Researchers from The University of Osaka created stable cobalt-based honeycomb structures inside a layered material and observed ferromagnetic-like ordering at low temperatures. By introducing a small amount of cobalt into NaSbO₃, the team demonstrated a new platform to study Kitaev materials using abundant 3d transition metals, potentially supporting future cost-effective quantum technologies.

A new review synthesizes a decade of research into one of the most promising materials for water purification, biochar–hydrogel composites, and concludes that their effectiveness is governed by a single, critical factor: the chemistry of their surfaces. The work, led by corresponding author Dr. Dong Hee Kang at Morgan State University, provides a unified framework for understanding how these materials function and a clear roadmap for designing more robust and efficient filters to tackle global water contamination.

Biochar, a carbon-rich material made from pyrolyzed biomass, and hydrogels, water-absorbing polymer networks, are powerful on their own. When combined, they create a synergistic adsorbent with enhanced capabilities. This review analyzes the extensive body of literature to demonstrate that the true power of these composites comes from their surface functional groups—specific chemical moieties like carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amine groups that act as molecular-scale "hooks" to capture contaminants. The hydrogel matrix not only adds its own functional groups but also makes the biochar’s reactive sites more accessible, explaining why the composite consistently outperforms its individual components.

Tiny sound waves inside the Sun unmask evidence of systematic changes in the solar activity cycle over the last 40 years – with implications for predicting space weather.

Even the most modern random number generators do not produce perfectly random numbers, which can be a problem for cryptographic applications. 

ETH Zurich researchers use entangled superconducting qubits and a so-called Bell-test to amplify such imperfect randomness using quantum physics. 

Their technology could become a key foundation for secure encryption and digital security.