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Nanophysics news
First direct nanomagnet measurement finds switching attempts far slower than long-assumed
A compass always points north—or does it? Magnets normally maintain a stable direction of magnetization, pointing from south to north (S→N). However, this direction can change under strong magnetic fields or heat. For example, ...
Nanophysics
16 hours ago
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Why does life prefer one 'hand' over the other? New study points to electron spin
A team of scientists has identified a new physical mechanism that could help explain one of the most persistent mysteries in science: why life consistently uses one "handed" version of its molecules and not the other. In ...
Bio & Medicine
17 hours ago
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Perovskite quantum dots crack two big barriers, staying stable in polar solvents and growing with atomic precision
Perovskite quantum dots are considered promising materials for LEDs, photocatalysis, and future quantum light sources. Researchers at LMU Munich have managed to master two major hurdles in working with these quantum dots: ...
Nanophysics
Apr 21, 2026
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Put a nanodiamond under intense pressure and it becomes flexible
Diamond is among the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth, but if you shrink it down to the nanoscale, it is surprisingly elastic. And that could be useful for a host of applications such as quantum computing. ...
Laser bursts flip nanoscale magnetic vortices at blistering speeds, opening a path to brain-like spintronics
Spintronics are devices that operate leveraging the spin, an intrinsic form of angular momentum, of electrons. The ability to switch magnetic states is central to the functioning of these devices, as it ultimately allows ...
Prototype thermal memory stores heat states with tiny voltages for days
Heat is a ubiquitous form of energy that, unlike others, is notoriously difficult to store due to its natural tendency to dissipate. While this property is essential for phenomena like solar energy reaching Earth, it also ...
Nanophysics
Apr 20, 2026
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Self-assembling luminophores reveal new design principle for efficient light-energy transport
In biological systems, especially for protein molecules, the formation of nanotubular structures is often guided by molecular folding. The folding process organizes interaction sites and enables the formation of complex architectures ...
Nanophysics
Apr 20, 2026
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Mind the gap! The semiconductor industry is relying on the wrong materials
2D materials are widely seen as a promising path toward better computer chips. Researchers at TU Wien have now shown that some of these materials are unsuitable due to an underestimated effect. But there are alternatives.
Nanophysics
Apr 20, 2026
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71
Electrons crack open organic solar cells, exposing their hidden 3D molecular architecture in a single microscope
How do organic solar cells work on the inside? The answer lies in structures far too small to see—and difficult to access even with advanced techniques. So far, researchers have relied mainly on X-ray methods to understand ...
Nanophysics
Apr 15, 2026
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The once-theoretical skyrmion could unlock supercomputing memory
When looking to the future of information technology, researchers have pinpointed a once-theoretical particle-like structure: the skyrmion. Magnetic skyrmions are very stable structures found on micromagnetic materials that ...
Nanophysics
Apr 14, 2026
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Gold nanorod makes spinning light when struck off-center by an electron beam
Light, as we usually conceive of it, is defined by the astonishing velocity at which it moves from one point to another. For example, in just one second, light can travel most of the distance between Earth and the moon. This ...
Nanophysics
Apr 13, 2026
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Taming skyrmions: Atom-thin magnets point to ultra-dense, low-power memory
Data is growing at a staggering pace, pushing charge-based microelectronics, such as smartphones and laptops, to their physical limits. Spintronics—technology that uses electron spin rather than charge—avoids the limits of ...
Nanophysics
Apr 9, 2026
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Momentum-engineered photonic states make bulk silicon shine
An international team of researchers, led by scientists from the University of California, Irvine, has demonstrated a fundamentally new way to make silicon emit light—overcoming one of the most persistent limitations in modern ...
Nanophysics
Apr 8, 2026
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Sound-sensing hair bundles in our ears act as tiny thermodynamic machines
The hair cells lining the inner ear are among the most sophisticated structures in the human body: capable of detecting sounds as faint as a whisper, while helping to maintain our sense of balance. Through new models detailed ...
More than a pretty picture, star-shaped nanomaterial changes energy storage
When created at the nanoscale, materials can resemble shapes like stars, rods or even pyramids. These particle shapes, also known as the morphologies of a solid, make for more than just interesting images under a microscope—they ...
Nanophysics
Apr 7, 2026
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Stitching precise patterns—with lasers
Just as embroiderers, with needle and thread, can transform plain fabric into an intricate pattern, engineers can use lasers and polymers to create flexible, complex structures that could transform life-saving sensing technology. ...
Nanophysics
Apr 6, 2026
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Real-time nanoscale measurements map reduction and oxidation in solar-fuel reactions
Solar-power photocatalysis—turning sunlight into energy—holds promise for sustainable and cost-efficient energy and chemical production. Advancing the technology, though, has been hindered by a lack of understanding of exactly ...
Nanophysics
Apr 3, 2026
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New 2D material demonstrates capability for ultrathin waveplates
Polarization has always been a core property of light that is essential for a broad range of everyday applications, including displays (LED, LCD, 3D Cinematics), photography, as well as satellite and antenna technologies. ...
One-atom substitution successfully tunes molecular heat transport for the first time
Control of heat transport in nanostructures is of central importance for numerous modern technologies—from high-performance computer chips that need to be cooled to energy converters—and is a highly active area of research. ...
Nanophysics
Apr 2, 2026
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Engineers introduce first synthetic charged domain wall in 2D material
In a first for the field, materials scientists from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have interfaced two materials to artificially generate a highly conductive ferroelectric ...
Nanophysics
Mar 31, 2026
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Other news
In Eastern Africa, the cradle of humankind is tearing apart
Classical physics can explain quantum weirdness, study shows
Both bonobos and dolphins form unexpected alliances with 'outsiders'
A new route for plasma-based particle accelerators
When humidity changes, so do the colors of sweat bees
Soundwaves settle debate about elusive quantum particle
The 'resource curse': Why natural resource abundance can be a double-edged sword
Q&A: Scientists decode the logic behind cells' mysterious protein stockpiles
Clearing crowded supermarket aisles lifts sales by 11.5% in field tests
AI for molecular simulations may not need built-in physics to deliver strong results
Light-powered propulsion expands space exploration possibilities
