Plutonium compound unlocks rare topological quantum behavior with potential nuclear science applications

by quasarn01 | Jun 29, 2026 | Latest in Physics

Plutonium is one of the most complex elements in the periodic table. First synthesized and isolated in 1940 by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, plutonium has been studied closely for more than eight decades. It’s most often associated with...

First-of-a-kind laser spring opens up new avenues for plasma control

by quasarn01 | Jun 29, 2026 | Latest in Physics

When a high-intensity laser interacts with plasma, the charged particles typically oscillate back and forth like waves on the ocean. But what if the laser itself could twist like a whirlpool? Researchers have now demonstrated a rotating, spring-shaped laser pulse,...

Graphene can hold multiple states of superconductivity, a new study finds

by quasarn01 | Jun 29, 2026 | Latest in Physics

The ordinary graphite in pencil lead is proving to be surprisingly multifaceted at the microscale. In a study published in the journal Nature, MIT researchers report that a certain microscopic structure found in natural graphite can host multiple superconducting...

Disorder creates direction-dependent optics in compound semiconductors

by quasarn01 | Jun 29, 2026 | Latest in Physics

An international research team has demonstrated that the intrinsic disorder of the compound semiconductor CuInSnS₄ can be exploited to influence its optical properties. While the atomic vibrations also sense the local disorder, their response is averaged over many...

NASA tests new refuel device for future in-space refueling missions

by quasarn01 | Jun 29, 2026 | Astronomy

For NASA’s next generation of deep-space exploration missions, spacecraft may need to refuel in Earth orbit before pushing farther into the solar system. Similar to how a gas pump needs a nozzle to fit your fuel tank, future spacecraft could require a special...