New quantum materials could dramatically boost the search for dark matter
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 1-Nov-2026 17:15 ET (1-Nov-2026 22:15 GMT/UTC)
Dark matter makes up most of the matter in the universe, yet scientists have never detected it directly. Now, researchers at the Hebrew University have identified three unconventional quantum materials that could dramatically boost the search for these elusive particles, paving the way for a new generation of ultra-sensitive dark matter detectors.
A flexible metal–organic framework developed by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo enables the structural determination of large “beyond rule of 5” molecules from microgram-scale samples. Using APF-40 as a crystalline sponge, the researchers determined the structures of 12 pharmaceutical-related molecules, including the 899 Da drug molecule doramectin and trace ivermectin derivatives. The method could aid drug discovery, natural products research, and the characterization of rare compounds available only in very small quantities.
Digital pathology relies on high-resolution imaging for accurate cancer diagnosis, yet high-magnification systems remain slow and costly for large-scale screening. Meanwhile, standard AI super-resolution often generates hallucinated cellular artifacts that risk diagnostic accuracy. To overcome this, researchers developed a hybrid bright-dark field computational framework using fast LED illumination to provide physical guidance. This physics-guided approach doubles spatial resolution, reduces reconstruction artifacts by 84%, and boosts AI cancer screening sensitivity by 11.14%.
8 September 2026/Kiel/Taliarte. A seven-week experiment led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is starting today on Gran Canaria. In collaboration with international partner institutions, twelve mesocosms are being deployed in the sea. These will be used to investigate whether ground concrete rubble can be used to increase the alkalinity of seawater and what effects this has on marine life. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) is a promising method for increasing the ocean’s CO2 uptake whilst simultaneously buffering acidification.
Researchers at The University of Manchester have developed a physics-based artificial intelligence framework that, for the first time, enables global-scale predictions of dissolved organic carbon cycling between seawater and marine sediments. The approach reveals a previously unquantified component of Earth's carbon cycle and could improve climate models, support research into ocean-based climate mitigation strategies, and provide new insights into the long-term storage of carbon in marine environments.
What if the amount of radiation you encounter on a flight depends not just on how high you fly, but on what the Sun is doing? A new study using high-altitude balloons over southern Israel found that cosmic radiation at commercial flight altitudes rises as solar activity falls, with levels potentially increasing by 40% to 60% during solar minimum conditions. The findings could help improve how radiation exposure is assessed for aircrew and frequent flyers.