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Saturn-ring-like laser emission from chiral polymeric microspheres

Researchers created microspheres with twisted-bipolar molecular configuration, enabling angle-selective optical resonance and laser oscillation. The resulting emissions mimic Saturn's rings, showcasing directional control of light in microscopic spaces.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 26, 2026

Topology helps build more robust photonic networks

Researchers have shown that topology can guide multiple, information-carrying light signals through chip-based photonic communication systems, making them more powerful and reliable. This breakthrough could enable the creation of networks of chips that communicate using light while taking advantage of topology's robustness.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2026

Scientists uncover new quantum state that could power future technologies

Researchers have discovered a new quantum state of matter that combines quantum criticality and electronic topology, paving the way for advancements in computing, sensing, and materials science. This hybrid state has potential applications in real-world technologies due to its durable and highly sensitive qualities.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 14, 2026

Seeking mathematical beauty in imperfect crystals

Researchers from The University of Osaka have devised new mathematical models to describe the mechanics of crystal defects. Using differential geometry, they provided a robust and rigorous framework for understanding these phenomena.

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 15, 2025
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Defects in the structure of insulating materials can trigger the transformation into a conductor

Topological defects in the structure of certain insulating materials can trigger a transition to conductivity, enabling the development of new ultra-fast devices and memories. Researchers have discovered that these defects play a crucial role in the transformation of Mott materials from an insulating to a conductive state.

SourceUniversita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 15, 2024

When the music changes, so does the dance: Controlling cooperative electronic states in Kagome metals

A team of scientists has developed a novel strain-free approach to investigate the intrinsic electronic ground state of Kagome superconductors. This study provides a unifying picture of the controversial charge order in Kagome metals, highlighting the need for material control at the microscopic scale.

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 29, 2024

Listening to nanoscale earthquakes

A recent study presents an exciting new way to measure the crackling noise of atoms in crystals, enabling the investigation of novel materials for future electronics. The method allows researchers to study individual nanoscale features and identify their effects on material properties.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2023
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Light shaped as a smoke ring behaves like a particle

Researchers report the discovery of photonic hopfions, a new family of 3D topological solitons with freely tunable textures and numbers. These structures exhibit robust topological protection, making them suitable for applications in optical communications, quantum technologies, and metrology.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateJan 19, 2023

The optical fiber that keeps data safe even after being twisted or bent

Physicists at the University of Bath developed an optical fiber that uses topology to enhance its robustness, protecting light from environmental disorder. This design allows for scalable structure preservation over long distances, making it suitable for future quantum networks.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 10, 2023
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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Physicists develop new type of camera to image quantum vortices for the first time

Researchers at Lancaster University have created a camera-like device that captures images of mini whirlpools in quantum liquids for the first time. The camera uses particle-like disturbances to take pictures of collections of vortices, which are unpredictable and form in specific patterns above a vibrating wire.

SourceLancaster University·JournalPhysical Review B·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2022

HKUST and UChicago researchers find new ways of leveraging topological defects in liquid crystals to make “computer”

Researchers at HKUST and UChicago have designed the basic elements needed for logic operations using liquid crystals, paving the way for novel computing methods. The team controlled topological defects to perform operations like amplification and switching, opening the door to potential applications in robotics and sensing.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 2, 2022

Topological valley Hall edge solitons in photonics

Researchers discovered a novel topological edge soliton that inherits topological protection from its linear counterpart, enabling robust and localized light beams. This breakthrough is achieved through nonlinear photorefractive lattices harnessing the valley Hall effect, without requiring an external magnetic field.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2021
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A new direction of topological research is ready for take off

Scientists at the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat have successfully created non-Hermitian topological states in topolectric circuits, exhibiting stable and robust features. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for future quantum technologies and may establish a milestone towards developing light-controlled computers.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2021

Seeing stable topology using instabilities

Researchers have developed a method to characterize topological phases of light using nonlinear instabilities, offering a simpler way to probe and generate these states. The approach exploits the quantized properties of vortices formed during modulational instability, providing a new tool for identifying different topological phases.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 19, 2021

Seeking answers in ferroelectric patterning

Ferroelectric materials display unique patterns due to non-equilibrium dynamics and topological defects, driving subsequent evolution. A new study finds phase separation kinetics as a common framework for understanding these patterns.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 18, 2020

Social bacteria build shelters using the physics of fingerprints

Researchers at Princeton University discovered how forest-dwelling bacteria cooperate to build fruiting bodies when food is scarce, using the physics behind fingerprint patterns and topological defects. The study reveals new insights into the physics-biology intersection and highlights the value of interdisciplinary collaboration.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 23, 2020
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

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The interplay of nonlinearity and topology--nontrivial eigenmodes coupling induced by nonlinearity

A team of scientists experimentally demonstrated nonlinearity-induced coupling of light into topological edge states using a photonic platform. They developed a general theoretical framework to explain the nonlinear process, revealing that nonlinearity enables energy flow from bulk modes into topological edge modes in linear systems.

SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateAug 24, 2020

Observation of the phase transition of liquid crystal defects for the first time

KAIST researchers directly observed the phase transition of topological defects formed by liquid crystal materials for the first time. The defect structures have radial, circular, or spiral shapes centering on a singularity and can be easily observed with an optical microscope.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 2, 2017
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Towards new IT devices with stable and transformable solitons

Researchers at IBS demonstrate manipulation of solitons, leading to the development of quaternary mathematical systems and potentially more efficient information storage. This breakthrough paves the way for new IT devices that combine silicon and solitons.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 6, 2017