When ice melts into water, it happens quickly, with the transition from solid to liquid being immediate. However, very thin materials do not adhere to these rules. Instead, an unusual state between solid and liquid arises: the hexatic phase. Researchers at the University of Vienna have now succeeded in directly observing this exotic phase in an atomically thin crystal. Using state-of-the-art electron microscopy and neural networks, they filmed a silver iodide crystal protected by graphene as it melted. Ultra-thin, two-dimensional materials enabled researchers to directly observe atomic-scale melting processes. The new findings significantly advance the understanding of these phase transitions. Surprisingly, the observations contradict previous predictions – a result now published in Science.

The research team of Prof. Kyu-Young Park at POSTECH has revealed the origin of capacity degradation in high-nickel cathodes, and proposed a key strategy for designing next-generation batteries that simultaneously boost energy density and lifespan.

There is an important and unresolved tension in cosmology regarding the rate at which the universe is expanding, and resolving this could reveal new physics.  Astronomers constantly seek new ways to measure this expansion in case there may be unknown errors in data from conventional markers such as supernovae. Recently, researchers including those from the University of Tokyo measured the expansion of the universe using novel techniques and new data from the latest telescopes. Their method exploits the way light from extremely distant objects takes multiple pathways to get to us. Differences in these pathways help improve models on what happens at the largest cosmological scales, including expansion.

Single-atom transition metal-nitrogen-doped carbons (SA M-N-Cs) catalysts are promising alternatives to platinum-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, enhancing their performance for practical applications remains a significant challenge. This review summarizes recent advances in enhancing the intrinsic activity of SA M-N-C catalysts through various strategies, such as tuning the coordination environment and local structure of central metal atoms, heteroatom doping, and the creation of dual-/multi metal sites. Additionally, it discusses methods to increase the density of M-Nx active sites, including chelation, defect capture, cascade anchoring, spatial confinement, porous structure design, and secondary doping. Finally, it outlines future directions for developing highly active and stable SA M-N-C catalysts, providing a comprehensive framework for the design of advanced catalysts.

Every bit of technology fails eventually, whether time, wear-and-tear, adverse conditions, or perhaps a mixture of all three are the cause of its demise. Yet predicting when technology might fail is notoriously difficult. When designing equipment for clear-energy systems, engineers often over compensate for this by designing it to withstand more stress than needed. This generates waste, and can sometimes inadvertently increase the wear and tear on materials. Now, an international research team has developed a way to more accurately predict how long mechanical-equipment used in green technology will last, potentially leading to more efficient design processes.

Santino Cozza and a team have developed the Hearing Protection Optimization Tool, designed to move beyond traditional noise reductions ratings and highlight performance characteristics that matter in real-world conditions. This user-friendly software platform, which draws on years of research and operational insight, helps people select the appropriate hearing protection device for their specific environment. By combining noise exposure levels with algorithmic analyses of the benefits of different HPDs, HPOT matches users with a database of suitable, regulatory-approved HPDs.

Recently reported methane signatures detected by the James Webb Space Telescope could be a hint to it potentially harboring life, but a University of Arizona researcher urges caution. Sukrit Ranjan argues that it is not clear whether TRAPPIST-1e has an atmosphere at all and whether the methane signature could originate from its host star instead.