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New quantum theory of gravity brings long-sought ‘theory of everything’ a crucial step closer

At long last, a unified theory combining gravity with the other fundamental forces—electromagnetism and the strong and weak nuclear forces—is within reach. Bringing gravity into the fold has been the goal of generations of physicists, who have struggled to reconcile the incompatibility of two cornerstones of modern physics: quantum field theory and Einstein’s theory of […]

A snapshot of relativistic motion: Special relativity made visible

When an object moves extremely fast—close to the speed of light—certain basic assumptions that we take for granted no longer apply. This is the central consequence of Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity. The object then has a different length than when it is at rest, and time passes differently for the object than it […]

Physicists snap the first images of ‘free-range’ atoms

MIT physicists have captured the first images of individual atoms freely interacting in space. The pictures reveal correlations among the “free-range” particles that until now were predicted but never directly observed. Their findings, published today in the journal Physical Review Letters, will help scientists visualize never-before-seen quantum phenomena in real space.

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New era of magnetization: Research sheds light on future applications in spintronics and valleytronics

Altermagnets, which exhibit momentum-dependent spin splitting without spin–orbit coupling (SOC) or net magnetization, have recently attracted significant international attention.

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Physicists uncover how geometric frustration shapes the rose’s iconic blossom

Four physicists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in Israel, have unraveled the mechanical process behind the growth of roses as they blossom into their unique shape. In their study published in the journal Science, Yafei Zhang, Omri Cohen, Michael Moshe and Eran Sharon adopted a multipronged approach to learn the secrets behind rose blossom […]

Novel architecture improves control of microwave resonators for quantum computers

Innsbruck physicists have presented a new architecture for improved quantum control of microwave resonators. In a study recently published in PRX Quantum, they show how a superconducting fluxonium qubit can be selectively coupled and decoupled with a microwave resonator and without additional components. This makes potentially longer storage times possible.

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Novel strategy keeps quantum networks stable by replenishing entanglement

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) are tackling one of the most complex challenges in the world of quantum information—how to create reliable, scalable networks that can connect quantum systems over distances.

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Majoranas on the move: Superconductor-quantum dot combo manipulates Majorana bound states

Researchers at QuTech in Delft have combined superconductors and quantum dots to observe and manipulate so-called Majorana bound states, which have properties that could enable stable quantum computation. By building a chain of three coupled quantum dots in a two-dimensional electron gas, they were able to demonstrate properties of Majoranas that are essential for the […]

Ferromagnetism achieved in pure vanadium oxide by tuning oxidation states

A research team has succeeded in inducing ferromagnetism, a key property of conventional magnets, in pure vanadium oxide, a compound not previously recognized for such magnetic behavior. Through a series of experiments, the team verified that by precisely adjusting the oxidation state of vanadium ions, they could induce the element to behave magnetically.

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In extreme conditions, heat does not flow between materials—it bounces off

A new study published in Nature Communications shows, for the first time, how heat moves—or rather, doesn’t—between materials in a high-energy-density plasma state.

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Superconducting qubits enable new quantum simulations and advanced control systems

Interdisciplinary teams across the Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA) are using innovative approaches to push the boundaries of superconducting qubit technology, bridging the gap between today’s NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) systems and future fault-tolerant systems capable of impactful science applications.

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Sound-controlled light paves way for GPS-free navigation

By adding a sound-mediated way to control light to the toolkit of light-based chips, University of Twente researchers have pushed the boundaries of the technology. This opens up the possibility of making atomic clocks small enough to fit in satellites and drones, helping them navigate without GPS.

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Calculating the strong attraction of a charming particle

A theoretical study by RIKEN physicists, published in Physics Letters B, has accurately determined the interaction between a charmonium and a proton or neutron for the first time.

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Study shows that duality operators can be realized as unitary linear-depth quantum circuits

In the context of quantum physics, the term “duality” refers to transformations that link apparently distinct physical theories, often unveiling hidden symmetries. Some recent studies have been aimed at understanding and implementing duality transformations, as this could aid the study of quantum states and symmetry-protected phenomena.

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Torsion unipolar barrier heterojunction device simplifies optical imaging and sensing

Polarization, along with intensity, wavelength, and phase, is a fundamental property of light. It enhances contrast and resolution in imaging compared to traditional intensity-based methods. On-chip polarization devices rely on complex four-pixel arrays or external polarizers.

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