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Driven to succeed: Physicists explore a new way to control quasiparticles

For the better part of a century, the quantum objects known as quasiparticles have been all dressed up with nowhere to go. But that may change, now that a Yale-led team of physicists has shown it is possible to exert a greater level of control over at least one type of quasiparticle.

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From ketchup to concrete, rolling particles make suspensions more fluid

Lacquers, paint, concrete—and even ketchup or orange juice: Suspensions are widespread in industry and everyday life. By a suspension, materials scientists mean a liquid in which tiny, insoluble solid particles are evenly distributed. If the concentration of particles in such a mixture is very high, phenomena can be observed that contradict our everyday understanding of […]

Scientists achieve high-efficiency single-photon source above loss-tolerant threshold

Research teams from USTC have realized a high-performance single-photon source with an efficiency beyond the scalable linear optical quantum computing loss tolerance threshold for the first time. Led by Prof. Pan Jianwei, Lu Chaoyang and Hu Yongheng, the study was published in Nature Photonics on February 28.

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Quantum cosmology with final states can explain the accelerated expansion of the universe

Teleology is the idea that some processes in nature are directed toward a goal or an end. Today, it is commonly asserted that teleology is a remnant of antiquated ways of thinking about causation, and that it is not compatible with modern science, because it is fundamentally untestable.

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Making the physics of glass more transparent

For centuries, humans have made use of glass in their art, tools, and technology. Despite the ubiquity of this material, however, many of its microscopic properties are not well understood, and it continues to defy conventional physical description.

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High-intensity shock tube reveals high-speed interface flow mechanism

Research teams have established a theoretical method for designing smooth curved wall surfaces with variable cross-section shock tubes, and developed an integrated, high-intensity multifunctional shock tube device. Led by Prof. Luo Xisheng and Prof. Si Ting from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the study […]

Physicists uncover a metallic altermagnet with d-wave spin splitting at room temperature

For many years, physics studies focused on two main types of magnetism, namely ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. The first type entails the alignment of electron spins in the same direction, while the latter entails the alignment of electron spins in alternating, opposite directions.

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Enhancing heat transfer using the turbulent flow of viscoelastic fluids

Fluids play a crucial role in industrial processes like cooling, heating, and mixing. Traditionally, most industries would utilize Newtonian fluids—which have a constant viscosity—for such processes. However, many are now adopting viscoelastic fluids, which can behave as both liquids and elastic materials.

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Iron nitride’s magnetoelastic properties show potential for flexible spintronics

The field of spintronics, which integrates the charge and spin properties of electrons to develop electronic devices with enhanced functionality and energy efficiency, has expanded into new applications.

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Hot Schrödinger cat states created

Quantum states can only be prepared and observed under highly controlled conditions. A research team from Innsbruck, Austria, has now succeeded in creating so-called hot Schrödinger cat states in a superconducting microwave resonator. The study, published in Science Advances, shows that quantum phenomena can also be observed and used in less perfect, warmer conditions.

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Scientists release plans for an even bigger atom smasher to address the mysteries of physics

Top minds at the world’s largest atom smasher have released a blueprint for a much bigger successor that could vastly improve research into the remaining enigmas of physics.

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An exception to the laws of thermodynamics: Shape-recovering liquid defies textbooks

A team of researchers led by a physics graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst made the surprising discovery of what they call a “shape-recovering liquid,” which defies some long-held expectations derived from the laws of thermodynamics.

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Hidden side channels in quantum sources could compromise secure communication

A team of researchers from University of Toronto Engineering has discovered hidden multi-dimensional side channels in existing quantum communication protocols.

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Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ is not a masterpiece when it comes to flow physics, researchers say

The Dutch master Vincent van Gogh may have painted one of Western history’s most enduring works, but “The Starry Night” is not a masterpiece of flow physics—despite recent attention to its captivating swirls, according to researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Washington.

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A step toward plant-based gelatin: Gum tragacanth shows promise for reducing animal use

With increased awareness about food sources and their environmental impacts, replacing animal-derived products in food and drugs is a significant research area. One common—but often overlooked—animal protein is gelatin, found everywhere from candy to plastic-free packaging.

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