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3-D-printed magnets

Researchers at TU Wien have developed a method to produce permanent magnets using a 3D printer, enabling precise customization of magnetic fields. The process involves depositing tiny magnetic particles into a polymer matrix, which is then exposed to a strong external magnetic field to create a permanent magnet.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateOct 25, 2016

A tour de (tiny) force

A new study at Duke University reveals that applying a tiny force to the Piezo1 receptor can change its behavior while it's already activated. The researchers used magnetic fields and nanometer-sized beads to manipulate the protein, which sits on cell membranes and plays a crucial role in sensing forces surrounding cells.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 3, 2016

Goodbye, implants rejection!

A team of Russian physicists developed a method to use the magnetocaloric effect for targeted drug delivery to implants, avoiding rejection. The technique involves applying an external magnetic field to lower the temperature of a magnetic material, releasing a controlled dose of medication at the implant site.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalInternational Journal of Refrigeration·DateAug 4, 2016

The intravenous swim team

Drexel researchers create chains of microscopic magnetic bead-based robots that can swim at impressive speeds through a microfluidic environment. The team demonstrates their ability to link and unlink the beads using a rotating magnetic field, paving the way for targeted medicine delivery and minimally invasive surgery.

SourceDrexel University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 28, 2016

A new type of quantum bits

Scientists have successfully realised qubits in a novel form, leveraging electron holes to overcome interference issues. This breakthrough offers potential improvements in programming and reading quantum bits for future quantum computers.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 26, 2016

Asymmetrical magnetic microbeads transform into micro-robots

Researchers have discovered that asymmetrical magnetic microbeads can be transformed into useful tools controlled by a changing external magnetic field. The Janus particles, inspired by the Roman god of two faces, exhibit unique behavior under oscillating fields, forming linear chains and expanding to create micro-muscles on a chip.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateJul 26, 2016

Traveling wave drives magnetic particles

Scientists develop new method to control magnetic particles of two distinct sizes suspended in liquid, forming channels that drive small particles along, improving sorting and lab-on-a-chip device functionality.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateMay 23, 2016

A new way to determine the age of stars?

Researchers have developed a new framework to understand the evolution of sun-like stars, which can help determine their age with more precision. The model predicts that younger stars will vary significantly in x-ray emission intensity, but convergence occurs after a certain age, making them more predictable.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 23, 2016

Microagents with revolutionary potential

Researchers have created tiny particles that can be precisely controlled by magnetic fields and generate electric fields, revolutionizing medicine and regenerative therapy. These 'Janus' particles can target cancer cells with precision and efficiency, eliminating side effects.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalMaterials Horizons·DateMar 22, 2016

Twisting magnets enhance data storage capacity

Researchers successfully experimented with chiral magnetic materials that show a unique magnetic twisting effect triggered by weak external magnetic fields. This leads to the development of new types of magnetic memories with unprecedented storage capacities, up to 10 million times larger than conventional magnetic storage memory devices.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalPhysical Review B·DateFeb 11, 2016

A highway for spin waves

Researchers at HZDR have developed a method for controlling the propagation of spin waves in a targeted and simple way, creating a basis for nanocircuits that use spin waves. This approach uses magnetic domain walls and small external magnetic fields to manipulate the course of spin waves, enabling efficient information processing.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateFeb 1, 2016

Quantum knots are real!

Researchers have successfully created and observed knotted solitary waves, or knot solitons, in a quantum field. The discovery opens up new avenues of study for understanding the properties of quantum mechanics and its potential applications in fields such as cosmology and quantum computers.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 19, 2016

Aging stars stop slowing down, scientists discover

Aging stars stop slowing down as their magnetic field interacts with a wind of particles flowing away from its surface, according to research published in Nature. This discovery challenges previous theories on stellar rotation and has implications for understanding how the Sun influences its local environment, including planets.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature·DateJan 4, 2016

Stellar revelations

A team of astronomers has discovered that up to 60 percent of stars host strong magnetic fields, which can significantly alter the physical processes taking place in the core. The researchers used asteroseismology to detect these hidden fields and found that they are prevalent in intermediate mass stars.