EurekAlert! News by Subject: Chemistry & Physics - News by Subject: Chemistry & Physics

Chemistry & Physics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 23-Jun-2025 02:10 ET (23-Jun-2025 06:10 GMT/UTC)

Auburn University scientists unlock a key mystery in brain function and understanding Alzheimer’s disease

Auburn University Department of Physics
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a landmark study at Auburn University, researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery about how brain cells use simple physics to maintain vital connections, shedding new light on Alzheimer's disease. Their findings, which reveal changes in neuronal connections as potential early indicators of the disease, could revolutionize our approach to preventing and treating Alzheimer’s, offering hope for millions affected worldwide.

Journal: Cell Reports

Teresa Marrodán Undagoitia appointed as professor by special appointment at the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam

Max-Planck-Institut fur Kernphysik
Grant and Award Announcement

Teresa Marrodán Undagoitia has been appointed as professor by special appointment in Novel Detection and Analysis Techniques for Dark Matter and Neutrino Experiments at the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. The chair is being established on behalf of the Bèta Plus Foundation and will be embedded in the Nikhef Dark Matter group of the Institute for High Energy Physics within the UvA-Institute of Physics.

Liquid-crystal platform overcomes optical losses in photonic circuits

SPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at the University of Naples Federico II have developed a groundbreaking liquid-crystal-based photonic circuit platform capable of manipulating hundreds of optical modes in a compact, two-dimensional setup. This new optical processor addresses the challenge of optical losses in large-scale photonic systems by maintaining constant losses as the number of modes increases. By extending previous one-dimensional simulations to two-dimensional architectures, the team demonstrated simulations spanning up to 800 optical modes, marking a significant advancement. This technology has the potential to enhance quantum simulations and all-optical AI systems, offering a scalable and efficient approach to complex computational tasks.

Journal: Advanced Photonics

Commercial fusion power plant closer to reality following research breakthrough

Cambridge University Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Successfully harnessing the power of fusion energy could lead to cleaner and safer energy for all – and contribute substantially to combatting the climate crisis. Towards this goal, Type One Energy has published a comprehensive, self-consistent, and robust physics basis for a practical fusion pilot power plant.

This groundbreaking research is presented in a series of six peer-reviewed scientific papers in a special issue of the prestigious Journal of Plasma Physics (JPP), published by Cambridge University Press.

Journal: Journal of Plasma Physics

Semaglutide and Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Risk Among Patients With Diabetes

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: The results of this cohort study suggest that semaglutide use was associated with an increased risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in patients with diabetes. However, the study’s retrospective design presents limitations, as it can only infer associations rather than establish causality; further studies are needed.

Journal: JAMA Ophthalmology

The Protein Society announces its 2025 Award Recipients

The Protein Society
Grant and Award Announcement

The Protein Society, the premier international society dedicated to supporting protein research, announces the winners of the 2025 Protein Society Awards, which will be recognized at the 39th Annual Symposium, June 26 – 29, 2025, in San Francisco, USA. Plenary talks from award recipients will take place throughout the 3.5-day event. The winners’ scientific accomplishments, described by their nominators below, demonstrate their profound impact on protein science.

Meeting: The Protein Society 39th Annual Symposium

Physics meets art: A new twist on interference patterns

Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A team led by researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, has discovered brand new interference patterns in twisted two-dimensional tungsten ditelluride lattices. These so-called moiré patterns can be tuned to look like periodic spots or even one-dimensional bands by adjusting the twist angle between layers, and they can drastically alter the physical properties of the material.

Journal: ACS Nano