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Physicists clarify key mechanism behind energy release in Molybdenum-93

A team of physicists identified the dominant mechanism responsible for energy release in molybdenum-93m using high-precision experiments. Inelastic nuclear scattering is confirmed to be the primary driver of isomer depletion under experimental conditions, contradicting previous hypotheses about nuclear excitation by electron capture.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2026

Gamma rays quickly toughen nitrogen‑fixing bacteria

Researchers at QST discovered that controlled gamma-ray mutagenesis can create heat-tolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria in weeks, shortening development timelines. The method produces robust, climate-ready microbial products for agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and biofuel production.

SourceThe National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology·JournalMutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Dark matter makes a comeback in galactic glow mystery

Researchers revive dark matter as a serious contender for explaining the Milky Way's central glow, proposing a more complex and nonspherical dark matter structure. Advanced simulations reveal that dark matter may still be the best explanation for the excess of high-energy radiation observed by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 20, 2025

Innovative smart window technology balances heat and visibility control

A new smart window technology combines liquid crystals with nanoporous microparticles and a patterned vanadium dioxide layer to simultaneously control visible light and infrared radiation. The device offers fast, efficient heat and visibility management, marking a significant step forward in energy-efficient building design.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Photonics for Energy·DateJan 9, 2025

Interstellar methane as progenitor of amino acids?

Research finds that gamma radiation can convert methane into glycine and other complex molecules, potentially playing a role in the origin of life. The study also reveals new strategies for industrial conversion of methane under mild conditions.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 6, 2024

This desert moss has the potential to grow on Mars

A new study reveals that a type of desert moss called Syntrichia caninervis has the potential to grow on Mars due to its ability to tolerate extreme temperatures, radiation, and dehydration. The researchers tested the moss's resilience in various conditions and found it to be one of the most radiation-tolerant organisms known.

SourceCell Press·JournalThe Innovation·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 30, 2024

Hackmanite changes color also upon exposure to nuclear radiation – memory trace from radiation enables new applications

Researchers at the University of Turku discovered that hackmanite changes color when exposed to nuclear radiation, retaining a memory trace that allows it to be reused. This unique property enables the development of reusable radiochromic films for measuring radiation doses and mapping dose distribution.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalMaterials Horizons·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 29, 2022

Time-reversal asymmetry surpasses conversion efficiency limit for solar cells

Researchers have developed a single-cell PV design integrated with nonreciprocal optical components to provide 100-percent reuse of emitted radiation, breaking the Shockley–Queisser limit. This breakthrough enables a quasimonochromatic radiation converter to reach the theoretically maximum Carnot efficiency.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Photonics for Energy·DateJun 1, 2022

Physicists find ways to control gamma radiation

Researchers have created an optical switch that can direct high-frequency gamma radiation by switching the acoustic field. This effect demonstrates controlled transparency of a resonant medium for gamma radiation, which may be useful for controlling generated radiation in modern synchrotron sources and X-ray lasers.

SourceKazan Federal University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 21, 2020

Tracking down the beam

Scientists create 'Prompt Gamma Timing' method using just one detector to measure time span between beam entry and gamma radiation hit, allowing real-time adjustment of radiation parameters. Initial tests show significant improvement in accuracy compared to existing methods.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysics in Medicine and Biology·DateSep 22, 2015

A black hole under the gravitational lens

Researchers have localized the origin of high-energy gamma radiation in a jet emanating from a distant supermassive black hole. The discovery was made possible by a micro-gravitational lens effect that selectively amplifies light from different regions close to the event horizon.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 8, 2015