Polypseudorotaxanes, in which α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) rings shuttle along a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain, are promising candidates for molecular machines. However, their molecular dynamics have remained unclear. Researchers have now used fast-scanning atomic force microscopy (FS-AFM) to visualize α-CD rings moving along a PEG chain. This breakthrough establishes FS-AFM as a powerful tool for analyzing supramolecular polymers and paves the way for designing efficient molecular motors.

Where there’s water, there are waves. But what if you could bend water waves to your will to move floating objects? Nanyang Technological University, Singapore co-led a team of international researchers to achieve this with physics.

The scientists developed a technique to merge waves in a water tank to produce complex patterns, such as twisting loops and swirling vortices. Some patterns acted like tweezers or a “tractor beam” to hold a floating ball in place. Other patterns made the ball spin and move precisely in a circular path.

In the future, the technique could be scaled down to precisely move particles the size of cells for experiments, or scaled up to guide boats along a desired path on the water.

Physicists developed simplified formulas to quantify quantum entanglement in strongly correlated electron systems. Their approach was applied to nanoscale materials, revealing unexpected quantum behaviors and identifying key quantities for the Kondo effect. These findings advance understanding of quantum technologies.

Energy efficiency is crucial for sustainability, yet vast amounts of low-temperature waste heat remain unused in industrial processes. Now, researchers from Japan have investigated erythritol slurry as a promising heat transfer medium for thermal storage and transport. By analyzing its flow behavior and non-Newtonian properties, they developed a predictive equation for its rheological characteristics. Their findings could help guide the design of industrial waste heat recovery systems, advancing energy efficiency and carbon neutrality.

University of Texas at Arlington physics Professor J. Ping Liu has won the 2025 Hill Prize in Physical Sciences for pioneering new ways to design magnets that power high-tech devices. Awarded by the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST) and Lyda Hill Philanthropies, the prize recognizes groundbreaking innovations with the potential for real-world impact. Dr. Liu shares the award as co-principal investigator alongside James Chelikowsky, a professor of physics and chemical engineering at UT Austin.