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A quantum lab for molecules

Scientists have developed a technique to measure the spectrum of a single molecule without destroying it. By using quantum information processing, they were able to detect the absorption of individual photons and identify a characteristic molecular vibration. This breakthrough enables precise spectroscopy of complex molecules and paves...

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 26, 2026

Soil science: How AI could help scientists secure a vital global resource

A new study highlights the potential of AI tools in soil science, enabling researchers to better understand soil ecosystems and adapt to climate change. The system successfully generated hypotheses on how soils store carbon and what controls their storage limits, with outputs aligning with expert research.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 21, 2026

Integrative experiment design reveals hidden patterns in decades-old social science research

MIT Sloan researchers demonstrate a new approach to designing social science experiments by applying integrative experiment design to a longstanding question about punishment in public goods games. The study reveals how punishment's effect on collective welfare can swing from substantially harmful to substantially helpful, depending on...

SourceMIT Sloan School of Management·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 9, 2026

Water tornado in the laboratory: A simple experiment simulates planet formation

Researchers create water tornado to investigate flow properties in protoplanetary discs, mimicking gravitational field and finding particles' motion conforming to Kepler's laws. The experiment provides insights into dust-particle interactions promoting planet formation.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Astronomy·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 21, 2025

Physics: Eggs less likely to crack when dropped side-on

Research published in Communications Physics found that eggs are more likely to survive drops when oriented horizontally, contradicting a common classroom science experiment assumption. The study's findings suggest that the shell of an egg can better withstand impact when dropped side-on due to its flexibility around the equator.

SourceSpringer Nature·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2025

Pushing boundaries: Detecting the anomalous Hall effect without magnetization in a new class of materials

Researchers detect anomalous Hall effect in collinear antiferromagnets with non-Fermi liquid behavior, revealing a 'virtual magnetic field' that boosts the phenomenon. The findings open up new possibilities for information technologies and require further experimental confirmation.

SourceSchool of Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 18, 2025

Build it and they shall come

A study conducted at Osaka Metropolitan University found that the opening of a multifunctional facility called ONIKURU significantly increased residents' daily walking time, especially among female young adults. The results suggest that such architecture-scale interventions can contribute to building health-promoting environments.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 26, 2025

Synthesis of organophosphorus (III) compounds from white phosphorus via an adduct-catalyzed tandem electro-thermal approach

Scientists have developed a novel synthesis method for trivalent phosphorus compounds, leveraging an adduct-catalyzed tandem electro-thermal approach to produce high-yielding organophosphorus compounds with improved efficiency and selectivity. The approach also enables the in-situ consumption of renewable energy sources.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 24, 2025

The secret behind pedestrian crossings – and why some spiral into chaos

Researchers discovered that pedestrians form neat lanes in crossing roads only until people start veering off at extreme angles, after which the flow becomes disordered. The team's theory predicts that critical angle of 13 degrees marks the point where crowds collapse from order to disorder.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 24, 2025

From order to chaos: Understanding the principles behind collective motion in bacteria

Researchers discovered how bacterial swarms transition from organized movement to chaotic flow as confinement radius increases. The study reveals intermediate states between order and turbulence through large-scale experiments, computer modeling, and mathematical analysis. These findings provide insights into the universal properties o...

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 17, 2025

Light from artificial atoms

Researchers at TU Wien and ISTA have developed artificial atoms made of superconducting circuits that can be tuned to specific energy values. These 'artificial atoms' enable the storage and retrieval of light, opening up new possibilities for quantum experiments.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 17, 2025

Optical control of phase and group velocities in everyday liquids

Scientists have discovered a way to turn ordinary liquids into epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials by interacting them with intense femtosecond laser pulses. This creates a new class of materials with tunable light propagation properties, opening up possibilities for advances in optical sensing and communication.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 6, 2025

New insights into bonding nature of antimony – implications for materials research

The study combines experimental measurements with theoretical calculations to analyze the nature and strength of chemical bonding in antimony. The findings demonstrate a smooth transition between classical covalent bonding and electron-rich multi-centre bonding, with important implications for phase change materials.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Singapore and Japan scientists develop technology to control cyborg insect swarms

Researchers from Singapore, Japan and US developed an advanced swarm navigation algorithm for cyborg insects that prevents them from getting stuck in challenging terrain. The new algorithm represents a significant advance in swarm robotics and could pave the way for applications in disaster relief and search-and-rescue missions.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2025

The science behind the foldable molecular paths

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology developed foldable molecular paths using zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, which can adjust size, shape, and alignment in response to temperature, pressure, and gas interactions. This technology has potential applications in creating filters that adapt to capture harmful ...

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 6, 2025

USTC observes higher-order and fractional DTCs in floquet-driven Rydberg atomic gases

Researchers at USTC observe higher-order and fractional discrete time crystals in floquet-driven Rydberg atomic dissipative systems, exhibiting robustness against perturbations. The team identifies phase transitions between adjacent integer DTCs and discovers fractional DTCs with stability against perturbations.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 30, 2024

Discovery of orbital angular momentum monopoles enables orbital electronics with chiral materials

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery in chiral materials, enabling the creation of orbital electronics. The study reveals that certain materials naturally possess orbital angular momentum monopoles, which can be harnessed for memory devices and other applications.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 1, 2024

Lifting the veil of topological censorship

A recent study has lifted the veil of topological censorship by revealing a meandering conduction channel that can carry quantized bulk current. The researchers identified mechanisms that allow for tuning between qualitatively different microscopic implementations, challenging traditional theories.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2024