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Pinning down the structure of quark-gluon plasma, the universe’s first fluid

Physicists have developed a new theory to predict how particles, such as heavy quarks, move through quark-gluon plasma, a state of matter thought to have existed in the universe's first fraction of a second. The theory, which builds on Einstein's 1905 work, could provide new insights into the microscopic structure of quark-gluon plasma.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 5, 2026

From the cosmos to thunderstorms

A new study uses cosmic-ray particles to probe the electrical potential inside thunderstorms, revealing a six-to-one difference in thunderstorm detection rates between the east and west. The asymmetry arises from the geomagnetic field's effect on cosmic rays, allowing researchers to infer information about thunderstorm electricity.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 2, 2026

Zooming in: Electron orbitals photographed in 3D

Physicists have developed a method to visualize three-dimensional wavefunctions of molecules, enabling the study of molecular interactions. The technique, which uses a table-top soft-X-ray laser and powerful computer algorithms, allows for the imaging of features smaller than atomic scales.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2026

Scientists unveil technique to build ultra-thin material stacks that promise quantum breakthrough

Researchers unveiled a technique to build ultra-clean 2D heterostructures using muscovite crystals, eliminating microscopic residues that disrupt electronic device performance. This method enables precise stacking of atomic layers, leading to new properties and potential breakthroughs in quantum computing and nanoelectronics.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2026

Neutrinos caught on camera

A new detector technology has been developed to track elementary particles in large volumes of unsegmented scintillator material. The system uses a plenoptic camera and single-photon avalanche diode array sensors to achieve high-resolution 3D tracking, even in photon-starved conditions.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2026

Physicists solve riddle that has puzzled scientists for decades

An international team of physicists has achieved a breakthrough in understanding the muon's magnetic moment, resolving a decades-long discrepancy between theory and experiment. The study delivers the most precise calculation to date of a key component underpinning the muon's magnetism, agreeing with experimental measurements within jus...

SourceAdelaide University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

Atomic spins set quantum fluid in motion

A team of researchers has observed the Einstein–de Haas effect in a Bose–Einstein condensate, demonstrating the transfer of angular momentum from atomic spins to fluid motion. This finding highlights the conservation of angular momentum between microscopic spin and macroscopic mechanical rotation in the quantum world.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2026

A new model to accurately develop better OLEDs

A new model details the kinetics of exciton dynamics in OLED materials, enhancing lifetime and accelerating material development. The findings have potential to improve fluorescence efficiency, leading to more advanced OLED devices.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 30, 2025

Physicists discover a quantum state with a new type of emergent particles: six-flux composite fermions

Researchers at Purdue University have discovered a new type of emergent particle, the six-flux composite fermion, which explains rare quantum states in host materials. This discovery expands our understanding of topological electron physics and has significant implications for the ordering of known fractional quantum Hall states.

SourcePurdue University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 21, 2024

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers enhance electron–phonon coupling strength in low-dimensional strontium ruthenate

Researchers demonstrated a 300-fold increase in electron-phonon coupling strength by reducing dimensionality, paving the way for novel engineering opportunities. The enhancement was attributed to non-local nature of coupling in synthetic SRO/STO superlattices.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 21, 2023

Teasing strange matter from the ordinary

Researchers have made the first-ever observations of how lambda particles, a form of strange matter, are produced by a specific process called semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (SIDIS). The study reveals that diquarks, pairs of quarks and gluons, can march through atomic nuclei, contributing to the formation of lambdas.

SourceDOE/Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 18, 2023

Theory can sort order from chaos in complex quantum systems

A new mathematical theory developed by scientists at Rice University and Oxford University can predict the nature of motions in complex quantum systems. The theory applies to any sufficiently complex quantum system and may give insights into building better quantum computers, designing solar cells, or improving battery performance.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 23, 2023