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RIKEN scientists have discovered how to manipulate molybdenum disulfide into acting as a superconductor, metal, semiconductor, or insulator using a specialized transistor technique. By inserting potassium ions and adjusting conditions, they could trigger dramatic changes in the material’s electronic state—unexpectedly even turning it into a superconductor or insulator. This new level of control over a […]

In a dramatic leap for astrophysics, Chinese researchers have recreated a key cosmic process in the lab: the acceleration of ions by powerful collisionless shocks. By using intense lasers to simulate space-like conditions, they captured high-speed ion beams and confirmed the decades-old theory that shock drift acceleration, not shock surfing, is the main driver behind […]

Scientists in Germany have crafted “skyrmion bags” of light—complex vortex-like structures—on the surface of gold by cleverly manipulating how laser beams interact with nano-etched patterns. This unusual feat not only adds a surprising twist to the physics of light but also hints at future technologies that could break the limits of current microscopes. Skyrmion Light […]

Scientists have unveiled a cutting-edge quantum microscope that allows them to observe how electrons interact with strange atomic vibrations in twisted graphene, including a newly revealed “phason.” This phenomenon could help explain mysterious behaviors like superconductivity in materials rotated to the “magic angle.” The breakthrough, made possible by operating the microscope at cryogenic temperatures, marks […]

In the United States, middle-aged adults are more likely to experience loneliness than older adults, a pattern that is also observed only in the Netherlands. A recent peer-reviewed study published in Aging and Mental Health reveals that middle-aged Americans report some of the highest levels of loneliness among adults aged 50 to 90. The study […]