Researchers from the Universities of Amsterdam and New South Wales have answered a question that has been around for decades: whether ions of the metal ytterbium can enter certain long-lived and nearly stable states, and if so, for how long. The measured long-lived states may find applications in quantum computers and atomic clocks.

Real-time intelligent systems need processors that adapt as data change. Scientists from the University of Cambridge, Tsinghua University and collaborators developed a temporally plastic photonic processor (TPPP) that combines stable optical computation, fast dynamic modulation and recursive optical memory. The chip improves robustness in spectral sensing and autonomous-driving control, and projects up to 16 times higher energy efficiency and 100 times lower intrinsic compute delay than advanced electronic processors.

One of Europe's highest distinctions in condensed matter physics has been awarded for a discovery that is reshaping our understanding of magnetism: The 2026 Europhysics Prize of the European Physical Society (EPS) Condensed Matter Division goes to Professor Jairo Sinova of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), Dr. Libor Šmejkal, and Professor Tomas Jungwirth for their discovery of altermagnetism – a previously unknown fundamental class of magnetism. 

The promise of quantum computing is to solve complex problems faster and more energy-efficiently than today’s supercomputers – from optimizing logistics processes to simulating molecules. This goal is coming within reach as the number of qubits – the computational units of quantum computing – increases. But in addition to technological challenges of scaling, there is another, less-considered issue: In the New Journal of Physics (DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/ae6e68), researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) demonstrate that in extreme cases, the so-called quantum Zeno effect can nearly halt computational processes as the number of qubits increases – a dreaded phenomenon comparable to a traditional computer “freezing”.

Reported in Science Bulletin, a new study presents the design and fabrication of an ultra-robust and multifunctional ionic biogel with multiscale architecture via a synergistic structural engineering strategy, and demonstrates its application in self-powered human interaction.

A new study published in Chem Catalysis has revealed how dynamic Cu and Ti active sites in single-atom Cu-TiO₂ catalysts cooperate under light to reduce CO₂ to CO. The researchers from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted an experimental study of the dynamic interactions of CO₂ and H₂O molecules at the surface active sites of single-atom Cu-TiO₂ catalysts by integrating in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with infrared spectroscopy.

Researchers have developed a green separation process combining a tailor-made ionic liquid with heat pump technology that slashes energy consumption by 48.68% for separating dimethyl carbonate from methanol—a critical bottleneck in sustainable chemical production. Using a multi-scale strategy spanning molecular screening, experimental validation, and process optimization, the team identified an eco-friendly ionic liquid entrainer that breaks the stubborn azeotrope between these industrially important chemicals, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing.

Researchers have developed a quantum-dot imaging technique that makes the usually difficult to visualize surface plasmon polaritons visible with a conventional fluorescence microscope. The method captures and measures plasmonic waves in device structures intended for practical use, including buried interfaces, providing a practical tool for designing future nanophotonic, optoelectronic, and plasmonic technologies.

A research team led by Prof. Kenward VONG, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has developed a new gold-catalyzed chemical reaction that can operate under biological conditions. The team discovered a unique chemical structure, known as the ethynylated biarylbutanamide (EBB) group, which has broad potential for biological applications, including the development of anticancer prodrugs.