A newly developed laser Speckle-based Curvature Optical Metrology (SCOM) system is enabling high-precision, two-dimensional curvature mapping of strongly curved and freeform X-ray mirrors—expanding the boundaries of optical fabrication and beamline performance.

In a new study, researchers from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) and Department of Chemistry developed a nanoplasmonic “leaf,” a wireless bioelectronic device that they used to stimulate nerves and pace heartbeats in an animal model.

Scientists have shown how a plasma-based approach, using non‑thermal plasma can prevent catalyst deactivation in a key hydrogen‑production reaction, maintaining stable performance for 30 hours. 

Scientists in China have proposed a generalized Doppler effect framework by constructing vector-polarized dual-vortex light fields via spin–orbit coupling. A single reflection generates four independent frequency-shift signals, with mixed signals offering an order-of-magnitude improvement in measurement accuracy and unambiguous motion direction discrimination. This technique unifies linear, rotational, and vector Doppler methods for precision velocimetry and medical imaging.

Janus 2D materials, named after the two-faced Roman god, boast bottom surfaces composing two different elements. This asymmetry gives them unique properties, and Janus two-dimensional semiconductors are becoming more common. While scientists have long known how to produce Janus 2D materials, they have yet to grasp the underlying physics behind the process. Now, researchers from Tohoku University have solved the mystery. 

As the world searches for better ways to manage waste biomass and clean up polluted environments, a growing body of research is focusing on biochar, a carbon-rich material made by heating organic waste in low-oxygen conditions. A new review published in Biochar offers a comprehensive comparison of conventional pyrolysis and microwave-assisted pyrolysis, two major routes for producing biochar, and explains how the choice of heating method can shape biochar’s structure, chemistry, and pollution-removal performance.