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Catch-22 in graphene based molecular devices resolved

A research team has found a way to overcome the limitations of graphene-based molecular devices, creating structures that are both electrically and mechanically stable at room temperature. The breakthrough, published in Nature Nanotechnology, uses a combination of covalent binding and large ۆ-conjugated head groups to achieve stability.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 16, 2019

Physicists create world's smallest engine

Researchers have built the world's smallest engine, a single calcium ion, which uses random fluctuations to generate vibrations and store energy in discrete units. This tiny motor has potential applications in recycling waste heat and improving energy efficiency in future technologies.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 21, 2019

When the pigeon and the letter do not travel together

Researchers at the University of Vienna successfully implemented a counterfactual communication protocol, where information travels from Bob to Alice while photons travel in the opposite direction. This innovation resolves two major drawbacks of previous implementations and contradicts a crucial premise of communication theory.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·Journalnpj Quantum Information·DateJul 23, 2019

New scale for electronegativity rewrites the chemistry textbook

A new scale of electronegativity has been developed, providing a more comprehensive and extensive definition that can predict the approximate charge distribution in different molecules and materials. The new definition averages the binding energy of valence electrons and offers an equation to describe the total energy of an atom.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 17, 2019

Environment turns molecule into a switch

Physicists from the University of Würzburg have successfully manipulated a molecule into two stable states by controlling its environment using an electrical field. This breakthrough could enable the creation of molecular switches for spintronics applications, a promising technology for future data processing.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·Journalnpj Quantum Materials·DateNov 26, 2018

A curious branch of plankton evolution

A study of Truncorotalia fossils found rapid shell shape changes 5.1 million years ago, potentially observing quantum evolution at a species level. This challenges previous theories of gradual evolution in planktonic forams.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·DateOct 17, 2018

Novel topological insulator

Researchers at the University of Würzburg and the Technion have successfully built a topological insulator operating with dual excitations, offering a novel platform for switched electronic systems and laser applications. The discovery showcases the potential of this material for advanced optoelectronic devices.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature·DateOct 11, 2018

Searching for errors in the quantum world

A thought experiment by Renato Renner and Daniela Frauchiger reveals a paradoxical situation where indirect observation of a quantum mechanical object yields the opposite result of direct observation. The calculation shows that precisely this is not the case, creating a conundrum. While colleagues have proposed various solutions, none ...

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 18, 2018

Could a demon help to create a quantum computer?

Researchers at Penn State successfully organized atoms in a lattice to lower entropy, which could aid in creating a quantum computer. This achievement uses uncharged atoms as qubits, enabling multiple states simultaneously and making computation more efficient.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateSep 5, 2018

Detecting damage in non-magnetic steel with the help of magnetism

Scientists from JGU and the University of Kaiserslautern have developed a process to apply a thin magnetic layer to steel, allowing for the detection of microstructural changes by changes in magnetic effects. This method has the advantage of detecting signs of fatigue much earlier than conventional testing procedures.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalJournal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials·DateJul 23, 2018

The photoelectric effect in stereo

A team of physicists has measured a tiny time difference in the ejection of an electron from a molecule depending on its position. The researchers used attosecond laser pulses to study the photoelectric effect in carbon monoxide molecules, achieving precise measurements of the Wigner time delay and electron localization.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateJun 22, 2018

Quantum step forward in protecting communications from hackers

Researchers at the University of York have developed a quantum-based method to distribute secure information along communication lines, potentially preventing serious security breaches. By using a detector-independent design, they reduced vulnerabilities in current systems and enabled secure information exchange across the internet.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 20, 2018

Dressing atoms in an ultracold soup

Physicists have discovered a way to create complex structures called Rydberg polarons using ultracold strontium atoms, which can be assembled like Lego blocks. The findings reveal new insights into the basic nature of matter and challenge traditional chemistry laws.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review A·DateFeb 28, 2018

Quantum 'hack' to unleash computing power

Researchers at the University of Sydney have discovered a 'quantum hack' that improves quantum error correction by up to 400 percent, allowing for more efficient computations. This breakthrough could lead to fewer physical qubits required for basic calculations, making practical quantum computers a reality.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 1, 2018

The coldest chip in the world

Physicists successfully cool a nanoelectronic chip to a temperature lower than 3 millikelvin using magnetic cooling. They also maintain these extremely low temperatures for seven hours, enabling various experiments close to absolute zero.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 20, 2017

Robust Bain distortion in the premartensite phase of a platinum-substituted Ni2MnGa

Scientists at Max Planck Institute discovered robust Bain distortion in premartensite phase of Pt-substituted Ni2MnGa, which transforms to martensite with additional Bain distortion on further cooling. This phenomenon enhances applicability as magnetic actuators and refrigeration technology due to lower hysteresis.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 29, 2017

From quantum physicist to quantum CEO

Q-Ctrl, founded by University of Sydney's Professor Michael Biercuk, aims to provide trusted quantum control solutions for various industries. The company has attracted multimillion-dollar investments and is focused on reducing qubit errors to improve the performance of quantum devices.

Breakthrough in spintronics

A team of Würzburg physicists has developed a new concept for topological insulators that can process data at room temperature, eliminating the need for extreme cooling. This breakthrough could lead to efficient information technology and advances in spintronics.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScience·DateJul 10, 2017

Physicists read Maxwell's Demon's mind

An international research team has successfully brought Maxwell's Demon to life using superconducting circuits. The team observed the demon gain useful energy from a thermodynamic system, bypassing the second law of thermodynamics, and tracked how information is stored in its memory.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 5, 2017

Researchers find a surprise just beneath the surface in carbon dioxide experiment

A team of researchers from Caltech and Berkeley Lab found that tiny amounts of oxygen beneath the copper catalyst's surface play a critical role in activating carbon dioxide for conversion to ethanol. The discovery sheds light on the atomic-level details of the reaction, enabling scientists to predict ways to improve efficiency.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 12, 2017