel way for converting mechanical energy into electricity – by using water confined in nanometre-sized pores of silicon as the active working fluid. In a study published in Nano Energy (Elsevier), the scientists demonstrate that the cyclic intrusion and extrusion of water in water-repellentnanoporous silicon monoliths can produce measurable electrical power.

Imagine a cloud that shines like a neon sign, but instead of raindrops it contains countless microscopic dust grains floating in midair. This is a dusty plasma, a bizarre state of matter found both in deep space and in the laboratory. In a new study, published this week in Physical Review E, Auburn University physicists report that even weak magnetic fields can reshape how these dusty plasmas behave—slowing down or speeding up the growth of nanoparticles suspended inside. The